Contaminated groundwater is one of the major environmental and health problems facing us in the next decade. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, half the population of the United States relies on groundwater as a source of drinking water.

Leaking underground storage tanks (LUSTs) create one of the main sources of groundwater pollution. The EPA estimates that a tank leaking one gallon of gasoline per day can contaminate drinking water for 500,000 people. In 1988, the EPA estimated that 200,000 tanks are now leaking or will be shortly. Despite these figures, Senator Steve Symms (R-ID) offered an amendment that would delay for one year EPA funds to enforce LUST financial regulations. Environmentalists feel that any delay is unnecessary. A Mikulski (D-MD) motion to table the Symms amendment was successful, with a 65-33 vote. September 19, 1989. Yes is the pro-environment vote.