Conyers Committedto Protectingthe Princplesof Earth Day

Washington D.C. - Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, and ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, made the following remarks today, Earth Day, about the importance of protecting our environment:

"To our country's detriment, the Bush Administration is doing the bidding of special interests, working to reverse decades of progress on the environment - by rolling back regulation and enforcement of such landmark protections such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Almost every day, the Bush Administration takes another step - often not seen by the public - to undermine our environmental laws and regulations.

"The Bush Administration has abandoned the 'polluter pays' principle previously applied to toxic waste clean-ups. Under the Clinton Administration, the Superfund Trust Fund (funded by polluter fees) paid for most of these clean-ups. By contrast, under the Bush Administration, the Trust Fund is now empty - shifting major costs onto the American taxpayer. Industry must "pay up" and clean up the brownfields and toxic waste sites that pocket our country.

"The Administration has rolled back implementation of clean air enforcement rules for the oldest and dirtiest power plants. The American Lung Association has called the Bush clean air initiative, Clear Skies, 'the most harmful and unlawful air pollution initiative ever undertaken by the Federal Government.' Recently and of utmost concern for the Great Lakes, the Administration is stalling on imposing emission limits for toxic mercury - despite the fact that 600,000 babies are born each year with prenatal mercury exposure, which can cause damage to the brain and heart. Mercury concentrates in fish and the lack of rigid enforcement on these limits jeopardizes water quality, threatens our fisheries, and ultimately undermines our economy.

"Earth Day is ultimately a message of hope and a day to recognize the impact that we as individuals can have. It is a reminder of our collective responsibility to preserve our environmental surroundings and natural resources for generations to come. Each of us can truly make a lasting difference. Today, I rededicate myself, along with other environmental advocates, to fight the Administration's proposed environmental rollbacks, to work to improve our air and water quality, to protect our public lands, and to protect and preserve our Great Lakes."

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