President Discusses Earth Day, National Volunteer Week in FL
Remarks by the President on Conservation and Volunteer Service
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Naples, Florida
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming.
Please be seated if you have a chair. If you don't have a chair, don't
be seated. (Laughter.) So yesterday I was in Wells, Maine, talking
about the environment, and my mother showed up. (Laughter.) So today
I am in South Florida talking about the environment and my brother
shows up. (Laughter.) And you all showed up. Thanks for coming. It's
great to be here at the Rookery Bay Reserve. What a special place. I
like to call it a little slice of heaven. (Applause.)
This week we observed Earth Day. And one way to honor the day is
to honor those citizens in our country who understand the definition of
stewardship; citizens who work to make sure that our environment is as
clean as possible. And that's what we're here to do today.
It also happens to be National Volunteer Week. (Applause.) So,
yes. And what is easy to understand is one of the reasons why the
Rookery is such a place, is because of the volunteers who have come on
a daily basis to make this a special place. (Applause.)
My first task is to thank you for being such good stewards of
Florida's natural beauty. Thank you for not only protecting it, but
thank you for enhancing it. And a person who gets a lot of credit for
that is my brother. (Applause.) Jeb has been a -- I spent some
quality time with Gary Lytton, who is the director here, by the way.
Gary, I want to thank you for your service. Gary is a joyful person --
(laughter) -- because he likes what he's doing. And he loves this part
of the world. And it's clear that there's a great sense of ownership
when you talk to Gary. Gary is interested in not only preserving
beauty, he's interested in learning as much as possible to share the
knowledge across our country.
He's also pretty good about lining up these volunteers and making
sure they work. (Laughter.) I said, does Gary keep you working? He
said, you bet. (Laughter.) That's good. That's called -- that's
called leadership. But Gary, thanks for -- thanks for what you're
doing. He tells me that much of the property bought here is a result
of the bonding issue that Jeb pushed to make sure that much of the
great state of Florida is protected and preserved throughout the years
to come.
I know there's a lot of politics when it comes to the environment.
But what I like to do is focus on results, and you've got yourself a
results-oriented Governor when it comes to protecting this
environment. (Applause.)
And I know Colleen is doing good work. Good to see you again,
Colleen. Thanks for coming out to say, "Hello." We traveled down from
Washington with two members of the United States Congress. First,
from down the road and kind of over would be Mario Diaz-Balart. Where
are you, Mario? Thank you. I appreciate you coming. (Applause.)
And finally, a person who has earned a great reputation on a
variety of fronts -- one as a strong believer and supporter of national
security and the intelligence-gathering services of our country, but
also a man who has got a fantastic reputation for being careful and
thoughtful about the environment here on the West Coast of Florida --
and that's Porter Goss. Thank you, Porter. (Applause.)
I want to thank the mayor who is here, Mayor Bill Barnett. Where
are you, Mayor? (Applause.) Yes, thank you, buddy. Thanks for
coming. I'm proud you're here. My only advice is to make sure you
empty the garbage on a regular basis. (Laughter.) Maybe fill a
pothole or two. (Laughter.) But thanks for coming. I think I'd rather
be President than Mayor. At least my phone number isn't in the phone
book. (Laughter.)
I appreciate all the other local officials who are here. I know
you care as much as the mayor does and Porter does about making sure
the environment is strong; the protection process is in place so that
our natural beauty can be enhanced as this part of the world becomes
more populated.
I want to thank David Eisner, who is the CEO of the Corporation for
National and Community Service. Thank you for coming, David.
(Applause.) I see David. Appreciate you coming. David is in charge of
a lot of important programs, one of which is AmeriCorps. I'm a strong
believer in AmeriCorps. I want to thank the -- (applause) -- where are
my AmeriCorps buddies? There they are. (Applause.) Did you change
shirts? (Laughter.) You look too pretty. (Laughter.) I was out there
watching them help get rid of the invasees -- invasive grasses and
species that is threatening the watersheds and threatening the
wetlands. They're doing good work. These are good kids from around
the country who are dedicating time to help America, whether it be
teaching kids how to read and write or add and subtract, or out here in
the hinterlands of South Florida, protecting the environment. It's
really neat to be with you all. I want to thank you for your service,
thank you for your hard work and may God continue to bless you and your
families as you pursue your dreams. (Applause.)
