ample is radon. We all know that when it comes to radon 5 percent 

 of the exposure is in drinking water and 95 percent in air. It is crit- 

 ical that we measure correctly to make sure that our remedies are 

 well tailored to the problem. Science and good research helps us do 

 that. 



Environmental problems we face today are extremely complex. 

 They can be subtle. They demand much of science and sometimes 

 demand more than science can deliver. Science will never answer 

 all our questions, but policymakers will always need good science 

 in order to exercise good judgment. 



Furthermore, our leadership in environmental science leads to 

 new technologies, new technologies which can clean up pollution 

 more efficiently and also create jobs. The last few days, Adminis- 

 trator Browner has proposed two forward-looking initiatives to bet- 

 ter enable the EPA to address the complex environmental issues 

 we face. Both the laboratory reorganization plan and the common 

 sense initiative are designed to make EPA more effective in carry- 

 ing out its mission to protect the human health and the environ- 

 ment. That is the kind of focus we need to have in order for our 

 environmental goals to be reached, particularly if we are going to 

 maintain a high level of public support. 



In closing, let me again commend Senator Reid for calling this 

 hearing, and also praise him for his leadership, as well as Senator 

 Lieberman. Senator Lieberman has been a terrific addition to this 

 committee. I know of no other Senator with more intelligence or 

 dedication or focus than the Senator from Connecticut. I want ev- 

 eryone to know that his presence on the committee is well noted. 



Senator Lieberman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I particularly 

 appreciate those kind words, particularly coming from you. It has 

 been a pleasure to serve with you as chairman the last couple of 

 years. 



I have a statement that I would ask to be included in the record, 

 then I am going to make three quick points so that we can yield 

 to our friends from the House. 



Senator BAUCUS. Without objection, your prepared statement will 

 appear in the record. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, U.S. 

 SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT 



Senator Lieberman. As has already been indicated, this bill does 

 get to the heart of the whole question of how to have fact-based en- 

 vironmental protection, which is so much in the air today. Not only 

 has the research and development function at EPA come under 

 some criticism lately, but almost every bill that we pass here is an 

 occasion to raise questions about whether we are basing our actions 

 on science or on our own reactions to public anxiety. It is a real 

 challenge for us in a democracy to balance — particularly since most 

 of us are laymen and not scientists — our natural desire to be cau- 

 tious and therefore in some measure to over-protect against threats 

 with the standard of fairness that we like to set for ourselves, 

 which is to base our actions on fact as opposed to fear. 



This division of EPA is at the heart of rational results to that 

 dilemma. 



