Congressman John D. Dingell

Washington, DC - Today, members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation joined Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15) in sending a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert requesting that HR 2491, the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2005, be brought to the floor for consideration as expeditiously as possible before the House target adjournment date of November 18.

The bill passed the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and the full Energy and Commerce Committee by a unanimous voice vote this past June but has not yet been brought to the floor for a vote by the full House.

The letter was signed by Michigan Representatives Dingell, Stupak, Kildee, Levin, Kilpatrick, Rogers, Hoekstra, Upton, Camp and Schwartz.

The text of the letter is attached.

View Letter in PDF

###

November 3, 2005

The Honorable Dennis Hastert
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
H232 Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker,

We write today to request that HR 2491, the International Solid Waste Importation and Management Act of 2005, be brought to the floor for consideration as expeditiously as possible before our target adjournment date of November 18.

As you know, in June HR 2491 passed both the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and the full Committee by voice vote.

The issue of waste coming into Michigan from Ontario, Canada for disposal is one of great concern to the people we represent. Currently, more than 400 trash trucks come across the bridge into the Michigan each day. The goal of HR 2491 simply is to implement and enforce an existing bilateral agreement that has been too long ignored and to give states some tools to manage foreign municipal solid waste being disposed of within its borders.

As you know, HR 2491 is the bipartisan product of hard work and tough negotiations. We made every attempt to provide the people of Michigan, as well as other states, with some relief while not affecting or amending any prior law relating to the need for consistency with international trade agreements. HR 2491 is a good bill that meets the needs of all concerned.

Thank you for you attention to this matter.

Sincerely