Mark Kennedy: “I want to applaud the decision that the EPA and the administration has made to stand up for rural America and for our…”

“I want to applaud the decision that the EPA and the administration has made to stand up for rural America and for our environment and for rural communities. This is a decision that is very important to me. I have spoken quite a bit on this. The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht) and I wrote the President a letter earlier in the year encouraging him to make this decision, as we had written President Clinton before him. When I was at the White House for lunch for the 100-day celebration, I had an opportunity to say just one good thing to President Bush, and that was to encourage him to make the decision we are making here today. I have taken every opportunity I can, whether it be talking to President Bush's staff or to the Secretary or to other people in the administration, to encourage this decision. That is why I am so pleased. I have gone around my district in southwest Minnesota for the last several weeks. I have had six agriculture forums. I have collected over 250 letters at those forums from our constituents that have been addressed to President Bush encouraging this decision, so there has been a groundswell of support for this decision.”