The American people are watching. We cannot shy away from our responsibility.

This amendment is not about taking rights away from law abiding citizens. It is about closing a loophole in the law that gives criminals a free pass at gunshows.

Common sense dictates that we, as representatives of the American people, support this measure.

We cannot shy away from our responsibility. We must rise to the occasion and pass meaningful gun safety legislation that will help end the cycle of violence.

The efforts they are making will last for generations to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Connie Loudermilk and the Golden, Illinois Historical Society for their efforts to preserve Prairie Mills in Golden.

Prairie Mills was built by Henry R. Emminga in 1872. It operated for 60 years and served as a key component of Golden and the surrounding area.

Today, it serves perhaps an even more important role as a reminder of the way things used to be.

I want to commend Connie and Randy as well as Jim Simpson, Dave Weese, Bob Teel, Ben Booth and all the other volunteers involved in this worthwhile effort.

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

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

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.

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

I am proud of my strong environmental voting record.

I challenge my colleagues to work towards its passage.

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

Environmental Justice matters.

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