Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Brian is committed to ensuring that our air and water remain clean. He believes we have a moral obligation to protect the health of Western New York families and to leave our land in good condition for future generations.

Brian believes we must protect one of Western New York's greatest natural resources - Lake Erie - so he has been a lead advocate in Congress of cleaning and restoring the Great Lakes, preventing future contamination from sewer overflows and other pollutants, and protecting all of Western New York's lakes from invasive species. In the 110th Congress, Brian introduced H.R. 3331, a bill to protect our lakes from being polluted by household dishwashing detergents containing phosphorus, a substance causing excessive growth of weeds and algae, which rob the water of oxygen that fish need to survive, limit recreational use of waterways and create foul odors.

Caucuses: Brian is a member of the following environmental caucuses:

* Congressional Coastal Caucus
* Great Lakes Task Force

Letters: Brian has signed on in support of the following letters:

* January 2006 - Pesticide Testing
To: Acting EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson
Purpose: Expressing opposition to the administration policy of allowing pesticide testing on humans.
* December 2005 - Invasive Species
To: Army Corps of Engineers
Purpose: Urging continued operation of the temporary Asian carp barrier in the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal until completion of the permanent barrier.
* November 2005 - Great Lakes
To: President Bush
Purpose: Urging President Bush to keep his commitment to fund Great Lakes restoration.
* February 2005 - Sewage Treatment
To: Acting EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson
Purpose: Expressing concern over a proposed policy change that would allow sewage treatment plants to discharge inadequately treated sewage into waterways.

Source