Environment

Appropriations Bill Riders

During the past four years the Republican leadership in Congress has relied on a back-door lawmaking technique that allows them to undermine our environmental laws without having to face public scrutiny. This technique starts with "must-pass" legislation like yearly government appropriations bills. When these bills near consideration, House leaders insert amendments that have nothing to do with the bill´s stated purpose. Because these "riders" are added at the last minute – often literally in the dead of night – they escape careful Committee examination. They then come to the floor as part of a much larger piece of legislation and escape an informed debate or a separate vote. By avoiding the public´s eye, lawmakers use this process to pass legislation that otherwise would not have sufficient support to be passed.

Fighting anti-environmental riders has become an annual ritual in the House of Representatives. Over forty riders were enacted in the last Congress, affecting a broad range of environmental issues – from protection of public lands to exposure of children to toxic chemicals.

To stop this secretive process I introduced the Defense of the Environment Act of 1999 with Representatives Dick Gephardt and George Miller. This commonsense legislation – cosponsored by over ninety members of the House – would allow an informed debate and accountable vote on anti-environmental riders.

On February 10, 1999 I offered this legislation as an amendment to H.R. 350, "The Mandates Information Act." Please review my efforts on the Defense of the Environment Act and the Defense of the Environment Amendment to ensure that the lawmaking process is open, fair, and accountable.

Statements on Anti-Environmental Riders

February 10, 1999
Statement on the Defense of the Environment Amendment to H.R. 350
This amendment contained the same key provisions of the Defense of the Environment Act I proposed (see below). This amendment failed by a vote of 216 to 203.
You can also read "Mandates and Penalties," the Washington Post editorial on H.R. 350.

February 10, 1999
Summary of the Defense of the Environment Amendment to H.R. 350

February 3, 1999
Defense of the Environment Act of 1999 (H.R. 525)
This act would keep anti-environmental riders out of must-pass legislation. I introduced this bill along with Minority Leader Gephardt and Representative George Miller.

September 29, 1998
Statement opposing anti-environmental riders in appropriations bills
I fought with other Members of Congress to keep anti-environmental riders out of appropriations bills in 1998. We had some success, but over 40 anti-environmental riders were enacted in the last two years.

September 28, 1998
Letter to President Clinton requesting a veto on appropriations bills that contain anti-environmental riders (signed by 156 members of Congress)
The Democrats in the House of Representatives took a stand against anti-environmental riders. For the last four years, the repeated use of this stealth tactic has undermined our democratic process.