Washington, DC-U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced new efforts in the U.S. House of Representatives for environmental cleanup and enforcement.

Rep. Norcross offered two amendments to the Interior & Environment Appropriations bill. The “Superfund Amendment” would add $13,060,000 to the Hazardous Substance Superfund Account. The “Enforcement Amendment” designates $15,282,000 to the Superfund Account specifically for EPA enforcement activities. Both funding levels equal the amounts requested by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection (EPA).

“I’m from the Garden State--known across the nation for the tomatoes, corn, and blueberries we grow. South Jersey also has a history of heavy industry. We found out the hard way what you can and can’t dump into the ground, rivers, lakes, and backyards,” said Rep. Norcross on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. “My amendments would hold accountable those who leave behind toxic waste which require remediation to safeguard the health of our constituents and protect the environment from further damage,” said Rep. Donald Norcross.

In remarks urging passage of his amendments, Rep. Norcross referenced more than 1,000 contaminated sites across the United States and more than a dozen in New Jersey’s First Congressional District with no recent, meaningful action by Congress to fund decades-old sites that remain untreated, posing hazards to local communities.

“Sherwin-Williams is a prime example. The company did business in my district from the early 1930s until the late 1970s. During that time, they recklessly manufactured paint and varnish—and for decades would deliberately dump dangerous chemicals both at their manufacturing and disposal sites in the communities of Voorhees and Gibbsboro,” said Rep. Norcross. “Now, all these years later, the soil and groundwater under those residential and commercial sites for miles around are contaminated with lead and arsenic.”

Even at low levels, the EPA says lead exposure can cause behavioral & learning problems, as well as lower IQ and hyperactivity for children. Lead exposure can also cause health problems in pregnant women and harm fetuses. Long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic can lead to a variety of cancers according to the EPA.

“Companies like Sherwin-Williams shouldn’t be allowed to dump and run. The cost of them doing business in my district has had immeasurable health and environmental consequences. It’s time we go after polluters like Sherwin-Williams and hold them accountable. My amendment will do just that. We also need to accelerate cleanup at toxic sites across the country,” said Rep. Norcross.

Despite the amendments enjoying bipartisan support, they were not accepted by the full House. Rep. Norcross vows to push for legislative passage of his environmental efforts in Congress which advocate for remediation of toxic sites and enforcement actions against polluters.

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To watch Rep. Norcross’ remarks on his amendments from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as seen live on C-SPAN Tuesday, July 12, 2016 click here.

Read Rep. Norcross’ previous news releases on efforts to address environmental concerns in South Jersey:

-June 2015

-July 2015