RAMSTAD PUSHES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION ON EARTH DAY

WASHINGTON -- To commemorate tomorrow’s "Earth Day," U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) urged Congress to quickly pass several pieces of important legislation to protect the environment.

"Preserving the environment is a top priority of mine because it's the single most important legacy we will leave future generations," said Ramstad. "Earth Day is an appropriate time to push for passage of critical, pro-environment legislation."

• Pass the Morris Udall Wilderness Act to designate 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) a federally protected Wilderness.

• Oppose any further efforts to expand motorized use in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Voyageurs National Park.

• Support permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to protect open spaces at the federal and state level.

• Reform the "Superfund" program to eliminate needless litigation which has delayed the clean-up of hazardous waste sites.

• Protect U.S. beaches to ensure that coastal waters do not pose a health threat to bathers, boaters and surfers by requiring states to update their water quality standards for coastal areas.

• Encourage cleaning up brownfields and donating land for conservation through tax credits for private companies and individuals.

Ramstad also vowed his continued staunch opposition to anti-environmental "riders" on the annual appropriations bills.

"As hard as we pursue our other goals -- quality schools, a growing economy, access to health care and world peace -- they will have little meaning or significance if we cannot preserve a healthy environment and conserve our resources," said Ramstad.

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