Letter to Congress from the Daughters of Former Senator Paul Tsongas

LETTER TO CONGRESS FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF FORMER SENATOR PAUL TSONGAS -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 17, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY
OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2005

* Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, throughout his distinguished career, our former colleague, Senator Paul Tsongas, worked tirelessly to ensure that our environment and our nation's natural treasures would be preserved for future generations of Americans. He was particularly proud of his leadership in the Senate that led to the original designation of approximately 18 million acres of land in Alaska, including the Arctic Coastal Plain, as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Nothing better demonstrates the importance of the idea of generational responsibility for which he fought so stridently than the statement below from his three daughters--Ashley, Katina and Molly. Senator Tsongas understood that he had a duty to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for his daughters, and this Congress must understand that it has a charge to continue to preserve this unspoiled wilderness for future generations.

* Since its establishment 25 years ago, the threat to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has never been greater, but so is the support of American families for keeping drilling away from this magnificent pristine ecological gem. This statement of the Tsongas family is eloquent testimony to the fact that the wilderness values of our wildlife refuge system are eternal, whereas the energy value of a few oil wells will always be fleeting.

* Letter to Congress from the daughters of former Senator Paul Tsongas:

DEAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS: We are writing to express our hope that you will vote to keep any authority for oil and gas drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge out of the budget reconciliation bill. Our father, Sen. Paul Tsongas, believed the most valuable opportunity afforded to any member of Congress is the opportunity to make this country and this world a better place for future generations. The principle of generational responsibility was both grand and personal--he fought for America's children and for us, his three daughters and his future grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For this reason, he cosponsored the legislation to establish the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with the expectation that it would not only be his enduring gift to us but also Congress's legacy to America's future generations. In doing so, he entrusted us with the responsibility to ensure that this unique natural resource remains protected, not just for a few decades, but for generations to come.

In the years after he left the Senate, our father would cite the creation of this magnificent wild arctic sanctuary as one of the accomplishments he was most proud of in his life. We know that he would be fighting for its preservation today. As his daughters and as Americans, we treasure the gift he gave us and the responsibility it carries. We take this responsibility very seriously and hope that you do as well.

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