[GRRN] U.S. House of Representatives Eliminates Farr Recycling Provision

Wtlivewell@aol.com
Fri, 11 Jun 1999 05:21:20 EDT


Lawmakers Can Recycling in House

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House of Representatives has rejected mandatory
recycling for its offices.

The House has had a voluntary recycling program for a decade. But The
Associated Press reported last month that most congressional offices were
still mixing garbage, aluminum cans, bottles and different grades of paper.
Many federal agencies and local governments separate their trash and sell
recyclable material.

A provision that would have required House offices to begin recycling their
trash was killed by the chamber Thursday night.

The language was struck from a $1.9 billion bill financing Congress' own
operations next year after running into objections from Republicans.

The provision, sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., would have made the
program compulsory for all House offices and given money earned to the
House's child care center. The Senate has no similar program.

The language was removed from the bill on a procedural challenge by Rep.
Robert Ney, R-Ohio, who said it would have used a spending bill to change
law. That is against House rules.

``You don't like it, you don't want to deal with recycling,'' Farr said on
the floor after Ney voiced his objection.

In an interview, Ney said he objected to the plan because he opposes imposing
requirements on House offices. He also said the House Administration
Committee, of which he is a member, should have jurisdiction over such
proposals.