[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H2340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EARTH DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize and celebrate the 34th annual celebration of Earth Day. I 
have a long-standing commitment to conservation and environmental 
protection, as well as to peace and justice; and I am pleased to join 
in today's celebration.
  Earth Day festivities take place all across the country. I would like 
to pay special tribute to my constituents in Dallas, Texas, who are so 
active in their support of environmental issues.
  I would like to give special recognition to TXU under the leadership 
of Mr. Earl Ney, who has shown a great deal of sensitivity in 
correcting many of the environmental damaging fumes from their 
electrical power plans, and to Mr. Stavely of Irving, Texas, who led 
the dry cleaning industry into taking a responsible position of 
establishing a State fund to share in cleaning up industrial waste.
  The city of Dallas will recognize Earth Day on Friday with a 
celebration of live entertainment and educational exhibits. I would 
like also to pay tribute to Bonnie Bowman, a north Texan, who has 
championed a host of environmental causes from clean air and water to 
recycling and tree preservation. Those efforts have garnered her 
special recognition this Earth Day in the form of an environmental 
awareness award from the League of Women Voters, and Trammel Crow who 
back over the years planted many trees back along the highways.
  In 1963 following President Kennedy's death, the Nation was reminded 
of his words he had spoken the year before: ``Never have the nations of 
the world had so much to lose, or so much to gain. Together we can save 
our planet, or together perish in its flames. Save it we can, and save 
it we must.'' We must ensure that diversity of life on Earth and enrich 
the quality of life now and for future generations.
  Today, however, many of the environmental gains of the past 34 years 
are under attack or have been rolled back. The Clean Air Act and the 
Clean Water Act have been weakened. EPA enforcement funds have been 
cut. The ``polluter pays'' principle for cleaning up toxic waste sites 
has been abandoned. Mining and logging on public lands have increased, 
protection from wilderness areas has been removed, and attempts are 
being made to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil 
drilling and weaken protections for the California coast.
  Mr. Speaker, Texas is already the Nation's mercury hot spot, and our 
children should not be suffering from the toxic exposure. Texas leads 
the Nation in mercury pollution from coal plants. Nineteen coal-burning 
plants spew out nearly 9,000 pounds of toxic mercury per year in Texas. 
Coal waste contains mercury that can leach into the waterways as well. 
Utilities, the largest source of mercury, 34 percent, are the only 
industry unregulated for this dangerous pollutant.
  I consider environmental protection to be a national priority. I 
pledge to work with my colleagues to ensure the preservation of our 
natural resources and the protection of the public's health. Today, as 
we celebrate Earth Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to a cleaner and 
more peaceful world.

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