"We have a moral responsibility to do our absolute best to leave our environment cleaner than we found it. It is also a pragmatic necessity that we care for the water, air, and land that we rely on."

Like his fellow Vermonters, Peter Welch has always taken great pride in our environmental treasurers from Lake Champlain to the Green Mountains. He understands both the moral and economic necessity of protecting our environment.

Republicans in Washington have a shameful environmental record. Despite their deceitful titles, the "Clear Skies Initiative" allowed for increased air pollution and the "Healthy Forests Initiative" gave logging companies virtually free-range of our National Forests. In addition, the Bush Administration,s global leadership on the environment has been non-existent. Instead of being a partner with our world allies on the Kyoto Protocol to reduce green house gas emissions, Washington Republicans have reject much needed international cooperation. In addition, President Bush has even tried to block individual states from adopting their own environmental protections by joining in a lawsuit with auto-manufactures against the state of California over mileage standards and emissions legislation.

Peter has a long record of environmental stewardship in Vermont. He was an original sponsor of legislation establishing the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund. Throughout his career he has supported initiatives for clean air and water, reducing mercury pollution, establishing a statewide endangered species program, and encouraging renewable energy use.

Peter will fight in Congress for a national initiative to reduce our impact on global warming. He sees the challenge of reducing our emissions as both an environmental imperative and a practical economic opportunity. By supporting initiatives to improve water quality, reduce sprawl through land use planning and land preservation programs, encourage sustainable forestry, and set tough air standards on both the auto-industry and utilities, Peter will lead in environmental protection in Washington as he has led in Vermont.

Statements Regarding Our Environmental Responsibility:

Read Peter's complete statement on Earth Day 2006.

To read the full text of Peter's proposal on global warming, click here.

To read the Associated Press story about Peter's proposal on global warming, click here.