Reply #15: Environment

[Tinoire]

Conserving the Environment

Clean Air and Global Warming
Drilling in the Great Lakes
Toxics
Water
Nuclear Power/Waste
Clean Air Standards
Environmental Disclosure
Cleveland's Eveready Plant Cleanup
Local
Why Is This Issue Important?
What You Can Do To Help
Letters of the 107th Congress, 1st Session
Letters
Bills Cosponsored in the 107th Congress, 1st Session
Bills Cosponsored

Clean Air and Global Warming


Congressman Kucinich is committed to keeping our air free from pollution. In June 2002, he testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during the hearing: Benefits and Costs of Multi-Pollutant Legislation, on the public health and environmental benefits of the Clean Power Act. Congressman Kucinich stressed the ethics of enacting multi-pollutant legislation, for air pollution adversely affects society’s most vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and those with weak immune systems. He is a cosponsor of multi-pollutant legislation introduced in the House, the Clean Smokestacks Act, which would require significant reductions in power plants by four key pollutants: mercury, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

In addition to working for improved clean air legislation, he has also actively opposed rollbacks of the Clean Air Act. In March 2002, he wrote to Administrator Whitman to oppose U.S. EPA’s proposed direct final rule to approve Ohio EPA’s weak nonattainment New Source Review program and has sent Dear Colleagues to House members opposing New Source Review rollbacks.

Drilling in the Great Lakes


Congressman Kucinich has successfully worked to oppose drilling in the Great Lakes. With Congressman Kucinich’s support, the House recently approved an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill by a vote of 265-157. This amendment does not allow any licenses or permits to be granted for oil or gas drilling in the Great Lakes. This victory was achieved after many years of advocating bills that Congressman Kucinich cosponsored that would ban drilling.

The Great Lakes is the world’s largest source of fresh water. Over 35 million people living in the Great Lakes basin use it for drinking water, and they are fortunate to have this natural resource. Drilling in the Great Lakes would not lower prices or even make an impact on the supply of energy. The supply of energy that could possibly be extracted is the equivalent of a mere eight days of what Ohio uses, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The enormous health and environmental risks of drilling are simply not worth it.

Toxics


CERCLA, or Superfund, is a comprehensive law that addresses hazardous waste cleanup. Superfund included a series of small taxes in order to be consistent with the law’s “polluter pays” principle. Congressman Kucinich has worked to ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, pay the bill for pollution and that pollution is cleaned quickly and thoroughly. In order to push for faster cleanup of Superfund sites, Congressman Kucinich conducted an investigation and authored the report: What is a corporate tax cut worth? When it’s the Superfund clean up tax, it’s the “Best Bargain in Washington” for campaign contributions. He wrote a letter to Budget Committee Chairman Nussle and Ranking Member Spratt with many of his colleagues requesting a renewal of the taxes, and has been a cosponsor of legislation that would reinstate Superfund taxes.

In order to prevent US-financed pollution overseas, Congressman Kucinich spearheaded a letter in July to the President of the International Finance Corporation, James Wolfensohn, urging the IFC to vote against a loan for construction of a pollution-causing plastics plant in India. The plant would not only cause dangerous air pollution for Indian residents at levels that would be illegal in the United States, but would also complicate the ability of residents to access drinking water. The loan has not been granted.

In August 2002, Congressman Kucinich learned that a respected scientist at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences was being forced to sign a gag order. The scientist, Dr. James Huff, has spent decades working on occupational cancer risks. After Congressman Kucinich sent a letter raising questions about the gag order to NIEHS Director Olden, the gag order was withdrawn. Congressman Kucinich mobilized members on the Committee of Government Reform, and Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, which has jurisdiction over NIEHS to ensure that public health scientists do not face threats against their work again.

Water

Congressman Kucinich worked to ensure that all people can access clean water. Where access and quality are threatened by privatization, such as in the African country of Ghana, he has held briefings. As a fact-finding mission was leaving for Ghana, Kucinich hosted a congressional staff briefing for the delegates to speak about how international financial assistance was tied to water privatization projects. Such private projects have not been successful in helping get water to people in poor countries, and thus raise questions about the conditions under how US tax dollars are being spent. In August 2002, Kucinich traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development where he opened a session of the Parliamentarians for Global Action with a keynote speech on water privatization.

