Volume 142, No. 53 covering the 2nd Session of the 104th Congress (1995 - 1996) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE 26TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E604 on April 23, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE 26TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY
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HON. KAREN McCARTHY
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 23, 1996
Ms. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the 26th Annual celebration of Earth Day. In the time since the first Earth Day, much has been accomplished in to the way of environmental protection. Landmark legislation such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species, Act, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency have resulted from a commitment to protection of our natural resources that is exemplified by Earth Day.
There is no question that today our water is more clean and our air is more breathable than it was 25 years ago. Species that were threatened or endangered 25 years ago, such as the American Bald Eagle, are now thriving. Wetlands are better protected, toxic dump sites are more quickly identified and treated, environmentally sensitive sources of energy are being developed and put into use, and our public lands are more sensitively preserved and maintained.
The job is certainly not complete. Much can be done to strengthen the laws on the books, but much can de done to make compliance with those laws more achievable. Long-term environmental protection can only be accomplished through a partnership between the environmental and business communities. In seeking to expand and improve environmental protection, we must also consider the legitimate concerns raised by those who live with the regulations.
Despite all the positive and popular steps that have been taken to protect the environment in the past quarter century, and the additional work that needs to be done, the leadership of the 104th Congress has attempted to halt, roll back, and eliminate many of the protections for the environment we hold sacred. Legislation has passed the House during this Congress to dramatically reduce one of the most successful laws on our books, the Clean Water Act. While not perfect, the Clean Water Act has gone a long way towards cleaning up our Nation's rivers, lakes, and streams; but the bill that passed the House rejects those successes and represents a major step backward in cleanup of polluted waterways.
Another target of this Congress has been the Environmental Protection Agency. In pursuit of a worthy cause--streamlining and making more efficient the environmental regulatory process--legislation has passed the House to establish stringent new requirements for risk assessment and cost benefit analysis of major federal regulations affecting health, safety, or the environment. Should this bill become law, it would hamstring EPA's ability to promulgate and enforce regulations designed to protect the environment.
In addition, funding for EPA has been slashed by more than 25 percent. The House Leadership's commitment to reducing environmental protection funding has resulted in fewer hazardous waste cleanups, a reduction in enforcement, and a decrease in needed water infrastructure and treatment programs.
Today, as we celebrate the 26th anniversary of Earth Day, it is important to reflect on the successes that have been achieved in environmental protection over the years, and the work that must continue to be done to ensure our natural resources will be preserved for generations to come. Instead of misguided attempts to roll back protection, we need to develop ways to preserve our environment that are cost-effective, efficient, and responsible.
I participated in the first Earth Day celebration in 1970 by walking to my teaching job rather than driving, and discussing with my students the responsibility each individual has to the environment. I have marked the anniversary of Earth Day each year since, and this year I helped to create a community garden with Americorps volunteers in my district.
All of my life I have worked for sound environment, and I practice conservation and recycling at home and in my offices. As a member of the Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, and the Science Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, I work as an advocate for substantive changes in law and policy that will ensure a quality environment.
Concern about our environment must be reflected in each of our lives daily. From recycling our newspapers, to planting trees, to using public transportation whenever possible, together we can make our environment cleaner and safer. Let us each pledge to make every day, Earth Day.
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