As Jeb mentioned, my administration is committed to conserving
Florida's natural beauty. In January, 2002, I joined your governor in
signing an important agreement -- in order to make sure enough fresh
water would go to the Everglades, the federal government and the state
agreed to install large pumps and build canals and large freshwater
storage areas. In other words, my administration recognized the
importance of the Everglades to not only the state of Florida, but to
our country. And we will continue to work with Jeb and the state to
make sure the Everglades is vibrant, alive and available for future
generations of Americans. (Applause.)
In 2002, the federal government bought back the rights to oil and
gas development in parts of the Everglades and in the Destin Dome area
offshore from Pensacola. This action helped to preserve the Big
Cypress National Preserve, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. As you can see,
there is no ambiguity in my position on drilling off the coast of
Florida. (Applause.)
We have done more. Working with community leaders, this state and
the federal government in 2001 established the Tortugas Ecological
Reserve, a 200 square mile area west of the Florida Keys. This is one
of the largest protected marine areas in America. This preserve of
coral reefs and sea grasses is home to countless species of fish and
wildlife, and protecting it was vital to the future, as we allow the
public to enjoy its beauty.
Now we've been working with the state of Florida. We've been
working hard because we share a common goal to conserve our
environment; to do our duty as stewards of this beautiful part of the
world.
Here at Rookery Bay, you see how important wetlands are to
protecting 150 species of birds, and many threatened and endangered
animals. Across Florida, citizens understand that the wetlands are
essential to a healthy, diverse environment and to the tourism and
recreation that bring millions of visitors to your state every year.
In other words, a good environment will help the tourists -- tourism
industry to continue to flourish. The two go hand-in-hand. Many
people of Florida understand that dynamic. I certainly understand it,
as well.
Of all the coastal wetlands in the lower 48 states, 20 percent are
right here in Florida. This is a legacy we need to protect and pass
along. And so, today I want to talk about how the government can do
its part -- that is, the federal government.
Yesterday in Maine, I announced an ambitious national goal. First
of all, I don't set goals unless I think we can meet them. And this is
an ambitious goal that we can meet. For years, our nation has sought
to slow the loss of wetlands. Now I believe we must change that goal
to one that says, we'll have an overall increase in wetlands every
year. Instead of just reducing loss, the goal of this country must be
to increase wetlands. (Applause.)
To accomplish this objective, my administration will work to
restore, to improve, and to protect at least three million acres of
wetlands over the next five years. (Applause.) First part of the
strategy is to restore at least one million acres of wetlands that do
no exist today. Through expanded incentive and partnership measures,
such as the Department of Agriculture's Wetland Reserve Program, and
through new grants under the Interior Department's North American
Wetlands Conservation Act, we can expand wetlands. By the way, the
North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Jeb, was signed by Dad.
(Applause.)
The idea is to provide incentives and grant money to allow wetlands
to return where they once existed. And it's possible to do so. It's
very feasible to do so. We can provide incentives, for example, to
farmers and ranchers to stop cultivating areas that were once
wetlands. And we will do just that. This is a common-sense way of
expanding the wetlands across America.
Secondly, we will improve the quality of another million acres of
existing wetlands through expanded public-private efforts, such as the
Interior Department's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, as well
as the use of NOAA's Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and
Restoration Program.
Before I -- I'm going to expand on that -- I do want to thank the
NOAA folks who are here. I'm proud you're here. (Applause.) Thank
you for your good work. Yes, I saw you over there. I thought for a
minute it said, NCAA, then I realized it said NOAA. (Laughter.)
I also want to thank the folks who work for the Ag Department who
are here. And I want to thank the folks who work for the Interior
Department who are here. Thank you for being open-minded as you work
in a collaborative way with state and local government. (Applause.)
You see, too many wetlands are degraded and can no longer support
healthy wildlife populations. So they need to be restored. And that's
what this aspect of the strategy will do. That's what's happening back
over here. These plants invaded, the non-natives came, and they're
making it difficult for the wetlands to flourish. And so we've got to
put programs in place that help Mother Nature. See, Mother Nature
can't do it itself. Mother Nature can't retake the land unless there's
a little help from us.
And so the second phase is to make sure that the wetlands that have
been degraded are revitalized and restored. The Everglades is a great
wetlands area. So you hear me talking about wetlands, think
Everglades, as well as other parts of this state.
The problem the Everglades -- one of the problems has been that
non-native plants have invaded. And so one of the things we're going
to do is encourage programs that will remove the invasive species to
allow the native vegetation to return. It sounds simple, but it's hard
work, and it requires federal government support. And I'm willing to
dedicate that support because I understand how important wetlands are.
(Applause.)
Third, we'll protect an additional one million acres of wetlands
that are currently at risk by increasing grants for land protection
programs and by making it easier for farmers and other landowners to
participate in these programs.
