[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E724-E725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, by the middle of the next millennium, the 
world's population is expected to reach 8 to 12 billion people. Right 
now we are adding about 86 million people annually. All of us must find 
common ground on the issues of land and resource use and sustainable 
communities.
  Recently, a groundbreaking took place in North Toledo to provide 49 
families with new homes in the North River neighborhood. That event 
gave me great hope that, as a community--a multitude of jurisdictions 
in one of the most bountiful regions of the world--people in northwest 
Ohio are improving the quality of life in existing neighborhoods and 
making it attractive for commercial investment on reusable land--
precious land.
  As an Urban Planner myself, I hope that gone are the days that we 
neglect and abandon what has been developed for another site at the 
expense of the original location.
  To promote a livable community, cooperation between public and 
private institutions is essential. Cooperation between neighboring 
communities, cities, suburbs and rural areas will be the key to meeting 
the needs of the 21st century--greater populations, more traffic, 
sprawl, and pollution.
  We must have as our goal, a community that works together for our 
common good, not just individual special interests.
  Together, individuals, families, businesses and civic organizations 
must become involved in local planning, to ensure that every voice is 
heard and all concerns are represented at the table.
  By planning more wisely for more livable communities, we will be able 
to preserve our precious open spaces for generations to come. Such a 
conscious vision will enable families to enjoy our country's natural 
beauty. And we'll be able to preserve our precious farms and prime 
farmland which America has been losing at alarming record rates.
  U.S. Census figures show that from 1982 to 1992 Ohio lost 1.2 million 
acres of irreplaceable farmland to development. But unfortunately, this 
isn't native only to Ohio. Across the nation, prime farmland with the 
highest productivity is being lost. Globally, these sources of food, 
fiber and vegetable production cannot be reinvented.

[[Page E725]]

  I'm pleased that the state of Ohio has stepped up to the plate and 
passed a farmland preservation bill. As a co-author of national 
legislation to preserve for agricultural production, I am gratified 
that our state will now join dozens of other in adopting a policy for 
land reuse and for the voluntary set-aside of land for agricultural 
production in perpetuity.
  Preserving our farmlands means revitalizing the core of our cities, 
townships and villages. The Mayor of Fostoria, Ohio had it right 
recently when he said, ``the best thing I can do to protect farmland is 
make my city worth investing in.''
  For America's first two centuries, our communities have grown without 
more constraints. We could easily cast away old city neighborhoods for 
the suburbs and treat prime productive land as though it were no 
different from asphalt. Those choices won't be the same for those who 
live in the 21st century as the world's population reaches eight to 
twelve billion people.
  I'm reminded of the words of Daniel Webster:
  Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, 
build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see 
whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something 
worthy to be remembered.
  We must put people and vision back at the center of our planning 
efforts. We must be conscious of our region and the earth as an 
ecosystem that needs tending. A common vision for an American future 
that is sustainable must be our objective.

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