Earth Day 2008

Op-Ed

Earth Day 2008

Congressman Reyes commemorates Earth Day 2008, which is Tuesday, April 22.

Each year, the Earth Day message has become increasingly important to us on the border, across America, and across the world. Issues that once seemed remote concerns have become genuine challenges that now must be addressed head-on. Earth Day 2008, celebrated today, April 22, reminds us, now more than ever before, that we have a collective responsibility to ensure a clean environment for our fellow El Pasoans, our fellow Americans, and the many generations still to come.

Along with many of my colleagues in the Democratic-led House, I have been working diligently to preserve the environment and correct some of the damage that failed energy policies of years past have caused. Shifting to clean, alternative energy sources will have the most positive effect on our environment, our economy, and our national security.

The focus of the 110th Congress has been the historic and bipartisan Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The bill addresses many of our most pressing economic and environmental concerns by reducing American dependence on foreign oil; responding to the global warming crisis; growing our economy and creating new, "greener" jobs; and lowering the overall cost of energy. The bill will reduce American oil consumption by approximately 25 percent by 2030. By reducing consumption in this fashion and increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, American families will save up to $1,000 a year at the pump. For El Pasoans who are averaging above $3 a gallon for gas, the dual message of Earth Day-greener jobs and a cleaner environment coupled with decreasing energy costs-will have a particularly strong impact.

A second focus for Congress this Earth Day is H.R. 5351, a tax bill to invest in renewable energy. This effort is key to diversifying our energy sources, reduce emissions, and bring down the cost of energy over the long-term. As our economy transitions to its next phase, one powered by low-carbon technologies, we must keep in mind the goal of reducing the impacts of global warming. This bill will help put our focus in the right place. With the solar investment tax credit alone, carbon emissions will be reduced by 240 million tons, or the equivalent of taking 52 million passenger cars off the road for one year. This new energy bill will serve as a critical first step in preserving our planet and in reducing the harmful emissions currently contributing to our greatest long-term environmental threat, global warming.

Earth Day serves as a reminder of the great responsibility that the inhabitants of this country have to the health of this planet. In honor of this day, I voted for H.Res. 1117, a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives supporting the goals and ideals of Earth Day. This bill calls for all segments of American society to band together so that we may develop the research and policies necessary to address the environmental challenges of this world. With the enactment of energy legislation in the 110th Congress, we have taken a significant step forward, but much more remains to be done. As a member of the Congressional Land Trust Caucus and the Congressional Global Warming Caucus, I remain firmly committed to these efforts and will work to ensure that future generations of El Pasoans and Americans will be able to enjoy this planet both now and in the future.

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