[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E599-E600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN COMMEMORATION OF EARTH DAY 1996

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Earth Day 1996 
with citizens from

[[Page E600]]

around the world. The first Earth Day in 1970 rallied over 20 million 
Americans from around the country to learn about our environment. 
Conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson and organized by Dennis Hayes, 
Earth Day events have featured some of the largest grassroots 
mobilizations in U.S. history. These early events helped create the 
modern environmental movement and led directly to the first 
environmental legislation--the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
  In the late 1980's, Dennis Hayes decided it was time to expand Earth 
Day internationally and to renew environmental concern in the United 
States. Earth Day is now a highly anticipated annual event held in 
April that draws upon the resources, concern, and energy of countless 
individuals throughout our planet for the critical purpose of 
preserving it.
  Earth Day is a gentle reminder to all of us that the environment is 
everyone's issue. Earth Day observance rekindles public commitment, 
broadens the base of support for environmental programs, and encourages 
participation from every group, including the business community. Earth 
Day is a successful catalyst for ongoing environmental education, 
action and change. Earth Day activities offer important points of entry 
to address worldwide environmental concerns as well as opportunities 
for individuals and communities to focus on their local environmental 
problems.
  Residents of my congressional district are planning a variety of 
events under the direction of the Bay Area Action group. Some community 
gardens will host volunteer work parties on Earth Day weekend while 
some restaurants will offer ``Earth Day Meals.'' These events and 
efforts characterize a national will to improve and protect our 
environment for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

  There is clearly a hunger in our Nation today, not only for more 
security or for more economic opportunity, but also for something which 
we can all be involved in that is larger than ourselves and that will 
have a lasting and positive impact. Reclaiming our rivers, our forests, 
improving the quality of our air, and limiting the volume of waste we 
generate, are the causes of a committed generation of human beings 
doing their part for the betterment of our planet as a whole.
  We are fighting a serious uphill battle, however. The new majority in 
Congress, this past year, has turned its back repeatedly on our 
environment. There is no question that this has been the most 
antienvironmental Congress in recent history and the blame, 
undoubtedly, falls squarely upon the shoulders of the majority of this 
House. Let us not belittle the meaning of Earth Day with phony 
rhetoric; let us match the commitment from our citizens with actions 
that safeguard our future.
  Three decades ago, President Kennedy said, ``It is our task and our 
time in our generation to hand down, undiminished to those who come 
after us, as was handed down to us by those who came before, the 
natural wealth and beauty which is ours.'' It is time to recommit 
ourselves to these same values that originally made America unique.
  The preservation of our environment is not synonymous with erosion of 
the economy. It does mean, however, that Congress has tough choices to 
make. We cannot deny the fact that Government has an important role in 
helping to preserve the natural beauty of our rivers, our forests, our 
mountains, our beaches, and our parks.
  Earth Day reminds us that we share the air, the water, the planet and 
our destiny with all the people of the world. Our efforts must extend 
beyond our borders to help people in poorer countries understand the 
effects of their actions. Every country is interconnected; a potential 
environmental catastrophe can affect us all. That certainly is the 
message as we come upon the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster 
in Russia, at the same time that we mark Earth Day. The United States 
should lead the world by being a shining example.

  Mr. Speaker, that is why I stand here today, requesting the support 
of my colleagues. We must never turn our back on our Nation's 
environment. I hope that the antienvironment trend of this Congress can 
be overcome with tangible legislation that recommits our Government to 
protecting our environment.
  Mr. Speaker, we can all learn from the millions of individuals who 
will participate in Earth Day this year and years to follow. 
Ultimately, it is through them that we must come to understand that 
part of our common responsibility to the future is preserving our 
environment today. Let us not acquiesce to the defilement of our 
environment; we must not let our inaction serve as a precedent for 
emerging nations throughout the world to ignore their role in 
preserving it. There can be no greater legacy that we leave behind for 
our children and grandchildren than a world secure in its commitment to 
a healthy and environmentally sound future.

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