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Clean Air Bill Signing 4/17/90 [OA 4422]
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323154646
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Clean Air Bill Signing 4/17/90 [OA 4422]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Mary Kate Grant Subject Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
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MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Grant, Mary Kate, Files
Subseries:
Subject File, 1988-1991
OA/ID Number:
13878
Folder ID Number:
13878-018
Folder Title:
Clean Air Bill Signing, 4/17/90
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19
2
7
3
White House News Summary
Friday, November 16, 1990 -- A-16
CONSUMERS SAY RECESSION IS ON, SURVEY FINDS
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Consumer confidence fell more sharply
between July and October than in any three-month period in at least
44 years, according to researchers at the University of Michigan,
who said that U.S. consumers now think that the economy is in a
recession.
The university's Index of Consumer Sentiment has fallen 24.3
points since July, to land at 63.9 in October. The index's scale
is based on a February 1966 survey equaling 100.
The latest number remains well above the record low of 51.7
reached in May 1980. Nonetheless, "this is the largest three-
month decline in the history of these surveys, easily outdistancing
the prior record of 15 index points following the 1973 oil
embargo," said Richard Curtin, survey director.
(Gregory Patterson, Wall Street Journal, A2)
BUSINESS INVENTORIES ROSE MODEST 0.5%
IN SEPTEMBER, PLEASING SOME ANALYSTS
Business inventories edged up [0.5 percent] in September as
sales declined, the Commerce Department said.
Analysts said the figures suggested inventories were still
manageable even though demand is falling off
"Normally, when the economy is slowing down as much as it has,
we see very clear signs of inventory accumulating. This is not the
case" this time, said Lyle Gramley, chief economist at the Mortgage
Bankers Association.
(Helaine Olen, Wall Street Journal, A2)
BUSH SIGNS SWEEPING AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS INTO LAW
Proclaiming a "new era for clean air, President Bush Thursday
signed into law sweeping controls designed to sharply reduce
pollution from cars and factories by early next century.
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed at an East Room
ceremony, impose new, costly technological requirements or health
standards on virtually every industrial sector in hope of restoring
the atmosphere's protective ozone shield and combating urban smog,
acid rain and cancer-causing plant emissions.
"This legislation isn't just the centerpiece of our
environmental agenda," said Bush, fulfilling a campaign pledge as
he signed the bill. "It is simply the most significant air
pollution legislation in our nation's history."
(Michael Weisskopf, Washington Post, A6)
-
White House News Summary
Friday, November 16, 1990 -- A-15
Bush Says Efforts To Stem Recession Hurt By Gulf Crisis
President Bush said Thursday that uncertainty in the U.S. oil
market caused by the gulf crisis is holding the American economy
hostage and hurting his efforts to head off a recession.
"There's a slowdown, an economic slowdown. And it's a
disproportionate increase in the price of oil that stems from what
Saddam Hussein has done," Mr. Bush said in an interview with CNN.
Mr. Bush, who has clashed publicly with protesters who claim
the gulf build-up is to protect the West's oil interests, conceded
for the first time Thursday that protecting American jobs and the
U.S. economy is a top priority of the gulf mission.
"I do think that the Iraqi solution has complicated and
worsened our own economy and the economies of our neighbors and the
economies of the rest of the world," Mr. Bush told CNN. "And it
does mean jobs."
After meeting Thursday with U.S. business leaders who painted
a gloomy economic outlook for the nation, Mr. Bush said he hoped
the recession would be held to six months. But "the oil question
that comes from Saddam Hussein's taking over of Kuwait is a big
question mark here," he said.
(Paul Bedard, Washington Times, A3)
PRESIDENT HEARS ECONOMIC GLOOM
President Bush Thursday got a generally gloomy report on
economic prospects from top business executives he had summoned to
the White House to hear their views.
One of them said later that most agreed the country is
probably in a recession.
"I think the majority of the people felt the economy was in
a twilight zone, somewhere in the area between a little growth and
a little decline," said John Medlin, president and CEO of First
Wachovia Corp., a Winston-Salem, N.C., banking company.
Meanwhile, a high official confirmed Thursday that the
Administration is considering cuts in popular government benefit
programs such as Social Security and Medicare as part of the budget
it will submit to Congress in February.
The official said the cuts being considered would reduce
benefits for affluent recipients, with the savings used to provide
tax cuts for the poor and middle class.
Such an action "is clearly being contemplated very seriously,"
said the official, who also stressed that all planning for the new
budget was in a very preliminary stage with final decisions a long
way from being made. (Martin Crutsinger, Washington Times, C11)
-
White House News Summary
Friday, November 16, 1990 -- A-17
Bush Signs Into Law Clean Air Act To Curb Emissions
x
President Bush, sealing a major environmental victory for New
England, Thursday signed into law the first new clean air act in
13 years, including a crackdown on the Midwestern emissions that
cause acid rain to fall in the Northeast.
Bush, fulfilling a major campaign promise and reversing years
of inaction by the Reagan Administration, called the act the "most
significant air pollution legislation in our nation's history
"We begin a new era for clean air," Bush said at a signing
ceremony in the East Room that was attended by dozens of lobbyists
for both environmental and business groups who had fought for years
over the measure. Bush, telling the audience how he reveled in the
crisp air of Camp David last weekend, said, "No American should
have to drive out of town to have to breathe clean air. Every city
in America should have clean air. And with this legislation, I
firmly believe we will."
(Michael Kranish, Boston Globe)
RECORD ENVIRONMENTAL CASES FILED
The Justice Department Thursday announced it had returned a
record 134 indictments in fiscal 1990 against individuals and
corporations accused of violating environmental laws.
Attorney General Thornburgh said the department surpassed by
33 percent its indictment rate in 1989. The department prosecuted
95 percent of those cases and settled out of court the remainder.
"During (1990) 78 percent of our indictments were against
corporations and their top officers, Thornburgh said. "More than
half of the individuals convicted for environmental crimes this
year were given prison sentences and 84 percent of these are
actually serving real jail time," he said in a statement
"I am particularly pleased that the President's proposal for
felony provisions under the Clean Air Act was approved by the 101st
Congress, because criminal provisions put the teeth into
environmental enforcement," he said.
(UPI)
PROBER LAYS OUT 'KEATING 5' CASE
The Senate ethics committee opened an unprecedented public
inquiry into the relations between five senators and S&L executive
Charles Keating Thursday and heard charges that three of the five
were far more deeply involved with Keating and his failing thrift
than they have acknowledged.
Two of the senators, Alan Cranston and Dennis DeConcini, were
described by special counsel Robert Bennett as "important players"
in Keating's "all-out war" with federal regulators. Moreover,
Bennett told the committee a third senator, Donald Riegle, played
"a much greater role than he now recalls" in attempting to help
Keating in his dealings with the regulators.
In making his case at the start of the tense, politically
charged hearings, Bennett drew pointed connections in timing
between Keating's contributions to the three senators and their
efforts on his behalf.
By contrast, the special counsel said, Sens. Glenn and McCain,
who also received money from Keating and helped him to varying
degrees, played lesser roles in the case. There is no substantial
evidence of any connection between their intervention for Keating
and the money he gave them, Bennett added.
(Helen Dewar, Washington Post, A1)
White House News Summary
Friday, November 16, 1990 -- A-18
U.S. SUIT ALLEGES SWEEPING DREXEL CONSPIRACY
NEW YORK -- A $6.8 billion court claim against the bankrupt
Wall Street firm Drexel Burnham Lambert detailed an alleged
conspiracy to "capture" S&L institutions and foist worthless "junk"
bonds on them for huge illicit profits.
The sweeping accusations made public Thursday were contained
in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court claim filed by the FDIC and the RTC.
(Brendan Murphy, UPI)
SPACE SHUTTLE IS LAUNCHED ON FINAL SECRET MISSION
CAPE CANAVERAL -- The space shuttle Atlantis, carrying five
military astronauts and a Pentagon spy satellite, rocketed into
orbit under a veil of secrecy Thursday night to kick off NASA's
last fully classified shuttle mission.
Carrying what some analysts say is a military satellite bound
for duty over the Persian Gulf, Atlantis lifted off at 6:48 p.m.
EST and headed due east over the Atlantic Ocean.
(Catherine Smith, Washington Post, A4)
BENNETT ADMONISHES NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA
Outgoing drug czar William Bennett Thursday praised the
majority of the country for doing its part in the nation's war on
drugs, but said the nation's two largest states must do more.
"New York and California have passed a number of important
anti-drug laws, but because they are key trafficking and
consumption states, they must do more," said Mr. Bennett.
"California needs tougher drug sentences, and as I told the New
York Legislature in June, it needs tougher user sanctions."
"They should be sending the clearest, the most emphatic
messages," said Mr. Bennett.
His comments came during a press conference to announce the
release of a white paper on the status of state drug control
efforts. It describes 18 laws and policies viewed useful by
federal authorities to states in their efforts to combat rising
drug use.
(Jerry Seper, Washington Times, A7)
HIGHER BEER, TOBACCO TAXES PROPOSED TO CURB YOUTHS' USE
A panel established by Congress to study drug-free schools
recommended higher taxes on beer and cigarettes Thursday as a way
to curb students' use of alcohol and tobacco, which the panel
described as "the most widely used drugs among young people today."
In its final report, the National Commission on Drug-Free
Schools (cochaired by Secretary Cavazos and outgoing national drug
policy director Bennett) suggested that Congress consider using the
additional tax revenue to fund an independent "counter-advertising
campaign aimed at curbing alcohol and tobacco use by underage
youth.' California has authorized increases in so-called sin taxes
for similar prevention programs.
(Kenneth Cooper, Washington Post, A15)
-
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 :10-25-90 ; 5:33PM ;
2027752710-
2024566218;# 1
10/25/90
UMB LRD/RDI
002
15:27
Congressional Delay P5 the clean Air Act
90 OCT 25 90 OCT
-
President transmitted his proposal on July 24, 1989.
-
Senate enacted its bill 8 months later (4/2/90), and
the House anacted its bill 10 months later.
-
Conference was delayed until mid-July 1990, and
involved some 150 members of Congress.
-
conferees required over 3 months to produce a final
bill.
To ChrissWinston
From Bernie Mart in
Vid Bob Grady
Photo by D.C. Lowe/AllStock
Despite the devastation of a volcanic eruption in May 1980, bear grass starts to grow again a season later near Norway Pass in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Washington state.
America repaying debt to damaged environment
was both the culmination of much that had come
collected refuse along a stretch of U.S. Route 54,
By George Bush
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
before the beginning of a new and sustained effort.
producing five piles along the roadside, each more
Those who worry about our environment today
than 10 feet high. In West Virginia, a five-mile span
In the late 1960s, a polluted Amer-
sometimes forget how far we've come not only as a
of U.S. Route 50 yielded 5 tons of trash. About a year
ican river literally caught fire,
whole cities were blanketed in
people but as a planet.
later, on June 5, 1971, 3.5 million Americans worked
clouds of industrial air pollution,
The Earth Day tradition that began in 1970 has
with the Boy Scouts and the Keep America Beauti-
grown into a worldwide environmental movement,
ful campaign to conduct what was probably the
and raw sewage was discharged di-
a movement born in the U.S.A., a movement nur-
largest one-day litter cleanup project in history.
rectly into our rivers. We were
squandering our natural inheri-
tured by two decades of American leadership.
Today, America's roadways are vastly improved,
Bush
tance. But Native Americans have
The change in attitude has been both fundamen-
ranking among the most beautiful in the world.
an old saying: "We don't inherit the
tal and pervasive. In the late 1960s many otherwise
True, government action helped spur this change.
earth from our parents. We borrow it from our
responsible citizens roared across the landscape,
But the real change came about because of a new
children."
their cars pumping invisible toxics into the air,
awareness, new environmental ethos.
Twenty years ago today, Americans started call-
carelessly littering country roads and city streets.
ing in the debt. Earth Day was a phenomenon that
On Earth Day 1970, students in Lake Ozark, Mo.,
see BUSH, page H10
forefront of opposition to the envi-
advocating, then what they
relative privilege. I have often felt
such stories - Sierra Club and its
The
fact
IS
that
our
ronmental movement. By the early
saying is, 'We've got enough for our-
selves, but you stay down there.'
that the conversion to environment-
The realization that affluent peo-
70s, labor columnist Victor Reisel
alism occurs shortly after an urban,
ple can serve their own self-interest
subsidiary organizations received
with real problems - such as ill-
The working-class, labor-union
middle-class family finally pur-
simply by preventing any more eco-
$39 million in donations in 1988 and
nesses and natural disasters - is
was repeating the joke about God
revolt against both environmental-
the Natural Resources Defense
provided by continued increases in
telling Moses that before He parts
chases its first suburban home in, let
nomic growth has been one of the
the Red Sea He is first going to have
ism and the poor-oriented thrust of
us say, Maple Grove Acres. The fam-
most difficult to make. We ordinarily
Council received $13 million in 1989.
wealth and technological capability.
