[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                               EARTH DAY

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2001

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, on Earth Day, we celebrate an important 
milestone of the modern environmental movement in 1970, and we 
celebrate three decades of progress in protecting the environment. 
Thanks to the persistence and hard work of environmental champions from 
all walks of life, Americans enjoy cleaner air and cleaner water than 
in 1970.
  Yet we still have far to go to achieve a sustainable approach to 
living on the Earth. We need leaders who have the vision to see that 
the fate of human beings and the environment are inextricably 
intertwined. We need leaders who appreciate that with new ideas, new 
practices, and new technologies, we can enjoy prosperity and economic 
growth without sacrificing the environment.
  Instead, in his first 100 days in leadership, President Bush has 
acted swiftly to roll back a series of initiatives to protect the 
environment and human health:
  Arsenic. Revoked new regulations to reduce the level of arsenic, a 
known carcinogen, in drinking water.
  Hard-rock mining. Dumped new regulations that would make it tougher 
for mining companies to walk away from pollution caused by mining.
  Global warning. Broke his campaign promise to reduce emissions of 
carbon dioxide, the primary cause of global warming.
  Kyoto protocol. Announced that the United States--which has already 
signed the Kyoto protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions--will 
withdraw from any further negotiations and will not seek ratification 
of the climate change treaty.
  National forests. Postponed rules to protect 58 million acres in our 
national forests by prohibiting new roads, and is widely expected to 
try to overturn the new rules completely.
  National monuments. Encouraged proposals to change boundaries and 
loosen protections against mining and logging operations in the new 
monuments.
  Energy efficiency. Scaled back regulations to make air conditioners 
and heat pumps more efficient--at a time when electricity is in short 
supply and prices are shooting up in California and around the country. 
Electricity generation is a major contributor to air and water 
pollution.
  In the new millennium, we must realize that the environment is 
central to our lives. Because of global warming, it is predicted that 
the oceans could rise by as much as three feet in the period between 
1990 and 2100. In San Francisco, where the ocean is already practically 
lapping at our feet, it is daunting to think about the damage the 
rising waters are likely to cause to our peninsula.
  This Administration seeks 19th century solutions to 21st century 
problems. The Administration's policies on energy and global warming 
are a prime example. Faced with energy shortages and high energy 
prices, the Administration advocates increased drilling for oil and 
gas. Yesterday, the White House reaffirmed its commitment to driling in 
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of our priceless natural 
treasures. In the face of world-wide concern about global warming, the 
Administration has renounced the climate change treaty.
  The Administration is responding to pressure from many companies in 
the electricity, coal, oil, and gas industries to continue with 
business as usual. But instead of clinging to the energy policies of 
the past, the United States should lead the world in developing energy 
efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
  I salute business leaders who recognize the value of environmental 
protection. In fact, a number of major corporations have recognized the 
threat of global warming and are acting to reduce their greenhouse gas 
emissions. But sometimes the corporate sector needs a push to adopted 
new technologies and new ways of thinking. We need political leaders 
who understand this dynamic.
  No discussion of the environment is complete without focussing on 
environmental justice.
  Environmental health will be a major human rights issue in the 21st 
century. Everyone has the right to live in an environment free of 
deadly pollutants and toxic waste, and every child has a right to be 
born free of exposure to toxic chemicals. But today, millions of 
Americans are exposed to dangerous contaminants in our food, water, 
air, and even our mother's milk. Minority and low-income communities 
are particularly vulnerable to environmental health hazards, since the 
factories and waste dumps that emit pollutants are often located near 
poor or minority communities that have less political power.
  Last Thursday, President Bush announced the United States would sign 
the treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) that was negotiated 
by the Clinton Administration. I am delighted that the US will sign the 
POPs treaty, which will ban or phase out 12 pollutants that are 
extremely hazardous to the health of humans and animals. But I note 
that the treaty is supported by the chemical industry--so this 
excellent decision did not require political courage or vision. 
Furthermore, we should ensure that new chemicals are safe to human 
health and the ecosystem before they become pervasive in our air, 
water, food, and our bodies.
  This Administration is still living in the 20th century when it comes 
to environmental issues. It's time to move into the 21st century. 
Working together, we can make each Earth Day a celebration of progress, 
not a day of protest.

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