Environment

As an avid outdoorsman, land conservation has long been one of my top priorities.  As Governor, I worked with House Speaker Bill Howell, environmental organizations and government agencies to preserve more than 400,000 acres of open space in the Commonwealth. From the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia is blessed with unequaled natural and historic treasures. We must be vigilant in protecting these resources for future generations to enjoy. 

Forty years ago, many cities were choked with smog and some rivers were so polluted that their waters would catch fire. As a nation, we took action to combat these problems. Because of this national effort, the air we breathe and the water we drink are safer than they were in the 1970s.

But there is still work to do. I was proud to introduce legislation to protect and expand historic civil war battlegrounds and I continue to fight for efforts that protect the Chesapeake Bay and its marine life. I also introduced legislation to encourage tourism at national parks and wildlife refuges and bolster local economies that were harmed by the government shutdown by suspending entrance fees for 16 days. 

We must continue on this path. A healthy environment is good for businesses and workers and strong economic growth allows for investments that will help improve the environment. In the Senate, I will continue my efforts to protect our air, water and land resources, and will resist efforts to weaken environmental standards that are critical to public health.