Issue Position: Environment
Issue Position
Issue Position: Environment
During the past six years, the environment has been under constant attack by the Bush Administration. They have moved away from science and common sense, and continue to support their industry friends, rather than enforcing regulations that are in place to protect our natural resources. This has been easily illustrated by the skyrocketing cost of gasoline while the oil industry continues to enjoy record-breaking profits. Congressman Kennedy has been a leader in fighting against the Bush rollbacks and for strong environmental policy that protects our ecosystem.
Global warming is an issue that continues to be on everyone's mind. As a representative of the Ocean State, Congressman Kennedy understands how important it is to protect and preserve our ecosystem. Beyond the beauty that is afforded to our state, we rely on the oceans for commerce through fishing and recreation. Through his seat on the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Kennedy has committed to fighting for full funding of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As a member of the House Oceans and House Coastal Caucuses, Congressman Kennedy is actively involved in implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Ocean Commission and the Pew Commission reports on the state of our nation's oceans. These reports have have identified several key changes that must be addressed in order to not only protect our oceans, but the entire ecosystem that relies on the health of our oceans. Congressman Kennedy is a cosponsor H.R. 2939, the Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act (OCEANS-21.) This legislation will change the way our nation thinks of the oceans, and works to preserve this resource for generations to come and Congressman Kennedy is working to bring OCEANS-21 to the floor for consideration.
Congressman Kennedy has been a strong supporter of Brownfields legislation and funding. These critical funds provide resources from the federal government to assist communities to clean up Brownfields, polluted former industrial sites that hinder economic growth and hold back valuable tax dollars for the communities in which they are located. Not only are we cleaning up hazardous sites, we are also creating opportunities for new local, public-private partnerships to support new innovations and businesses. Congressman Kennedy supported several grant applications, as well as legislation to ensure that this critical funding continues to flow to these important Rhode Island projects.
Congressman Kennedy has been a staunch supporter of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. He is pleased that a bill reauthorizing the Corridor recently passed the Congress with overwhelming support, once again establishing the Corridor as a national priority. Through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Kennedy has used his position to bring home a significant amount of funding to Rhode Island that improves environmental measures. Congressman Kennedy has secured nearly $5 Million from the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) for the Narragansett Bay Commission in Rhode Island for continued development of Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) improvements. He has also secured funding for Save the Bay's Explore the Bay educational initiative to teach Rhode Island students about the challenges facing the Narragansett Bay's future.
Several years ago, residents of Northern Rhode Island experienced the devastation of losing clean, safe drinking water because of MTBE. Congressman Kennedy fought to insert language in the Agriculture Appropriations Act directing the federal government to assist the homeowners of the Pascoag Utility District to clean up this contamination. He also opposed the President's energy bill because of the Administration's attempts to ensure that the needs of the MTBE industry are met before those of the people who suffered from its effects. After witnessing the damage inflicted on the lives of Pascoag's residents, Congressman Kennedy remains committed to opposing any legislation that protects industry over people.
Congressman Kennedy secured $500,000 for the Town of Warren to repair and replace its aging sewer system, which was badly in need of attention. He also secured $485,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements in Cumberland.
Congressman Kennedy continues to oppose the large cuts in the Army Corps of Engineers' budget proposed by the President. Some of the Army Corps' most valuable work--beach nourishment that would help restore areas in Rhode Island--was cut 45 percent. In spite of these cuts, Congressman Kennedy was able to secure nearly $1 million for the restoration of Boyd's Marsh in Portsmouth and over $700,000 for the restoration of Allin's Cove in Barrington.
Congressman Kennedy is a leader in supporting efforts to provide opportunities to preserve green space through the Forest Legacy Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Urban and Community Forestry, and Forest Health Protection. These programs assist states and private landowners in preserving and conserving their land and forests. Unfortunately, the Administration has slashed funding for these vital programs as well, and continues to push for forest policy that chips away at the natural resources we have worked so hard to protect during the past century.
Source