[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5739-H5740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRESS SHOULD ADDRESS THE LIVABILITY OF AMERICAN COMMUNITIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, we have reached the time in our 
political calendar when both parties are looking towards their 
convention as a time to set a tone, to chart a course, and to identify 
the policies and priorities that a new administration might bring. Both 
parties are crafting their platforms in an effort to highlight the most 
appealing parts of their agendas and to attract voters.
  At the same time, this Congress is moving towards its final few days, 
debating and voting on the legislation that will be our legacy. If we 
want to leave our mark on America's future, now is that time.
  As one who came to Congress to help make our communities more 
livable, to make them places where families could be safe, healthy, and 
economically secure, I would urge my colleagues in both parties to take 
advantage of the opportunity we have to deal with these issues today, 
to get in step with the concerns and demands of millions of Americans 
who are concerned about the livability of our communities.
  Last week, The Washington Post carried a front-page article detailing 
the political importance of these issues of liveability, sprawl, 
congestion and green space in California, our Nation's largest State.
  After a decade of neglect, Californians are refocusing their 
attention and their tax dollars on green spaces, cleaner water, 
preservation of seacoast, mountains and the desert. This spring, State 
voters approved a $2.1 billion measure for better parks and 
conservation.

[[Page H5740]]

  In Los Angeles, which has only one-tenth of an acre of green space 
per 1,000 residents, the smallest amount of any major American city, 
the State is planning on spending $80 million to create parks and 
recreational land along the Los Angeles River.
  It will also give some of the money from the bond proceeds to private 
groups to purchase and preserve open space. For instance, in Los 
Angeles, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will get $35 million to 
purchase remaining open land around the city.
  State action, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. In the past 2 
years, almost 20 cities have approved restrictions on sprawl. And 
although this kind of sentiment might be expected in the traditional 
more ``activist'' areas of the State, it is being manifested across 
California.
  Last month's Field Poll showed 70 percent of voters feeling it was 
very important to elect officials with strong environmental commitment. 
The Public Policy Institute of California found a majority of voters 
preferred to spend their State surplus on green space rather than tax 
cuts.
  Even more telling is that a majority of voters in Los Angeles, in the 
Bay Area, and even in the Central Valley told pollsters they would 
favor initiatives to slow development, even if it meant slowing 
economic growth.
  Mr. Speaker, as an advocate for livable communities, I do not believe 
that it is necessary at all to trade economic growth for sensible 
development policies. Intelligently using our resources and coaxing 
more value from the investments we make can make such false choices 
unnecessary.
  In California, and throughout the country, officials at the State, 
local, and Federal level are beginning to understand the strong 
sentiment in favor of liveability. This is a movement that the people 
have already started. As Joe Edmiston of the San Monica Mountains 
Conservancy said, ``The public is far ahead of the politicians on 
this.''
  Mr. Speaker, this is not just true in California, but nationwide. At 
the Federal level, we in Congress have a unique opportunity to advance 
these issues. The Federal Government is the Nation's largest landowner, 
tenant, and employer. From the military to the Post Office, from our 
vast public landholdings to our transportation infrastructure and the 
environmental partnership, we have all the tools we need.
  Our actions have tremendous impacts on how Americans live, work, and 
travel. By working to make the Federal Government a better partner with 
the State and local governments, with business, individual citizens and 
community groups, we can make our cities and suburbs across America 
more livable communities and our families safer, healthier and more 
economically secure.

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