[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6350-S6351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 50--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION 
 THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAKE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURING A 
                      VIABLE FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET

  Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.

                            S. Con. Res. 50

       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen by the 
     International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (in 
     this concurrent resolution referred to as the ``ICLEI'') to 
     host the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 
     Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations-sponsored 2002 
     World Summit on Sustainable Development (in this concurrent 
     resolution referred to as the ``2002 World Summit'');
       Whereas the ICLEI strives to build and serve a worldwide 
     movement of local governments to achieve tangible 
     improvements in global environmental and sustainable 
     development conditions through cumulative local actions;
       Whereas the goals of the 2002 World Summit are to generate 
     momentum toward sustainable development and ensure a viable 
     future for our planet;
       Whereas the predecessor of the 2002 World Summit was the 
     United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 
     known as the Earth Summit;
       Whereas local governments play a central role in the 
     development of communities that respect ecological integrity, 
     promote social well-being, and create economic vitality by 
     developing and maintaining economic, social, and 
     environmental infrastructures, overseeing local planning 
     processes, establishing local environmental policies and 
     regulations, and assisting in implementing national 
     environmental policies;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a member of the 
     ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection, an association of over 
     300 local governments from around the world dedicated to 
     developing sustainable community-based solutions to local and 
     global environmental problems;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a designated 
     Department of Energy Clean City in recognition of the city's 
     efforts to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, build 
     alternative fuel infrastructure, and educate the community 
     about the use of alternative fuel vehicles in order to 
     enhance energy security and environmental quality;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a member of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency's Green Lights Program and 
     has retrofitted over 20 city buildings with energy efficient 
     lighting;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan developed an 
     innovative Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy 
     efficiency of city facilities and provide community 
     demonstrations of energy saving and renewable energy 
     technologies that result in environmental stewardship and 
     fiscal responsibility;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan has an Energy Plan 
     that reduces energy use and encourages renewable energy, a 
     Solid Waste Plan that encourages recycling, composting, and 
     source reduction, and a Transportation Plan that reduces 
     traffic congestion and vehicle miles traveled through the 
     implementation of mass transit and alternate transportation 
     programs;
       Whereas the Environmental Management Team of the city of 
     Ann Arbor, Michigan has a comprehensive program addressing 
     environmental cleanup, environmental restoration, park and 
     greenway development, energy efficiency, transportation 
     alternatives, parks, infill development, and waste water 
     management;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen from 
     among 35 cities in North America to host the ICLEI's U.S. and 
     Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting;
       Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is 1 of 6 cities 
     worldwide selected to host a preparatory meeting for the 2002 
     World Summit; and
       Whereas the University of Michigan and the residents of the 
     city of Ann Arbor, Michigan are committed to communitywide 
     initiatives to support sustainable development: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes the city of Ann Arbor, 
     Michigan and its residents for their dedication to building a 
     community that respects ecological integrity, promotes social 
     well-being, and creates economic vitality.

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I and my colleague from Michigan, Senator 
Stabenow, are submitting a resolution recognizing the City of Ann 
Arbor, Michigan and its residents for their dedication to building a 
community that respects the environment, promotes social well-being and 
creates economic vitality. The City of Ann

[[Page S6351]]

Arbor is hosting the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 
Preparatory Meeting for United Nations-sponsored 2002 World Summit on 
Sustainable Development. The 2002 World Summit marks the ten-year 
anniversary of the United Nation's Conference on Environment and 
Development, better known as the Earth Summit. The Earth Summit, held 
in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, built wide political and popular 
support for environmental protection and sustainable development. Local 
leaders from across the world will gather at the 2002 World Summit to 
assess progress and examine barriers to the implementation of the Rio 
agreements. The Summit and preparatory meetings will generate new 
momentum for and renew our commitment to ensuring a viable future for 
our planet.
  In preparation for the 2002 World Summit, the International Council 
for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is convening regional 
meetings to bring together local government leaders, technical experts 
and representatives of local government associations to evaluate local 
implementation of the Earth Summit's Agenda 21 and the Rio Conventions. 
The City of Ann Arbor was one of six cities worldwide chosen to host a 
preparatory meeting to assess opportunities and recommend strategies 
for accelerated action for sustainable development at the local level. 
Ann Arbor serves as a model for the important contributions that local 
governments make to sustainable development. Committed to protecting 
the environment while promoting social well-being and economic 
vitality, the city is purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, building 
alternative fuel infrastructure and educating residents about the use 
of alternative fuel vehicles in order to enhance energy security and 
environmental quality. The city is also developing an innovative 
Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy efficiency of city 
facilities and provide community demonstrations of energy saving and 
renewable energy technologies that result in environmental stewardship 
and fiscal responsibility. For these reasons, the city is designated an 
ICLEI's City for Climate Protection and a Department of Energy Clean 
City. Protecting precious land resources and ensuring clean air and 
water for residents are also important priorities of the city. Ann 
Arbor has a comprehensive program addressing environmental cleanup and 
restoration, park and greenway development, energy efficiency, 
transportation alternatives, infill development and wastewater 
management.
  I congratulate all the local leaders who will be attending the U.S. 
and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting. Their 
cumulative local actions will improve our global environment. And, I 
commend the City of Ann Arbor, its residents and the University of 
Michigan for building a community that strives to protect our 
environment for future generations.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleague from 
Michigan, Senator Levin, in submitting a resolution recognizing the 
City of Ann Arbor, Michigan and its residents for their dedication to 
building a community that respects ecological integrity, promotes 
social well-being, and creates economic vitality.
  On June 20, 2001, the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan will be hosting the 
U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting for the 
United Nations-sponsored 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. 
The 2002 World Summit marks the ten-year anniversary of the 1992 Earth 
Summit, which helped build worldwide political and popular support for 
environmental protection and sustainable development. The 2002 World 
Summit will help assess the progress made since the Earth Summit, and 
renew our commitment to providing a bright future for our planet.
  The City of Ann Arbor was chosen from among 35 cities in North 
America to host the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 
Preparatory Meeting, and is one of six cities worldwide selected to 
host a preparatory meeting for the 2002 World Summit. The preparatory 
meeting will bring together local government leaders, technical experts 
and representatives of local government associations to examine 
opportunities and recommend strategies for environmental protection and 
sustainable development at the local level.
  The City of Ann Arbor has had numerous environmental accomplishments, 
and serves as a shining example of how local government can make 
tremendous contributions to solving local and global environmental 
problems. The City of Ann Arbor has developed an Energy Plan that 
reduces energy use and encourages renewable energy, a Solid Waste Plan 
that encourages recycling, composting, and source reduction, and a 
Transportation Plan that promotes mass transit and alternate 
transportation programs. Ann Arbor is also a Department of Energy Clean 
City, in recognition of its efforts to build alternative fuel 
infrastructure, purchase alternative fuel vehicles and educate the 
community about their uses. The city is also developing an innovative 
Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy efficiency of city 
facilities and provide community demonstrations of energy saving and 
renewable energy technologies that result in environmental stewardship 
and fiscal responsibility. The City of Ann Arbor has made protecting 
the environment a community priority, and serves as a model of how 
local governments can play a critical role in sustainable development.
  I congratulate the City of Ann Arbor for the honor of being chosen as 
one of six cities worldwide to host a preparatory meeting for the 2002 
World Summit, and I congratulate all the local leaders who will be 
attending this preparatory meeting to help solve our environmental 
problems. I also commend the city and its residents for building a 
community that works hard to protect the environment, while at the same 
time creating economic vitality and promoting social well-being.

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