Earth Day 2008
Earth Day 2008 – Tuesday, April 22 – gives our country an opportunity to focus on the key challenges facing us in preserving our planet.
The Democratic-led House believes that, by focusing on rapidly expanding the production of clean, alternative energy and reducing our use of oil, our country can both reduce global warming and make America more energy independent.
As we celebrate Earth Day, we must rededicate ourselves to address a challenge as local as our neighborhoods and as global as our planet – global warming. The science is clear; we can no longer wait to take action to solve this crucial issue that not only threatens our environment, but our economy and our national security as well.
Speaker Pelosi, Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, CAO Daniel Beard, Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers, and leaders of the faith community participated in a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the 38th Annual Earth Day
Global warming is already underway, but it is not too late to slow it down and reduce its harmful effects. Democrats in the House are taking bold action to combat global warming and achieve energy independence, beginning right here in the Capitol. Through our “green the Capitol” initiative we will lead by example, operating the House in a carbon neutral manner.
Clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency will reduce harmful emissions that contribute to global warming, bring skyrocketing energy costs back under control, create new, good-paying jobs and put America back on the path toward economic growth and prosperity. The New Direction Congress has begun to reverse the failed energy policies of the past, committing instead to clean, renewable energy for the future.
Speaker Pelosi plants a tree outside of the Capitol to commemorate Earth Day |
On this Earth Day, we have taken several major steps forward to begin to address the global warming crisis and spur a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous economy for the American people. More can and must be done to deal with these challenges facing us in preserving our planet and strengthening our economy, but the work of this Congress has taken America in a New Direction.
The Bible tells us that to minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship, and that to ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us. On this Earth Day, and every day, let us pledge to our children, and our children’s children, that they will have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the opportunity to experience the wonders of nature.
On April 22nd, the House passed a resolution supporting the goals of Earth Day>>