House Approves Bill to Reduce Paperwork and Eliminate Government Waste

WASHINGTON, DC –To help cut red tape and eliminate government waste, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved, S. 710, the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act, by voice vote.

The Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act is a commonsense solution that will modernize the way the federal government and states track the shipment of hazardous waste. The legislation calls for replacing the current paper-based tracking system with an electronic system, which would help reduce paper work and streamline processes. The transition to an electronic tracking system could save over $100 million annually.

In support of the legislation, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) stated, “For years, ensuring the safe disposal of hazardous waste required mountains of paperwork. Under this legislation, an electronic system will replace the old bureaucratic approach. Instead of filling out long forms and mailing them, the critically needed data can be sent wherever it’s needed with a few computer keystrokes. State regulators, first responders, and others will be able to pull it up on their computers and track the materials in real time. The changeover will not only save millions of dollars for regulated businesses, it will save lives.”

To watch Rep. Murphy's floor speech, click here.