We are dependent upon the physical
world we inhabit, so environmental protection must remain a
primary goal of the federal government. We are also dependent
upon the economic growth for our high standard of living, so
the federal government must not jeopardize the economy for the
sake of the environment.
The Environmental Protection
Agency has done a great deal in recent decades to improve and
restore the quality of the environment. Environmental
protection clearly is no longer a Democratic issue, and the
Republicans in Congress must continue to fund the agency adequately
to ensure that it can continue to protect the public in a manner
that does not harm business development.
The Clean Air Act, passed by
Congress in the 1960's and amended about 10 years ago, has significantly
improved air quality. As a result of tremendous work by
state and local governments, the environmental community, the
private sector, and the federal government, much progress has
been made in the past quarter century in protecting our land,
our air, and our water in the United States. Recognizing these
achievements, the nation must make further progress.
The Bush administration
has been advocating for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, where it is estimated that 16 billion barrels of oil
could be tapped with minimal effect upon the environment. This amount of oil approximates what the United States has imported
from Saudi Arabia over the past 30 years.
An encouraging recent
development is the fact that mining companies are beginning
to tap the vast oil sands reserves in Alberta, Canada.
