OPENING STATEMENT
Senator Bob Smith
Gov. Whitman Confirmation Hearing
January 17, 2001

Chairman Reid, I want to personally thank you and your staff. I very much appreciate how you have conducted business during the last few weeks. I know that things are not going as smooth with other committees, but our staffs have worked very well together and you and I have always done so - and for that I am very grateful. You have my commitment that my staff and I will reciprocate. I want also to welcome back into the fold - Senator Lieberman. Although, I must say I am pleased to have you back. I would also like to welcome to the Committee, our new members: Senator Campbell, Senator Carper, Senator Clinton, and Senator Corzine.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Governor Whitman. I enjoyed our visit shortly after your nomination. I look forward to hearing from you today and often after you take over the reigns at EPA. Christie Whitman is New Jersey's 50th governor and the state's first female governor. Since your first election, the state has seen the number of jobs increase, the crime rate decrease, welfare cases cut in half, and provided tax cuts. You have served your state well.

On the environment, your record is remarkable. During your seven years as Governor, more open spaces and farmland has been preserved than in the previous 32 years. You have preserved more land than any previous Administration in New Jersey. With the establishment of the Garden State Preservation Fund and providing tax incentives for land conservation donations - your conservation legacy will continue long after you have left office. Shoreline protection is an area where you have received much praise over the past seven years.

Under your leadership, New Jersey beaches are once again clean and open for enjoyment. The National Resources Defense Council has praised New Jersey for having the nation's most comprehensive beach monitoring system. Certainly all of those who head off to "the Shore" every summer are grateful for your work.

You have also made great strides in the redevelopment of Brownfields. As Governor you signed into a law that will expedite the remediation and return of these contaminated properties back to a useful role in the economy. By cleaning up and putting this land back into productive use we not only clean up the environment, but we limit greenfield development. Brownfield legislation is a top priority of mine. I am anxious to work with you and capitalize on your expertise in this area. The list of your environmental accomplishments goes on and on - from Air Quality to Smart Growth to species conservation.

You have addressed problems, and permitting, in a holistic manner with which I agree and an approach that focuses on results-- results achieved through cooperation when possible, but using the hammer of enforcement when necessary.

The air, water and land are cleaner because of your efforts. You have done a remarkable job and I congratulate you and encourage you to bring that same approach to the EPA.

As this Committee prepares to begin its work in the 107th Congress, I am anxious to work on an environmental agenda that moves our nation forward, that builds on our work from last year and capitalizes on the talents of Governor Whitman. I am hopeful that we will be able to move Brownfields reform legislation and have it signed into law very soon. Another agenda item that is high on my priority list is that of reducing utilities emissions via a cap and trade approach -- the bubble bill. I am also planning on moving legislation to address MTBE contamination that has been a serious problem in New Hampshire and across this nation. Other issues that will be high priorities for this committee include Water Infrastructure and conservation funding. I look forward to a very successful 107th Congress.

This committee had a great year 2000 - passing landmark environmental legislation, including the Everglades, Estuaries & Beaches legislation, but the great legacy of this effort may, in fact, go beyond the legislation. Because of how we achieved these victories- in particular -the Everglades not only will we be restoring a national treasure, but we have also developed a blueprint for how ALL environmental problems should be managed. This victory was achieved by working together in partnership: Republicans and Democrats, Congress and the White House, The Federal government and the States, Industry and activists,-- the list goes on.

In one of the closest election years in our history, somehow, everyone put politics aside And the environment won. There are lessons to be learned. Cooperation, bipartisanship, partnership. If applied to all environmental problems, we will see a new era of environmental progress.

Somehow, last year, we got beyond politics and we came together. I implore my colleagues to resist the temptation of politicizing the environment and demonizing with only the goal of the next election. Let's make what we do here - about the next generation, not the next election. I have no doubt that we can do that - we proved it last year.

Governor Whitman - Thank you for coming in today. I look forward to your testimony and more importantly, I look forward to working with you as we chart a new course toward conservation and environmental protection. Thank you Mr. Chairman"