Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to K. B., February 18, 1997

Congress of ttjr ainitrb States $outfe of Eepregentatibes (BHasIjington, ЭС 20515-2002 February 18, 1997 isadena, MO 2422 Dear | Thank you for contacting me with your concern for environmental issues. It is always good to hear from the young people of Harford County. As a member of Congress, I have cast a number of important votes 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 the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 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. I also appreciated receiving a copy of the article from USA Today. I too am alarmed by reports of mass deformities being discovered in amphibians. While the scientific community has expressed several theories to explain this phenomenon, no definite cause has been found. I believe that EPA should consider to monitor this situation. At the same time, I would like to see the nation’s private universities and scientific foundations launch their own studies. Once the cause of these deformities has been isolated, it will be possible to determine what action the federal government needs to take. Once again, thank you for sharing your views. If I can be of additional assistance, please contact me again. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress