176 



the conference report. There is no mystery to this. There are big 

 dollars behind this and I am anxious to get more educated and 

 aware of it because I am sure if my constituency really understood 

 what we are talking about here, they would be very interested in 

 learning more about it, so thank you. 



Mr. Weldon. I would thank the gentleman and would say that 

 when we have the field hearing up in your area, this is certainly 

 an area that we could pick up on as it relates to Rhode Island and 

 the coastal States in that area. 



Mr. Pallone, do you have any other comments or questions? 



Mr. Pallone. I just wanted to say briefly, I know the day is long 

 here, but 



Mr. Weldon. It is very long. 



Mr. Pallone [continuing]. I appreciate all the testimony. I did 

 miss some of it, and I think maybe the most important thing, Mr. 

 Saxton has come back now so I am sure he will comment on it, 

 but 



Mr. Weldon. He will adjourn the hearing. 



Mr. Pallone. The most important thing, I think, is to continue 

 to be vigilant. We know that this has come up before in the Mer- 

 chant Marine and Fisheries Committee. As I said, there is no doubt 

 in my mind that this was put in the conference because it was not 

 to see the light of day. If it had come up in this authorizing com- 

 mittee or if it had come up in even the regular appropriations proc- 

 ess, it never would have gotten through. 



Now that this has been shifted back to our subcommittee, I think 

 that we just have to make sure that we bring to light the problems 

 with this bill and why it is essentially ocean dumping, albeit maybe 

 on a limited scale or maybe not. 



I just wanted to thank Mr. Saxton and also Mr. Torkildsen for 

 bringing this up on the floor today because I think that we at least 

 have thrown another roadblock in the way, but it is going to come 

 back to bite us again and we have to be constantly vigilant. So 

 thank you, Beth, and thank you Fred and thanks to the others for 

 bringing it to our attention again today. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Ms. Millemann. We really thank both of you for your good work 

 and very quick response time on this issue. It was really so impor- 

 tant for you to raise your voice again for the ocean £ind we really 

 appreciate your hard work on this. 



Mr. Saxton [presiding]. Thank you all. I apologize, but as you 

 know, things do not usually happen in twins around here but they 

 did today on the same subject, so I had to choose, as Mr. Pallone 

 has just correctly stated, to be on the floor addressing this same 

 issue. I think we have done so today successfully, and I thank Mr. 

 Pallone, who was the vanguard of ferreting out some language in 

 the appropriations bill that was objectionable to the New Jersey 

 delegation, so I am very pleased. 



I guess I would just ask that my statement be included in the 

 record at the appropriate place. 



Just let me ask a question for anyone who wishes to respond. As 

 you know, I just mentioned the conference report on the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce appropriations bill includes direction to study 

 potential technology delivery system for deep ocean material place- 



