[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3561-S3562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                             EARTH DAY 1997

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I would like to take a few 
moments to discuss our environment following Earth Day 1997.
  In consideration of the 27th annual commemoration of Earth Day, the 
American people should remember that they have been fortunate to live 
in an industrialized and prosperous society that has afforded 
environmental protection. Growing consumer demand for parks, improved 
air quality, and open land for hunting and hiking is largely 
responsible for improving the quality and quantity of ecological 
resources. Advances in technology, production methods, and 
manufacturing practices, an offshoot of our economic growth, have 
resulted in less pollution.
  However, Mr. President, Earth Day in 1970 was not the beginning of 
environmentalism in this Nation. Rather, it was evidence of a trend. 
Since the turn of the century, a strong conservation movement, led by 
rural interests, wanted national policy that would manage those 
resources they depended on to survive. Beginning with the passage of 
the Wilderness Act, Congress responded to those interests. In the last 
27 years, the United States has continued to make great strides in 
improving the quality of its environment.
  The United States of America has become a world leader in so many 
environmental areas. The Clean Air Act has been strengthened, and the 
Clean Water Act and the reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act 
have improved the quality of our Nation's environment. We can take 
pride in the progress that has been made in the last 27 years since the 
first Earth day, and we have learned a great deal. We are in far better 
shape than we were in 1970.
  According to the EPA, between 1970-95, air pollutants have decreased 
substantially. EPA has also observed that our rivers, lakes, and 
coastal waters are cleaner today than 25 years ago. Carol Browner, 
Administrator of the EPA, stated yesterday that the United States has 
the best drinking water in the world. We now recycle almost 35 percent 
of our municipal waste, 40 percent of all paper, and 60 percent of all 
aluminum cans. Our children consider recycling a way of life.
  Since 1970, air pollution has been steadily declining, despite the 
fact that the U.S. population has increased by 28 percent and vehicle 
travel has increased by 116 percent. This is due in large part to 
advanced emissions equipment on newer cars. But we have learned as a 
people to change our personal habits as we demand that industry change 
theirs. Air pollution, for example, would continue to be greatly 
improved if people kept their vehicles, old and new, tuned up.
  Mr. President, we know that humans will inevitably effect the 
environment because they are an inherent part of nature itself. We are 
not in a battle against the environment; rather, we now know that we 
are interdependent. Congress has further learned that top-down 
administration and imposition of regulations may not achieve the goal 
of true interdependence, but incentives, cooperation, respect for 
property rights, and more local control does. As most Americans have 
come to learn, if you want a better society, you build it yourself.
  The term ``sustainability'' has come to represent our Nation's 
environmental goals. Activists, entrepreneurs, and scientists are being 
successfully linked with ecosystems. Technological advancements have 
shown us how to improve the environment. Programs such as the Waste-
management Education and Research Consortium, or WERC, which I put 
together several years ago, are the future of environmental protection, 
not top-down regulation imposing unfunded mandates to

[[Page S3562]]

states. Let us leave local environmental issues to the locals.

  Sustainability is a goal best realized with local initiative. This 
Nation needs more flexible, market-oriented regulations that allow 
businesses more options for controlling pollution but that retain 
limitations on overall discharges. Concern and cooperation has bred 
environmental self-reliant activism.
  Communities have just now been able to achieve the National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards, and air quality is improving. According to the 
EPA, air pollutants have greatly decreased since the first Earth Day. 
Let's let communities continue to improve, rather than impose strict 
and costly new air quality standards before we know that they are based 
in sound science. We should be proud that we are reaping the benefits 
of our current standards.
  The working people of this country appreciate and have a healthy 
respect for nature. People who live on the land are closer to nature. 
Coming from New Mexico, I see the interdependence and cooperation of 
agricultural, timber, native American, urban and environmental 
interests. Congress has funded such programs as my initiative to 
preserve one of the largest areas of riparian cottonwood in the world, 
the Rio Grande Bosque. In the middle of a growing city like 
Albuquerque, citizens can walk among the native trees and animals. At 
the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, rare migratory birds 
coexist with agricultural development. We all strive to maintain a 
delicate balance in our society and on our planet.
  We all have to live on this planet, at least for now. Some might say 
progress is a curse. I say we are blessed in this Nation to be leaders 
in environmental protection and to also enjoy modern conveniences. 
Continuing progress is a blessing to all our families; we must just 
proceed to take care of our planet as we learn to live better in it.
  This Congress will continue to work to improve environmental quality, 
and we will build on the experiences and successes of the past. We must 
promise to better our lives, our Nation, and our world. Earth Day 
should be every day.

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