[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             EARTH DAY 2006

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, this past weekend we celebrated Earth 
Day. That celebration, begun in 1970 by the late Gaylord Nelson, a 
great environmental leader whose U.S. Senate seat I hold today, 
provides us the chance to reflect on our environmental past, take stock 
of our present environmental situation, and formulate a vision for our 
environmental future.
  We have much to be proud of in our past, especially the bipartisan 
initiatives that were produced in the 1970s, including the Clean Air 
Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act. 
Unfortunately, our present environmental circumstances show we have a 
lot of work to do. Mercury pollution contaminates our waterways and 
threatens the health of our citizens, increased greenhouse gas 
emissions feed global climate change, and the majestic Great Lakes, a 
natural resource of particular interest to me and my fellow 
Wisconsinites, face such threats as invasive species and loss of 
wetlands. It is the future, though, that I urge Americans from all 
walks of life and from all across the country to focus on as they 
celebrate Earth Day this year.
  Quite frankly, over the next few years we will face major decisions 
that will shape our relationship to our natural resources. We can make 
decisions that demonstrate we want a future that recognizes that when 
we disrespect and dishonor the planet, we, in fact, disrespect and 
dishonor ourselves, or by failing to act or by making shortsighted 
choices, we can turn our backs on our responsibility to pass on to 
future generations a vibrant and living planet.
  Despite what is at stake, there is reason for hope. One of the most 
pressing challenges we face is that of making a commitment--both 
individually and collectively--to adopting sustainable energy habits 
that will serve the country for years to come. Our Nation, throughout 
its history, has faced challenges that we have overcome based on our 
ingenuity and our unwillingness to fail. It is this attitude that must 
be embraced today as we look to our energy future.
  We must challenge ourselves to adopt a new energy vision for the 21st 
century. This new vision involves moving away from our dependence on 
oil, a source of energy that puts our environment, our national 
security, and our economy at risk. We all know that the burning fossil 
fuels, like oil, emits tremendous amounts of greenhouse gases into our 
atmosphere and that these gases fuel global warming. We all also know 
that global climate change is a problem plagued by a lack of leadership 
by the current administration and by its allies in Congress. Getting 
real about global warming--which must happen soon--will require a 
commitment to reducing our dependence on oil as opposed to continually 
fighting about opening up pristine areas, including the Arctic National 
Wildlife Refuge, for oil drilling. Reducing our dependence on oil will 
also make us more secure. Given that we have less than 3 percent of the 
world's proven oil reserves here in the United States, we will be 
dependent on others for our fuel until we get serious about using 
biofuels that can be produced here at home.
  A new energy future will not create itself--it will require a 
dedicated effort by individuals across the country and by decision 
makers at all levels. This new energy future can be built on efforts to 
be more efficient, efforts to only use only what we need, and efforts 
to use renewable sources of energy. While the Federal Government has 
failed to take bold action, Americans are forging ahead, actually 
leading the way. For example, students at universities are holding 
competitions to reduce energy use, and nearly 200 cities are part of a 
nationwide movement to reduce greenhouse emissions in their cities to 7 
percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
  But more must be done, and Americans must demand accountability and 
leadership from their Federal elected officials.
  So as we come together on Earth Day 2006, let's make a commitment to 
each other and to future generations to rise to the challenge of 
securing a new energy future for our country, for this is not only one 
of the most important environmental commitments we can make to each 
other, but it is also a decision about our national security and our 
economy. Let's work toward an environmental future that our children's 
children will, years from now, reflect upon as a turning point in our 
history, a time during which we came together and worked for the best 
interest of humanity, across the globe.

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