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Guest Commentary: April 21, 2001
Stop Environmental Disasters Before They Happen
The Honorable David Bonior (D-MI)
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With our lush forests, our Great Lakes and our 3,200 miles of shoreline, Michigan families take special pride in the quality of our environment. That's why, tomorrow, many of us will be marking the 31st anniversary of the first Earth Day back in 1970. It was a time when air pollution was so bad that big cities were choking under deadly clouds of brown and yellow smog. Back then, water pollution was out of control. We even heard of rivers catching on fire. But, after that first Earth Day, things began to change. Americans said it was time to do something about the pollution. And we did. Working together, Democrats and Republicans stood up for the public health. Here in Michigan, we banned the use of cancer-causing chemicals like PCBs. And, in Washington, Congress passed tough new laws to clean up our air and water, and it created the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, to see that those laws were enforced.
Today, many rivers, lakes and streams that were once given up for dead are coming back strong. Our air is cleaner, too. America's made a lot of progress since that first Earth Day. But if the President and his allies have their way, the pollution of the past will become a part of our future.
Since taking office, the President has treated the big polluters to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of environmental giveaways. Last month, the Bush Administration revoked the important new rules to help rid our drinking water of arsenic: a poison that increases the risk of cancer. The President also broke his campaign promise and announced he wouldn't cut carbon dioxide pollution from power plants.
Now, it's being reported that the chemical industry is pressuring the EPA not to issue an important study on dioxin: one of the most dangerous substances known to mankind. But that's not all. Instead of offering America a sound national energy policy, President Bush is backing oil company demands to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. President Bush even said that our National Monument lands should be opened to oil and gas interests. When it comes to the public's health and the environment, President Bush and the Republicans are willing to let the big polluters have their way. But we Democrats have a different agenda. That's why we're battling to restore the half a billion dollars President Bush wants to take away from the EPA. We're also saying that it's time to invest in the state of the art wastewater treatment systems, renewable energy sources, and energy conservation. And we believe it's time to stop the 'trashing of America' and craft a sensible strategy to protect our land from solid waste.
The bottom line is that we Democrats want to stop environmental disasters before they happen. That's the reason why, together with Michigan's Congressman Bart Stupak, I've proposed a law to ban oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.
When it comes to a clean environment, all Americans share a special interest. That's true whether you like to go hunting, fishing, hiking, or simply want to make sure your children have air that's safe to breathe and water that's safe to drink. The Democrats in Congress understand that. It's about time our new President did, too.
Note: This column has been adapted from a radio address to the nation delivered by Rep. Bonior, April 21, 2001.
 How to contact Rep. David Bonior (D-Michigan)
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