Speech Given by Ed O'Brien
on Accepting Sierra Club Endorsement

Date: August 16, 2002
Location: Monacacy Park

Thank you Dave McGuire of the Sierra Club for that great introduction and for your leadership and commitment to a cleaner environment. Thank you all for coming on such a hot morning, especially Susan Gobreski of the League of Conservation Voters, who drove up from Philadelphia, and Rick Loomis of Clean Water Action and his staff. Thank you for your endorsements.

I greatly appreciate the support by members of the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and Clean Water Action. These groups are out in the trenches going door to door throughout the Lehigh Valley educating citizens about the importance of our environment. For decades, these prominent groups have been the voice of millions of Americans who are fighting to protect our environment, our public health and natural heritage. Today, we stand in a park that was immensely preserved back in 1934 by the actions of a thoughtful federal government plan called the Civilian Conservation Corps under the Civil Works Administration. Local residents worked together to build the dam and walls to prevent flooding and erosion. It's amazing how in 1934 during a deep Depression, our president and Congress found money to help save our natural places. What is more amazing is that Congress worked together with the people to better their quality of life.

Since 1994, the Republican Congress has been starving our national parks, undercutting environmental protection, and reducing enforcement activities. I pledge to fight and reverse that trend.

I am running for Congress because we need a leader who will fight for our public health and enforcement of laws to reduce ground, air and water pollution. Together, with your help I will get to Washington and vote for increased maintenance and expansion of our national parks and insist on actively enforcing our environmental laws.

This morning I want to focus on two issues of environmental importance: urban sprawl and energy policy. I'm going to make several new proposals.

Urban Sprawl

Take a look around the Lehigh Valley, the open spaces can soon be a vague memory if sprawl continues. Sprawl is one of the greatest threats to the quality of life in our region and our environment. Pennsylvania is known for its outdoors, it's beautiful countryside and rolling hills. But now our scenery is that of strip malls, suburban housing developments and traffic congestion, particularly in western Lehigh County and the suburbs of Northampton County. Our children won't have the same memories as we do, of biking along rolling hills and breathing fresh air.

If the current trend continues, the Lehigh Valley is at risk of New Jersey-fication! Sprawl negatively affects land conservation, water quality and availability, and makes it harder to conserve energy, further depleting limited fossil fuel resources.

Addressing sprawl is one of economic development and forward looking planning. Existing, developed spaces can be better utilized through smart planning. I will be vigilant in using federal funds for smart growth in existing areas while eliminating subsidies that encourage sprawl development. We can make better use of current infrastructure in our towns and communities, and our roads and highways to limit expansion into green areas.

The federal government does have a role to play in the battle against suburban sprawl. Our communities need help in saving money to improve and protect our lands and water in environmentally sensitive areas.

When elected to Congress I will introduce new legislation to provide federal dollars to protect our open spaces and help reduce suburban sprawl.

• First, I'll propose federal funding over the next 5 years matching up to 25% of what states and counties are able to contribute to purchase, preserve and maintain environmentally valuable open space, watersheds and forests. This will greatly assist Lehigh, Northampton and Montgomery Counties with their active bond issues. The Federal government will partner will our counties and regions to achieve solid growth without destroying our environment.
• Second, I will work to increase the mortgage tax deductions for Americans who buy older homes or build new ones on existing lots in our cities and boroughs. By investing in established areas, our local government would reduce the need to carve up corn fields and first-time homeowners and young families will also benefit protection of open space cannot be accomplished only with money. Communities must enact improved zoning and planning laws to ensure that we have a mix of suburban, urban and rural areas.

Coordination of federal, state and county efforts will protect our environment, and assure clean air, water, and public health.

Energy Independence

Energy independence is a national priority. It is vital to our national security, to the health of our environment and to our future prosperity. How we meet this challenge will shape the strength of our economy for years to come.

It is important for America's families that we adopt a policy that invests in the skills of workers, our infrastructure, and the health of our communities. And policies that achieve results quicker, cheaper, cleaner, and safer. America currently imports more than 2 million barrels of oil a day from the Middle East, 50% from the world's least stable countries. Now we are fighting a war against terrorism. Our national security is at risk when our oil supplies are tied to corrupt dictators.

During the oil embargo of the 1970's, Congress put together an aggressive plan for saving energy and improving vehicle mileage. Those goals were met, but there have been no new standards since 1985.

• We can come into the 21st century by once again rolling up our sleeves and setting new targets for car and truck mileage efficiencies. I will work hard to put American know-how to work to ensure our energy independence.
• We must invest in research and development of alternative energy sources to decrease our reliance on foreign oil. We must launch a 10 year project on energy independence- mobilizing science, technology, and development to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil altogether.
• We need an aggressive policy of investing in the numerous, cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies now available. Studies have found these new technologies can create over a million new jobs by 2020 to strengthen our economy. And we have the resources and ingenuity right here in the Lehigh Valley - Lehigh University, Air Products and Mack Trucks and others to move us forward to the 21st century.

Our region can become a leader in making cars and trucks more energy efficient, buildings that are less energy demanding, and appliances that save money for consumers. Developing cleaner methods of energy guarantees a productive, healthy, future for all Americans.

Congress has choices and priorities to make. The Republican Congress has given over $1 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% and large corporations. Think of what that money could do for our environment! When I get to Washington, my priorities will be for families, for protecting our environment and public health. Together we are going make a cleaner and healthier for our community and future generations to enjoy.

Thank you again for your endorsement. I look forward to continue working with you now and always.

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