15 



enjoyed robust economic growth and business expansion, even in 

 those many businesses regulated by tough environmental require- 

 ments. 



And a new report by MIT Professor Stephen M. Meyer confirms 

 that over the past 2 decades, the States with the stronger environ- 

 mental programs outperformed States with weaker environmental 

 programs on all measures of economic growth. 



The planet is small and our resources finite. It cannot keep on 

 taking the pounding it is received and continue to provide the 

 healthy, life-sustaining environment on which we depend. We owe 

 our children and future generations a habitable earth, and we can 

 do a better job in achieving that objective. We must. 



Making EPA Cabinet-level in and of itself will not solve our envi- 

 ronmental problems. We need more funding, tougher enforcement, 

 and stronger leadership. I am convinced that the Clinton-Gore Ad- 

 ministration is committed to providing this leadership and to tack- 

 ling our environmental problems head-on. But I firmly believe that 

 making EPA a Cabinet-level agency will give it the stature, the 

 voice, and the visibility to propel the environment to the top of our 

 National agenda and help it take its place alongside the economic 

 issues, health care and other important items. That is a good first 

 step down the road to a more environmentally sound tomorrow. 



Mr. Chairman, once again, I commend you for taking a leader- 

 ship position in moving this issue, and I hope that the Committee 

 will report the bill expeditiously. 



Chairman Glenn. Thank you. Senator Lautenberg. 



Senator Durenberger. 



TESTIMONY OF HON. DAVE DURENBERGER, U.S. SENATOR FROM 



THE STATE OF MINNESOTA 



Senator Durenberger. Mr. Chairman, Senator Roth, along with 

 my colleagues I am here to congratulate both of you for taking 

 prompt action on this legislation. I know the personal effort and 

 the commitment that both of you have made to this bill and its 

 predecessors and also to protecting human health and our natural 

 resources through other legislation, as well. 



Elevating the environmental function to Cabinet rank is a pretty 

 simple proposition, and there is not much new to say, so with your 

 permission, I will use this opportunity to offer a small challenge to 

 the new Administration. 



The principal reason to make EPA a Cabinet department is to 

 involve the President more directly in setting environmental 

 policy. I have many times illustrated the value of Presidential in- 

 volvement by citing the issue of acid rain, with which we are all 

 very familiar. 



The first bill to address the acid rain problems were introduced 

 in the United States Senate in 1980. I was in on that launch, as I 

 have been on this since the summer of 1988. Over the next decade, 

 the Environment and Public Works Committee reported acid rain 

 legislation on four occEisions, without any result. Those efforts were 

 directed by very able legislators. George Mitchell was one, Bob 

 Stafford another. 



