lion over two years. In contrast, it costs $30,000 a year to elevate 

 EPA. 



If the Chairman of the EPA had already achieved Cabinet-level 

 status, I doubt that Ms. Browner would be here today to request 

 enactment of these extraneous provisions, nor do I believe that 

 these provisions win votes for us on the Senate Floor. As I said 

 before, I believe that these provisions only make the journey a lot 

 more difficult. 



Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would hope that you would join me 

 in pursuing a clean bill strategy. 



Thank you. 



Chairman Glenn. Thank you. 



Under our early bird order, Senator Akaka and then Senator 

 Lieberman. If they have statements, we hope we can keep them 

 short because we want to get to our witnesses. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR AKAKA 



Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



I am pleased to be a cosponsor of your bill granting Cabinet 

 status to EPA. We are now at a point where the question is not 

 whether we should have it. It is a question of when. This could not 

 have happened at a more opportune time, considering the new Ad- 

 ministration's commitment to the environment both at home and 

 abroad. 



Mr. Chairman, elevating EIPA to Cabinet status has been an 

 issue thoroughly debated in previous Congresses. While there may 

 be differences on approaches to this issue, it is abundantly clear 

 that this legislation is necessary if we are to safeguard and pre- 

 serve our Nation's fragile environment. From clean air and clean 

 water programs to global climate protection and a clean-up of haz- 

 ardous wastes, our Nation must have a Cabinet-level department to 

 effectively coordinate these issues among the various Federal de- 

 partments and agencies who may have overlapping jurisdiction. 



As most of us realize, America's environmental agenda should 

 not be limited to our own borders. The interdependency of nations 

 in the world economy has led to inevitable and shared concerns 

 over the environment. This was evident at last year's Earth 

 Summit, and it is evident in ongoing trade agreements such as the 

 North American Free Trade Agreement. 



The elevation of EPA to Cabinet status will enable America to 

 provide the necessary leadership in the world community on envi- 

 ronmental issues. I look forward to the enactment of this impor- 

 tant legislation and I look forward to working with the Clinton Ad- 

 ministration in effectuating a strong and coordinated national envi- 

 ronmental policy. 



Thank you very much. 



Chairman Glenn. Thank you very much. 



Senator Lieberman? 



OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR LIEBERMAN 



Senator Lieberman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

 I am glad to be here to support the bill and would like to just 

 make a few brief comments and submit a statement for the record. 



