[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COMMEMORATING EARTH DAY 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, Saturday marked the 36th annual Earth Day, a 
day set aside for reflection, education, and action on the impact of 
human beings on our planet. Although it is certainly important to 
celebrate the rich diversity of nature with our families and 
communities, my greatest hope for the Earth is that my children's 
children will not have to observe an Earth Day. Instead, I look forward 
to a future when concern for the environment is part of each decision 
our country makes, rather than only a matter we address one day each 
year on a date set aside to make us consider the impact we are having 
on our surroundings.
  While the front pages of our newspapers routinely carry stories on 
the degradation of our natural resources, environmental issues have yet 
to rise to a top priority in Congress. Nonetheless, the decisions we 
make today will profoundly impact the way we live for years and 
generations to come. Indeed, our stewardship of the environment is 
inextricably tied to our economic security and growth.
  This is not news to the American people. Over the last 20 years, more 
Americans have said that environmental protection is a high priority 
for the Nation. Nearly three in five Americans are active in or 
sympathetic to the environmental movement, but most believe the 
government has a negative, or at best negligible, impact on these 
efforts.
  One area in which the Federal Government has failed to lead is global 
warming. A recent Gallup poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans 
worry about the greenhouse effect, up from just over half in 2004. 
Eighty-three percent believe that global warming will become a problem 
for the U.S. and 57 percent feel it poses a very serious threat to the 
world. And, Mr. Speaker, 68 percent of our fellow citizens believe the 
Federal Government should be doing more to combat it.
  The science of climate change has become clear and alarming. NASA 
recently confirmed that 9 of the last 10 years have been the warmest 
since modern records began in 1861, with 2005 topping the list. Much of 
this rise can be explained by a 35 percent increase over preindustrial 
levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, caused by the burning of 
fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial production.
  Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the current 
levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere will cause the Earth's 
temperature to reach its highest point since the end of the Ice Age 
some 9,000 years ago. Average global temperatures could rise by 3 to 10 
degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. This would melt the polar 
ice caps, causing sea level to rise twenty or more feet, causing severe 
worldwide flooding that would put large parts of Florida and California 
underwater. Warmer weather will also lead to severe weather patterns 
that will contribute to food shortages, increase the spread and 
severity of disease, increase the damage and displacement from a range 
of natural disasters, and jeopardize billions of people around the 
world.
  In 2005, the economic costs of weather-related catastrophes have been 
estimated at more than $200 billion. As temperatures rise, so will this 
economic toll. The extinction of millions of plant and animal species 
presents another priceless and irreversible toll of global warming.

  While some temperature rise is inevitable, most scientists still 
believe that concerted action can prevent the most apocalyptic 
consequences of climate change. The global nature of this challenge 
creates not only an obligation for the U.S., but also an opportunity. 
By conserving the resources we have and developing new, cleaner sources 
of energy, we will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, protect our 
wilderness, and purify our air, water, and soil. Taking the lead in 
improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions will 
improve our economic security and prosperity today and for generations 
to come.
  New scientific findings highlight the urgency of addressing global 
warming and related environmental challenges. Fortunately, the 
innovative and enterprising spirit of the American people puts us in an 
ideal position to seize this opportunity. Together, we can change the 
headlines to reflect a more optimistic outlook for our planet while 
improving our own quality of life. The American people have made it 
clear that the environment should be on our agenda every day, not just 
Earth Day, and I hope that Congress will heed this appeal.

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