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Dear Friends:
This week, Americans across the country commemorated Earth Day, a reminder that we must work together and make the necessary choices in our neighborhoods, our state, our nation and the world to protect and preserve our planet.
I am pleased the House passed my amendment to the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act (H.R. 1145), which establishes a comprehensive federal approach to water quality research that leverages all national and local partners. The provision expands the larger bill to include a provision to evaluate the nation's water supply, in light of increased risk due to chemical contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupting compounds.
But improving water quality is just one of many environmental issues we must address. Global climate change is one of the most serious and urgent threats we face. Yes, it is important to talk about the problem, but more importantly, we need to do something about it.
Minnesota continues to have a strong tradition of environmental leadership and stewardship. Our state is at the intersection of three major ecosystems that are already feeling the stress of climate change. I am proud that our state legislature has stepped up and taken action and emerged as a national leader by enacting a bold Renewable Energy Standard. Capitalizing on the abundance of renewable energy sources right here in our backyard, like wind, 25 percent of the state's energy use will come from renewable sources by the year 2025.
But the challenges for our nation persist. The failed policies of the last 8 years has put America behind in the fight against climate change and has significantly impacted our planet, eroding the many gains of the last 3 decades. So we must go further to protect the Earth and transform our energy and environmental policies using sound scientific assessments.
President Obama is committed to taking bold action now. The Obama administration has set a goal to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2050 - And scientists agree that this is a good first step. Congress is working with the President to roll out major climate change legislation that will promote a healthy planet for future generations. In the coming months both the House and Senate will introduce climate change bills.
We owe it to our children and grandchildren to work together to clean up the pollution in our water, air and open spaces. Everyday must be Earth Day!
Sincerely,
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District
McCollum Amendment to Improve nation's Water Quality Passes House
Congresswoman McCollum's amendment to the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act (H.R. 1145), which establishes a comprehensive federal approach to water quality research that leverages all national and local partners, today passed the full House during a final vote. The amendment expands the larger bill to include a provision to evaluate the nation's water supply, in light of increased risk due to chemical contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupting compounds.
"The National Water Research and Development Initiative Act has been greatly strengthened by Congresswoman McCollum's amendment, by emphasizing the connection between water quantity and water quality, and ensuring that the federal network of Water Resources Research Institutes will provide their expertise to the process of setting national water priorities," said Deborah Swackhamer, PhD., Co-Director of the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota.
"My amendment responds to the growing concern over chemical impairments in our water supply and adds an important research objective to our national water policy. We know enough about these contaminants to be worried, but not enough to provide good information to our state health officials or our constituents. Research on these contaminants must become a federal priority," said Congresswoman McCollum.
Click here to read floor statement & press release
Environmental Action of the 111th Congress
In the first three months of 2009, working with President Obama, the 111th Congress has made strides in preserving the Earth's natural resources:
Signed Into Law:
PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT ACT
Most significant conservation bill in 15 years and boosts economic development
Passed by House:
WATER QUALITY INVESTMENT ACT
Creates 680,000 jobs at clean water projects across America
NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
Comprehensive federal approach to water quality research that leverages all national and local partners
The House is working with President Obama's administration to develop legislation to make clean, renewable American energy a foundation for our economic recovery and to curb carbon pollution.
McCollum Applauds EPA Ruling that Greenhouse Gas Poses a Danger
As the Obama Administration clears the way for U.S. regulation of greenhouse gas emissions with its ruling that climate-warming pollution is a danger to human health and welfare, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) will commemorate Earth Day urging Americans to work together to protect and preserve the planet. The Environmental Protection Agency's action is a stark reversal of failed Bush administration policies that experts say have had a significant impact on the Earth.
Click here to read press release
EPA Press Release: Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health
EPA Finds Greenhouse Gases Pose Threat to Public Health, Welfare / Proposed Finding Comes in Response to 2007 Supreme Court Ruling.
(Washington, D.C. - April 17, 2009) After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding Friday that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.
The proposed finding, which now moves to a public comment period, identified six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat
"This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations. Fortunately, it follows President Obama's call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation," said Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "This pollution problem has a solution - one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country's dependence on foreign oil."
The scientific analysis also confirms that climate change impacts human health in several ways. Findings from a recent EPA study titled "Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality: A Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone," for example, suggest that climate change may lead to higher concentrations of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant. Additional impacts of climate change include, but are not limited to:
- increased drought;
- more heavy downpours and flooding;
- more frequent and intense heat waves and wildfires;
- greater sea level rise;
- more intense storms; and
- harm to water resources, agriculture, wildlife and ecosystems.
More information: http://epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html
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