The Superfund reauthorization bill, H.R. 2500, introduced by Rep. Michael Oxley (R-OH), would authorize payments out of the program's appropriations to parties liable for cleanup of contaminated sites -- in essence, paying polluters who damage the environment and public health. Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) offered a "Polluter Pays" amendment to H.R. 3666, the Fiscal Year 1997 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill. The amendment would have prohibited reimbursing responsible parties, including businesses and individuals, with Superfund program funds if they had entered into court-approved agreements to clean up contaminated sites prior to enactment of the appropriations bill. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retained its ability to provide funding for insolvent parties under the Markey amendment.

On June 26, 1996, the House rejected the Markey amendment, 142 - 274. YES is the pro-environment vote.