Gephardt Statement on Earth Day

4/19/2002

From: Erik Smith or Kori Bernards, 202-225-0100 both for House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt Web: http://democraticleader.house.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The following statement was released today by the office of House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt:

"As we approach Earth Day 2002, it is obvious that Congressional Republicans and the Bush Administration have no interest in being good stewards of the planet's resources. Their assaults on our nation's air, water and lands have intensified in 2002.

"Every day, Republicans take action to reward their special interest donors, while undermining the public health and the environment. They are rolling back clean air and water protections, and they are reversing the principle that the polluters should pay to clean up toxic Superfund sites, not the taxpayer. They are also pushing oil drilling and mining projects on pristine public lands and opening up unspoiled national forests to logging and road building.

"The bottom line is that the Republican House Leadership takes a one-dimensional, 19th century approach to energy and environmental policy. The views of Majority Whip Tom Delay are instructive: 'the cleanest thing you can do,' he said, 'is drill off of California and Florida.'

"The only way America can achieve energy self-sufficiency is an Apollo Project commitment to research and development of renewables and conservation. If we can send a man to the moon, surely we can generate 20 percent of our energy from renewables by 2020. American ingenuity can lead to energy independence in the 21st century."