Congressional Responses to Environmental Issues
Local Congressional Candidates on Environmental Priorities and Strategies for Houston-Galveston

The following are the unedited responses received from local congressional candidates to the following question posed by the CEC:What are the top environmental priorities facing the Houston-Galveston region, and what strategies do you feel will be most effective in addressing them?

Several follow-up calls were made to candidates to ensure that participation was as complete as possible.

Listed by District:

U.S.Senate
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 18
District 22
District 25
District 29

U.S. SENATE
- Phil Gramm: Did not respond.
- Victor Morales: Did not respond.
DISTRICT 7
- Bill Archer (Republican): Did not respond.
- Gene Hsiao (Independent):
  The top environmental priorities facing the Houston-Galveston region are the air/water pollution problems caused by the heavy refinery, petrochemical and other industries concentrated in the region. The most effective strategy is to encourage whistle-blowing reportings by the employees or any other persons who have relevant knowledge about the violations of any environmental laws by the companies or industries in the region.
- Al J.K. Siegmund (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Robert R. Sims, Jr. (Independent): Did not respond.
DISTRICT 8
- Kevin Brady (Republican):
  The two main environmental issues which have the greatest impact throughout District 8 (includes northern part of Harris County, the majority of Montgomery, Brazos and Austin Counties, a northern strip of Waller county and all of Washington County) are clean air and flooding along the San Jacinto and Brazos rivers. I believe that the way to solve our environmental problems is to encourage cooperation between federal, state and local governments as well as the private citizens and businesses within the community. Today we are subjected to federal mandates and regulations from agencies which simply do not consider the unique solutions and situations in our communities. As a Texas State Representative, I sponsored the legislation which established the ñWetlands Mitigation Banksî in Texas. This bill began a relationship of cooperation between environmental groups and developers enabling us to preserve both the environment and jobs in construction. As a Congressman, I will seek to find cost-effective solutions to environmental concerns based upon cooperation, innovation, and proven science rather than coercion and mandates.
- Gene Fontenot (Republican): Did not respond.
- Robert Musemeche (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Cynthia Newman (Democrat): Did not respond.
DISTRICT 9
- G.A. Brooks (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Geraldine Sam (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Nick Lampson (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Steve Stockman (Republican): Did not respond.
DISTRICT 18
- Jerry Burley (Republican): Did not respond.
- Michael Lamson (Democrat):
  The Houston-Galveston region should have three environmental priorities:
  1. WATER QUALITY- The standards for water quality in Houston and around the country need reevaluation. Federal guidelines on acceptability of drinking water requirements and techniques for improving same must be immediately designed and implemented.
  2. AIR QUALITY - Due to the number of automobiles in the Houston-Galveston area, the air quality has been deteriorating for years. Federal guidelines regarding catalytic converters and fuel additives must be enforced in the Houston area using road and transportation subsidies.
  3. POLLUTION - Although a far-reaching term, it applies most directly to petrochemical discharges and spills onto land and water. A review of EPA programs is necessary to see that sufficient funds are available to investigate problems and clean-up. Penalties for offending industries need to be increased and made a higher priority with the Department of Justice.
- Sheila Jackson Lee (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Larry White (Republican): Did not respond.
- George A. Young (Republican): Did not respond.
DISTRICT 22
- Scott Douglas Cunningham (Democrat):
  I view the following as the top environmental priorities facing the Houston/Galveston region:
  1. Air Quality - elevated ozone, chemical, and particulate pollutants; enforce/toughen federal emission control standard for both vehicles and industry.
  2. Water Quality-
  a. Ground water: toughen federal and state regulations to prohibit discharge of contaminants into ground water and aquifers.
  b. Off-shore: toughen regulation of industry effluents that will adversely impact coastal resources.
  c. Superfund Site(s) Cleanup: enhanced funding to accelerate clean-up of toxic sites and reclamation projects.
  d. Prevention of toxic spills and emissions on-shore through enhanced container and vessel safety and design requirements and deployment of containage equipment and technology.
- Tom DeLay (Republican): Did not respond.
DISTRICT 25
- Ken Bentsen (Democrat):
  I believe we need a common-sense approach to environmental protection that provides our families with clean air, clean water, and safe food while keeping regulations fair, simple, and affordable. During my first term in Congress, I have strongly opposed extreme budget cuts in environmental cleanup and enforcement, as well as efforts to roll back critical environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act and even to close some of our national parks. Instead, I have supported reasonable reform to require sound science in developing regulations and to reduce the regulatory burden on business without weakening environmental protection. I also strongly supported and voted for the new law strengthening and updating the Safe Drinking Water Act, which now requires utilities to disclose more information to the public about the pollutants in their drinking water.
  I also introduced and enacted into law legislation giving local agencies, such as the Harris County Flood Control District, the authority to plan and construct federal flood control projects. These reforms will allow Harris County to respond to flood control needs more quickly, more cost-effectively, and with innovative methods that better protect our neighborhoods and environment. I worked closely with local environmental organizations in developing this legislation. I also passed an amendment on the floor of the House of Representatives banning the importation of dangerous chemicals called PCBs for incineration in the United States. While this amendment did not become law, I won a guarantee from the Environmental Protection Agency to expand public right-to-know laws to include information about emissions and health risks from PCB incinerators.
- Beverly Clark (Democrat): Did not respond.
- Dotty Quinn Collins (Republican):
  The top environmental priorities facing the Houston-Galveston region are subsidence, water quality, and air pollution. Studies have revealed that 40% of all air pollution is caused by emissions from automobiles. I feel so strongly about this situation that I have focused my business on this very issue.
