Frank Pallone: “this year the Democrats are celebrating Earth Day, which is tomorrow, by continuing our efforts to leave a real…”

“this year the Democrats are celebrating Earth Day, which is tomorrow, by continuing our efforts to leave a real environmental legacy for this year and future years, for this generation and for the next generation. And we are proving that environmental protection and economic competitiveness are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they will be even more compatible as technology continues to advance and as we head into the next millennium under a Democratic administration. On the other hand, my colleagues on the other side, the Republicans, and particularly the Republican leadership, will once again try to look green for a day on Earth Day. They will tout their one or two token environmental bills. I already heard the gentleman from the Committee on Rules, I believe, report one of those bills which is ready for tomorrow. They are going to tout these one or two token environmental bills that actually are far weaker than Democratic alternatives. Let us really compare our agendas. Already this year the Republicans have defeated the defense of the environment amendment, designed to hold Republicans accountable for back-door attempts to roll back 25 years of environmental protection. The Republican budget also would drastically cut environmental funding by $5.3 billion over the next 5 years. And the American people can do the math, they can see through the Republican Party's empty Earth Day gestures.”