Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008
MERCURY EXPORT BAN ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2008)
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Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, thank you for yielding me the time in supporting this legislation to reduce mercury exports from the United States.
I am pleased that this bill has come back to us from the Senate and want to congratulate all the people who have worked so hard to make this legislation a reality. This bill is proof that people of all political stripes can come together for the common good. It is a shining example of how our process in Congress can work and work well if given the chance.
Elemental mercury presents a serious American health concern even when it is mishandled in distant countries. Specifically, this form of mercury converts into neurotoxic methylmercury that comes back to the United States in the form of tainted fish and polluted air.
This legislation attempts to break the global transport cycle of mercury by banning the export of elemental mercury in 2010. It does not cover coal exports and is not intended to cover fly ash exports from coal combustion or elemental mercury in manufactured consumer products.
This bill also assures that domestic stocks of elemental mercury, which are a valuable commodity, have someplace to go. Under the consensus language we are considering, a safe domestic storage option will open when the ban commences. Further, the legislation does not preclude private storage solutions. I am glad that this bill allows enterprising folks to facilitate good environmental policy.
In addition, I am pleased this bill recognizes that we should not punish people who do the right thing. Private entities who want to take advantage of the government-sponsored storage option must pay their fair share, but they will be indemnified against any environmental damage after the government takes possession of their mercury. This is commonsense policy and a key feature of ensuring that the proper handling and the safe, long-term storage of elemental mercury occurs.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased with the compromise, bipartisan legislation. It represents the serious give and take by both parties. I hope that efforts like this will continue to be more the norm than the exception throughout this Congress and future ones as well.
I urge my colleagues to support S. 906.
And I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey to address another concern.
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