  I am an independent distributor for Bi-Tron, a twenty-first century lubricant which is made from recycled motor oil. It has absolutely no additives. It is packaged in recyclable plastic bottles. It is cased in boxes made from recycled paper products. Regular use of these products cut auto emissions in most cars by 50% and in some cars by 90%.
  The air pollution in Mexico City is so high that car owners are only allowed to drive every other day. Their environmental group is so excited about the effects of the use of Bi-Tron that they are trying to persuade their government to issue a special seal to be applied to all cars using Bi-Tron which would allow them to drive every day.
  Application of the product line is not limited to vehicles. Any machinery requiring any lubrication for moving parts is also a candidate. In this industrialized area of the state, the possibilities are limitless.
- John Devine (Republican): Did not respond. Jerry Freiwirth (Socialist Workers Party): Did not respond.
- Ken G. Mathis (Republican):
  Top priorities:
  1. Clean drinking water- bay, sealife.
  2. Air pollution- Strategies:
  E.P.A. monitoring-BUT let's put progress on an even par with non-essential habitat creatures in evaluation.
- Dolly Madison McKenna (Republican): Did not respond.
- Ron (R.C.) Meinke (Republican):
  Our main environmental problems in this area are clean water and clean air. We basically have enough agencies and laws on the books. All we need to do is isolate the violators, which is fairly easy to do, and enforce the laws we have quickly and effectively. I agree with most of your concerns but we must always use common sense and see the big picture when solving any problem. People always come first. Almost everyone is concerned about our environment so all we need to do is use good judgment in enforcement and be realistic.
- Lloyd W. Oliver (Republican):
  Lloyd Oliver believes that the main environmental problem in the Houston-Galveston area is the Ship Channel. He believes that the Ship Channel should be cleaned up and put to some sustainable and sound use, such as a harbor for recreational vehicles, or as a tourist attraction similar to what San Antonio has done with the Riverwalk. (Paraphrased from phone response with candidate's permission.)
- Brent Perry (Republican):
  The top environmental problems facing the Houston area are:
  (1) Superfund reform that ensures taxpayer dollars go to clean up waste sites and not into lawyers' pockets.
  (2) Widening the Houston Ship Channel in an environment-friendly manner that increases Channel safety, treats dredge material properly, and improves wildlife habitat in Galveston Bay.
  (3) Improving flexiblity of EPA regulations to ensure local industry has positive incentives to reduce air and water pollution and improve public health and safety.
- Dr. John M. Sanchez (Republican):
  Having lived and worked in East Harris County, I am very conscious of the environmental problems facing this area. I know how scary and frustrating it can be to live close to a major manufacturing plant and not know what is going on inside. Despite remarkable improvements in water and air quality in the past years, there is still a great deal of work to be done.
  For example, one of my priorities is Superfund reform. The entire Superfund system has been ineffective in cleaning up waste sites. Every year the list of sites gets longer and longer. Too much money is spent on litigation between companies and in administrative costs rather than actually cleaning the site. Reform has consistently been stalled by Democrats in Congress. I support changes in the Superfund system that force companies to take immediate responsibility for their fair share.
  Another priority is regulatory reform. I am aware of the economic burdens that environmental regulations put on businesses, both small and large alike. TodayÍs regulatory system for protecting the environment rivals only the IRS in complexity. Quite simply, most small or mid-size companies cannot understand the enormous volume of complicated regulations.
  Environmental laws must be made simpler so that everyone can understand and obey them. For that reason I support efforts by regulatory authorities to work with businesses and environmental groups to shape sensible and effective laws (based upon sound science) to protect our environment. I support the efforts by these authorities in helping businesses come into compliance. Make no mistake. Polluters who have no intention of obeying the laws while jeopardizing our safety and health should face stern penalties and frankly should be put out of business.
  I am pleased that most industries in this area have become far more environmentally conscious than before and have taken steps, sometimes voluntary, to protect the environment. I know from first-hand experience that the water quality for the Houston Ship Channel has improved immensely since I was growing up in this area.
  I am pro-environment and do not advocate backing off on the many environmental improvements we have made in the past years. These improvements should continue.
  I support legislation that gives companies an incentive to audit themselves and correct environmental problems.
DISTRICT 29
- Gene Green (Democrat):
  The Galveston Bay must be protected because it provides food, jobs and recreation for a diverse cross-section of our state's population. The bay's natural economic values are self-renewing as long as the bay remains healthy and productive. Maintaining the economic value of the Galveston Bay has always been a priority for me. The Galveston Bay area has lost more than 30,000 acres of coastal wetlands since the 1950's. That is why I supported efforts to use the dredged materials from the deeping and widening of the channel to construct an additional 3,560 acres of marshlands. I will continue to work with the Galveston Bay National Estuary Program to identify other ways to protect our bay.
  Like most Americans, I believe we must do more to ensure that we have clean air and clean water. A third of us still breathe air that endangers our health. In too many communities, the water is not safe to drink. Protecting the environment is a necessity, not a luxury. It's a necessity for public health, because too much pollution causes illness and premature death. It's a necessity for our economy, because both pollution control and job creation are needed for long-term, sustainable economic progress. It's a necessity for our quality of life, because we all want clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Ultimately, protecting the environment is a necessity for the survival of ourselves and our planet. That is why I have always supported, and will continue to support, government efforts to clean up our environment. I am proud of the framework of environmental standards and safeguards that we have put in place. Protection of the environment is one of the great success stories showing how government action can make our lives better.
- Jack W. Klinger (U.S. Taxpayer's): Did not respond.
- Jack Rodriguez (Republican): Did not respond.