We'll encourage landowners to place easements on their wetlands, on
the wetland portion of their property. That'll help migratory birds
find nesting areas. That'll be good for the ducks. That'll be good
for other birds that are traveling long distances in their winter -- on
their winter flights.
It is vital that there be good education, but it's vital that there
also be good incentive programs to remind landowners about a
responsibility that they have, and the capacity to make a difference in
the wildlife of our country.
Some people need to be reminded -- one of my favorite phrases, if
you own your own farm or ranch, every day is Earth Day, by the way.
(Laughter.) Laura and I are doing our bit by restoring natural grasses
to our ranch. She wants to become a Little Blue Stem grass seed
distributor so that others will grow native grasses. It's amazing what
happens when we restored our little part of heaven to native grasses.
Bobwhite Quail are returning. Birds are showing up that we hadn't seen
before. Its a fantastic experience. Its the same thing you are doing
here, and its the same concept weve got to do to encourage others who
own their land, to understand the incredible opportunity they have to
make a vital contribution to the wetlands of our country and to the
environmental prosperity of our country, as well.
To meet the goal of wetland expansion weve got to commit money, of
course. You just cant lay out a goal unless theyre willing to
support. And my administration is prepared to do so, as I said. We
did a good thing in the Farm Bill, the 2002 Farm Bill, which is still
in place. One of the most important aspects of the Farm Bill was the
conservation title. It was a strong expansion of federal money
available to encourage farmers to expand areas on their farms, like
wetlands. It is an important part of meeting this national goal.
As well, Im sending a budget up to Congress -- or have sent a
budget up to Congress for 2005 that proposes a -- $349 million
expenditures on two key wetlands programs, which, by the way, is an
increase of 50 percent since 2001. In other words, were going to help
people restore wetlands. Its in our national interest we do so, and
its an important priority that we get it done.
Citizens have an important part -- a role to play in this, as well,
and thats -- its really important for those of us in positions of
responsibility to remind people that you cant have good environmental
stewardship if you rely solely on the federal government. (Applause.)
I mean, the federal government can help, but were the land of the
mighty lawsuit. (Laughter.) Theres all kinds of lawsuits up there.
The best way to get things done is to be a helper and encourage people,
just like is doing here. I mean, this is a good example. Its why we
came here -- its working. We came here to herald whats possible when
all levels of government and local citizens decide to make a difference
in the community in which they live.
And so today when I landed, in order to send a clear signal about
how important volunteerism is, I presented the Presidents Volunteer
Service Award to Neala Hoch. Where are you, Neala? Oh, there you
are. Thanks, thanks for coming. (Applause.)
Shes taking time out of her life to be involved with Keep America
Beautiful and its affiliates, for 20 years. Shes a citizen who
deserves our thanks, just like many of you all do. You know, they talk
about Americas strength a lot of times and they say, well, America is
strong because of our military. And by the way, I intend to keep the
military strong to keep the peace. (Applause.) Or they say, were
strong because were prosperous and -- were getting prosperous and we
need to be even more prosperous, and I think we will be.
But the real strength is in the hearts and souls of our citizens,
thats where our true strength -- thats why were a strong nation.
(Applause.)
And it happens -- and that strength is displayed here or its
displayed when somebody says to someone, I love you, what can I do to
help you. Its displayed when people feed the hungry. Its displayed
when people provide shelter to the homeless. The great strength of
America is displayed when somebody mentors a child. Thats the strength
of the country. And the best way that happens is when volunteers step
up and say, I care about the community in which I live and I intend to
do something about it. (Applause.)
And so today, at National Volunteer Week, I want to thank a member
of the army of compassion and all the rest of you who are soldiers in
the armies of compassion. I want to thank you for what you do to make
America a better place. (Applause.)
And by the way, if you're interested in volunteering, I've set up
what's called USA Freedom Corps. It's a clearing house for projects --
yes, there you go. It's a clearing house for -- a place where people
can find to match their desires with what is needed in the communities
all across America. You can find it at www.usafreedomcorps.gov. All
you got to do is get on this web page, and it'll link you up to
different opportunities, whether it be Scouting, or whether it be
environmental protection. There's all kinds of opportunities across
the country just asking for your help.
So on National Volunteer Week, I call upon our fellow citizens to
serve our country by helping somebody in need. And by doing so, this
society will change, one heart and one soul at a time. No, the
strength of this country is the fact that we're a nation full of
compassionate, decent, honorable, loving citizens. And it is my honor
to be the President of such a country. (Applause.)
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America.
(Applause.)