[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4937]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      HOPING TO LIVE ONE DAY IN AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM POLLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 2002

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, soon after I delivered my remarks on the 
House floor this morning, I received numerous calls from news 
organizations. Unfortunately, these calls were not about the importance 
of the Clean Air Act, which was the subject of my one-minute speech. 
Instead, the press was more concerned about a pause I took during the 
Pledge of Allegiance--as I was trying to determine if I had my back to 
the American flag--than what I said about protecting our environment. I 
would hope the media pays closer attention to the issues affecting our 
air quality so that the people of this Nation, under God, will be able 
to one day live in an environment free from pollution.

                          ____________________