Sea Change in Washington? Speaker Pelosi, Rep. Blumenauer Call for Rebuilding America With Greener Infrastructure

Nancy Pelosi While state and local governments have enacted policies that provide incentives for sustainable practices, the federal government has been slow to take the lead on global warming. A sea change looms, however, with global warming a key issue in the presidential campaign and with several key bills pending in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Leading the call for a shift in paradigms, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) unveiled two resolutions acknowledging the nation’s history of building infrastructure that preserves the environment while also calling for a new commitment to green infrastructure. VerdeXchange News is pleased to present excerpts from HR 935 and HR 936 along with a statement by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who explains the importance of ensuring that the United States grows green.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: For our nation, we will chart a New Direction where we renew America’s infrastructure and rebuild it in a way that is greener and helps confront the climate crisis.

Two hundred years ago, in 1808, Thomas Jefferson charged his Treasury Secretary, Albert Gallatin, with drafting a plan to develop America’s infrastructure, works like the Erie Canal and the Cumberland Road, to take advantage of a nation that was growing thanks to the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition.

A century later, in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt launched a similar commitment when he convened a White House Conference on Conservation to stress the importance of preserving America’s natural beauty. That led to the creation of the National Park Service and helped a growing America remain a green America.

In 2008, in keeping with the traditions of these great American leaders, we must keep America growing while making America greener.

That means reinvesting in our crumbling highways and bridges and renewing our commitment to mass transit, solutions which will create jobs for the middle class. It also means expanding broadband access across America, and particularly to rural communities.

Again, in our infrastructure challenge there is job-creating opportunity—to reinvigorate the American economy.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 935

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes, celebrates, and acknowledges the goals and ideals that formed the impetus for President Roosevelt’s Conference of Governors 100 years ago;
(2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the citizens of the United States to consider what future efforts may be necessary to preserve for future generations the resources that support our current well-being; and
(3) supports the creation of a new national plan to align the demands for economic development with the resources of the United States.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 936

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives—
(1) reaffirms the goals and ideals that formed the impetus for Gallatin’s national plan two hundred years ago;
(2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the citizens of the United States to mark this important anniversary by recalling the important legacy of public investment in infrastructure that connects and enhances the economies, communications, and communities of our several States; and
(3) supports the creation of a new national plan to align the demands for economic development with the resources of the Nation. •••