When it was reported that a major Clean Water Act program was going to be weakened, Congressman Kucinich questioned EPA Administrator Whitman during a Subcommittee hearing in July 2002. The Total Maximum Daily Load program (TMDL) sets maximum levels of different pollutants for water bodies that can still be considered in compliance with water quality standards. Currently, the overwhelming majority of the nation’s population lives within 10 miles of a polluted water body, and much work still needs to be done to clean up widespread pollution. When reports became clear that TMDL was going to suffer significant negative changes, Congressman Kucinich helped to spearhead a letter among his Congressional colleagues to oppose the rollbacks.

Nuclear Power/Waste


On June 14, 2000 Representative Kucinich sent a letter to the Secretary of Treasury objecting to the use of taxpayer dollars for a loan to Ukraine to complete the K2/R4 nuclear reactor project. The controversial reactors could not be licensed in the U.S., nor any other Western country, as their designs fall well below modern Western safety standards. The letter was signed by eight additional Members of Congress. Acting on behalf of the safety and health interests of all Americans, Kucinich sought to protect people from the dangers of nuclear waste. Kucinich has offered several amendments to each nuclear waste bill providing for unnecessary nuclear waste transportation. He has raised key safety issues such as avoiding populated communities, full-scale nuclear waste transportation cask testing, consultation with state and local government to select transport routes, ensuring private transportation carriers follow the routes selected, and advance notification of shipments. Kucinich authored a letter to Secretary Bill Richardson, the Secretary of Energy, asking for the release of Department of Energy maps of potential nuclear waste transportation routes. Kucinich led a bipartisan group of Members of Congress to demand that the Department of Energy make available to the general public the potential routes. The effort was successful with the release of these maps on the following web site:

http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov/&ln_desc=OCRWM+-+Office+of+Civilian+Radioactive+Waste+Managment">OCRWM - Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

On December 6, 1999, Congressman Kucinich has also filed comments on the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Draft Environmental Impact Statement. .

Clean Air Standards


Congressman Kucinich believes that job creation and economic revitalization are consistent with protecting the environment. In the 105th Congress, Congressman Kucinich initiated an effort to safeguard our environment by fighting to protect the Clean Air Act and to safeguard the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tighten air quality standards. Congressman Kucinich maintained in letters to President Clinton and EPA Administrator Carol Browner that the public supports stricter clean air standards, and that these standards should be implemented without delay. Kucinich organized his colleagues by leading a campaign against an amendment to an appropriations bill that attempted to block the EPA from enforcing air quality standards. The amendment was quickly withdrawn after a bipartisan coalition in opposition was mobilized.

Environmental Disclosure


In October of 1999, Kucinich supported an amendment that requires environmental concerns be taken into account when the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is considering assistance for projects that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact. OPIC is an executive agency that provides political risk insurance to American companies opening facilities overseas. The success of this amendment achieved a significant victory for the environment.

The amendment required information disclosure for environmentally sensitive OPIC Investment Fund projects such as oil refineries, chemical plants, oil and gas pipelines, large-scale logging projects and projects near wetlands or other protected areas. Current OPIC Investment Funds are not subject to any transparency requirements. While these projects may be necessary for the industrial development of developing countries, holding the US taxpayers liable for investments in projects that could pose serious environmental or health risks to local populations with no public oversight or disclosure is unacceptable. Thankfully, we have reduced the threat by requiring environmental disclosure of these projects.

Cleveland’s Eveready Plant Cleanup


In January 2000, Congressman Kucinich intervened in the planned redevelopment of the abandoned Eveready Battery factory. Eveready decided to abandon the original developer in favor of a less experienced developer who did not insist on a full environmental cleanup at this old battery production site. However, documentation of toxic metals and volatile organic chemicals in a waste pit on the site indicated that a cleanup was necessary. Kucinich asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to intervene to ensure public safety. Since these documents were not readily available for the public to review, Kucinich placed all the available environmental cleanup documents at the Walz Branch of the Cleveland Public Library over the objections of Eveready. The. U.S. EPA review should be complete soon.