These activist groups are sup-
The ability is weakened as long as
to get permission from the Environ-
the Democratic liberal agenda fi-
ily looks out the window at a beauti-
think of people serving their self-
interest by making more money
ported by scientists whom the public
public fear and outrage based on ex-
mental Protection Agency.
nally made up the major factor in
Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential
ful field next door and exclaims, "At
also considers to be selfless. Yet sci-
aggerations of risk are the basis for
The bumper sticker "If You're
majority, particularly in the Western
last, we're living in the country." Two
themselves, not by preventing oth-
ers from doing the same.
entists, too, have incentives to exag-
our environmental laws.
Hungry and Out of Work, Eat an En-
part of the country. This revolt has
months later, however, a nearly hys-
vironmentalist!" was originated by
Working with the White House,
Proposed a significant increase
Renewing my call for every
American to get involved, we have
Overseas, America is offering
the Senate has now passed a clean
for the EPA.
ca's technological and legislative
technical assistance, such as
air bill. This is a bill that was gridloc-
Concluded a historic, interna-
launched a program to encourage an
BUSH
leadership. Automobile emissions
even greater degree of voluntary
through the new, U.S.-led environ-
ked through the 1980s. It's been 13
tional conference on climate change
standards, pioneered here in the
ment center in Budapest, Hungary.
at the White House this week.
tree planting nationwide, with a tar-
early 1970s, will go into effect in the
We've also embarked on a plan to
years coming. But no American
should have to wait another day for
Worked to protect the ozone
get of 1 billion trees planted a year.
From page H1
European Community in 1992. And
Europe is now re-tooling to copy the
stop hazardous wastes from being
layer by backing a worldwide phase-
Trees are the oldest, cheapest, and
And just as America's roadways
indiscriminately exported to foreign
clean air. The House should move
countries and thrown U.S. support
promptly to produce a bill consistent
out of CFCs, which will help reduce
most efficient air purifier on Earth.
have improved, so have the oceans of
technological innovations that gave
greenhouse warming potential.
They can help clean the air by
air that float above them. Automo-
America the world's cleanest cars.
behind a U.N. convention to help
with the principles I have stated are
Outlawed virtually all uses of as-
absorbing carbon dioxide, a gas that
bile emission controls, first man-
Unfortunately, American
achieve this goal. And we've offered
necessary for an environmentally
contributes to possible greenhouse
dated in 1970, have today resulted in
breakthroughs, and the kind of envi-
to host a landmark meeting designed
strong and economically sound new
bestos.
Began developing policies to im-
warming. Trees can reduce the heat
a generation of new cars that emit
ronmental progress we've seen in
Western Europe, are far from wide-
to bring about the framework for an
Clean Air Act.
plement our goal of "no-net-loss" of
of a summer's day, quiet a highway's
only 4 percent as much pollution as
international agreement on re-
The House also has been the bat-
wetlands - a policy first for Amer-
noise, feed the hungry, and provide
the typical 1970 model. Over the past
spread in the developing world, or in
search and other efforts on climate
tleground for our campagin to ele-
shelter from the wind. And every
two decades, America cut airborne
the Eastern European environments
vate the Environmental Protection
ica - and for the world.
particulates by 60 percent, airborne
that were ravaged by decades of of-
change.
Back at home, America has con-
Agency to the highest level of the
Barred all African elephant
tree planted is a compact between
ivory imports to the U.S.
generations.
"carbon monoxide by about 40 per-
ficial neglect.
tinued to lead by example,
federal government - the Cabinet
Added three quarters of a billion
About a year after the first Earth
cent. Airborne lead has all but disap-
During America's own develop-
The clean air initiative we kicked
level. The American people want
this done. But they also want it done
dollars this year alone to clean up
Day, Dr. Seuss introduced America's
peared from the American land-
ment from an agrarian culture to an
off in the Grand Tetons last summer
right. They want it done responsibly.
hazardous waste at federal facilities.
kids to the fable of a lakeside forest
scape. Factory smoke levels are
industrialized country, the United
is an ambitious, aggressive piece of
Targeted the Superfund toward
and the brave little man who defends
down, as are emissions of sulfur and
States suffered many decades of en-
legislation. It will help bring into
What the EPA needs is new clout
faster cleanup and better enforce-
it. "I am the Lorax," he says. "I speak
some of the prime ingredients of ur-
vironmental destruction, often unin-
compliance 100 or more cities that
- not a new bureaucracy loaded
down with management directives
ment at hazardous waste sites - an
for the trees."
ban smog.
tentionally, often in ignorance. For
have failed to meet national stan-
But at the end of his story, no trees
This nation has made solid head-
instance, the DDT designed to pro-
from the U.S. Congress. EPA de-
effort now being copied in Italy and
dards for carbon monoxide and
ozone. It includes the first acid rain
serves a seat at the table. Let's get it
West Germany.
remain. Gross ecological misman-
way toward our goal of clean air for
tect against pests nearly destroyed
every American. But many tough
our national symbol, the bald eagle.
control program in the U.S. and pow-
done without changing its mission.
Programs like the Superfund,
agement leaves the forest leveled,
The campaign to protect the envi-
aimed at cleaning up the problems
the air unbreathable, the water
challenges remain. The United
As we have learned the hard way
erful new incentives for burning
of the past, are important. But
choked with dying fish. And all that's
States still produces too much waste
in America, developing nations must
cleaner fuel. Where once environ-
ronment is a marathon, a race for
and wastes too many material re-
find a responsible balance between
life for all Americans, a race in
there's also an emerging new philos-
left is a pile of barren rocks, and the
mental forces were harnessed to
ophy in fighting pollution - pollu-
Lorax's one-word warning: "UN-
sources. And as I said in Germany
quality of life, a sound environment,
boost the economy, today we are har-
which the final triumph will ulti-
last year, whether it's Chernobyl's
and a sound economy. And in the de-
tion prevention. Whereas Earth Day
LESS."
nessing economic forces to boost the
mately belong to the long distance
1970 was devoted to cleaning up the
Today the Earth Day kids have
radioactive steam or the acid rain
veloping world, "quality of life" of-
environment.
runner.
that's killing Europe's Black Forest,
And it's not only good for the envi-
But it's needed a jump start. And
mess, Earth Day 1990 is aimed at
grown up. But the message of the
ten means life itself. There's no more
stopping it at the source.
Lorax still rings true. Unless every
"environmental destruction re-
hostile environment than the one in
ronment - it's also good for the
during its first year in office, our
But of course, it's not enough to
business, every community, and ev-
spects no boundaries." A global
which people are without food, shel-
ter, or jobs. Maintaining quality of
economy. We should never lose sight
administration has:
problem demands global attention.
Asked Congress for nearly half
prevent environmental damage. Our
ery family - in this nation and in
of the benefits of environmental
every nation - pauses to consider
This can be done, however, with-
life, which in the developing world
cleanup benefits that range from
a billion dollars to expand new land
mission is not just to defend what's
economic savings in health care
for national forests, parks and wild-
left but to take the offensive and im-
what they can do to fight pollution,
out going to the extreme - without
often means life itself, requires
throwing men and women out of
maintaining a strong economy. Pov-
life refuges, and other public lands.
prove our environment. Nature has
our dream of a reborn health, pro-
costs and lost productivity to the op-
erty does not allow the luxury of the
portunity for increased enjoyment
Launched an ambitious $1 bil-
powerful rejuvenative forces, but we
ductive global environment will re-
work into wholesale unemployment.
need to help them along. We need to
main elusive. The race to protect the
We must not let the extremes domi-
long view. Yet we must make the in-
of outdoor activity and the beauty of
lion a year research program on cli-
reforest this bountiful land.
environment is not a spectator sport.
nate the debate.
vestments vital to maintaining our
mate change.
nature.
Part of the solution lies in Ameri-
beautiful planet.
Enrolled Bill H.R. 5835 - omnibus Budget
Reconciliation act of 1990 and
Signing Statement
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I an signing H.R. 5835, the "Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1990, 11 the centerpiece of the largest
deficit reduction package in history and an important measure for
ensuring America's long-term economic growth. This bill is the
result of long, hard work by the Administration and Congress. No
one got everything he or she wanted, but the end product is a
compromise that merits enactment.
H.R. 5835, and the discretionary spending caps associated
with it, will achieve nearly $500 billion -- almost half a
trillion dollars --- in deficit reduction over the next five
years. Over 70% of that deficit-reduction derives from outlay
reductions; less than 30% from revenue increases. In addition,
the bill enacts significant budget process reforms to ensure that
the agreement is fulfilled, and that budgetary discipline is
extended and strengthened.
Entitlement Reforms. The bill provides for the most
comprehensive and substantial reform of mandatory "entitlement"
programs ever about $100 billion in savings from restructuring
and reforms in the following major programs:
Farm programs;
Federal housing programs;
Student loan programs;
Veterans programs;
Postal subsidies;
Federal employee benefits; and
Medicare.
Discretionary Program Caps. The bill establishes five-year
caps on overall discretionary spending that will result in
savings of over $180 billion. To keep domestic and international
spending from growing any faster than inflation, the bill creates
new automatic "mini-sequesters". The bill also provides for an
orderly defense reduction without threatening national security.
Energy Security. The bill provides incentives for energy
conservation, and for exploration and development of domestic
energy resources.
Social Security. Social security is fully protected and
taken off-budget.
Enforcement and Process Reform. The bill contains the
toughest enforcement system ever. The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings
sequester process is extended and strengthened with caps, mini-
sequesters, and a new "pay-as-you-go" system.
Credit Reform. The bill implements a new Federal accounting
and budgeting system to expose and limit previously hidden (and
rapidly growing) liabilities.
Tax Changes. The bill includes a tax rate cut from 33% to
31% for about 3.5 million middle and upper-middle income
taxpayers and an overall decrease in taxes paid by those with
incomes under $20,000. There are higher excise taxes on luxury
items and limitations on itemized deductions and the personal
exemption for higher income taxpayers. The total net tax changes
comprise 28% of the deficit reduction package.
This bill creates the conditions that should allow future
interest rates to be lower than they would be otherwise. Lower
interest rates can benefit the entire economy. They can mean
more housing starts; more Americans driving new cars; reductions
in mortgage payments for homeowners; more long-term investment;
greater productivity; and increased numbers of jobs.
In signing this landmark Act, I pledge the continuing best
efforts of my Administration to maintain not only the letter, but
the spirit of the new fiscal order for the Federal Government
that is embodied in this agreement.
H.R. 5835 also contains child care provisions, strongly
supported by this Administration, that will enlarge the
opportunities of parents to obtain the child care they desire,
including care that is provided by sectarian institutions if the
parents SO choose. The largest portion of this new child care
program will come from tax credits to people as requested
by
the Administration. In addition, a Child Care and Development
Block Grant program includes provisions for the issuance of child
care certificates or vouchers that would enable parents to
exercise their own judgment as to what type of child care best
suits the particular needs of their own child.
I note my understanding of these child care provisions and
sign the bill based on that understanding, as follows:
First, I understand that the definition of child care
certificates in section 658P (2) ensures that states may not
restrict parental choice by limiting the range of providers from
whom parents may seek child care, using certificates as payment,
and that such certificates shall not be considered to be grants
or contracts.
Second, section 658N (a) (1) (B) specifically permits sectarian
organizations that are child care providers to require that all
of their employees adhere to the religious tenets and teachings
of the organization and comply with rules forbidding the use of
drugs or alcohol. As I understand it, the term "sectarian
organization" in this provision includes religious organizations
generally.
2
Grant/Cawley/Simon
November 13, 1990
3:00 p.m.
A: :CLEANAIR
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY
THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990
2:30 P.M.
( (Acknowledgements))
Although Thanksgiving is still a week away, today is truly a
red-letter day for all Americans. Today, we add a long-awaited
and long-needed chapter in America's environmental history -- and
begin a new era for clean air. //
This last weekend, I spent a few days in the Catoctin
Mountains of Maryland, at Camp David. Saturday and Sunday were
clear and crisp -- bright sunshine and fall colors. Great to get
out in the woods, and go for a run. (( Pumped a little iron on
the Arnold Schwarzenegger Memorial Leg Press. )) But no American
should have to drive to the top of a mountain to breathe clean
air. Every city in America should have air as clean as a
mountaintop. And with this legislation, I'm hoping we will.//
I first made a commitment to comprehensive clean air
legislation as a Presidential candidate. Then, early in the
Administration, I called together Republicans and Democrats,
business executives and conservationists to make a point: it was
time to break the logjam that hindered progress on clean air for
thirteen years.
It was time to enlist the innovation, energy and ingenuity
of every American -- to create a national sense of commitment to
conservation.
2
And so I told our best minds, assembled that morning a year
and a half ago, this: "Every American expects and deserves to
breathe clean air. And as President, it is my mission to
guarantee it: for this generation, and for generations to come."
