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Earth Day 2004: Celebrating Cooperative Conservation
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Today, on the 34th anniversary of the first Earth Day, Republicans mark over three decades of environmental progress and continuous commitment to a better environment for our children and grandchildren.
President Nixon’s creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, which coincided with the first Earth Day that same year, marked the beginning of the modern era of national commitment to the environment. When the President’s proposal for a cabinet-level Department of Environment and Natural Resources was opposed in the Democrat-controlled Congress—a similar proposal had been opposed by Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) three years earlier—the Republican President put an indelible stamp on future national priorities by creating EPA even without specific statutory basis as a new, powerful, and independent administrative agency.
Today, all Americans can take pride in our achievements: cleaner air and water, healthier forests, greater energy efficiency, strongly protected flora and fauna, and a level of investment in green technology that our parents and grandparents 30 years ago could not have imagined. Under the leadership of President Bush and current EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt, Republicans are continuing to build on this impressive legacy. Cooperative Conservation, first announced by President Bush in January 2002 and the heart of Republican environmentalism, recognizes that all Americans who seek cleaner air, cleaner water, and abundant wildlife should be involved in environmental protection. It seeks cooperative alliances instead of unfunded mandates. It grants a lead regulatory role to the states when possible, thus permitting greater innovation and protective measures more closely attuned to local conditions. It achieves environmental goals through incentive-based concepts such as conservation easements and land exchanges.
This approach is the antithesis of the failed environmental efforts of Communist and authoritarian governments—most notably the People’s Republic of China and the former Soviet Union—which rely on command-and-control of government-controlled enterprises rather than market forces and arm’s length regulation to combat pollution. America’s free market economy has generated more in dollars for environmental protection than all the world’s governments combined, while Communist and socialist governments have (despite their passionate “green” rhetoric) proven to be the environment’s most dangerous enemies.
Republican environmentalism recognizes that sound science and analysis must undergird successful environmental programs. And in the end, Republicans require results, not process-oriented measures of environmental program performance. The true measures of improvement are better air and water quality, not more bureaucracy and more government. Results-oriented GOP environmental initiatives include:
Healthy Forests. Catastrophic forest fires in 2000, 2002 and 2003 highlighted the importance of forest health to all Americans. The costs of wildfire suppression by federal agencies—not to mention the loss of the forests themselves—exceeded $1 billion in just three years. The forest fire disasters were a tragic demonstration of how well-intentioned government actions can have unintended consequences, decimating rather than protecting our forests.
In response, Congress, with strong bipartisan support in both chambers, enacted the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003. The new law focuses on the vulnerability of natural resources to wildland fires due to the buildup of hazardous fuels, and cracks down on red tape and frivolous litigation. It authorizes funds to accelerate hazardous fuels reduction, fire suppression activities, and experiments to restore the health and productivity of forests and rangelands.
Protecting the Environment from Farming. Legislation signed by President Bush on May 13, 2002, is today addressing environmental problems resulting from agricultural activities, including soil erosion and sedimentation; the destruction of wildlife habitat and wetlands; declines in water supply; increases in phosphorus and nitrogen build-up from fertilizer and animal wastes in surface and ground water; and air pollution. The new law dramatically increases funding for conservation programs. It emphasizes farmer-friendly incentives for conservation and environmental safeguards instead of unfunded, coercive regulations. Under this historic initiative, farmers are offered tangible financial support for addressing concerns such as soil or water quality. Cost-share and incentive payments are offered for environmentally sound nutrient management and soil quality enhancement practices.
Republicans have doubled the funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Grassland Reserve Program, the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Conservation Security Program. Over $28 billion will be devoted within the next ten years for restoration of millions of acres of wetlands, protection of habitats, water conservation, and reclamation of streams and rivers near farms and ranches.
Clear Skies. The Republicans' Clear Skies initiative will result in improved air and water quality, prolonged and healthier lives, millions of prevented illnesses, and millions of dollars in savings in health care costs every year. The legislation would reduce emissions from power generation of the three most harmful pollutants—sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury—in a way that is much faster and more efficient than under current law.
Clear Skies combines cleaner air with the environmentally important goal of energy independence. It promotes energy diversity, and the reduction of emissions through retrofitting controls on existing plants. The market-based system will accelerate the development of technology for emission control, as has already been successfully demonstrated in the Acid Rain Program.
Renewable Energy. The government-produced electricity crisis in California, which cut off millions of families without electrical power repeatedly over a period of many months, highlighted the need for new power generation and distribution facilities to meet growing demand. The new investment offers an opportunity to increase our use of alternative sources of energy, and to reduce United States dependence on foreign oil. Already well developed technologies for production of renewable energy—such as hydropower, biomass, waste combustion, wind turbines, and photovoltaic systems—are being promoted by legislation enacted under Republican leadership in the 108th Congress. Programs to speed up the development and marketing of renewable energy technologies, infrastructure, and products, are underway through tax credits, tangible incentives, and prioritization in the federal budget.
