8 



gram. This will help the Congress to better evaluate the relevance 

 of EPA's research program. 



In addition, the bills establish a program to modernize the lab- 

 oratories. We are doing that for most other agencies of the Federal 

 Government and EPA should be included in that effort. 



These companion legislative initiatives also direct the Adminis- 

 trator to establish a program to transfer these environmental tech- 

 nologies and information to outside groups. That is equally impor- 

 tant. 



We in the House commend your leadership in this area, Mr. 

 Chairman, and pledge to work closely with you on this and other 

 legislation to guarantee that all Americans can experience the level 

 of environmental quality they expect and deserve. 



Let me conclude by just thanking you for the great work you are 

 doing and express our very strong desire to continue to cooperate 

 with you. 



Senator REID [resuming the chair]. Chairman Brown, I appre- 

 ciate that very much. 



While I was gone, I know that you talked about desalinization. 

 Senator Simon and I have worked on that a great deal. We have 

 legislation that is pending to put more money into the work that 

 we are doing on desalinization, which is not very much. We should 

 be doing a lot more. 



With the problems we have in the world, I think it is the only 

 answer. We need to be able to do something economically in order 

 to turn salt water into potable water. There are two problems, as 

 you are aware, the tremendous expense involved in the electricity 

 power to generate to break it down and then what to do with the 

 waste afterwards. Those are the two problems we need to try to 

 solve. 



Congressman Valentine? 



STATEMENT OF HON. TIM VALENTINE, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE 

 FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA 



Mr. Valentine. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the opportunity 

 to appear here, especially to sit at this table and bask in the re- 

 flected sunlight from our distinguished chairman of the Science 

 Committee. 



Senator Reid. And that is not artificial light, either. 



[Laughter.] 



Mr. Valentine. No, it is not, sir. It comes directly from above. 

 I wouldn't exactly call it a halo. 



[Laughter.] 



Mr. Valentine. The chairman is aware personally of Mr. 

 Brown's accomplishments. Most of what we do on the Science Com- 

 mittee — I wouldn't say it is "warmed-over George Brown" but most 

 of it has his fingerprints all over it as a result of his fertile imagi- 

 nation. 



I want to say also, Mr. Chairman, that I take great pride in the 

 fact that we came to this institution known as the United States 

 Congress at the same time. You served on the Science Committee 

 and I would like to think that what you learned there helped you 

 to be catapulted into this august position where you have served 

 with great distinction for the past several years. 



