Wayne Gilchrest: “I also want to thank, with a great deal of gratitude, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural…”

“I also want to thank, with a great deal of gratitude, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla), for accepting our amendment. As Members might observe, the picture next to the podium is our home. I think it is our responsibility to preserve it and protect it. Three quick points: Number one, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla) for accepting the amendment so that the language is taken out of the bill. This gives the Bush administration the opportunity to discuss this in an international way. Number two, it gives us, as Members of the House, a sense of responsibility for protecting the planet, so we will not pass that burden and that responsibility off to the next generation, which will have a much more difficult time. Number three, very quickly, everybody talks about the weather, but not a lot of people, including us, know a lot about the weather or where does the air that we breathe come from, how does it sustain us, how is the air sustained, and over what period of time did it create what we now see.”