Local


Congressman Kucinich’s office was instrumental in obtaining a grant worth nearly half a million dollars to restore Lincoln Park in Tremont. The Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) grant will be used to restore the park and make it a useful, attractive park in the center of the Tremont neighborhood.

Why Is This Issue Important?


The air we breath, the water we drink and the forests we live near are not unlimited resources to be exploited. These are precious resources owned by the public interest. Polluting these resources and other ecological damages are a crime against society. Congressman Kucinich will continue to press for tough enforcement of existing environmental laws and the continued strengthening of these laws. Ensuring clean air, ensuring clean water, cleaning up toxic dumps, reducing global climate change and protecting our forests are top priorities for Congressman Kucinich.

Locally, a sustainable approach to living is how we make changes to the world. Right now in Cleveland, there is an effort to bring sustainability to Northeast Ohio. People are organizing elected officials, businesses and the public to adopt sustainability as a regional policy. The result will be programs to control urban sprawl, promote livable communities and smart growth, and regional planning in an environmentally protective way.

What You Can Do To Help


• Recycle.

• Monitor and question local environmental issues.

• Join a local or national organization that represents your views.

• Petition your elected officials for specific clean up actions in your community and stronger national laws to prevent pollution.

• Come to the conference on May 11-13, 2000, in Cleveland, Ohio, where we will plan to promote sustainable policies in architecture and urban design, business and economics, infrastructure, health and education and political and legal issues. If you want to attend, please contact my Lakewood office at 216-228-8850.

 Helpful Resources:

http://www.foe.org/&ln_desc=Friends+of+the+Earth">Friends of the Earth
http://www.sierraclub.org/environment/&ln_desc=Sierra+Club">Sierra Club
http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/oh/&ln_desc=Ohio+Sierra+Club">Ohio Sierra Club
http://www.epa.gov/&ln_desc=U.S.+Environmental+Protection+Agency">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.house.gov/meehan/sdcaucus.htm&ln_desc=Sustainable+Development+Caucus">Sustainable Development Caucus
http://www.igc.apc.org/pirg/ohiopirg/index.htm&ln_desc=Ohio+PIRG">Ohio PIRG
http://www.ohiocitizen.org/index.html&ln_desc=Ohio+Citizen+Action">Ohio Citizen Action
http://www.ecocleveland.org/b/index.html&ln_desc=EcoCity+Cleveland">EcoCity Cleveland
http://www.theoec.org/&ln_desc=Ohio+Environmental+Council">Ohio Environmental Council
http://www.earthdaycoalition.org/&ln_desc=Earthday+Coalition">Earthday Coalition

Letters of the 107th Congress, 1st Session

September 26, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Congressman Walsh of the Appropriations Committee requesting that he assist in securing an earmark in the amount of $5 million in EPA wastewater special purpose grant funds.

September 26, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich wrote a letter to Thomas Skinner, Regional Administrator of the EPA, in support of the Ohio Program Review.

September 26, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush expressing concern about the Administration’s decision to reopen the decision of the National Park Service to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks.

September 25, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Congressman Walsh of the House Appropriations Committee requesting $5 million in wastewater special purpose grant funds for the Doan Brook Easterly Pollution Abatement project.

September 21, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee asking them to concur with the Arsenic in Playground Equipment Amendment during Conference.

September 21, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Congressmen Walsh and Mollohan of the House Appropriations Committee urging them to concur with the Arsenic in Playground Equipment Amendment.

September 18, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to the House and Senate conferees on the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to urge them to keep the provision to prevent Great Lakes drilling.

September 5, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Ann Veneman, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, in support of the Forest Service’s Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

July 23, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the U.S. EPA, urging her to make a positive decision about cleaning up the contaminated sediment in the Hudson River that upholds the Superfund Act.

May 25, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Interior Appropriations requesting that funds in the Interior Appropriations bill intended to facilitate drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge be eliminated.