Americans are now rewarded with residential tax credits when they use renewable wind or solar energy to power their homes; when they purchase vehicles powered by a fuel cell, hybrid or other alternative fuel; and when they install energy-efficient appliances in their homes. When they use energy efficient technologies, or purchase fuel cell power plants, businesses are eligible for tax deductions and credits. Overall, $4.1 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy and hybrid and fuel cell vehicles has been authorized by the Republican Congress. And the nation’s largest consumer—the Federal government—is now mandated to improve energy efficiency and increase its use of renewable energy.
Energy Star. Energy Star, a voluntary, market-based pollution reduction program resulting from cooperation between the EPA and businesses, is an example of how Republicans are making sound environmental practices go hand in hand with economic incentives. The program offers businesses and consumers ways to save energy (and their money), while helping to protect the environment for future generations. Today, more than 8,000 organizations are Energy Star participants.
Hydrogen Highways. Hydrogen power has the promise to dramatically reduce smog in urban environments, improve human, animal, and plant health, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the nation’s most prominent environmental advocacy groups, “One of hydrogen’s primary advantages is that it can be produced from a diverse number of entirely domestic and renewable sources.”
But in February 2004, the National Academy of Sciences reported that “hydrogen as a fuel will not be widely used until a nationwide safe and efficient infrastructure is in place.” Currently, there are only a handful of hydrogen filling stations in place around the U.S. To address this urgent need, President Bush and the Republican Congress have led the way for future success in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development. In 2003, fuel cells received $185 million in dedicated research funding, and in 2004, this was increased to $234.5 million.
In addition, the House Republican Energy bill—H.R. 6—includes significant new incentives for research and development of hydrogen and fuel cells:
· Tax deductions for investments in hydrogen fueling stations. This deduction, up to $150,000 per filling station, will provide a powerful incentive for the creation of a network of hydrogen fueling stations that is essential for consumers to be able to use hydrogen-powered cars.
· Tax credits for the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. An even more generous tax credit is available if a vehicle achieves a particularly high increase in fuel economy.
· Funding for President Bush’s “Freedom Car” and hydrogen fueling initiatives. H.R. 6 would provide over $2 billion for these initiatives, aimed at accelerating the launch of hydrogen fuel cell cars into the commercial marketplace within 15 years.
Because hydrogen holds so much promise as a viable, sustainable, non-polluting source of power—a hydrogen-powered fuel cell produces only heat and water, and no environmentally harmful byproducts—Republicans are also advancing bipartisan legislation to enact dramatic across-the-board tax incentives for investment in the hydrogen economy.
H.R. 1180, introduced by Policy Committee Chairman Christopher Cox, H.R. 1180, will speed to market the fueling stations and infrastructure necessary for hydrogen vehicles to "fill up" on the road. By providing significant tax incentives for investment in hydrogen production, distribution, and retail sales, it will provide concrete rewards for everyone who takes steps to build our nation's needed hydrogen production, distribution, and retail sales network. It will put hydrogen fuel cell cars on the road much faster, help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and go far toward giving urban residents the clean air they deserve.
This effort at the national level is being complemented by Republican Governors and legislators across America. One of our nation's leading Republicans, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, recently announced his own "Hydrogen Highways" initiative which will provide similar incentives and funding for hydrogen infrastructure in America's most populous state.
Clean Water. Safe water for Americans is one of the most important health and environment issues being addressed by the 108th Congress. On Earth Day 2004, House Republicans are advancing legislation (H.R. 1560) to authorize $20 billion over five years for Clean Water Act programs.
The Green Chemistry Act of 2004. To reduce the use of hazardous substances, reduce landfill use, and improve air and water quality, the House passed legislation to promote green chemistry and chemical engineering by an Earth Day eve 402-14 vote. The bill establishes a focused federal effort to coordinate research and development, education, and technology transfer activities in these areas. When enacted, the law will facilitate changes in chemical products design and processes to stop pollution before it happens. An exemplar of President Bush’s Cooperative Conservation, it makes all Americans a part of the solution and benefits individuals, firms, workers, the economy, and, most importantly, the environment.
A Bright Environmental Future
We have much to celebrate on Earth Day 2004. Our environment today is far better than it was ten and 20 years ago. The volume of toxic chemicals released has declined 48% since the 1970s. SO2 emissions have declined more than 33% from 1983; NOx emissions are down 12% from 1990. In one recent year, 2002, NOx emissions from coal-fired utility sources decreased by some 3.5 million tons.
Since the mid-80s, even as Americans drive more miles, total NOx emissions from vehicles, and emissions of volatile organic compounds, are down 40%. Average vehicle emissions have been cut, as improved designs and technologies make for cleaner, more energy-efficient vehicles.
Today, 94% of Americans have access to water that meets all health-based standards—up from 79% a decade ago.
But of course there is much, much more to be done. Since Republican President Teddy Roosevelt’s vast expansion of our protected wilderness in the early 20th century and President Nixon’s establishment of the EPA and the first Earth Day 34 years ago, Republicans have always been at the forefront of environmental protection. Our nation’s most basic environmental laws were enacted with Republican leadership. Through cooperative conservation, sound science, and a fundamental appreciation for the earth that God created, Republicans renew our dedication on Earth Day 2004 to continue to lead America and the world toward a healthier, cleaner, and safer planet.
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