Well, as we used to say in the Navy, "Mission defined.
Mission accomplished. "// Today, I am proud to sign the Clean Air
Act of 1990. //
This landmark legislation will pull 56 billion pounds of
pollution each year from the air -- that's 224 pounds for every
man, woman and child in America. It will go after the three main
causes of air pollution: acid rain, smog and toxic air
pollutants.
This bill will cut emissions that cause acid rain in half
-- by 10 million tons -- and permanently cap them at these new
levels. It will reduce pollutants that cause smog in our cities
-- by 40 percent -- so that by the year 2000, over one hundred
major American cities will have clean, healthy air. It will cut
dangerous air toxics emissions by up to 90 percent using new
technologies. And over the next decade, its alternative fuel
provisions will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by at least
800,000 barrels of oil a day. //
This bill means cleaner cars, cleaner power plants, cleaner
factories and cleaner fuels -- this bill is good news for
America. And the benefits of this Clean Air bill will affect
virtually every person in every city and town in America. //
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 17, 1990
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
IN THE OPENING ADDRESS
TO THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE
AND ECONOMICS RESEARCH RELATED TO GLOBAL CHANGE
The Grand Ballroom
The J.W. Marriott Hotel
Washington, D.C.
10:06 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Please be seated,
and welcome. Thank you very much for the welcome. I apologize for
the slight delay in there. Thank you, Secretary Brady, and members
of the U.S. delegation, members of my Cabinet and the cochairmen of
this conference, Michael Boskin and Allan Bromley; Michael Deland.
And I'm pleased to welcome this international field of distinguished
high-level officials -- experts all on the environment, economics,
science and energy. Welcome to the White House Conference on Global
Change.
Two months ago I had the honor of addressing the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. And let me recognize Bert
Bolin who is here, IPCC Chairman, here with us this morning. I see
this conference helping to accelerate the IPCC's agenda as it
searches for understanding of some very critical questions,
broadening the dialogue by exploring the link between scientific
research and economic analysis in the study of global change.
And of course, this conference is itself another sign of
the growing importance of the environment on the international
agenda. Here in the United States we've moyed one step closer to a
great victory for the environment, strengthening our own clean air
statutes, already the world's toughest, with a comprehensive package
of new clean air initiatives.
Ten months ago we renewed momentum lost in legislative
stalemate for 12 years. Just this month, a clean air package cleared
the United States Senate with House action hopefully possible in May.
We're moving forward on clean air legislation because it is in
America's interest. But like so many of the environmental issues
that concern us, we aren't the only beneficiary of a better
environment.
When it comes to the environment, we are learning that
local actions can have global consequences. Understanding the
effects of our actions on our Earth system is the first step to a
sound environment. And the subject that led me to invite all of you
here is just exactly that.
I want to speak just briefly this morning so you can get
on about your work. But I want to speak about what we can do over
the course of the next couple of days to advance our understanding of
global change. This conference will help in three ways. First, it
provides an opportunity to help sort out the science on this complex
issue, to start with what we know about the Earth, and this home we
share. About the factors, natural as well as man-made, that cause
our environment to change, and to work from what we know toward
answers to the many uncertainties that abound.
Perhaps it's not surprising when the subject is global
MORE
- 2 -
change that the debate often generates more heat than light. Some of
you may have seen two sides -- on one of our talk shows on Sunday
respected men debating global change. One scientist argued that if
we keep burning fossil fuels at today's rate, and I quote, "By the
end of the next century, Earth could be nine degrees Fahrenheit
warmer than today." And the other scientist saw no evidence of rapid
change and warned against a drastic reordering of our economy that
could cause us, in his words, "to end up the impoverished nation
awaiting a warming that never comes." Two scientists, two
diametrically opposed points of view. Now, where does that leave us?
What we need are facts, the stuff that science is made
of. A better understanding of the basic processes at work in our
whole world - better Earth system models that enable us to calculate
the complex interaction between man and our environment. And that's
why I've asked Congress, our Congress, to approve a 60 percent
increase in our budget for the global change research program -- an
aggressive research program for which we budgeted more than $1
billion in 1991 to reduce the uncertainties surrounding global
change. To advance the scientific understanding we need if we are to
make decisions to maximize benefits and minimize the unintended
consequences.
The second way this gathering can advance our
understanding is to address the economic factor and environmental
questions. We know that cleaning up our environment costs money -- a
lot of money and we know it means changes in the way we work and
live. Here, in the United States, we're already making those
changes, moving forward on clean air, planting trees through our
"America the Beautiful" initiative, and working with other nations to
find ways to halt deforestation, phasing out the use of CFCs,
encouraging conservation, exploring alternative sources of fuel and
energy, and market-based incentives for pollution control.
And yet, as we move forward, all of us must make certain
we preserve our environmental well-being and our economic welfare.
We know that these are not separate concerns. They are two sides of
the same coin. Recognizing this fact is in the interest of every
nation here today. It's in the interest of the developed world, and
the developing world alike.
Let me focus for just a moment on the developing world.
In a climate of poverty or persistent economic struggle, protecting
the environment becomes a far more difficult challenge. Cold
statistics don't begin to capture the harsh realities that are at
stake. Development doesn't mean just another point in the gross
national product, the GNP; it's measured in human lives, an end to
hunger, lower infant mortality, longer life expectancy. Not just
quality of life, but life itself.
Environmental policies that ignore the economic factor,
the human factor, are destined to fail. But there's another reason
to consider the economic factor when the issue is the environment.
There is no better ally in service of our environment than strong
economies. Economies that make possible the increased efficiencies
that enable us to make environmental gains. Economies that generate
the new technologies that help us arrest and reverse the damage that
we've done to our environment. We need new economies that allow us
to make vital investments in our common future.
And that brings me to the third way this conference
contributes to a net gain in knowledge. The fact that it provides us
the opportunity to form a partnership between nations and across the
many disciplines represented here. Few subjects offer a greater
challenge to the understanding of man than global change. And yet,
too often the different disciplines focusing on this question have
worked in isolation with little interchange of ideas, analysis,
information.
This conference is a new departure because it brings
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- 3 -
together environmentalists and economists, experts on energy and
science to search for common ground. To search the expertise each
discipline can bring to this difficult and demanding concern. And
this new partnership must bind nations as well. The fact of the
matter is, no one nation acting alone can safeguard our Earth
environment. Success requires a sense of global stewardship, an
understanding that it is the Earth that endures, and that all of us
are no more than tenants in temporary possession of a sacred trust.
For the next two days, you, in essence, will be grappling
with the questions, the fundamental questions of global stewardship;
questions of global consequence. I know there's a debate raging out
there, but I am confident that this approach that brings all of you
experts together is the way to go.
I thank you very much for joining us here. I will be
over after digesting the product of your work tomorrow, to have a few
more words to say. But from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for
coming. There have been a lot of these environmenal conferences
around the world, but this one, I think, approaches the fundamentals.
And we are fortunate to have here in America you experts from all
around the world.
Thank you for coming. I look forward to hearing the
results of your work. God bless you all. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
END
10:17 A.M. EDT
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
CYCLOPEDIA
EDITED BY
ALBERT BUSHNELL HART
AND
HERBERT RONALD FERLEGER
FOREWORD BY
WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE
REVISED SECOND EDITION
NEW INTRODUCTION, BIBLIOGRAPHY, CHRONOLOGY,
HISTORY OF THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT ASSOCIATION
BY
JOHN ALLEN GABLE
THEODORE ROOSEVELT ASSOCIATION
and
MECKLER
NATIONALISM
NATURAL HISTORY
strength must also be used to secure justice for
NATIONALITY, DUAL. Surely it ought not
others and must never be used to wrong others.
to be necessary to say that the rights of every
But unless we possess and prepare the strength,
citizen in this land are as great and as sacred
we can neither help ourselves nor others.
as those of any other citizen. The United States
(1918.) Mem. Ed. XXI, 350; Nat. Ed. XIX,
cannot with self-respect permit its organic and
319.
fundamental law to be overridden by the laws
NATIONALISM AND INTERNATIONAL-
of a foreign country. It cannot acknowledge
ISM. Patriotism stands in national matters as
any such theory as this of "a dual nationality"-
love of family does in private life. Nationalism
which, incidentally, is a self-evident absurdity.
corresponds to the love a man bears for his
(Metropolitan, June 1915.) Mem. Ed. XX,
438; Nat. Ed. XVIII, 375.
wife and children. Internationalism corresponds
to the feeling he has for his neighbors generally.
NATIONALITY. See also ALLEGIANCE; CΓT-
The sound nationalist is the only type of really
IZENSHIP.
helpful internationalist, precisely as in private
relations it is the man who is most devoted to
NATIONALS-PROTECTION OF. See IN-
his own wife and children who is apt in the
TERVENTION.
long run to be the most satisfactory neighbor.
To substitute internationalism for nationalism
NATURAL GAS. See MINERAL FUELS.
means to do away with patriotism, and is as
vicious and as profoundly demoralizing as to
NATURAL HISTORY. The time has passed
put promiscuous devotion to all other persons
when we can afford to accept as satisfactory a
in the place of steadfast devotion to a man's
science of animal life whose professors are
own family. (Lafayette Day exercises, New
either mere roaming field collectors or mere
York City, September 6, 1918.) Mem. Ed. XXI,
closet catalogue writers who examine and record
410; Nat. Ed. XIX, 372.
minute differences in "specimens" precisely as
I heartily favor true interna-
philatelists examine and record minute differ-
tionalism as an addition to, but never as sub-
ences in postage-stamps-and with about the
stitute for, a fervid and intensely patriotic na-
same breadth of view and power of insight
tionalism. I will gladly back any wise and
into the essential. Little is to be gained by that
honest effort to create a league of nations, but
kind of "intensive" collecting and cataloguing
only on condition that it is treated as an addi-
which bears fruit only in innumerable little
tion to, and not as a substitute for, the full
pamphlets describing with meticulous care un-
preparedness of our own strength for our own
important new sub-species, or new "species"
defense. (October I5, 1918.) Roosevelt in the
hardly to be distinguished from those already
Kansas City Star, 231.
long known. (Introduction to Tropical Wild
Life in British Guiana by William Beebe and
NATIONALISM VERSUS PARTICULAR-
others; dated December 10, 1916.) Mem. Ed.
ISM. The minute that the spirit which finds its
XIV, 521; Nat. Ed. XII, 386.
healthy development in local self-government,
and is the antidote to the dangers of an extreme
NATURAL HISTORY - ROOSEVELT'S
centralization, develops into mere particularism,
INTEREST IN. I can no more explain why
into inability to combine effectively for achieve-
I like "natural history" than why I like Cali-
ment of a common end, then it is hopeless to
fornia canned peaches; nor why I do not care
expect great results. Poland and certain repub-
for that enormous brand of natural history which
lics of the Western Hemisphere are the stand-
deals with invertebrates any more than why I
ard examples of failure of this kind; and the
do not care for brandied peaches. All I can say
United States would have ranked with them,
is that almost as soon as I began to read at all I
and her name would have become a byword
began to like to read about the natural history
of derision, if the forces of union had not
of beasts and birds and the more formidable or
triumphed in the Civil War. (At Oxford Uni-
interesting reptiles and fishes. (American Mu-
versity, England, June 7, 1910.) Mem. Ed.
seum Journal, May 1918.) Mem. Ed. VI, 443;
XIV, 86; Nat. Ed. XII, 42.
Nat. Ed. V, 384.
NATIONALISM. See. also ALLEGIANCE;
NATURAL HISTORY-TEACHING OF.
AMERICAN PEOPLE; AMERICANISM; BIG STICK;
I don't believe for a minute that some of these
CITIZENSHIP; INDEPENDENCE SPIRIT; INTER-
men who are writing nature stories and putting
NATIONALISM; LOYALTY; NEW NATIONALISM;
the word "truth" prominently in their prefaces
PATRIOTISM; STATES' RIGHTS.
know the heart of the wild things. Neither do
368]
HISTORY
NATURAL HISTORY
NATURALISTS
ought
not
of
every
I believe that certain men who, while they may
intelligence with which our natural resources are
as
sacred
say nothing specifically about truth, do claim
used. It is equally clear that these resources are
States
attention as realists because of their animal
the final basis of national power and perpetuity.
and
stories, have succeeded in learning the real se-
Finally, it is ominously evident that these re-
the
laws
crets of the life of the wilderness. They don't
sources are in the course of rapid exhaustion.
knowledge
know, or if they do know, they indulge in the
(At Conference on the Conservation of Natural
wildest exaggeration under the mistaken notion
Resources, Washington, May I3, 1908.) Mem.
absurdity.
that they are strengthening their stories.
Ed. XVIII, 162; Nat. Ed. XVI, 123.
Ed.
XX,
As for the matter of giving these books to the
children for the purpose of teaching them the
NATURAL RESOURCES. See also CON-
facts of natural history-why, it's an outrage.
