PRINTER'S NO. 4324
No. 831 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY WEBER, ADOLPH, GEORGE, McILHINNEY, WATSON,
S. E. CORNELL, O'NEILL, HERSHEY, BARD, HARPER, GINGRICH,
RUBLEY, PETRI, ROSS, GOOD, ARGALL, GODSHALL, GANNON, WRIGHT,
STEIL, DiGIROLAMO, HENNESSEY, KILLION, RAYMOND, BARRAR,
KENNEY, McGILL, BUNT, FICHTER, CRAHALLA, J. TAYLOR, MICOZZIE,
FLICK, E. Z. TAYLOR AND SCHRODER, JULY 3, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JULY 3, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Appointing a Select Legislative Committee on the Environment.
2 WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians have embraced the need for funding
3 dedicated to the improvement of our environment, the
4 preservation of our farmland and open spaces and the reduction
5 in the number of abandoned mines and hazardous sites; and
6 WHEREAS, Succeeding governors, over the last four years, have
7 attempted to ensure that adequate funding exists to achieve
8 these goals; and
9 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has expressed a willingness to
10 achieve the goals set forth by these governors to ensure that
11 future generations of Pennsylvanians are able to enjoy the
12 beauty and splendor of Penn's Woods; and
13 WHEREAS, This willingness has been signified by the passage
14 and subsequent enactment of one of the first State laws creating
15 mandatory recycling, preserving farmland and open space,
1 improving water quality and addressing the hazards of abandoned
2 mines; and
3 WHEREAS, This commitment reached a zenith with the enactment
4 of the Growing Greener initiative in 1999, which now provides a
5 dedicated funding source for environmental improvement, farmland
6 and open space preservation and abandoned mine cleanup; and
7 WHEREAS, Additional recent legislation has provided
8 opportunities for the infusion of Commonwealth funds and bond
9 issuances to marry economic development and environmental
10 enhancement through the Governor's Business in Our Sites
11 Program, water and wastewater referendum and First Industries
12 Program; and
13 WHEREAS, The Governor has proposed to increase funding for
14 the Growing Greener program through the issuance of additional
15 bonded indebtedness; and
16 WHEREAS, The goals of this proposal have merit but need to be
17 accomplished within the context of the passage of the Governor's
18 economic bond proposal and the infusion of Growing Greener with
19 direct State appropriations; and
20 WHEREAS, The leadership of the House of Representatives has
21 expressed their commitment to expeditiously address the issues
22 raised by the Governor; therefore be it
23 RESOLVED, That a Select Legislative Committee on the
24 Environment be created to work cooperatively with the Governor
25 and Commonwealth agencies to develop recommendations on
26 environmental program priorities and options for funding these
27 priorities; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House appoint eight members
29 of the House of Representatives, four of whom to be recommended
30 by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives to
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1 constitute the committee, and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
3 designate one appointee as a chair; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the committee make a thorough study of various
5 proposals for enhanced funding for environmental initiatives to
6 address environmental problems, preservation of farmland and
7 open space and reduction in the number of unremediated abandoned
8 mines and hazardous sites; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the committee conduct public hearings on the
10 various proposals and funding options; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the committee make a report of its findings,
12 including recommendations for legislation, to the Speaker of the
13 House of Representatives by September 20, 2004; and be it
14 further
15 RESOLVED, That a copy of the committee's report be
16 transmitted to all members of the General Assembly by the
17 committee.
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