Taking The Hill
Senate Committee Approves Superfund Reform Legislation
The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has approved Senate Bill 8, the Superfund reauthorization legislation. Many believe, however, that this will be the last action taken on comprehensive reauthorization legislation this year.
The presidential administration and others in Congress are committed to passing the legislation this year, but some disagree about what the final bill should contain. Currently both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Senate Democrats are opposed to the legislation. In order for the legislation to pass the Senate before Congress adjourns for the year, a compromise must be reached soon.
Superfund was enacted 15 years ago to clean up toxic sites that threaten human health and the environment. If passed by Congress and signed by the president, this legislation would reauthorize and amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and Compensation Act of 1980. It provides $7.5 billion over five years to fund the program. The legislation passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by a vote of 11-7.
One of the most contentious issues discussed during the markup was the role that EPA should play in cleanup. Democrats believe that EPA should still have an important role while the Republicans generally believe that states should have more involvement.
Members of both parties continue to express concern that the legislation will not pass Congress this year - it is an election year and Congress seems reluctant to tackle an issue as controversial as Superfund.
EPA Ozone Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has withdrawn a rule that would have phased in the new standard for ozone by allow-ing certain areas to comply with the old one-hour standard. Areas that had not met the one-hour standard would not be required to meet the new eight-hour standard until they met the old standard.
Finalized in 1997, the new standards lower the present standard for ozone from 0.12 parts-per-million to 0.08 parts-per-million and target particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter. President Clinton promised flexible implementation of the new regulations and in response to his directive, EPA an- nounced earlier this year that the old one-hour standard would only be revoked in those areas that had met the standard. In all other areas, the one-hour standard would continue to apply until they met that standard,then it would be revoked and the eight-hour standard would apply.
In response to several comments received, EPA has withdrawn the rule.
Health Care
In response to legislation introduced into the U.S. Congress that would regulate managed health care plans, the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) has issued a paper, "The Managed Care Debate: Correcting the Errors and Omissions." The paper cites numerous findings about the quality of managed care in the United States and asserts that many of the commonly heard views about managed care are inaccurate.
The AAHP report attempts to disprove several assertions about managed care. For example, the paper states that rather than restricting patient choice, "the growth of managed care has expanded the options available to consumers."
Aftermarket Crash Parts Legislation
Legislation has been introduced in the Delaware Senate that would regulate the use of aftermarket crash parts. If enacted, the legislation would require written consent before any non-original equipment manufacturer (non-EOM) crash parts are installed.
The legislation would require that any non-OEM parts that are installed on vehicles be "at least equal in terms of fit, quality, performance, and warranty to the OEM parts that would otherwise have been used." Additionally, the legislation would prohibit non-OEM parts from being installed on a vehicle while it is covered by any manufacturer's warranty.
ASA has been in contact with the bill's sponsor, Senator Sokola, and has offered to testify about the importance of passing this legislation that would protect consumers and independent repairers.
House Passes Highway Authorization Legislation
The U.S. House passed legislation reauthorizing the Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act (ISTEA) with a vote of 337-80. The legislation provides $218.3 billion for transportation projects for the next six years, with $217 billion to be raised from the federal 18.3 cents-per-gallon gasoline tax. The House legislation spends about 83 percent of the funds on highway transportation projects and the remainder on mass transit. However, some members are concerned that the bill spends too much money. Rep. John Kasich, a fiscal conservative, offered an amendment to drastically reduce federal spending on roads and turn many of the projects over to the states, but it was defeated.
Safety Inspection: A National Strategy || Stop Chasing Fault Codes When Servicing EFI Systems || Body Shops: Independently Owned, Dependently Operated || Customer Database Marketing || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Shop Profile || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLVI, June 1998 (http://www.asashop.org)