May 25, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich cosigned a letter to the Agriculture committee asking for increased funding for conservation incentive programs for farmers.

May 16, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich sent letters to the EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking about the role and progress of each agency’s efforts to clean contaminated sediment of the Great Lakes.

May 9, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the EPA, urging her to honor the public’s right-to-know about arsenic in the drinking water.

May 2, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich sent a letter to the entire House of Representatives asking for support for H.R. 1585. This bill would commission a study on proximity of federal housing to toxic sites.

April 30, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter supporting the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund Enhancement Act; Water and Infrastructure Improvement Act. This act would fund $5.4 billion annually for five years.

April 30, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to implement the Roadless Area Conservation Policy that would protect 60 million acres of national forest land from logging and roadbuilding.

April 30, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to implement Forest Conservation Regulations to preserve 60 million acres from logging, mining, and gas exploration.

April 4, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to continue U.S. participation in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

April 2, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich sent a letter to Rep. Joe Skeen, Chairman of the House Interior Appropriations Committee, urging him to increase funding for the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund.

March 16, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to James Nussle, Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget, urging him to reject the President’s request to include revenues from proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge into the budget.

March 14, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to seek reductions in the emissions of carbon dioxide.

March 13, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich sent a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell requesting funds for the United Nations Environment Program which would allow for investigating the presence of radioactive debris in Kosovo.

March 5, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich signed on to a letter to President George W. Bush expressing his support for the continuation of the American Heritage Rivers Initiative.

February 6, 2001 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich joined the Livable Communities Task Force. The LCTF focuses on livability, sustainable development, the environment, and smart growth issues.

Letters


106th Congress

October 26, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Ambassador Barshefsky, U.S. Trade Representative, requesting that the U.S. respond to the increase in the Japanese Whaling situation.

October 25, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Chairman Young and Ranking Member Obey of the House Appropriations Committee urging opposition to an anti-environmental rider that weakens the Endangered Species Act by increasing the uncertainty of the Steller sea lions.

October 4, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Secretary of the Department of Energy Richardson requesting a clean up of 150 former nuclear-weapons sites and to aid citizens affected by the hazardous conditions.

October 2, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Chairman Young of the House Committee on Appropriations requesting support of efforts to extend the moratorium on individual fishing quotas (IFQs), enabling ample time for Congress to develop legislative standards for all IFQ programs.

September 22, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Carol Browner, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, urging the EPA to make a positive determination in regulating the leading source of mercury emissions: coal-fired electric utilities.

September 19, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Secretary of State Albright urging the Administration to negotiate a treaty on the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that will protect the Great Lakes effectively.

September 13, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to President Clinton urging him to use the upcoming appropriations negotiation period as an opportunity to secure adequate funding for the Livable Communities Agenda.

September 07, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Conferees urging them to include language in the Agriculture Appropriations bill legalizing importation of FDA-approved drugs.

September 07, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to President Clinton requesting he leverage more money for sustainable development/ the Livable Communities Agenda in budget negotiations.

September 07, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Administrator Carol Browner of the Environmental Protection Agency urging the EPA to issue a rule that would prohibit mercury emissions from powerplants, sighting the National Academy of Sciences finding that mercury levels in the environment do post a risk.

July 27, 2000 -Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Secretary of the Department of the Interior Brice Babbitt, requesting that the Department take appropriate steps to provide interim protection Bureau of Land Management wilderness lands.

July 17, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Rodney E. Slater, Secretary of Transportation and Kenneth Wykle of the Federal Highway Administration requesting a dialogue about strengthening the Department of Transportation’s efforts to implement the Urban Youth Corps provisions of the National and Community Service Act of 1993.

July 12, 2000 Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Mike Dombeck, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service urging the agency to manage motorized use of national forests.

June 16, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to President Clinton requesting continued opposition to anti-environmental riders and a commitment to a veto to stop these riders.

June 12, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to President Clinton urging him to include the Alaskan Tongass National Forest in the Roadless Area program protecting it from development.

June 8, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Secretary Babbit asking the Bureau of Land Management to inventory its federal lands to determine wilderness areas. May 22, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Forest Service requesting regulations on off road vehicles in national forests.

