Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, today is Arbor Day, and I rise to reintroduce my bill, the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. In drafting this bill, I was inspired by the CCC Act first established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 as part of his New Deal. This historic initiative generated more than 3 million jobs, especially for America's young people, and inspired a widespread appreciation of America's wealth of natural resources and our responsibility as stewards of these assets. Through current Federal programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other conservation and restoration investments, Americans are once again connecting the dots between clean water, clean land, clean air, and thriving regional ecosystems and economies. With recent attacks on programs that help our Great Lakes, we should remember we don't have to choose between protecting our environment and natural treasures and creating jobs. We can do both at the same time. Just Ohio and Michigan, alone, need 20 million new trees planted to make up for the devastation that the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle have done to our forest populations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and its goal of putting young people to work across our country that will prosper our Nation and steward its resources forward. I am confident the young people of America will welcome this challenge. ____________________”