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What cemented my concern for protecting the environment was a film I saw in 1970, of the Cuyahoga River, in Ohio. The river was on fire! It was like a scene from Hell, or a war movie with ships in flames everywhere. At the time, around 1970, I was a Congressional aide to the Chairman of the House Public Works (and Transportation) Committee, Rep. John Blatnik (MN), a New Dealer, though a social conservative Democrat-Farm Labor Congressman. I worked on water, air and environmental clean up legislation. As a state delegate I received a “2007 Legislative Hero Award” from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters for my 100% voting record in environmental preservation. I also received an endorsements from the Farm Bureau and Sierra Club, a rarity for a social conservative legislator. I actively opposed the U.S. National Park Service efforts to cut down close to 400 acres of trees on the Manassas National Battlefield Park in my district earlier this year because of their proximity to pollution laden Northern Virginia highways and the potential environmental consequences that could follow. While I appreciate recreating history, removing that many trees from a built up area like Northern Virginia will affect our air quality, water runoff, and is not be in the best interest of our community. If everyone treated other’s property the way we wanted people to protect our own property, a true respect for the property rights of everyone would prevail. If someone damages property, the perpetrator can be sued and the government should protect that right. We should not make it easy for rich polluters to pay their way out of ignoring regulations designed to protect our environment. In Congress, I would:
I believe that the earth is a gift that must be preserved by good stewardship so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy what our forefathers enjoyed. Wasting or destroying our natural resources is like stealing from our future generations. |
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