SERVATION; FOREST; GAME; INLAND WATER-
CIT-
If these stories were written as fables, published
WAYS; IRRIGATION; PUBLIC LANDS; RECLAMA-
as fables, and put into the children's hands as
TION; SOIL CONSERVATION; WATER POWER;
fables, all well and good. As it is, they are
WILD LIFE.
See
IN-
read and believed because the writer not only
says they are true, but lays stress upon his
NATURAL SELECTION. See PROGRESS.
pledge. There is no more reason why the chil-
dren of the country should be taught a false
NATURALISTS. Nowadays the field natural-
natural history than why they should be taught
ist-who is usually at all points superior to the
a false physical geography. (Everybody's Maga-
mere closet naturalist-follows a profession as
passed
full of hazard and interest as that of the ex-
sfactory
a
zine, June 1907.) Mem. Ed. VI, 424; Nat. Ed.
V, 367.
plorer or of the big-game hunter in the remote
are
wilderness. He penetrates to all the out-of-the-
or
mere
record
NATURAL HISTORY. See also, NATURAL-
way nooks and corners of the earth; he is
nd
ISTS; NATURE STUDY; SCIENCE.
schooled to the performance of very hard work,
recisely
as
to the endurance of fatigue and hardship, to
differ-
about
the
NATURAL RESOURCES If in a given com-
encountering all kinds of risks, and to grappling
insight
munity unchecked popular rule means unlimited
with every conceivable emergency. In conse-
by
that
waste and destruction of the natural resources-
quence he is exceedingly competent, resourceful
taloguing
soil, fertility, water-power, forests, game, wild
and self-reliant, and the man of all others to
little
life generally-which by right belong as much
trust in a tight place. (1910.) Mem. Ed. V,
un-
to subsequent generations as to the present gen-
402; Nat. Ed. IV, 346.
care
"species"
eration, then it is sure proof that the present
The outdoor naturalist, the
already
generation is not yet really fit for self-control;
faunal naturalist, who devotes himself primarily
Wild
that it is not yet really fit to exercise the high
to a study of the habits and of the life histories
Beebe
and
and responsible privilege of a rule which shall
of birds, beasts, fish, and reptiles, and who can
Mem.
Ed.
be both by the people and for the people. The
portray truthfully and vividly what he has seen,
term "for the people" must always include the
could do work of more usefulness than any
people unborn as well as the people now alive,
mere collector, in this upper Paraguay country.
or the democratic ideal is not realized. (1916.)
The work of the collector is indispensable; but
why
Mem. Ed. IV, 228; Nat. Ed. III, 378.
it is only a small part of the work that ought to
Cali-
be done; and after collecting has reached a cer-
not
care
The steadily increasing drain
tain point the work of the field observer with
on
which
natural resources has promoted to an
the gift for recording what he has seen becomes
why
I
extraordinary degree the complexity of our in-
of far more importance. (1914.) Mem. Ed. VI,
I
dustrial and social life. Moreover, this unex-
can
say
7I; Nat. Ed. V, 60.
at
all
I
ampled development has had a determining ef-
history
fect upon the character and opinions of our
Specialization, like every other
or
people. The demand for efficiency in the great
good thing, can be carried to excess; and no
Mu-
task has given us vigor, effectiveness, decision,
forms of specialization are less desirable than
VI,
and power, and a capacity for achievement which
those which make of the outdoor naturalist a
443;
in its own lines has never yet been matched. So
mere collector of "specimens," and of the in-
great and so rapid has been our material growth
door naturalist a mere laborious cataloguer and
OF.
that there has been a tendency to lag behind in
describer of these specimens when collected.
of
these
spiritual and moral growth; but that is not the
The outdoor naturalist ought to be able to do all
putting
subject upon which I speak to you to-day. Dis-
the indoor work too; and he ought to have the
prefaces
regarding for the moment the question of moral
power to see and to portray the life histories of
do
purpose, it is safe to say that the prosperity of
the shy creatures of the far-off wilderness.
our people depends directly on the energy and
But it is well if he can go even beyond this.
[369]
NATURALISTS
NATURE STORIES
No man leads a hardier or more adventurous
NATURE-JOY IN. The lack of power to
life than the collecting naturalist whose quest
take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune
takes him to the uttermost parts of the earth.
as the lack of power to take joy in books. Out-
He works in the wildest lands, and on the shift-
look, September 23, 1911, P. 162.
ing borders where the raw outskirts of civiliza-
tion merge into savagery. He works with the
NATURE. See also ADVENTURE; BOOK-LOV-
wild men of the forest and the desert, and with
ERS; OUTDOOR LIFE; WILD LIFE; WILDERNESS.
the men only one degree less wild who do the
most primitive work of civilization on the
NATURE FAKERS. The modern "nature-
borders of the forest and the desert. If he has
faker" is of course an object of derision to every
eyes to see he will have many a tale to tell; and
scientist worthy of the name, to every real lover
if he can tell it aright the tale becomes an addi-
of the wilderness, to every faunal naturalist, to
tion to that shelf of true stories of adventure
every true hunter or nature-lover. But it is evi-
in strange lands which is so fascinating a part
dent that he completely deceives many good
of the great library of worth-while literature.
people who are wholly ignorant of wild life.
(American Museum Journal, December 1918.)
Sometimes he draws on his own imagination
Mem. Ed. XIV, 525; Nat. Ed. XII, 389.
for his fictions; sometimes he gets them second-
hand from irresponsible guides or trappers or
NATURALISTS. See also BEEBE, WILLIAM;
Indians. (Everybody's Magazine, September
BURROUGHS, JOHN; MUIR, JOHN; NATURE
1907.) Mem. Ed. VI, 435; Nat. Ed. V, 377.
FAKERS; SCIENCE; SELOUS, F. C.; SOUTH
AMERICA.
I wish to express my hearty
appreciation of your warfare against the sham
NATURE. It is an incalculable added pleasure
nature-writers-those whom you have called
to any one's sum of happiness if he or she grows
"the yellow journalists of the woods." From the
to know, even slightly and imperfectly, how to
days of Aesop to the days of Reinecke Fuchs,
read and enjoy the wonder-book of nature.
and from the days of Reinecke Fuchs to the
(1905.) Mem. Ed. III, 313; Nat. Ed. III, 124.
present time, there has been a distinct and at-
tractive place in literature for those who write
NATURE - HARSHNESS OF. The very
avowed fiction in which the heroes are animals
pathetic myth of "beneficent nature" could not
with human or semihuman attributes. This fic-
deceive even the least wise being if he once saw
tion serves a useful purpose in many ways, even
for himself the iron cruelty of life in the tropics.
in the way of encouraging people to take the
Of course "nature"- common parlance a
right view of outdoor creatures; but it is un-
wholly inaccurate term, by the way, especially
pardonable for any observer of nature to write
when used as if to express a single entity-is
fiction and then publish it as truth, and he who
entirely ruthless, no less so as regards types than
exposes and wars against such action is entitled
as regards individuals, and entirely indifferent
to respect and support. (To John Burroughs,
to good or evil, and works out her ends or no
October 2, 1905. Preface to Outdoor Pastimes
ends with utter disregard of pain and woe.
of an American Hunter.) Mem. Ed. III, xxix;
(1914.) Mem. Ed. VI, 142; Nat. Ed. V, I2I.
Nat. Ed. II, 390.
Death by violence, death by
Once more let me say that
cold, death by starvation-these are the normal
if the fairy-tale mark were put on the stories
endings of the stately and beautiful creatures of
of these writers, criticism would pass. Appar-
the wilderness. The sentimentalists who prattle
ently, however, they wish to be known as teach-
about the peaceful life of nature do not realize
ers, or possibly they have a feeling of pride that
its utter mercilessness; although all they would
springs from the belief that their readers will
have to do would be to look at the birds in the
think of them as of those who have tramped the
winter woods, or even at the insects on a cold
wilds and met nature in its gentleness and in its
morning or cold evening. Life is hard and cruel
fierceness face to face. (Everybody's Magazine,
for all the lower creatures, and for man also in
June 1907.) Mem. Ed. VI, 430; Nat. Ed. V,
what the sentimentalists call a "state of nature."
372.
The savage of today shows us what the fancied
age of gold of our ancestors was really like; it
NATURE STORIES. The preservation of the
was an age when hunger, cold violence, and
useful and beautiful animal and bird life of the
iron cruelty were the ordinary accompaniments
country depends largely upon creating in the
of life. (1910.) Mem. Ed. V, 196; Nat. Ed. IV,
young an interest in the life of the woods and
169.
fields. If the child mind is fed with stories
[ 370 ]
STORIES
NATURE STUDY
NAVAL ARMAMENTS
of
power
to
that are false to nature, the children will go to
invent them. (Everybody's Magazine, September
a
misfortune
the haunts of the animal only to meet with dis-
1907.) Mem. Ed. VI, 434-435; Nat. Ed. V,
books.
Out-
appointment. The result will be disbelief, and
376.
the death of interest. The men who misinter-
pret nature and replace facts with fiction, undo
NATURE STUDY AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
Book-Lov-
the work of those who in the love of nature
The photographer plays an exceedingly valua-
WILDERNESS.
interpret it aright. (Everybody's Magazine, June
able part in nature study, but our appreciation
1907.) Mem. Ed. VI, 432; Nat. Ed. V, 374.
of the great value of this part must never lead
"nature-
us into forgetting that as a rule even the best
to
every
NATURE STUDY. The great book of nature
photograph renders its highest service when
real
lover
contains many pages which are hard to read,
treated as material for the best picture, instead
naturalist,
to
and at times conscientious students may well
of as a substitute for the best picture; and that
But
it
is
evi-
draw different interpretations of the obscure
the picture itself, important though it is, comes
many
good
and least-known texts. It may not be that either
entirely secondary to the text in any book worthy
of
wild
life.
observer is at fault, but what is true of an ani-
of serious consideration either from the stand-
imagination
mal in one locality may not be true of the same
point of science or the standpoint of literature.
them
second-
animal in another, and even in the same local-
Of course this does not mean any failure to
trappers
or
ity two individuals of the same species may
appreciate the absolute importance of photo-
September
differ widely in their traits and habits. (1905.)
graphs;
what I desire is merely that we
V,
377.
Mem. Ed. III, I22; Nat. Ed. II, 495.
,keep in mind, when books are treated seriously,
the relative values of the photograph, the pic-
my
hearty
The ordinary naturalist, if he
ture, and the text. (1910; Appendix of African
the
sham
goes into the haunts of the big game, is apt to
Game Trails.) Mem. Ed. VI, 375-376; Nat.
have
called
find numerous small animals of interest, and
Ed. V, 323-324.
From
the
he naturally devotes an altogether disproportion-
einecke
Fuchs,
ate share of his time to these. Yet such time is
NATURE STUDY. See also NATURAL HIS-
Fuchs
to
the
almost wasted; for the little animals, and es-
TORY; SCIENCE.
and
at-
pecially the insects and small birds, remain in
who
write
NAVAL ACADEMY. See ANNAPOLIS; WEST
the land long after the big game has vanished,
are
animals
POINT.
and can then be studied at leisure by hosts of
This
fic-
observers. The observation of the great beasts
NAVAL ARMAMENTS. I don't want this
ways,
even
of the marsh and the mountain, the desert and
to
take
the
country to lead the race for big ships, but it
the forest, must be made by those hardy adven-
seems to me well nigh criminal for us to fall
but
it
is
un-
turers, who, unless explorers by profession, are
behind. I think the ship provided for last year
to
write
almost certainly men to whom the chase itself
and
he
who
and the ship to be provided for this year, two
is a dominant attraction. (Foreword to F. C.
entitled
in all, should be at least eighteen thousand tons
is
Selous' African Nature Notes and Reminis-
apiece. Japan's new battleship, the Satsuma, is
Burroughs,
cences; dated May 23, 1907.) Mem. Ed. XIV,
of this size, which is the Dreadnaught size. I do
Pastimes
485; Nat. Ed. XII, 356.
Ed.
not think we can afford to take any chances
III,
xxix;
with our navy. (To Congressman Foss, Decem-
Undoubtedly wild creatures
ber 19, 1906.) Thomas A. Bailey, Theodore
sometimes show very unexpected traits, and in-
that
Roosevelt and the Japanese-American Crisis.
me
say
dividuals among them sometimes perform fairly
on
the
stories
(Stanford University Press, 1934), P. 120.
startling feats or exhibit totally unlooked-for
pass.
Appar-
sides of their characters in their relations with
I should like to see the British
hown
as
teach-
one another and with man. We much need a full
Navy kept at its present size but only on condi-
of
pride
that
study and observation of all these animals, un-
tion that the Continental and Japanese Navies
readers
will
dertaken by observers capable of seeing, under-
are not built up. I do not wish to see it relatively
tramped
the
standing, and recording what goes on in the
weaker to them than is now the case. As regards
and
in
its
wilderness; and such study and observation
our own Navy, I believe in number of units it
Magazine,
cannot be made by men of dull mind and
is now as large as it need be, and I should
Nat.
