[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         CELEBRATING EARTH DAY

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                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2011

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on April 22nd, we celebrate the 41st Earth 
Day and recognize the achievements Americans have made to improve our 
environment.
  Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have worked to improve 
the air we breathe and the water we drink. Four decades later, we have 
made great strides towards protecting our planet for future generations 
by making investments in a clean energy economy to create millions of 
American jobs, lower energy costs for American families and businesses, 
and reduce our dependence on foreign oil and our carbon foot print
  We must tackle tough environmental challenges, such as climate 
change, through investments in a clean energy economy to wean our 
nation off of our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and create green 
American jobs. It is also important that as we find ways to reduce our 
deficit that we do not jeopardize the safeguards in place to protect 
our air and water.
  It is necessary to continue to push forward with a clean energy plan, 
but the environmental challenges we face cannot be solved by laws 
alone. That is why it is important on this day for every American to 
take a moment and recognize the simple things that they can do within 
their own homes and communities to contribute to a cleaner and 
healthier planet Earth.

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