March 20, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Committee on Appropriations requesting money to deal with non-native invasive species because of the serious economic and environmental issues created by these species. the concern caused by the zebra mussell, specific to the Great Lakes, would be one of the species to be studied.

March 14, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee asking for support for Urban and Community Forestry programs which would improve environmental conditions and quality of life in America’s cities and towns.

March 14, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee advocating support for the National Sea Grant College Program to conduct research on issues of concern for coastal, marine, and the Great Lakes ecosystems.

March 14, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee requesting additional funding for national scenic and historic trails because of their increased use for recreational activities.

March 9, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Governor Gilmore of Virginia asking for support of H.R. 1190, the “Solid Waste Transportation and Local Authority Act.” The bill permits states to have control over trash commerce.

March 9, 2000 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the International Trade Commission expressing support for the continuation of anti-dumping duty orders in place on steel bearings from certain countries in Asia and Europe.

October 18, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the President expressing deep concern and strong opposition to the numerous anti-environmental riders that have been attached to several of this year’s appropriations bills in both the House and Senate.

September 21, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to House and Senate conferees of the Commerce/Justice State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Conference Committees opposing a rider that blocks the Administration from climate change efforts and complete treaty negotiations. This letter promotes the ability of the United States to promote technology and share information with other countries about strategies to combat climate change.

September 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency urging strong standards for the recently proposed radiation protection standards for Yucca Mountain.

August 4, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the President urging him to continue to consider all options available to reverse declines in populations of Salmon in the lower Snake River.

June 15, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to his colleagues asking them to oppose the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999 because it moves high-level nuclear waste through 43 states; decreases environmental standards and laws; and, raids the Social Security surplus.

March 25, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Representative Ralph Regula, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior Committee on Appropriations, to urge additional funding to support work on the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This regional plan would help conserve important migratory wetland and grassland habitat.

March 25, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter supporting appropriation funds for environmentally friendly Great Lakes projects.

March 25, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Chairman Rogers of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary expressing strong support for State Department and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration programs that benefit the Great Lakes.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Frank Wolf, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation on the Committee on Appropriations to express his support of Department of Transportation activities that promote shipping in the Great Lakes. These programs are essential to the economic livelihood of the Great Lakes.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Chairman Ron Packard of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to voice his support of funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorities to enhance the environmental and economic needs of the Great Lakes region. These funding requests, bipartisan in nature, help ensure the successful implementation of Army Corps programs.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich joined his colleagues in a letter to Chairman Ralph Regula of the Subcommittee on Interior Committee on Appropriations to advocate programs in the Department of the Interior which protect fish and wildlife resources in the Great Lakes. By providing adequate funding, it insures proper management of the vital Great Lakes fisheries.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to James Walsh, Chairman on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies to support adequate funding of regional EPA programs.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Chairman Joe Skeen of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration to express his endorsement of programs to alleviate environmental impacts of agriculture. These programs would promote proper land use practices to prevent soil erosion, nutrient runoff, and degradation of water quality.

March 12, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to James Walsh, Chairman of the Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies to support funding for regional EPA programs. These programs, such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Water Quality Grants, and Clean Lakes program are important for supporting clean water, pollution control and successful implementation of EPA programs.

March 1, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to Vice President Al Gore to heighten his awareness of the United States steel industry trade crisis because of imported dumped and subsidized steel. This crisis has a negative influence on domestic steel recycling, sustainability, American jobs, small businesses and the global environment.

February 23, 1999 - Congressman Kucinich co-signed a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Jacob J. Lew requesting that the office expedite its review of the EPA’s standards on radiation release and allow the EPA to release these findings. It will give priority to the EPA standards, which are more strict than other standards for the Yucca Mountain site.

Bills Cosponsored in the 107th Congress, 1st Session


H.R. 36 - National Discovery Trails of Act of 2001.
This bill authorizes an additional category of national trail known as a national discovery trail, to provide special requirements for the establishment and administration of national discovery trails, and to designate the cross country American Discovery Trail as the first national discovery trail.

