I would like to offer my sincere condolences to everyone whose life was touched by Mr. Henry Atkinson, who passed away earlier this week.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of this body, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Earth Day.

Earth Day has been a catalyst for the enactment of some of our nation's most important laws.

Environmental Justice matters.

Earth Day must also serve as a reminder that even today, we still have a need for improvement.

I challenge my colleagues to work towards its passage.

I am proud of my strong environmental voting record.

Earth Day matters. It raises the awareness of Americans and is a catalyst for positive change.

We must also strive as global citizens toward safer drinking water and cleaner air at home and abroad.

It is clear today, maybe more so than in 1970, that there is a global connection through the environment.

I strongly support H.R. 525, the Defense of the Environments Act.

In closing, I leave you with this thought, it is not a question of whether we can afford to protect the environment, rather it is a question of whether we can afford not to.

Environmental Justice matters. We must begin to eliminate the mentality that our nation's poorest communities can be used as dumping grounds for our industrial achievements.

It is not a question of whether we can afford to protect the environment, rather it is a question of whether we can afford not to.

We now must begin to realize the responsibility we have in providing under developed nation with the environmental technology that will allow them to grow as they move towards a more industrialized society.

We must begin to eliminate the mentality that our nation's poorest communities can be used as dumping grounds for our industrial achievements.

People sympathize with people who make mistakes. And those people who are Christian hope that the people who do wrong will see the error of their ways and seek some opportunities for redemption.

Nobody really supports individuals doing wrong. As long as the pursuit of the wrongdoers is within the confines of the laws and on balance, then the general public will support it. And I don't know any people that I talk to who support…