Muddling Through: Congressional Activity in 1988
Editors' Summary: The 100th Congress closed out its term with a flurry of activity, enacting several environmental bills and introducing a number of bills that will set the stage for the 101st Congress. A FIFRA reauthorization bill passed, and the Endangered Species Act was reauthorized after three years' delay with few significant changes. Yet, in many respects the session that just ended was disappointing, and resulted in more form than substance. Efforts to reauthorize the Clean Air Act failed miserably, RCRA reauthorization failed to get off the ground, and attempts to revamp how federal facilities comply with environmental laws stalled. This Comment reviews the successes and failures of the 100th Congress, and discusses the agenda facing the new Congress—and the new Administration—when both officially start work later this month.