[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING 
                            GREENHOUSE GASES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 1997

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution along with Speaker Gingrich, Mrs. Chenoweth, chairman of the 
House Resources Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Mr. Taylor 
of North Carolina, Mr. Herger, and Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Pombo, Mr. McInnis, Mr. Sessions Mrs. Smith of Washington, Mr. Riggs, 
Mr. Cunningham, Mrs. Cubin Mr. Nethercutt, Mr. Doolittle Mr. Lewis of 
California, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Schaffer of Colorado, Mr. Hansen, and Mr. 
Radanovich expressing the sense of Congress that the United States 
should manage its public domain national forests to maximize the 
reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
  Global warming has been an issue of great debate and discussion in 
Congress. Whether you believe human induced global climate change is 
occurring or not, this resolution deserves the support of everyone.
  Science has proven to us that carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse 
gas can be taken out of the atmosphere by allowing a young vibrant 
forest to absorb carbon through photosynthesis. It is stored as wood.
  Carbon dioxide can also be kept out of the atmosphere by harvesting 
the forest before it begins to decompose or burn, thus storing the 
carbon in wood products that are environmentally friendly, as well as 
providing an economic benefit to society.
  In December of this year, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate 
Change, which may commit to the United States to mandatory greenhouse 
gas reductions, is expected to be signed in Kyoto, Japan. The 
ramifications of this treaty could be enormous for people, the economy, 
and our way of life.
  The key issue is whether the Clinton-Gore administration will commit 
the United States to mandatory reductions of carbon dioxide. Mandatory 
reductions mean it will cost you $8 more each time you fill your gas 
tank. Mandatory reductions mean your home heating bill will increase by 
50 percent. Mandatory reductions will cost taxpayers millions of 
dollars and will cost many Americans their jobs.
  There are alternatives to mandatory reductions of carbon emissions. 
One alternative is to manage our public forests better in order to 
extract from the atmosphere and store more carbon dioxide than we 
currently do. This means using the controls on greenhouse gasses that 
mother nature gives to us rather than control that Government mandates 
us to follow.
  With this resolution, we send a message to the Clinton-Gore 
administration. Use mother nature's way of cleaning the atmosphere. 
Manage our forests to improve the environment. Don't simply impose 
still more Government controls on our lives.
  We must send a message to the Clinton-Gore administration that the 
Federal Government itself should take the lead in taking steps to 
reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. By managing our 
public domain national forests to minimize additions of carbon dioxide 
to the atmosphere we will improve our air quality, the health of our 
Nation's forests and set an example for other nations' as the world 
prepares for the negotiations in Kyoto, Japan.

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