Introduction of Mayor Preston Daniels, City of Des Moines, by Senator Charles Grassley
June 29, 2000
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Control and Risk Assessment

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and other members of the committee, for the opportunity to come before you to introduce the distinguished Mayor of Des Moines, Preston Daniels, and to voice my support for the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2000.

Preston Daniels is the mayor of the capitol and largest city in Iowa. Mayor Daniels and the City of Des Moines have done a good job in promoting economic development. They have especially excelled at the job of utilizing and redeveloping brownfield space. Currently, the City is in the process of cleaning up a downtown area for redevelopment as an urban village, the Riverpoint West project. I am sure that the Mayor will elaborate more on this effort. This afternoon, however, he is here testifying before the Committee on behalf of the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation. Brownfields development improves the quality of life for everyone. Revitalizing these abandoned properties enhances the character of downtown areas, increases tax revenue, creates jobs, reduces health and environmental threats, and preserves open space.

Throughout my state, communities are interested in, or have utilized the Brownfield program to assess and clean up abandoned areas. I have had the opportunity to visit many of the sites and have heard from numerous Chambers of Commerce regarding their interest in future assessments and clean-up initiatives.

This legislation would increase the amount of federal money available for these cleanups. It would also encourage developers to focus on previously used properties instead of undeveloped land by limiting the liability faced by these potential land developers and purchasers. Many pieces of valuable property in Iowa sit untouched and unrealized because of the liability risk they pose.

Furthermore, this legislation takes a common sense approach by empowering states. The states would have significant regulatory control of brownfield development while limiting federal involvement in projects to only those cases with serious problems. This will protect the environment and cut through the federal red tape that leaves brownfield sites untouched.

Thank you again for allowing me to introduce the distinguished Mayor of Des Moines and for voicing my support for this legislation.