|
A huge gap exists in active measures to protect our environment and measures the Bush administration has taken. For instance, George W. Bush does not support the Kyoto Treaty, a world-wide action to reduce global warming. Nor do many Republicans in Congress. Another issue is our forests. In effect, the administration has turned management of the forests over to the logging industry. Of equal carelessness is the way the government has turned over the use of federal public lands for oil and gas development — ignoring a federal mandate for a balance between environmental protection and commercial use. And then we have Republicans willing to exploit the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge — upending the tranquility of ANWR's flora and fauna for the sake of a small, unsustainable amount of oil. DAPAC believes in electing members to the House who will actively take a roll in protecting the environment and safeguarding it against the dangerous measures of the Bush Administration. 2006 DAPAC-endorsed representative Gabrielle Giffords (AZ 08) was appointed the vice chair of the House Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, and is continuing her commendable environmental efforts. Recently, she announced a solar power initiative that she hopes to push through Congress in the near future. Her plan consists of giving tax credits to homeowners using solar energy, promoting greater usage of solar power at national parks, educational seminars for the public and schools on how solar energy is a weapon against global warming, making sure the federal government advocates for solar energy, and creating a solar energy advisory committee. In addition to Giffords' efforts, the U.S. House is currently debating the Safe Climate Act (H.R. 1590), which is co-sponsored by DAPAC-endorsed representatives Bruce Braley (IA 1), Joe Courtney (CT 2), Allyson Schwartz (PA 13), Joe Sestak (PA 7), Chris Van Hollen (MD 8), and John Yarmuth (KY 3). This bill places a national cap on global-warming pollution making real reductions from today's levels in ten years and reaching 80 percent reductions by 2050, creates a national renewable electricity standard of at least 20 percent by 2020, and significantly increases the national fuel-economy standards to at least 40 miles per gallon. DAPAC-endorsed representatives and candidates will take an active roll in protecting the environment.
|
