David Thomas: “I am pleased to share my views about the environment on Earth Day. I know many Members in this body support efforts to…”

“I am pleased to share my views about the environment on Earth Day. I know many Members in this body support efforts to clean up our environment. Earth Day 2004 is the ideal time to recognize just how much our environment has improved. Over the last 3 years, the focus has been on results--making our air, water, and land cleaner. To get to that point and to keep improving in the future, we need to employ the best science and data available for decision-making. Our policies should encourage innovation and the development of new, cleaner technologies. We should continue to build on America's ethic of stewardship and personal responsibility through education, volunteer opportunities, and in our daily lives. Opportunities for environmental improvements are not limited to Federal Government actions. States, tribes, local communities, and individuals must be included. Over the last 30 years, our Nation has made great progress in providing for a better environment and improving public health. In that time, our economy grew 164 percent, population grew 39 percent, and our energy consumption increased 42 percent. Yet air pollution from the six major pollutants decreased by 48 percent. In 2002, State data reported to EPA showed that approximately 251 million people, or 94 percent of the total population, were served by community water systems that met all health-based standards. This number is up from 79 percent in 1993.”