Ed.
V,
limited power of appreciation. The highest type
advocate merely the substitution of efficient for
of student of nature should be able to see keenly
inefficient units. This would mean allowing for
and write interestingly and should have an
about one new battleship a year, and of course
ervation
of
the
imagination that will enable him to interpret
now and then for a cruiser, collier, or a few
life
of
the
the facts. But he is not a student of nature at all
torpedo-boat destroyers. (To Reid, August 7,
reating
in
the
who sees not keenly but falsely, who writes
1906.) Royal Cortissoz, The Life of Whitelaw
the
woods
and
interestingly and untruthfully, and whose imag-
Reid. (Charles Scribner's Sons, N. Y., 1921),
with
stories
ination is used not to interpret facts but to
II, 343.
[37±]
Grant/Cawley
November 13, 1990
8:00 a.m.
A:CLEANAIR
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY
THE ROSE GARDEN? East room
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990
TIME? 2:30 30
( (Acknowledgements) )
Although the Thanksgiving holiday is still a week away,
today is truly a red-letter day for this Administratives tration and
add a long awarted and long meeded
for
all Americans. For today we sign Landmark legislation in chapter
America's environmental history -- and begin a new era for clean
air. ///
I first made a commitment to comprehensive clean air
legislation as a Presidential candidate. Then, early in the
Administration, I called together Republicans and Democrats,
business executives and conservationists X to make a point: it
was time to break the logjam that has hindered progress on clean
air for thirteen years.
We decided that to get a solution, we needed to apply more
It was time to enlist
than just federal leverage We must take advantage of the
innovation, energy and ingenuity of every American -- to create a
national sense of commitment to conservation.
And so I told our best minds, assembled that morning a year
and a half ago, this: "Every American expects and deserves to
breathe clean air. And as President, it is my mission to
guarantee it: for this generation, and for generations to come.' "
)
the
1000m
2
Well, as we used to say in the Navy, "Mission defined.
Mission accomplished. "// Today, I am proud to sign
andmone
This legislation will pull 56 billion pounds of pollution
each year from the air -- that's 224 pounds for every man, woman
and child in America. It will go after the three main causes of
air pollution: acid rain, smog and toxic air pollutants.
This bill will cut emissions that cause acid rain in half
-- by 10 million tons -- and permanently cap them at these new
levels. It will reduce pollutants that cause smog in our cities
-- by 40 percent -- so that by the year 2000, over one hundred
major American cities will have clean, healthy air. It will cut
dangerous air toxics emissions by up to 90 percent using new
technologies. And over the next decade, its alternative fuel
provisions will reduce our dependence on foreign oil by at least
800,000 barrels of oil a day. //
This bill means cleaner cars, cleaner power plants, cleaner
news for Averica.
factories and cleaner fuels for generations to come. And the
benefits of this Clean Air bill will affect virtually every
person in every city and town in America. / /
This legislation isn't just the biggest environmental bill
of our Administration. This is simply the most significant air
pollution legislation in our nation's history. //
My hope is that 1990 will be known as a milestone year for
the environment. I also hope that it will be known as an
important year for environmental cooperation.
((I heard that the
3
fact
that such sweeping change was decided outside of the courts
was a big disappointment to several D.C. law firms.) )
mony Wething, Paler,
There was one man who led the way, through thick and thin,
seeing that this bill got to my desk: EPA Director William
Reilly. What a great job he did. //
Rog.
And I'd also like to thank the Congressmen and Senators,
na
from both sides of the aisle; the Governors and the local
governments who were all so instrumental in building bipartisan
support for this legislation. We've met with business leaders,
who saw stewardship to the environment as a key to long-term
economic growth; and we've met with academics and innovative
problem-solvers from every side, who have built the foundation
for this approach.
Let me also commend Project '88, and groups like the
?
Environmental Defense Fund ( (and others)) for bringing creativity
help
to the table to end the stalemate.
We all had to make tough choices. And while some said we
went too far -- others said not far enough. But despite our
differences, we all care about clean air.
And we all agreed: it was time to take a new approach. And
so, the bill is as ambitious in its goals as it is innovative in
its methods. For the first time, we've moved away from the red-
tape bureaucratic approach of the past -- not with over-
regulation but with better regulation. These standards are tough
ones, but they employ market-oriented strategies -- using
industry to the advantage of the environment -- to enact
4
efficient, effective legislation. Now we know: we can establish
a new kind of environmentalism, one where a sound ecology and a
strong economy go hand in hand. //
This bill is balanced. it seeks major pollution reductions,
Dicks
where we most need them, first. The approach is comprehensive,
cost-effective, and most of all, it will work.
For example the legislation sets reasonable deadlines for
but
those who must comply, and once the deadlines pass, penalties are
S.B.
severe It offers incentives, choice and flexibility for
industry to find the best solutions -- all in the context of
continued economic growth. This bill contains an emissions
trading plan in order to allow reduction targets to be met at a
fraction of the cost it would have been otherwise. In short, it
taps the power of the marketplace and the community -- better
But
class
more
than any other environmental bill in history
/
And so there is a new breeze blowing -- a new current of
concern for the environment. We see it in community efforts and
school involvement across America. And we're seeing it in the
innovative response of private industry. Take a look at the
Arco, Marathon and Exxon stations offering cleaner fuels.
Earlier this month Amoco opened a new alternative fuels service
station right down Pennsylvania Avenue here in Washington. We're
seeing compressed natural gas vehicles from GM, as well as
flexible fueled vehicles from GM and Ford, and we look forward to
Ford's electric vehicles in the near future. These companies
understand: We must pioneer new technology, find new solutions,
5
to
and envision new horizons if we are build a bright future and a
better America for our children. We must -- and we will. //
I've said many times, when talking âbout other issues like
fighting the flow of drugs or stopping the menace of crime, that
the most fundamental obligation of the government is to protect
the people -- their health, their safety, and their ideals and
values.
One of the greatest conservationists of this century and
perhaps my favorite President, Theodore Roosevelt, understood
this. He called our lands and wildlife "the property of unborn
generations." This clean air bill will mark a new chapter in the
tradition of protecting future generations.
That's where you come in. Everyone with us today has made a
commitment to a cleaner and safer world for our children. For
that, I thank each and every one of you -- for your expertise,
your dedication and for your sacrifice over the many months that
went into the passage of this legislation. With that said, I am
now honored to sign this Clean Air bill into law. Thank you and
God bless you all.
((Sign bill.))
# # #
Asides
Greens Dump on Bush
'F,' so he's moving up a little bit."
It's getting harder by the day to
The president of the Wilderness Soci-
take the environmental establishment
ety: This is his one and only signifi-
seriously. Yesterday President Bush
cant environmental achievement and
signed the expensive and expansive
he certainly is not entitled to take sole
Clean Air Bill. Here's the president of
credit for it. A Greenpeace spokes-
Friends of the Earth: "If I had to
man says Mr. Bush 'delivered less of
grade him, I'd have to give him a low
the goods than any President:' Envi
'D.' A year ago, I'd have given him an
ronmentalists to Bush: Drop Dead.
&
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
90 OCT 14 P4: 00
FAX COVER SHEET
Number of pages
(excluding cover sheet):
Date:
TO:
Cicconi, WINSTON, PORTER, ROGER
Fax Number:
manykaye Crant, Stave Hart, Barry McBee
Telephone:
FROM:
BoB GRADY
Fax Number:
Telephone:
Time:
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
FYI
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 111-14-90
DRAFT REILLY PRESS STATEMENT
The following statement was issued by EPA Administrator
William K. Reilly today following the President's signing of the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990:
"During his 1988 campaign, the President vowed to amend the
Nation's clean air laws, saying that "every American expects and
deserves to breathe clean air. The Clean Air Act Amendments of
1990, signed into law today, triumphantly fulfill that pledge.
Through his leadership, the President broke the 13-year clean air
stalemate by submitting an innovative, market-based bill which will
achieve the Nation's environmental goals in the most effective
manner.
"The benefits of this bill are enormous. Acid rain emissions
will be cut almost in half; 30 million tons of toxic chemicals will
be prevented from fouling the air every year; and all areas of the
country will finally have the means to attain air quality standards
on a realistic schedule. As a result, air toxics risk will be
slashed by three-quarters, and health problems will be reduced
significantly, including cancer risk, respiratory disease, heart
ailments, and reproductive disorders. Damage to lakes, streams,
parks, and forests, as well as harm to buildings, monuments, and
other structures, will also be slowed or stopped. One of the most
dramatic effects will be an increase in visibility: people will be
able to see farther from Maine to Georgia, where sulfates are
responsible for half the haze. As a final bonus, oil imports will
be reduced significatly, enhancing our energy security.
"These sorely needed benefits will, of course, not be achieved
for free. Significant costs are involved, and these costs
highlight the importance of the innovative, market-based features
the President proposed, and which the Congress accepted in the
final bill signed today. These features assure that the bill's
benefits will be achieved at the lowest possible cost to the
Nation. They include the acid rain allowance trading program,
which fosters least-cost pollution reductions; the clean-fuel
credit trading and emissions trading programs, which allow refiners
and automakers to meet requirements at least cost; fees on smog-
causing emissions which promote efficiency and pollution
prevention; and incentives for early reductions which will
accelerate the achievement of environmental benefits. It was the
attractiveness of these innovative features that helped the
President break the clean air logjam, and it is these features that
will allow us the achieve the environmental goals of this bill in
a way the country can live with economically.
"As the sheer size of the final printed bill indicates, this
highly complex legislation was hammered out over many months --
indeed, many years -- and is the culmination of hard and dedicated
work by many people both in and outside the government. I commend
all who played a part in making this bill a reality. The
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020
President's pathbreaking initiative was coordinated by the White
House working group under the direction of Roger Porter, Assistant
to the President for Economic and Domestic Policy; key participants
included Boyden Gray, legal counsel to the President; Richard
Schmallensee, of the President's Council of Economic Advisors;
Robert Grady, of the Office of Management and Budget; John Schmidt,
legal counsel; Linda Stuntz, Department of Energy; and Teresa
Gorman, Special Assistant to the President for Policy Development.
"Special thanks go to William G. Rosenberg for managing EPA's
role. Many of the ideas behind the President's original proposal
stem from over five years of planning by EPA, including staff from
the Office of Air and Radiation, the Office of General Counsel, the
Office of Congressional Affairs, the Office of Policy, Planning,
and Evaluation, and the Office of Enforcement. Ideas also came
from other agencies, including the Department of Justice and the
Department of Energy, as well as from outside groups, notably
including the Clean Air Coalition and the Environmental Defense
Fund. The President's initiative reflects the EPA staff experience
in working with these new ideas; the result, which is preserved
largely intact in the bill signed today, is a tribute to the
willingness of these experienced staff to adapt to the President's
innovative, market-based policy direction, and to use the new ideas
to craft a dramatic advance in the course of environmental
regulation.
"Turning the President's initiative into finished legislation
was an enormous task, and was achieved only through the hard work
of the Congress, ably led by Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell
and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, and by Speaker of the House
Tom Foley and Congressman Bob Michel, House Minority Leader.
Without the extraordinary efforts of the key members -- Senators
Burdick, Baucus, Chafee, and Simpson, and Congressmen Dingell,
Lent, Waxman and Madigan -- and their staffs, working literally
thousands of hours during conference committee alone -- the
impossible task of reconciling the various interests could not have
been achieved. The final result is a law which will undoubtedly
serve as a model for regulatory reform across the board, leading
to the widespread use of market approaches here and abroad.
"we now begin the big job of achieving the goals mandated by
this landmark legislation. As we move toward full implementation,
we can be proud to know we are working to fulfill the President's
pledge: that every American shall breathe clean air.
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING REQUEST
Subject: Presidential Ceremony Remarks: Clean Air Bill Signing
Date/Time Received:
RESPONSE DUE: Wed. 11/14
11/13 5:30 P.M.
11:00 A.M.
Response due to Director's Office Support Group, Room 254, Ext. 3060.
Please respond to every staffing request, even if you have no comment.
Distribution Within OMB
Action FYI
Action FYI
Director
Hodsoll, F.
Deputy Director
Howard, R.
Legis. Affairs
Al-Samarrie, A.
Lieberman, S.
Anderson, B.
MacRae, J.
Burman, A.
Martin, B.
Dale, E.
Murr, J.
Damus, R.
Scully, T.
Grady, R.
Hale, J.
Other
Comments:
Copies to : Murr Cicconi
Chriss Winston
in
ASAP PR
00
Mugkate Grant
FINAL ACTION TAKEN:
pl DATE:
Document No. 190403
WHITE HOUSE STAFFING MEMORANDUM
11/13/90
11/14/90
DATE:
ACTION/CONCURRENCE/COMMENT DUE BY:
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY
SUBJECT:
(11/13 3:00 p.m. draft)
ACTION FYI
ACTION FYI
VICE PRESIDENT
MCCLURE
SUNUNU
NEWMAN
SCOWCROFT
PORTER
DARMAN
ROGICH
CARD
UNTERMEYER
CICCONI
>
ROGERS
DEMAREST
PINKERTON
FITZWATER
DELAND
GRAY
WINSTON
HAGIN
FIRESTONE
HOLIDAY
REMARKS:
Please provide any comments/recommendations directly to Chriss
Winston by NOON on Wednesday, 11/14, with a copy to my office.
Thanks/
RESPONSE:
James W. Cicconi
Assistant to the President
and Deputy to the Chief of Staff
Ext. 2702
Sound bites
'Grant/Cawley/Simon
November 13, 1990
3:00 p.m.
90 NOV 13 Pil 4: 01
A:CLEANAIR
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY
THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990
2:30 P.M.
((Acknowledgements)) Ambassador
Although Thanksgiving is still a week away, today is truly a
red-letter day for all Americans. Today, we add a long-awaited
and long-needed chapter in America's environmental history -- and
begin a new era for clean air. //
This last weekend, I spent a few days in the Catoctin
Mountains of Maryland, at Camp David. Saturday and Sunday were
clear and crisp -- bright sunshine and fall colors. Great to get
out in the woods, and go for a run. " Pumped a little iron on
the Arnold Schwarzenegger Memorial Leg Press. " But no American
should have to drive to the top of a mountain to breathe clean
air. Every city in America should have air as clean as a, step toward
we are taking the decisive
mountaintop. And with this legislation, I'm hoping we will.//
clean air for all Americans.
I first made a commitment to comprehensive clean air
legislation as a Presidential candidate. Then, early in the
Administration, I called together Republicans and Democrats,
business executives and conservationists to make a point: it was
time to break the logjam that hindered progress on clean air for
thirteen years.
It was time to enlist the innovation, energy and ingenuity
of every American -- to create a national sense of commitment to
conservation.
2
And so I told our best minds, assembled that morning a year
and a half ago, this: "Every American expects and deserves to
breathe clean air. And as President, it is my mission to
guarantee it: for this generation, and for generations to come."
Well, as we used to say in the Navy, "Mission defined.
Mission accomplished. Today, I am proud to sign the Clean Air
Encellent'
Act of 1990. 11
This landmark legislation will pull 56 billion pounds of
pollution each year from the air -- that's 224 pounds for every
man, woman and child in America. It will go after the three main
causes of air pollution: acid rain, smog and toxic air
pollutants.
This bill will cut emissions that cause acid rain in half
-- by 10 million tons -- and permanently cap them at these new
levels. It will reduce pollutants that cause smog in our cities
-- by 40 percent -- so that by the year 2000, over one hundred
major American cities will have clean, healthy air. It will cut
dangerous air toxics emissions by up to 90 percent using new
technologies. And over the next decade, its alternative fuel
provisions will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. by at least
800,000 barrels of oil a day. //
This bill means cleaner cars, cleaner power plants, cleaner
factories and cleaner fuels -- this bill is good news for
America. And the benefits of this Clean Air bill will affect
virtually every person in every city and town in America.
11
It restores America's place as the global leader in environmental
protection with this bill, we will have the cleanest cars,
the cleanest tuels, deanest power plants, and cleanest factor ies in
the world-
3
This legislation isn't just the biggest environmental bill
environmental
of our Administration. This is simply the most significant air
protection/
pollution legislation in our nation's history. 11
My hope is that 1990 will be known as a milestone year for
the environment. I also hope that it will be known as an
important year for environmental cooperation.
There were several members of my Administration who who saw
to it, through thick and thin, that this bill got to my desk: EPA
Director William Reilly, Energy Secretary Watkins, and my
domestic policy advisor, Roger Porter What a great job they
did. // BK: Boyden
S
BiH Rosenberg fromsPA.
Mitchell
Dingell
And I'd also like to thank the Congressmen and Senators, Dole
Laut
from both sides of the aisle ((names?)
As well as the
Bancys
Shorp
charles
Waxman
Governors and the local governments who were all so instrumental
Madigas
ster Bundlick +
in building bipartisan support for this legislation. We ve met
so
with business leaders, who saw stewardship to the environment as
many
others
a key to long-term economic growth; and we've met with academics
and their
and innovative problem-solvers from every side, who have built
Clean Air Condition No Env.Def Fund -URDC
Fred
Krupp7
NO
fine staffs.
BK: garoups
the foundation for this approach
Let me also commend environments for
bringing creativity to the table to end the stalemate.
we we'de
We all had to make tough choices. And while some said we
mer
went too far -- others said not far enough. But despite our
with
we agreed the goal: clean are for aM Americans- We agreed du the means: a new Chan
differences, we all care about clean air
Air Act. Al we agreed on the result 6:41 that ends the stalemate and creates the solution.
And We all agreed: it was time to take a new approach. And
that
so, the bill is as ambitious in its goals as it is innovative in
4
its methods. For the first time, we've moved away from the red-
tape bureaucratic approach of the past -- not with over-
regulation but with better regulation. These standards are tough
ones, but they employ market-oriented strategies, using
The acid rain trading
industry system heRalds to the a new advantage era in environmental of the environment one That to havness enact the power
of the marketplace in the savice of the environment.
efficient, effective legislation. Now we know: we can establish
a new kind of environmentalism, one where a sound ecology and a
strong economy go hand in hand. //
The approach is comprehensive, cost-effective, and most of
all, it will work. It seeks major pollution reductions, where we
most need them, first.
It offers incentives, choice and flexibility for industry to
find the best solutions -- all in the context of continued
economic growth. This bill contains an emissions trading plan in
order to allow reduction targets to be met at a fraction of the
cost it would have been otherwise. In short, it taps the power
of the marketplace and the community -- better than any other
The bill is balanced it will stimulate the VX of
environmental
bill
in
history
// natural gas from the welk of Texas to Louisiana fuels made from
the farms of Iowa, Illinois, the great Midnest, and cleaner low
But it does more. The legislation sets reasonable deadlines sulfur
coal from
for those who must comply, but once the deadlines pass, penalties
The
(15air)
destroy it;
hills of
are severe. Because America is too precious for us to turn our
America's future IV for bright for vs to cloud it.
Wert Viginia
backs on those who think otherwise. Polluters must pay. //
to the
And so there is a new breeze blowing -- a new current of
Rody.
Movetain
concern for the environment. We see it in community efforts and
states.
school involvement across America. And we're seeing it in the This bill
can make the
innovative response of private industry. Take a look at the America
global leader in developing a new
generation of environmental
technologies to which the world
is now turning.
5
Arco, Marathon and Exxon stations offering cleaner fuels.
Earlier this month Amoco opened a new alternative fuels service
station right dewn Pennsylvania Avenue here in Washington. We're
seeing compressed natural gas vehicles from GM, as well as
flexible fueled vehicles from GM and Ford, and we look forward to
Ford's electric vehicles in the near future. These companies
understand: We must pioneer new technology, find new solutions,
and envision new horizons if we are to build a bright future and
a better America for our children. We must -- and we will. //
I've said many times, when talking about other issues like
everthing from dwas to crime to our national security
fighting the flow of drugs or stopping the menace of crime, that
the most fundamental obligation of the government is to protect
the people -- their health, their safety, and their ideals and
values.
One of the greatest conservationists of this century and
perhaps my favorite President, Theodore Roosevelt, understood
this. He called our lands and wildlife "the property of unborn
generations." This clean air bill will mark a new chapter in the
tradition of protecting future generations.
That's where you come in. Everyone with us today has made a
commitment to a cleaner and safer world for our children. For
that, I thank each and every one of you -- for your expertise,
your dedication and for your sacrifice over the many months that
went into the passage of this legislation. With that said, I am
now honored to sign this Clean Air bill into law. Thank you and
God bless you all.
# # #
5
It offers incentives, choice and flexibility for industry to
find the best solutions -- all in the context of continued
economic growth. The bill is balanced -- it will stimulate the
use of natural gas from the wells of Texas and Louisiana, fuels
made from the farms of Iowa, Illinois and the great Midwest, and
cleaner, low-sulfur coal from the hills of West Virginia to the
Rocky Mountain states. This bill can make America the global
leader in developing a new generation of environmental
technologies to which the world is now turning.
But it does more. The legislation sets reasonable deadlines
for those who must comply, but once the deadlines pass, penalties
are severe. America's heritage is precious. We will not turn
our backs or look the other way. That means polluters must
pay.//
And so there is a new breeze blowing -- a new current of
concern for the environment. Today marks a great victory for the
environment, a day when we have strengthened our clean air
statutes -- already the world's toughest. This legislation is
not only in America's interest; like so many of the environmental
issues that we are working on, this bill is in the interest of
people all over the world.
And the new environmental ethos is growing. We see it in
community efforts and school involvement across America. And
we're seeing it in the innovative response of private industry -
- in alternative fuel service stations and electric vehicles.
These companies understand: We must pioneer new technology, find
Nov. 15 / Administration of George Bush, 1990
rector of the Governor's commission for
Thanksgiving is still a week away, but I
new techi
women in Austin, TX. Prior to this, she has
believe this really is a true red-letter da
its altern.
participated in many civic and political ac-
for all Americans. Today we add a long
by educe ou
tivities in Austin, TX, including cochairman
awaited and long-needed chapter in our en-
bill mean
of Family Community Leadership, commu-
vironmental history, and we begin a new
plants, cle
nity adviser for the Austin Junior League,
era for clean air.
and it me
member of the Task Forces on Displaced
This last weekend, I spent some pleasant
every pers
Homemakers and Childsave, and adviser for
hours up at Camp David. Saturday and
will enjoy j
the Governor's committee for disabled per-
Sunday really were fantastic-clear and
This legi
sons, 1987.
crisp and beautiful, bright sunshine and
of our env
Ms. Wallace attended the University of
those magnificent fall colors. And it was
the most si
Texas at Austin. She was born March 1,
great to get out in the woods. But no Amer-
in our natic
1926, in Okmulgee, OK. Ms. Wallace re-
ican should have to drive out of town to
ica's place
sides in Austin, TX.
breath clean air. Every city in America
mental prot
should have clean air. And with this legisla-
Nineteen
tion, I firmly believe we will.
for the envi
I first made a commitment to compre-
be rememl
hensive clean air legislation when I was
environmen
Remarks on Signing the Bill Amending
running for this job, and soon after coming
several mer
the Clean Air Act
into office, we developed a comprehensive
saw to it, tl
November 15, 1990
clean air proposal. I think we did have con-
bill got to
Administrat
sultation in the best spirit with the Demo-
Thank you all very much. Thank you so
cratic leadership and with the Republican
of Energy. I
much for being here. I would first like to
Staff worked
leadership in the Congress, with environ-
welcome the Ambassador from Canada, our
Porter did a
mentalists and with representatives of in-
friend, Derek Burney, who represents, I
dustry, because I believed, and I think we
in and day
think, by being here, his countrymen's con-
all felt, that it was time for a new approach
gress. Boyde
cern for our common environment.
It was time to break the logjam that hi
Grady and S
It is a pleasure to have several of our
great job on
dered progress on clean air for 13 years
And I also
Cabinet here today: of course, Secretary
And so, I told our best minds, assembled
Senators and
Lujan here, Interior; and Jim Watkins; as
that morning a year and a half ago, every
both sides of
well as Bill Reilly, the Administrator of EPA
American expects and deserves to breathe
us today, and
[Environmental Protection Agency]. Susan
clean air. And as President, it is my mission
couldn't be
Engeleiter is here. Also, Madeleine, I want
to guarantee it for this generation and for
cause of lack
to welcome you-Governor Kunin, the
the generations to come.
many are SC:
Governor of Vermont, is with us today who
Well, as we used to say in the Navy: Mis-
list is too lons
has a big stake in all of this, and welcome.
sion defined, mission accomplished. Today I
the Hill that
I also want to welcome the leaders from
am very proud on behalf of everyone here
just want to
the Senate side: the majority leader, Sena-
to sign this clean air bill-Clean Air Act of
and the other
tor Mitchell, who has always had a keen
1990.
your commits
interest in this, and of course, Bob Dole,
This landmark legislation will reduce air
as the Gover
Republican leader-both with us today. And
pollution each year by 56 billion pounds-
experts from
of course, if I get singling out all the Mem-
that's 224 pounds for every man, woman,
also instrument
bers who are here of Congress, I'll be here
and child in America. It will go after the
support for th
all day. And I'm just glad you all are here.
three main types of air pollution: acid rain,
We met WI
The Speaker and others, unfortunately,
smog, and toxic air pollutants. This bill will
stewardship "
couldn't be here-majority and minority
cut emissions that cause acid rain in half
long-term ect
leader. But we have many of the committee
and permanently cap them at these new
with academi
leaders that worked the hardest here. I'll
levels. It will reduce pollutants that cause
solvers from
get in trouble, but I see John Dingell, and I
smog in our cities by 40 percent, so that by
build the found
want to thank him and so many others.
the year 2000, over 100 major American
I want to
Please let's stop there. Let me just welcome
cities with poor air quality will have safe
groups that We
the Members of Congress who have done so
healthier air. And it will cut dangerous a
onmental Del
much on all of this.
toxics emissions by over 75 percent, using
ship of Fred h
1822
Administration of George Bush, 1990 / Nov. 15
new technologies. And by the next decade,
to the table to end what could have been a
its alternative fuel provisions will help
hopeless stalemate.
educe our dependence on foreign oil. This
We all had tough choices to make. Some
bill means cleaner cars, cleaner power
said we went too far; others said we didn't
plants, cleaner factories, and cleaner fuels;
go far enough. But despite our differences,
and it means a cleaner America. Virtually
we all agreed on the goal: clean air for all
every person in every city and every town
Americans. We agreed on the means: a new
will enjoy its benefits.
