Having the chairmen and ranking members of both the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Superfund subcommittee support this legislation underscores the strong desire by members on both sides of the aisle to enact this legislation. Indeed, I strongly believe that reaching across the aisle and working in a bipartisan manner is the best way to achieve success, particularly on environmental issues. This committee has a proven track record of forging sound legislation when members from both parties work together. S. 2700 is another example of that bipartisan tradition.
As everyone is aware, this committee has tried for years to reform the Superfund statute. However, broad Superfund reform has eluded us because we have not been able to reach a bipartisan agreement. While brownfields provisions have been included in comprehensive reform bills in the past, I do not consider brownfields a Superfund issue. Superfund is intended to tackle the nation's worst toxic waste sites. Brownfields are lightly contaminated sites that will never become Superfund sites, if we provide incentives to clean them up in a timely manner. I have visited Superfund sites and brownfield sites in Rhode Island, and they are truly different. At my visits to brownfield sites, it is possible to actually see the benefits that communities would enjoy through brownfield revitalization. I firmly believe that we must help these communities by enacting legislation this year.
There are members of this committee who have expressed strong concern about moving brownfields legislation separately from comprehensive reform. Let me be clear: this bill is not intended to serve as a substitute for comprehensive Superfund reform. This bill is intended to spur the cleanup and redevelopment of the nearly 450,000 brownfields sites that exist in every town and every state. S. 2700 does not address everything---but it does offer something for everyone.
I would also like to address a point I hear frequently. People often tell me it is impossible to enact environmental legislation in a presidential election year. I believe history tells a different story. Important environmental legislation has been enacted in virtually every presidential election year since Congress became active in these issues. In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act; in 1976, the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act; in 1980, Superfund; in 1984, RCRA reauthorization; and in 1996, Safe Drinking Water Act reauthorization. I hope that our work on brownfields reform follows this tradition in 2000.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has estimated that more than 450,000 brownfields sites exist nationwide. We stand to reap enormous economic, environmental, and social benefits with the successful redevelopment of brownfield sites. The redevelopment of brownfields capitalizes on existing infrastructure, attracts new businesses and jobs, reduces the environmental and health risks to communities, preserves community character, and creates a robust tax base for local governments. Mayor Bollwage and Mayor Daniels will correct me if I'm wrong, but as a former mayor, I know that there is nothing that makes mayors happier than increased revenue and an extended taxbase.
Our bill is an important piece of legislation that addresses the most common problems facing the redevelopment of abandoned contaminated sites. As this committee has heard from numerous witnesses in the past, the most difficult problems confronting successful redevelopment are the high costs associated with brownfields assessment and cleanup, the threat of Superfund liability, and fear that EPA may second-guess cleanup plans. To tackle these problems, S. 2700 authorizes $150 million for brownfields assessments and remediation. It clarifies liability for contiguous property owners, innocent landowners, and prospective purchasers. Lastly, it provides finality to parties that clean up sites under state programs, with reopeners designed to protect human health and the environment.
I look forward to working with every member of this committee, and all interested parties to move the ball over the goal line. I am confident that if we work closely, we can accommodate all concerns and forge legislation that will benefit the entire country. I would like to thank each of witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to hearing your testimony.