Bart Stupak: “this is Earth Day. This is the day when, in the simplest of terms, we are supposed to say smokestacks are bad and trees…”

“this is Earth Day. This is the day when, in the simplest of terms, we are supposed to say smokestacks are bad and trees are good, that cars are bad and bicycles and buses are good. Those of us concerned about the environment, of course, realize that environmental issues have many more facets. Consider the case of the Great Lakes. It was in October, Mr. Speaker, that many of my colleagues gave unanimous approval to my resolution which called on the President and the other body to act to prevent the sale or diversion of Great Lakes water to foreign countries, businesses, corporations and individuals. The House, speaking with one voice, asked that procedures be established to guarantee that any sale or diversion of Great Lakes water be fully negotiated and approved by representatives of the Governments of the United States and Canada. I want to remind our colleagues of this House action because, Mr. Speaker, there is another threat to the Great Lakes, one which is posed by the drilling of oil and gas in and under the waters of our Great Lakes.”