265 
I would urge you to exercise that jurisdiction and report a measure 
which will protect us from our own weapons of defense. 
Mr. Dinceiu. Our next witness is Mr. Fascell, who has long been 
interested in this matter. We are pleased to welcome you to this com- 
mittee to discuss any or all of the bills now pending of which you are 
a sponsor of a large number of them. 
STATEMENT OF HON. DANTE B. FASCELL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA 
Mr. Fascetyi. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Roerrs. Mr. Chairman, before our distinguished colleague be- 
gins, may I just join the chairman in welcoming my colleague from 
Florida to the committee. He has been on top of this problem. He 
has done an excellent job of bringing this to the attention of the Con- 
gress and I think his legislation attests to that. 
I commend him and welcome him. 
Mr. Fascetu. I thank my distinguished friend and colleague for 
those kind words. 
I am delighted to have the opportunity to hear your testimony and 
appear before this subcommittee which has done so much and taken 
such an important leadership in this problem. Of course, I am de- 
hghted that my colleague from Florida Congressman Rogers has for 
many years taken the position of national leadership in the fight 
against pollution. 
Mr. Chairman, my colleague’s testimony evokes some comment from 
me before I get to my prepared statement. With all the interest that 
exists in the Congress now, as evidenced by the number of bills be- 
fore this subcommittee and other legislation which has been passed 
by the Congress over the past several years, the exceeding public 
interest and awarenesss that exists, it is obvious that now is the time 
to take a seven-league step. 
There is no doubt that man is destroying his environment faster 
than he can rehabilitate it, and the cost is going to be phenomenal. 
The best time to get over the hurdle of the cost is the time when 
people demand that something be done. 
It cannot be done for nothing. I think here is an obvious opportunity 
that gives us a square shot at the challenge. 
My other comment is, in answer to Mr. Downing’s very pointed 
question, “What are you going to do with it?” Technology, as my 
colleague from Florida has said, is the answer to many pollution 
problems. I have read that raw garbage can be compressed and treated 
so that it can be used as a building material which is impervious to 
rot, water, termites and other destructive elements. 
Technology like that is fantastic. It is beyond my comprehension. 
If it is true, what a great way to use up the garbage. I do not think 
technology is all-powerful but it gives us great opportunity if we 
will just prod it, as Mr. Rogers has said. 
Mr. Chairman, you have a lot of bills before you. I am going to 
limit my comments to the two I have introduced which carry a host 
of cosponsors, somewhere between 70 and 80 on each bill. 
