Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to D. C., May 12, 1997

Congress of ttje fUnitcb States 8)ouse of EepreScntatibeo (Klasf)ington, 2)C 20515-2002 May 12, 1997 Dear Thank you for contacting me regarding H. R. 478, the Flood Protection and Family Protection Act of 1997. H. R. 478 would allow preventative maintenance and repair of flood control structures before natural disasters occurs, activities which are now almost impossible due to cumbersome reporting requirements under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). In order to undertake levee maintenance or repairs under the current law, flood control officials must adhere to rigid regulatory requirements that are extremely difficult to satisfy and that exact a tremendous cost at the local level. This bill is not an attempt at comprehensive ESA reauthorization, and should not be regarded as such. All it seeks to do is to strike a better balance between the needs of endangered species and people whose lives are upended by the kind of natural disasters we have witnessed in recent weeks. H. R. 478 was pulled from further consideration by the House when a weakening amendment passed during floor debate. I voted against this weakening amendment, and continue to support the version of H. R. 478 reported by the House Resources Committee. With respect to environmental issues, I have cast a number of votes which I believe are important from the standpoint of environmental protection. In May 1995 I voted against H. R. 961, a Republican-sponsored Clean Water Act reauthorization bill, because I believed it would have weakened laws important to the Chesapeake Bay. I also voted to delete from an appropriations bill 17 legislative provisions restricting EPA’s ability to enforce environmental laws and regulations important to the Bay. I also supported important legislation to reauthorize the Safe Drinking Water Act. Moreover, I also fought to preserve funding for an important environmental clean up program at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County. Thanks again for writing. Be assured that I will continue to give each proposal affecting the ESA and other environmental laws which comes before Congress thorough and careful consideration. Sincerely, /1%str Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress