Congress Should Listen to Ethan Senser

CONGRESS SHOULD LISTEN TO ETHAN SENSER -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 13, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2005

* Ms. SCHAKOWSKY Mr. Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues a letter that I recently received from Ethan Senser, a remarkable 7th grade student who attends the Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in Northbrook, Illinois. Ethan's letter is a persuasive and thoughtful call to action for all of us about the need to prevent global warming and protect the environment for this and future generations.

* Ethan not only asks Congress to respond to the looming dangers of global warming and environmental destruction, he lays out clear and eminently doable measures that we can take to achieve those goals. He has provided us with a common sense list of steps to take, from the promotion of energy-efficiency appliances and cars to public transportation to alternative fuel production as a substitute for drilling in environmentally-fragile areas like ANWR. By following Ethan's suggestions, our legislative legacy will be to leave the world a cleaner, safer and better place. If not, Ethan's generation will face the enormous task of cleaning up environmental disasters that we can act now to prevent.

* Finally, I want to commend Ethan not just for his ideas but for his activism. He is not just asking Congress to act, relying on us to fix problems. Ethan wants to know what he can do as a young student who is concerned about the environment. Here, too, Ethan is sending a correct and compelling message: that the protection of the planet is everybody's business.

* I know that, after reading Ethan's letter, my colleagues will be as impressed with his commitment and vision as I am. And, I hope that it will result in enactment of the legislative priorities that he has suggested we pursue.

DEAR CONGRESSWOMAN SCHAKOWSKY: My name is Ethan Senser. I am in 7th grade at Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School in Northbrook, IL. I am very worried about global warming and how it will affect the world in the future. There are several things that I am concerned about. I am worried about air pollution from cars and factories. I am concerned with the rain forests. The rain forests are disappearing because of the need for lumber and grazing land for cattle. Forests are also being destroyed in this country for lumber. Forests are important because trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, a major greenhouse gas that causes global warming. They are also important animal habitats and many animals are in danger of becoming extinct because of their loss of a place to live and feed. With global warming I am also worried about the Polar ice caps melting and raising the sea level. If this happens cities that are on a coastline would be in serious danger of flooding.

I am hoping that Congress will do something to help stop global warming before it goes too far. I think that Congress should try to make more laws to really help the environment. They should make sure that there is no drilling for oil in the Alaskan nature preserve. Besides ruining animal habitats, tanker accidents can pollute the water. Congress should pressure auto companies to make more fuel efficient cars. They should give incentives for the development of alternative fuels. They should also try to get factories to find ways to produce their products in a safer, cleaner way. There should be more pressure on people to use public transportation. Also, people could be encouraged to use bikes more often. More cities should try to use Carpool lanes to get people to carpool. Companies should make environmental friendly products. Household appliances makers should do the same. More products should be made in recyclable containers. Paper products could be made on recycled paper as well as pop bottles. Many products are over packaged and should be sold in simpler, smaller packaging.

I am writing to you, Congresswoman Schakowsky, because I want to get involved in ways to help stop global warming. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and someone also very concerned about the environment, do you have any suggestions on how a middle school student can make a difference?

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