[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRESS SHOULD LISTEN TO ETHAN SENSER

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY Mr. Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues a 
letter that I recently received from Ethan Senser, a remarkable 7th 
grade student who attends the Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in 
Northbrook, Illinois. Ethan's letter is a persuasive and thoughtful 
call to action for all of us about the need to prevent global warming 
and protect the environment for this and future generations.
  Ethan not only asks Congress to respond to the looming dangers of 
global warming and environmental destruction, he lays out clear and 
eminently doable measures that we can take to achieve those goals. He 
has provided us with a common sense list of steps to take, from the 
promotion of energy-efficiency appliances and cars to public 
transportation to alternative fuel production as a substitute for 
drilling in environmentally-fragile areas like ANWR. By following 
Ethan's suggestions, our legislative legacy will be to leave the world 
a cleaner, safer and better place. If not, Ethan's generation will face 
the enormous task of cleaning up environmental disasters that we can 
act now to prevent.
  Finally, I want to commend Ethan not just for his ideas but for his 
activism. He is not just asking Congress to act, relying on us to fix 
problems. Ethan wants to know what he can do as a young student who is 
concerned about the environment. Here, too, Ethan is sending a correct 
and compelling message: that the protection of the planet is 
everybody's business.
  I know that, after reading Ethan's letter, my colleagues will be as 
impressed with his commitment and vision as I am. And, I hope that it 
will result in enactment of the legislative priorities that he has 
suggested we pursue.

       Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky: My name is Ethan Senser. I 
     am in 7th grade at Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in 
     Northbrook, IL. I am very worried about global warming and 
     how it will affect the world in the future. There are several 
     things that I am concerned about. I am worried about air 
     pollution from cars and factories. I am concerned with the 
     rain forests. The rain forests are disappearing because of 
     the need for lumber and grazing land for cattle. Forests are 
     also being destroyed in this country for lumber. Forests 
     are important because trees remove carbon dioxide from the 
     air, a major greenhouse gas that causes global warming. 
     They are also important animal habitats and many animals 
     are in danger of becoming extinct because of their loss of 
     a place to live and feed. With global warming I am also 
     worried about the Polar ice caps melting and raising the 
     sea level. If this happens cities that are on a coastline 
     would be in serious danger of flooding.
       I am hoping that Congress will do something to help stop 
     global warming before it goes too far. I think that Congress 
     should try to make more laws to really help the environment. 
     They should make sure that there is no drilling for oil in 
     the Alaskan nature preserve. Besides ruining animal habitats, 
     tanker accidents can pollute the water. Congress should 
     pressure auto companies to make more fuel efficient cars. 
     They should give incentives for the development of 
     alternative fuels. They should also try to get factories to 
     find ways to produce their products in a safer, cleaner way. 
     There should be more pressure on people to use public 
     transportation. Also, people could be encouraged to use bikes 
     more often. More cities should try to use Carpool lanes to 
     get people to carpool. Companies should make environmental 
     friendly products. Household appliances makers should do the 
     same. More products should be made in recyclable containers. 
     Paper products could be made on recycled paper as well as pop 
     bottles. Many products are over packaged and should be sold 
     in simpler, smaller packaging.
       I am writing to you, Congresswoman Schakowsky, because I 
     want to get involved in ways to help stop global warming. As 
     a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and 
     someone also very concerned about the environment, do you 
     have any suggestions on how a middle school student can make 
     a difference?

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