H.R. 770 - The Morris K. Udall Arctic National Wilderness Act of 2001.
A bill to preserve the Arctic coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, as wilderness in recognition of its extraordinary natural ecosystems and for the permanent good of present and future generations of Americans.

H.R. 488 - The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act.
A bill to designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

H.R. 117 - A bill which expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should develop, promote, and implement policies to reduce emissions of fossil fuel generated carbon dioxide with the goal of achieving stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States at the 1990 level by the year 2010.

H.R. 1252 - The Arsenic Reduction in Drinking Water Act.
A bill to decrease arsenic levels in drinking water to 10 parts per billion by 2003, and to 3 parts per billion by 2006. It would also authorize $800 million for small community water systems in order to meet standards.

H.R. 1431 - The Ombudsman Reauthorization Act.
A bill to reauthorize the Office of Ombudsman in the EPA as an independent office with its own budget. It would also require the Ombudsman to make a yearly report to Congress.

H.R. 1465 - The National Park Snowmobile Restrictions Act of 2001.
A bill to ban the use of snowmobile use in eleven national parks.

H.R. 908 - The Forest Access Immediate Relief Act of 2001.
A bill to terminate the Forest Service’s participation in the recreational fee demonstration program. Recreational fees are an unfair burden on less affluent individuals who wish to use public lands for recreation.

H.R. 2375 - The Working Lands Stewardship Act of 2001.
A bill to protect farmers from urban sprawl, protect water quality and wildlife habitats, and encourage organic farming.

H.R. 1070- The Great Lakes Legacy Act.
A bill to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants for remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern and to authorize assistance for research and development of innovative technologies for such purposes.

H.R. 2570- The Fisheries Recovery Act of 2001.
A bill to improve fish populations by preserving habitat, preventing over-fishing and decreasing by catch.

H.R. 2154- The Military Environmental Responsibility Act.
A bill to require the Department of Defense and all other defense-related agencies of the United States to fully comply with Federal and State environmental laws, including certain laws relating to public health and worker safety, that are designed to protect the environment and the health and safety of the public.

CARA - The Conservation and Reinvestment Act.
Bill which authorizes funding for coastal ecosystems, Land and water conservation fund, wildlife, urban parks, historic preservation, Indian Lands and Endangered species.

H.R. 1032 - Great Lakes Water Protection Act.
A bill that places a drilling moratorium on the Great Lakes, directs the EPA to conduct a study of the environmental risks associated with drilling in the Great Lakes, and authorizes grants to Great Lakes states for conservation programs.

H.R. 1465 - Yellowstone-Grand Teton Snowmobile Bill.
A bill that protects national parks by affirming a rule of the National Park Service that would phase out snowmobile use in eleven parks.

H.R. 2729 - Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 2001.
A bill that reduces mercury pollution by requiring the EPA to create mercury emissions standards and regulations.

H.R. 2512 - The Act to Save America’s Forests.
A bill to end clearcutting on federal forestlands and ban logging in the last virgin forests and other core areas.

H.R. 2908 - Alaska Rainforest Conservation Act.
A bill to protect Alaska’s Tongass National Forest by including it in the roadless rule.

Bills Cosponsored


106th Congress

Community Character Act of 2000:
A bill that provides state grants to develop land use policies that promotes the goals of livable communities.

H.R. 4939 - Community Environmental Equity Act:
A bill that prohibits exposure to hazardous substances; requires assessments for all phases of waste treatment; and prohibits environmental injustice.

H.R. 4046 - Fisheries Recovery Act of 2000:
A bill to recover depleted fish stocks and promote the long-term sustainability of marine fisheries.

HR 4566 - Steel and Metals Consumer Radioactivity Protection Act (SCRAP):
A bill to instruct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue a rule-making on radiation releases in scrap metals and stops all releases until this standard is set.

HR 4013 - Upper Mississippi River Basin Conservation Act:
A bill to promote land conservation to reduce sediment and nutrient loading into the Upper Mississippi River.

HR 829 - Colorado Wilderness Act:
A bill to designate certain land in Colorado as National Wilderness Preservation System lands.