Clean Air Act.
This legislation isn't just the centerpiece
And we all agreed it was time to take a
of our environmental agenda. It is simply
new approach. This bill is both ambitious in
the most significant air pollution legislation
its goals and innovative in its methods. For
in our nation's history, and it restores Amer-
the first time, we've moved away from the
ica's place as the global leader in environ-
mental protection.
redtape bureaucratic approach of the past.
The old tradition of command and control
Nineteen ninety is now a milestone year
for the environment. I also hope that it will
regulation is not the answer. By relying on
be remembered as an important year for
the marketplace, we can achieve the ambi-
environmental cooperation. There were
tious environmental goals we have as a
several members of my administration who
country in the most efficient and cost-effec-
saw to it, through thick and thin, that this
tive way possible. We'll have to take advan-
bill got to my desk: Bill Reilly, the EPA
tage of the innovation, energy, and ingenui-
Administrator; Jim Watkins, the Secretary
ty of every American, drawing local com-
of Energy. From my own staff, our Chief of
munities and the private sector into the
Staff worked tirelessly-John Sununu. Roger
cause. It's time for a new kind of environ-
Porter did an outstanding job, working day
mentalism, driven by the knowledge that a
in and day out with the Members of Con-
sound ecology and a strong economy can
gress. Boyden Gray-the same thing. Bob
coexist.
Grady and so many others. And they did a
The approach in this bill balances eco-
treat job on this.
nomic growth and environmental protec-
And I also want to thank once again the
tion. The approach is comprehensive, cost-
Senators and Members of Congress from
effective; and most of all, it will work. The
both sides of the aisle. Many of you are with
first major pollution reductions are where
us today, and as I mentioned earlier, others
we need them most. It offers incentives,
couldn't be with us today. But it isn't be-
choice, and flexibility for industry to find
cause of lack of interest. Congress is out;
the best solutions, all in the context of con-
many are scattered to the winds. But the
tinued economic growth. The bill is bal-
list is too long to single out everybody from
anced: It will stimulate the use of natural
the Hill that worked on this. But again, I
gas from the wells of Texas and Louisiana;
just want to thank you that are here today
and fuels made from the farms of Iowa,
and the others who couldn't be with us for
Illinois, the great Midwest; and cleaner,
your commitment and dedication-as well
low-sulfur coal from the hills of West Vir-
as the Governors, the Governors and the
ginia to the Rocky Mountain States. This bill
experts from local governments who were
can make America the global leader in de-
also instrumental in building true bipartisan
veloping a new generation of environmen-
support for this legislation.
tal technologies to which the world is now
We met with business leaders who saw
turning.
stewardship to the environment as a key to
But it does more. The legislation sets rea-
long-term economic growth. And we met
sonable deadlines for those who must
with academics and innovative problem-
comply; but once deadlines go by, once
solvers from every side who have helped
they pass, the penalties are severe. Ameri-
build the foundation for this approach.
can heritage is precious. We will not turn
I want to commend the environmental
our backs or look the other way. That
groups that we've met with, like the Envi-
means polluters must pay. And so, there is a
onmental Defense Fund, under the leader-
new breeze blowing, a new current of con-
ship of Fred Krupp, for bringing creativity
cern for the environment. Today marks a
1823
Nov. 15 / Administration of George Bush, 1990
great victory for the environment, a day
ral Resources, Energy and Science at the
when we have strengthened our clean air
Office of Management and Budget. S. 1630
W.
The inno
statutes, already the world's toughest. This
approved November 15, was assigned
in the bill I'
legislation is not only in America's interest;
Public Law No. 101-549.
dipage in ou
like so many of the environmental issues
problems in
that we are working on, this bill is in the
lowance tra
interest of people all over the world.
large-scale re
And the new environmental ethos is
tives and is
growing. We see it in community efforts
Statement on Signing the Bill
for regulato
and in school involvement across America,
Amending the Clean Air Act
abroad. The
and we're seeing it in the innovative re-
November 15, 1990
some simple
sponse of private industry-in alternative
tough standa)
fuel service stations, electric vehicles. These
Today I am signing S. 1630, a bill to
how to meet
companies understand we must pioneer
amend the Clean Air Act. I take great
markets help
new technology, find new solutions, envi-
pleasure in signing S. 1630 as a demonstra-
ciently.
sion new horizons if we're to build a bright
tion to the American people of my determi-
By employi
future and a better America for our chil-
nation that each and every American shall
most environ
dren.
breathe clean air.
dollar spent,
There's an old saying: "We don't inherit
In July of 1989, I sent to the Congress a
groundwork I
the Earth from our parents. We borrow it
proposal to amend the Clean Air Act of
ernment regu
from our children." We have succeeded
1970. My proposal was designed to improve
patible with
today because of a common sense of global
our ability to control urban smog and
only the comi
stewardship, a sense that it is the Earth that
reduce automobile and air toxic emissions,
of the past.
endures and that all of us are simply hold-
and to provide the enforcement authority
flexibility incl
ing a sacred trust left for future genera-
necessary to make the law work. It also pro-
for emissions
tions. For the sake of future generations, I
posed new initiatives to cut acid rain in half
standards for
again thank each and every one of you for
and to promote cleaner automotive fuels.
ternative fuel
your commitment to our precious environ-
As a result of that proposal, the 13-year
path-breaking
ment. I am now honored to sign this clean
legislative logjam has now been broken. S.
Ament the legis!
air bill into law.
1630 contains all of the essential features of
my environme
Thank you all who have worked so hard
cost. The resul
my original proposal and will lead to the
for this day to become possible. Thank you,
achievement of the goals I originally set
new era in regi
and God bless all of you.
on the market 1
out. The bill I am signing today will perma-
and the econon
[At this point, the President signed the bill.]
nently reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by
10 million tons below 1980 levels. It will cut
To address th
Maybe we could have the symbolism-I
NO, emissions by two million tons from
the cost of thi
don't think there's any protocol, but if I
projected year 2000 levels and reduce air
Bill Reilly, Adi
could just invite the front row here to come
toxic emissions by over 75 percent.
mental Protect
up with Members of Congress, we'd at least
this bill in the
show that this is an across-the-board-[ap-
The bill will allow the Nation finally to
possible. This
plause}—
meet air quality standards in every city;
can continue "
Please, go in peace. This symbolism-
and, in total, almost 30 million tons per
netting to the "
we've omitted some real fine movers and
year of dangerous chemicals and noxious
law; that the
shakers there, but again, my thanks to all of
pollutants will be prevented from fouling
policy on WEP
you. Thank you all for being with us.
the air.
extent allowed b.
The result of this new Clean Air Act will
and that the per
Note: The President spoke at 2:32 p.m. in
be that cancer risk, respiratory disease,
over time in
the East Room at the White House. In his
heart ailments, and reproductive disorders
manner. This
remarks, he referred to Susan S. Engeleiter,
will be reduced; damage to lakes, streams,
Administrator of the Small Business Ad-
parks, crops, and forests will greatly be less-
pursue the use of
ened; and visibility will be notably im-
when estimating
ministration; Representative John D. Din-
gell; Roger B. Porter, Assistant to the Presi-
proved. As an added benefit, energy securi-
tion strategies 11
dent for Economic and Domestic Policy; C.
ty will on balance be enhanced as utilities
costs and job los
Boyden Gray, Counsel to the President; and
and automobiles switch to cleaner burning
the achievement
Robert Grady, Associate Director for Natu-
alternative fuels.
of this bill in the
sible.
1824
CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY \ THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990 \ 2:30 P.M.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE
AMBASSADOR FROM CANADA, DEREK BURNEY, WHO REPRESENTS
HIS COUNTRYMEN'S CONCERN FOR OUR COMMON ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE TWO OF MY CABINET MEMBERS
HERE TODAY: SECRETARIES LUJAN AND WATKINS; AS WELL AS
ADMINISTRATORS REILLY AND ENGELEITER. ALSO, I SEE
GOVERNOR MADELEINE KUNIN OF VERMONT IS HERE.
- 1A -
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MAJORITY LEADER MITCHELL AND
REPUBLICAN LEADER DOLE, AS WELL AS THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE COMMITTEES THAT WORKED so HARD ON THIS LEGISLATION.
- 2 -
ALTHOUGH THANKSGIVING IS STILL A WEEK AWAY, TODAY
IS TRULY A RED-LETTER DAY FOR ALL AMERICANS. TODAY, WE
ADD A LONG-AWAITED AND LONG-NEEDED CHAPTER IN AMERICA'S
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY -- AND BEGIN A NEW ERA FOR CLEAN
AIR. //
THIS LAST WEEKEND, I SPENT SOME PLEASANT HOURS IN
THE CATOCTIN MOUNTAINS OF MARYLAND, AT CAMP DAVID.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE CLEAR AND CRISP -- BRIGHT
SUNSHINE AND FALL COLORS.
CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY \ THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990 \ 2:30 P.M.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE
AMBASSADOR FROM CANADA, DEREK BURNEY, WHO REPRESENTS
HIS COUNTRYMEN'S CONCERN FOR OUR COMMON ENVIRONMENT AND
THEIR PLEASURE THAT AMERICA HAS ENACTED THIS HISTORIC
AGREEMENT INTO LAW.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE
CABINET HERE: SECRETARIES LUJAN AND WATKINS; AS WELL
AS ADMINISTRATORS REILLY AND ENGELEITER. ALSO, I SEE
GOVERNOR MADELEINE KUNIN OF VERMONT IS HERE.
- 2 -
AGAIN, WELCOME. ALTHOUGH THANKSGIVING IS STILL A WEEK
AWAY, TODAY IS TRULY A RED-LETTER DAY FOR ALL
AMERICANS. TODAY, WE ADD A LONG-AWAITED AND LONG-
NEEDED CHAPTER IN AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY --
AND BEGIN A NEW ERA FOR CLEAN AIR. //
THIS LAST WEEKEND, I SPENT SOME PLEASANT HOURS IN
THE CATOCTIN MOUNTAINS OF MARYLAND, AT CAMP DAVID.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE CLEAR AND CRISP -- BRIGHT
SUNSHINE AND FALL COLORS.
- 3 -
GREAT TO GET OUT IN THE WOODS, AND GO FOR A RUN.
(( PUMPED A LITTLE IRON ON THE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
MEMORIAL LEG PRESS. )) BUT NO AMERICAN SHOULD HAVE TO
DRIVE OUT OF TOWN TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR. EVERY CITY IN
AMERICA SHOULD HAVE CLEAN AIR. AND WITH THIS
LEGISLATION, WE WILL.//
I FIRST MADE A COMMITMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE CLEAN
AIR LEGISLATION AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. SOON
AFTER COMING INTO OFFICE, WE DEVELOPED A COMPREHENSIVE
CLEAN AIR PROPOSAL.
- 4 -
WE CONSULTED WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE
CONGRESS, WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF INDUSTRY, BECAUSE I BELIEVED IT WAS
TIME FOR A NEW APPROACH. AND IT WAS TIME TO BREAK THE
LOGJAM THAT HINDERED PROGRESS ON CLEAN AIR FOR THIRTEEN
YEARS.
- 5 -
AND so I TOLD OUR BEST MINDS, ASSEMBLED THAT
MORNING A YEAR AND A HALF AGO: "EVERY AMERICAN EXPECTS
AND DESERVES TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR. AND AS PRESIDENT,
IT IS MY MISSION TO GUARANTEE IT: FOR THIS GENERATION,
AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME."
