I have been a vocal supporter in Congress for initiatives that would improve our nation’s environment. Because air pollution is a significant cause of respiratory ailments and environmental degradation, I have cosponsored the Clean Smokestacks Act, which would require old coal-fired power plants to comply with the Clean Air Act and set multi-pollutant targets for emissions. I have also urged the Environmental Protection Agency to establish strict standards to limit mercury emissions, which have been linked to neurological disorders. Furthermore, I have voted to increase automobile fuel efficiency standards, promoted investment in federal transit programs, and supported higher funding for renewable energy research so that we can reduce pollution from transportation sources and decrease our reliance on foreign energy.

Clean water is particularly important to Rhode Islanders because of our special relationship with the Narragansett Bay and the ocean. I have opposed the Administration’s efforts to open oil and gas drilling in protected offshore areas and worked to protect wetlands from development. Since people must have access to clean drinking water, I voted against the Administration’s efforts to roll back the arsenic standard for drinking water and opposed efforts in Congress to provide liability exemptions for MTBE, a gasoline additive that has contaminated groundwater in communities such as Pascoag.

We must also protect our public lands for future generations. Consequently, I have strenuously fought the Administration’s efforts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration. I am also a cosponsor of legislation that would implement the roadless forest initiative as established by the Clinton Administration.

Finally, we must look beyond our own borders and work with the world community to address important environmental challenges. Global warming is a problem that requires an international solution, and I am disappointed that the Bush Administration has done nothing to counter this disturbing trend. Additionally, the United States should encourage responsible policies among our allies, and I have opposed trade agreements that do not include environmental safeguards.

Our nation’s environmental laws are the product of decades of bipartisan cooperation and are credited with saving lives, protecting endangered species, and preserving our lands for future generations. However, the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress have attempted to roll back these protections, forcing environmental advocates to play defense and prevent existing protections from being weakened. I am confident that a Democratic-controlled Congress and White House would allow us to move forward and enact legislation in my priority areas of interest: climate change, land and water conservation, and energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. In the meantime, I will continue my efforts to protect existing safeguards and be a clear and vocal advocate in Congress for a clean environment.