Rod Grams: “on a day set aside to recognize the importance of protecting our environment and preserving our natural resources, I am…”

“on a day set aside to recognize the importance of protecting our environment and preserving our natural resources, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in this frank discussion of the substantial progress we have made and the steps we have yet to take. But first, it is important to recognize that environmental protection is not a partisan matter. It is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is one issue which should bring us together, because on this issue, we share the same goal: We all want a clean America, where our children can breathe clean air and drink clean water. And there is not a man or woman in this Congress who would demand anything less for their families. I am so proud, Mr. President, that over the past 20 years, we have made such great strides toward achieving that goal. Our urban landscapes are no longer polluted by the thick, black smoke of industrial smokestacks. Our lakes and rivers are no longer the dumping ground for toxic sludge. We are recycling newspapers, glass, and plastics in record numbers. Through efforts such as the Conservation Reserve Program, Congress is working in partnership with the American people to ensure our generation leaves behind a cleaner Earth than the one we inherited. We acknowledge that government at all levels can and should play a strong role in protecting our environment. Maybe that is why the United States spends more per capita on environmental protection than any other Western, industrialized nation.”