The recent tragedy in Bhopal, India has evoked a public outcry for new laws giving citizens the "right to know" about dangerous chemicals in their midst. Yet Americans in most states are still kept in the dark regarding emissions of toxic chemicals occurring, almost literally, in their back yards.

This vote was on the Edgar (D-PA) - Sikorski (D-MN) Amendment to require polluters to publicly report any significant emission of cancer-causing and other extremely hazardous chemicals. In the event a community is exposed to a toxic release, disclosure of such information could be crucial in enabling local officials to take action to protect public health. This amendment simply gives all of us the right to know if we are breathing or drinking such silent killers as a dioxin, asbestos, vinyl chloride and benzine.

Edgar-Sikorski Amendment accepted 212-211; December 10, 1985. YES is the pro-environmental vote. (Edgar-Sikorski Amendment to H.R. 2817, Superfund Reauthorization.) Although both Houses of Congress passed Superfund legislation in 1985, final passage did not occur until October 1986. The bill became law on October 17, 1986 with "right-to-know" provisions included.