John Edwards 2004 On The Issues

Leading The Fight For Clean Air And Clean Water

Edwards has been a leader in the Senate on environmental issues. He has fought to undo the changes proposed by the Bush administration that would undermine our longstanding commitment to the environment. He has also worked to make our air and water clean, and to reduce this country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Unlike the Bush administration, Edwards believes that conservation is more than just a personal virtue. He supports environmental protection and energy conservation as a national commitment.

The Edwards Environmental Plan

Edwards believes we should:

Preserve clean air.
Keep water pure.
Restore our national treasures.
Achieve energy independence.

Preserve Clean Air

Lead the Fight Against the Bush Administration
Senator Edwards has led the fight against increased air pollution resulting from the administration’s rollback of the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to make it much easier for old factories and power plants to increase their pollution levels without having to clean up the air. Edwards led the fight on the Senate floor to block the Bush administration’s rollbacks.

Work With Our Allies
Edwards supports U.S. leadership to establish international agreements to tackle world problems, including climate change, and to ensure that our competitors meet minimal environmental standards. Edwards opposes measures that empower closed tribunals to overrule America’s environmental laws.

Keep Water Pure

Clean Water
Our health depends on our water supply. Senator Edwards strongly supports the Clean Water Act and opposes Bush administration efforts to undermine the law. He has fought
to clean up toxics in our rivers and oceans, and he is a strong supporter of federal funding for restoration and protection of wetlands.

Tougher Standards On Arsenic
After the Bush administration shelved Clinton administration rules regarding acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water, Edwards worked to require the administration to immediately issue new standards for arsenic in drinking water.

A Safe, Clean Rural Environment
Senator Edwards has introduced the Concentrated Livestock Existing Alongside Nature (CLEAN) Act to require tough new standards for clean air and clean water around large corporate farms and to ensure that small farmers have the resources to comply with these new requirements. He opposes this administration’s secret negotiations with the livestock industry to create exemptions from clean air laws.

Preserve Our National Treasures

Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Senator Edwards has consistently supported designating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area to put it permanently off-limits to development.

Stop Inappropriate Logging
Edwards will prevent improper logging in the Tongass National Forest and other pristine areas.

Protect Our National Parks
Edwards believes that the National Parks system is one of the great treasures of this country. The National Park Service should have the resources to do its critical job.

Block Offshore Drilling
Edwards supports a continuation on the moratoriums on offshore drilling.

Achieve Energy Independence

Cleaner, More Efficient Cars
Edwards supports increased fuel efficiency standards for cars. He will also sharply increase research into alternative ways to power our cars—not just fuel cells, as the president proposes.

Renewable Energy
Edwards believes that we should set ambitious and achievable standards that will allow the country to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. He has been a strong supporter of using cleaner-burning ethanol, and supports the creation of new biorefineries to transform agricultural wastes - like corn husks, rice straw and wood chips - into energy.

Empowered Consumers
Many Americans want to make more environmentally friendly choices—they just need information. Edwards will give consumers more information about total energy costs for particular products.

Source: John Edwards for President 2004 Web Site