[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E602-E603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 1996

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, Monday marked the 26th anniversary of Earth 
Day. As a member of the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the great Republican 
who enlarged our national parks and established our national wildlife 
refuges, I am pleased to recall the great environmental gains our 
country has made in cleaning up our rivers, streams, and lakes.
  Our waterways are one of our Nation's most important resources. They 
are an important part of the surrounding ecosystem, providing an 
important source of income to surrounding communities and businesses, 
as well as providing potable drinking water for families and 
communities. Acknowledging this, I voted against the so-called Clean 
Water Act Amendments due to its lack of Federal protection of important 
water resources, and its rolling back of nearly a decade of invaluable 
water protection resources.

[[Page E603]]

  I know no better way of providing jobs in our Hudson Valley, New York 
region than by approving a responsible Clean Water Act that provides 
strong environmental protection and the restoration of our natural 
water resources. Relaxed water quality standards will jeopardize many 
of our Nation's largest industries, including the $400 billion a year 
travel and tourism industry and the $55 billion a year fishing 
industry.
  Similarly, we must not forget the air we breathe, our most precious 
resource. No matter what our party affiliation we are not immune from 
having to breathe clean air to survive. Air pollution has been linked 
to cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage, and long-term injury 
to our lungs and breathing passages. Moreover, air pollution damages 
our environmental surroundings. Tree, lakes, and animals have been 
harmed by air pollution. Accordingly, Congress passed the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990 to improve our air quality standards. I was pleased 
to be an original cosponsor of that landmark legislation.
  Today, we are rethinking our approach to environmental policy. As has 
been reported by my colleague, Representative Sherwood Boehlert, ``the 
first fruits of that re-evaluation can be seen in the landmark 
conservation section of the farm bill Congress passed last month.''
  The farm bill has set aside billions of dollars for conservation 
programs to assist farmers in preserving wetlands and reducing 
agricultural runoff. I would argue that this bill is one of the most 
important environmental pieces of legislation to come out of Congress 
since the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
  We in the Congress must never forget the need for clean air and 
water, as well as the need to preserve our important natural resources. 
More importantly, we should never forget the great environmental gains 
we have made during the past decade.
  In recognition of Earth Day, let us all commit ourselves in our own 
communities to do our part. Together we can ensure that our environment 
will be a clean, safe, and beautiful place for generations to come.

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