HR 4191 - Great Lakes Ecology Protection Act of 2000:
A bill to prevent invasive species in the Great Lakes and to prohibit ballast water discharges unless it is treated first. Permitting State Regulation of Oil Tanker Beyond Federal Regulations: A bill to continue the minimum federal standards and allow states to add more requirements. The Supreme Court has thrown out all state laws that require additional requirements on oil tankers.

HR 3686 - Road Back to Clean Air Act:
A bill to legislate current EPA and U.S. DOT regulations on transportation projects by ensuring air pollution concerns are addressed.

HR 1239 - Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act of 1997:
A bill to protect 1.5 million acres of Arctic National Wildlife refuge.

HR 525 - Defense of the Environment Act of 1999:
A bill to provide for the defense of the environment by preventing anti-environmental riders on bills and guarantees informed and accountable congressional process.

HR 1154 - National Parks Checkoff Act of 1999:
A bill to allow individuals to designate any portion of their income tax overpayments, and to make other contributions, for the benefit of units of the National Park System.

HR 1205 - A bill to prohibit oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.

HR 1657 - Children's Environmental Protection and Right to Know Act of 1999:
A bill to give community citizens the right to know about the toxic ingredients in household products with which their children may come in contact.

HR 1190 - Solid Waste Interstate Transportation and Local Authority Act of 1999:
A bill to provide tools enabling state and local governments to responsibly manage waste from other states.

HR 488 - Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1999:
A bill to designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors and certain public lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

HR 1549 - National Clean Water Trust Fund Act of 1999:
A bill to separate funds collected from Clean Water Act fines and penalties. It would designate these funds into a Clean Water Trust Fund as opposed to the General US Treasury and provide that these funds be used for enforcement actions and reparative projects associated with the Clean Water Act.

HR 2339 - National Discovery Trails Act of 1999:
A bill to develop the nation’s first coast- to-coast multi-use trail designated as the American Discovery Trail, the first national discovery trail. The first proposed trail would go through southern Ohio.

HR 2512 - The Act to Save America’s Forests:
A bill to protect federal forest lands by abolishing clear cutting and logging in remaining core areas of biodiversity within federal land.

HR 684 - Farm Sustainability and Animal Feedlot Enforcement Act (Farm Safe Act):
A bill to control pollution from large confined animal feeding operations.

HR 1732 - America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 1999:
A bill to designate certain Federal land in the State of Utah as wilderness, and for other purposes.

HR 488 - Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act of 1999:
A bill to protect public lands in the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

HR 2339 - American Discovery Trails Act:
A bill to develop the nation’s first coast-to-coast multi use trail. The first proposed trail would go through part of Ohio.

HR 798 - Resources 2000:
A bill to fully fund the land and water conservation fund - monies for parks, public lands, forests, and urban recreation.

HR 869 - Stop Drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf:
A bill to codify a Presidential Executive Order banning drilling on the outer continental shelf.

HR 2969- The Ecosystem and Indigenous Peoples Protection Act:
A bill to direct the U.S. Representative at the World Bank to vote and use influence to ensure that higher environmental standards are met. Enforcement achieved by denying U.S. funding for the Bank if it proceeds with environmentally destructive projects.

HR 2720 - The Clean Water Infrastructure Financing Act:
A bill that provides a $15 billion authorization for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Its purpose is to fund wastewater treatment infrastructure with state grants. Additional sewage treatment plants prevent raw sewage flow into rivers and lakes.

HR 2956 - Children's Protection and Community Cleanup Act of 1999:
A bill to strengthen superfund law by requiring a right to know. It increases penalties on willful polluters, raising pollution standards, gives poor communities that are polluted same priority for clean-up as wealthier communities.

HR 2868 - School Payments in Lieu of Timber Sales:
A bill to increase school payments, but is linked to increased timber sales.

HR 1106- Alternative Water Sources Act of 1999:
A bill to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to State agencies for projects that reclaim local water, wastewater and runoff for reuse. It also funds conservation managed by the EPA.

http://www.house.gov/kucinich/issues/environment.htm