Environment

Growing up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, I spent much of my time outdoors camping, fishing and hunting. Through these experiences, I gained a deep appreciation and great respect for our natural environment.

In addition to my upbringing, my passion for protecting the environment comes from my faith and my family. I feel called upon to care for God’s Creation, and to ensure that it is preserved for my children and my children’s children. As the Cherokee people say, “We do not receive the Earth from the previous generation, we are borrowing it from the next generation.”

As a member of the House of Representatives, I am working to ensure that generations to come have a safe, clean and sustainable environment. I have been a strong supporter of initiatives to reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels, protect our National Parks and Forests, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I have also focused on extending tax incentives for the production of renewable energy, renewing tax credits for private landowners who manage their property according to strong conservation standards, and keeping our rivers and streams free of harmful mining waste.

Conservation

In Western North Carolina, our heritage and our economic livelihood are tightly linked to the land. It is our duty to be good stewards and to protect our future.

During my time in Congress, I have made the protection of our national forests one of my top priorities. The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which was signed into law in March of 2009, adds protections for federal lands, creates 100 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and allocates funding for water management improvement and conservation projects. I was proud to support this comprehensive conservation legislation.

In the 110th Congress, I strongly objected to President Bush’s proposal to sell thousands of acres of National Forest land across our nation, which included 5,685 acres in North Carolina. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle worked together to defeat this proposal and preserve our federal lands.

The protection of threatened and endangered species also is of vital importance to me. The loss of a species can affect an entire ecosystem and is often a precursor of future environmental degradation. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) provide rigorous protections for selected species and the habitats that they rely on. Several species, including the bald eagle, grizzly bear and gray wolf, have successfully rebounded from near extinction as a result of these federal regulations. I will continue to protect these vital laws.

Ensuring Clean Water

All of us should have access to clean water. Our rivers and streams serve as sources of safe and suitable drinking water and as habitats for vital ecosystems throughout the country.

My colleagues and I have voted to authorize resources for water and sewer treatment facilities, infrastructure to limit runoff and sedimentation, and flood prevention. I am also working to prevent waste created during mountaintop-removal coal mining from being used as constructive “fill material” in our rivers and streams.

Environmental Education

Environmental stewardship begins with education and appreciation for the Earth. I was proud to cosponsor the No Child Left Inside Act, which provides funding and assistance to local and state school systems. Our children should have the opportunity to learn about the issues that affect the mountains, forests, streams and skies that we enjoy and rely on every day. Environmental education also plays a vital role in training our children for careers in environmental science, forestry, and wildlife protection.

Contamination at the CTS Site

The CTS site is located along Mills Gap Road in Skyland, North Carolina. The site was formerly owned by the CTS Corporation, which manufactured electronic parts there from 1959 to 1985. Activities at this site required the use of significant amounts of chemicals including trichloroethylene (TCE), which is often used as a degreasing agent. Exposure to and consumption of elevated levels of this chemical can pose a threat to human health. Read more...