Jerry Brown: “This amendment says that Congress believes that there is no link between environmental stewardship and national…”

“This amendment says that Congress believes that there is no link between environmental stewardship and national security. It says that we intend that the Federal agencies should withdraw from any international leadership role in demonstrating how sustainable development and economic growth can be made compatible. One need only look at emerging political strife in countries such as Nigeria to see the direct relationship between the environment and the ability of Third World nations to work toward democracy. For this reason, the State Department has begun to make environmental concerns an integral piece of our foreign policy and national security strategy. This amendment would negate that progress.”