WELL, AS WE USED TO SAY IN THE NAVY, "MISSION
DEFINED. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. "// TODAY, I AM PROUD
TO SIGN THE CLEAN AIR AcT OF 1990. //
- 6 -
THIS LANDMARK LEGISLATION WILL REDUCE AIR POLLUTION
EACH YEAR BY 56 BILLION POUNDS -- THAT'S 224 POUNDS FOR
EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN AMERICA. IT WILL GO
AFTER THE THREE MAIN TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION: ACID
RAIN, SMOG, AND TOXIC AIR POLLUTANTS.
THIS BILL WILL CUT EMISSIONS THAT CAUSE ACID RAIN
IN HALF -- AND PERMANENTLY CAP THEM AT THESE NEW
LEVELS.
- 7 -
IT WILL REDUCE POLLUTANTS THAT CAUSE SMOG IN OUR CITIES
-- BY 40 PERCENT -- so THAT BY THE YEAR 2000, OVER ONE
HUNDRED MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES WITH POOR AIR QUALITY
WILL HAVE SAFER, HEALTHIER AIR. AND IT WILL CUT
DANGEROUS AIR TOXICS EMISSIONS BY OVER 75 PERCENT USING
NEW TECHNOLOGIES. AND BY THE NEXT DECADE, ITS
ALTERNATIVE FUEL PROVISIONS WILL HELP REDUCE OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
- 8 -
THIS BILL MEANS CLEANER CARS, CLEANER POWER PLANTS,
CLEANER FACTORIES AND CLEANER FUELS -- THIS BILL MEANS
A CLEANER AMERICA. VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON IN EVERY
CITY AND EVERY TOWN WILL ENJOY ITS BENEFITS. //
THIS LEGISLATION ISN'T JUST THE CENTERPIECE OF OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA. IT IS SIMPLY THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT AIR POLLUTION LEGISLATION IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY -- AND IT RESTORES AMERICA'S PLACE AS THE
GLOBAL LEADER IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
- 9 -
1990 IS NOW A MILESTONE YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. I
ALSO HOPE THAT IT WILL BE REMEMBERED AS AN IMPORTANT
YEAR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION.
THERE WERE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY ADMINISTRATION WHO
SAW TO IT, THROUGH THICK AND THIN, THAT THIS BILL GOT
TO MY DESK: EPA ADMINISTRATOR WILLIAM REILLY, ENERGY
SECRETARY WATKINS, AND FROM MY STAFF, ROGER PORTER AND
BOYDEN GRAY. WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY DID. //
Bob grady John Summu
- 10 -
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MANY SENATORS AND MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE -- MANY OF YOU
ARE HERE TODAY, OTHERS COULDN'T BE WITH US -- BUT THE
LIST IS TOO LONG TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF YOU PERSONALLY.
So AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND
DEDICATION -- AS WELL AS THE GOVERNORS AND THE EXPERTS
FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO WERE ALL so INSTRUMENTAL IN
BUILDING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
- 11 -
WE'VE MET WITH BUSINESS LEADERS, WHO SAW STEWARDSHIP TO
THE ENVIRONMENT AS A KEY TO LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH;
AND WE'VE MET WITH ACADEMICS AND INNOVATIVE PROBLEM-
SOLVERS FROM EVERY SIDE, WHO HAVE BUILT THE FOUNDATION
FOR THIS APPROACH.
LET ME ALSO COMMEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WE'VE
MET WITH -- LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF FRED KRUPP -- FOR BRINGING CREATIVITY
TO THE TABLE TO END THE STALEMATE.
- 12 -
WE ALL HAD TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES. SOME SAID WE
WENT TOO FAR -- OTHERS SAID NOT FAR ENOUGH. BUT
DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, WE ALL AGREED ON THE GOAL:
CLEAN AIR FOR ALL AMERICANS. WE AGREED ON THE MEANS:
A NEW CLEAN AIR AcT.
AND WE ALL AGREED: IT WAS TIME TO TAKE A NEW
APPROACH. THIS BILL IS BOTH AMBITIOUS IN ITS GOALS AND
INNOVATIVE IN ITS METHODS.
- 13 -
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE'VE MOVED AWAY FROM THE RED-TAPE
BUREAUCRATIC APPROACH OF THE PAST. THE OLD TRADITION
OF COMMAND AND CONTROL REGULATION ISN'T THE ANSWER. BY
RELYING ON THE MARKETPLACE WE CAN ACHIEVE THE AMBITIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS WE HAVE AS A COUNTRY IN THE MOST
EFFICIENT, COST-EFFECTIVE WAY POSSIBLE. WE WILL HAVE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INNOVATION, ENERGY, AND
INGENUITY OF EVERY AMERICAN -- DRAWING LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR INTO THE CAUSE.
- 14 -
IT IS TIME FOR A NEW KIND OF ENVIRONMENTALISM -- DRIVEN
BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT A SOUND ECOLOGY AND A STRONG
ECONOMY CAN COEXIST.
THE APPROACH IN THIS BILL BALANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THE APPROACH IS
COMPREHENSIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE, AND MOST OF ALL, IT WILL
WORK. THE FIRST MAJOR POLLUTION REDUCTIONS ARE WHERE
WE NEED THEM MOST.
- 15 -
IT OFFERS INCENTIVES, CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY FOR
INDUSTRY TO FIND THE BEST SOLUTIONS -- ALL IN THE
CONTEXT OF CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE BILL IS
BALANCED -- IT WILL STIMULATE THE USE OF NATURAL GAS
FROM THE WELLS OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA, FUELS MADE FROM
THE FARMS OF IOWA, ILLINOIS AND THE GREAT MIDWEST, AND
CLEANER, LOW-SULFUR COAL FROM THE HILLS OF WEST
VIRGINIA TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES.
- 16 -
THIS BILL CAN MAKE AMERICA THE GLOBAL LEADER IN
DEVELOPING A NEW GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
TECHNOLOGIES TO WHICH THE WORLD IS NOW TURNING.
BUT IT DOES MORE. THE LEGISLATION SETS REASONABLE
DEADLINES FOR THOSE WHO MUST COMPLY, BUT ONCE THE
DEADLINES PASS, PENALTIES ARE SEVERE. AMERICA'S
HERITAGE IS PRECIOUS. WE WILL NOT TURN OUR BACKS OR
LOOK THE OTHER WAY. THAT MEANS POLLUTERS MUST PAY.//
- 17 -
AND SO THERE IS A NEW BREEZE BLOWING -- A NEW
CURRENT OF CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. TODAY MARKS A
GREAT VICTORY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, A DAY WHEN WE HAVE
STRENGTHENED OUR CLEAN AIR STATUTES -- ALREADY THE
WORLD'S TOUGHEST. THIS LEGISLATION IS NOT ONLY IN
AMERICA'S INTEREST; LIKE so MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, THIS BILL IS IN THE
INTEREST OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
- 18 -
AND THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL ETHOS IS GROWING. WE SEE
IT IN COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT ACROSS
AMERICA. AND WE'RE SEEING IT IN THE INNOVATIVE
RESPONSE OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY -- IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL
SERVICE STATIONS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THESE
COMPANIES UNDERSTAND: WE MUST PIONEER NEW TECHNOLOGY,
FIND NEW SOLUTIONS, AND ENVISION NEW HORIZONS IF WE ARE
TO BUILD A BRIGHT FUTURE AND A BETTER AMERICA FOR OUR
CHILDREN.
- 19 -
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING: "WE DON'T INHERIT THE EARTH
FROM OUR PARENTS. WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN." WE
HAVE SUCCEEDED TODAY BECAUSE OF A SENSE OF GLOBAL
STEWARDSHIP, A SENSE THAT IT IS THE EARTH THAT ENDURES.
AND THAT ALL OF US ARE SIMPLY HOLDING A SACRED TRUST
LEFT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Chat Seattic
- 20 -
FOR THE SAKE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS, I THANK EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE
ENVIRONMENT. I AM NOW HONORED TO SIGN THIS CLEAN AIR
BILL INTO LAW.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
# # #
Grant/Cawley/Simon
November 14, 1990
9:00 p.m.
A:CLEANAIR
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS: CLEAN AIR BILL SIGNING CEREMONY
THE EAST ROOM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1990
2:30 P.M.
Thank you all very much. I'd like to welcome the Ambassador
from Canada, Derek Burney, who represents his countrymen's
concern for our common environment and their pleasure that
America has enacted this historic agreement into law.
It's a pleasure to have several members of the Cabinet here:
Secretaries Lujan and Watkins; as well as Administrators Reilly
and Engeleiter. Also, I see Governor Madeleine Kunin of Vermont
is here. Again, welcome.
Although Thanksgiving is still a
week away, today is truly a red-letter day for all Americans.
Today, we add a long-awaited and long-needed chapter in America's
environmental history -- and begin a new era for clean air. //
This last weekend, I spent some pleasant hours in the
Catoctin Mountains of Maryland, at Camp David. Saturday and
Sunday were clear and crisp -- bright sunshine and fall colors.
Great to get out in the woods, and go for a run. (( Pumped a
little iron on the Arnold Schwarzenegger Memorial Leg Press. ))
But no American should have to drive out of town to breathe clean
air. Every city in America should have clean air. And with this
legislation, we will. 11
I first made a commitment to comprehensive clean air
legislation as a Presidential candidate. Soon after coming into
office, we developed a comprehensive clean air proposal. We
2
consulted with Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, with
environmentalists and with representatives of industry, because I
believed it was time for a new approach. And it was time to
break the logjam that hindered progress on clean air for thirteen
years.
And so I told our best minds, assembled that morning a year
and a half ago: "Every American expects and deserves to breathe
clean air. And as President, it is my mission to guarantee it:
for this generation, and for generations to come."
Well, as we used to say in the Navy, "Mission defined.
Mission accomplished. // Today, I am proud to sign the Clean Air
Act of 1990. //
This landmark legislation will reduce air pollution each
year by 56 billion pounds -- that's 224 pounds for every man,
woman and child in America. It will go after the three main
types of air pollution: acid rain, smog, and toxic air
pollutants.
This bill will cut emissions that cause acid rain in half
-- and permanently cap them at these new levels. It will reduce
pollutants that cause smog in our cities -- by 40 percent -- so
that by the year 2000, over one hundred major American cities
with poor air quality will have safer, healthier air. And it
will cut dangerous air toxics emissions by over 75 percent using
new technologies. And by the next decade, its alternative fuel
provisions will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
3
This bill means cleaner cars, cleaner power plants, cleaner
factories and cleaner fuels -- this bill means a cleaner America.
Virtually every person in every city and every town will enjoy
its benefits. //
This legislation isn't just the centerpiece of our
environmental agenda. It is simply the most significant air
pollution legislation in our nation's history -- and it restores
America's place as the global leader in environmental protection.
1990 is now a milestone year for the environment. I also
hope that it will be remembered as an important year for
environmental cooperation.
There were several members of my Administration who saw to
it, through thick and thin, that this bill got to my desk: EPA
Administrator William Reilly, Energy Secretary Watkins, and from
my staff, Roger Porter and Boyden Gray. What a great job they
did. //
I also want to thank the many Senators and Members of
Congress from both sides of the aisle -- many of you are here
today, others couldn't be with us -- but the list is too long to
recognize each of you personally. So again, thank you for your
commitment and dedication -- as well as the Governors and the
experts from local governments who were all so instrumental in
building bipartisan support for this legislation. We've met with
business leaders, who saw stewardship to the environment as a key
to long-term economic growth; and we've met with academics and
4
innovative problem-solvers from every side, who have built the
foundation for this approach.
Let me also commend the environmental groups we've met with
-- like the Environmental Defense Fund, under the leadership of
Fred Krupp -- for bringing creativity to the table to end the
stalemate.
We all had to make tough choices. Some said we went too far
-- others said not far enough. But despite our differences, we
all agreed on the goal: clean air for all Americans. We agreed
on the means: a new Clean Air Act.
And we all agreed: it was time to take a new approach. This
bill is both ambitious in its goals and innovative in its
methods. For the first time, we've moved away from the red-tape
bureaucratic approach of the past. The old tradition of command
and control regulation isn't the answer. By relying on the
marketplace we can achieve the ambitious environmental goals we
have as a country in the most efficient, cost-effective way
possible. We will have to take advantage of the innovation,
energy, and ingenuity of every American -- drawing local
communities and the private sector into the cause. It is time
for a new kind of environmentalism -- driven by the knowledge
that a sound ecology and a strong economy can coexist.
The approach in this bill balances economic growth and
environmental protection. The approach is comprehensive, cost-
effective, and most of all, it will work. The first major
pollution reductions are where we need them most.
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new solutions, and envision new horizons if we are to build a
bright future and a better America for our children.
There's an old saying: "We don't inherit the Earth from our
parents. We borrow it from our children." We have succeeded
today because of a sense of global stewardship, a sense that it
is the Earth that endures. And that all of us are simply holding
a sacred trust left for future generations.
For the sake of future generations, I thank each and every
one of your for your commitment to the environment. I am now
honored to sign this Clean Air bill into law.
Thank you and God bless you all.
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