[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E653-E654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EARTH DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 1998

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you on this Earth Day to 
commend our nation on how we have left a legacy to our children by 
protecting the natural resources of our national parks, wildlife 
refuges and national forests. However, it is just as important for us 
to double our efforts to protect the habitat of our urban areas.
  I feel strongly that the children of our cities also deserve to 
breathe cleaner air, and have green fields to play on as they mature 
under the blue skies of Alabama.
  I am proud that our nation has made tremendous progress over the past 
25 years in the area of environmental management. Our rivers and lakes 
in which our children fish, swim and boat are significantly cleaner; 
the air in which we breathe is improved and tremendous progress has 
been made in cleaning up

[[Page E654]]

our toxic waste sites, but we must concentrate more efforts for the 
children of our cities.
  I am fighting for an approach to the environment that is based on 
reason, balance, and moderation . . . one that recognizes that it is 
not a question of whether we can afford to protect the environment, but 
whether we can afford not to protect it.

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