[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                             EARTH DAY 2000

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, we are on the verge of celebrating the 30th 
anniversary of Earth Day, which falls on April 22. We have much to 
celebrate, improved air quality and water quality and other 
environmental standards and better protections for human health. 
However, we also still have a long way to go to preserve and protect 
our natural resources.
  Unfortunately, the Republican leadership has not promoted an 
environmental agenda in this Congress. This is a shame because, if we 
continue on the path that the Republican leadership has been 
advocating, our planet will be in far worse shape 30 years from now.
  I just wanted to mention a couple actions that took place just 
yesterday in the House in the committees that I serve on. For instance, 
Republicans on the Committee on Resources yesterday promoted efforts to 
drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. If we open the Arctic Refuge 
to oil and gas development, we will only have the equivalent of 6 more 
months' worth of oil supply. Yet, in the process, we would destroy one 
of our Nation's greatest natural resources forever.
  Just yesterday, Republicans on the Committee on Commerce in which I 
serve tried to eliminate water efficiency standards for shower heads 
and toilets. Fortunately that attempt was defeated. Many of my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle are already experiencing severe 
water shortages back home. One study estimated that indoor water use 
could be reduced by 31 percent per person per day with products that 
meet the current standards.
  Let me just mention also other aspects of the environmental report in 
general with regard to the Republican majority. I believe very strongly 
that many of their policies have harmed our domestic and global energy 
and environmental security by cutting funding for energy efficiency, 
renewable energy, weatherization, and alternative fuel programs during 
the last few years.
  In their first effort upon taking control of Congress, the Republican 
majority cut energy efficiency programs by 26 percent. Over the past 5 
years, the GOP has slashed funding for solar energy, renewable energy, 
and conservation programs by nearly $1.4 billion below the 
administration's request.
  They have also inserted anti-environmental riders into critical 
funding bills at the 11th hour, hoping that these stealth efforts would 
not be discovered by the American people. If we look at the situation 
in Texas where Governor Bush is claiming to be helping the environment, 
we see that that State ranks first in air pollution in the Nation and 
third worst in water pollution from chemical dumping. Governor Bush has 
appointed industry representatives to State environmental agencies that 
had previously fought against environmental regulations.

                              {time}  2100

  And he also has underfunded the cleanup of Superfund sites and has 
pushed a strictly voluntary program for dirty power plants to reduce 
harmful emissions, even though Texas's deteriorating air quality has 
reached a crisis proportion.
  While the rest of the world is taking practical steps to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions and save money and energy, the Republican-
controlled Congress is lagging behind by debating whether the science 
is real enough to take similar actions domestically.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Earth Day this year, let us reflect on 
our responsibility for stewardship of our natural resources. I just 
hope the Republican leadership will stop trying to gut our 
environmental laws, and I hope all of my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle will join me in working proactively to protect our 
environment now for the present and for future generations.

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