Flanagan Favors Stronger
Environmental Protections
By Flanagan For US Senate

BURLINGTON – Ed Flanagan, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, today discussed his environmental priorities at a news conference at the Burlington Community Boathouse. Flanagan said that there is no better example of an issue that requires a national response than the environment. Forces outside Vermont’s borders, such as Midwestern power plants, are polluting our air and waters, putting our health at risk, and hurting our quality of life. "Vermonters value our environment," Flanagan said. "We believe in clean air and clean water. We are disturbed by the encroachment of sprawl across our state at the same time that many of our downtowns are suffering from neglect and vacant storefronts. We also understand that our state’s economy and our quality of life are inextricably linked to the health of our environment."

A strong defense of the Clean Air Act and measures to reduce the impact of air pollution on Vermont would be among Flanagan’s top environmental priorities. Flanagan said that he supports the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to require cleaner-burning gasoline, to increase the fuel efficiency of light trucks and sport utility vehicles, and to reduce by 90 percent the release of pollution from diesel-powered trucks and buses. He strongly favors passage of twin bills by Senator Patrick Leahy – the Clean Power Plant and Modernization Act and the Omnibus Mercury Emissions Act – that seek to combat acid rain and mercury pollution of lakes and rivers caused in large part by Midwestern power plants that were "grandfathered" under the Clean Air Act. Flanagan would also like to see greater federal research in renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, and biomass technology.

The march of sprawl across Vermont is another major concern for Flanagan. He would work to reauthorize the Farmland Protection Program which helps keep farmers in business and protects Vermont’s working landscape. Flanagan supports full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has contributed more than $36 million to preserve open land in Vermont, including Mt. Mansfield State Forest and Camel’s Hump State Park.

"Across the state we are quickly losing open space, farmland and pastureland that give Vermont its character," Flanagan said. "Growth is inevitable and necessary. But let’s not let it run roughshod over our landscape and cost us millions of dollars in unnecessary roads, sewers, and other infrastructure."

Flanagan believes that the Republican leadership in Congress must be replaced in order to protect Vermonters from attempts to repeal our nation’s environmental protection laws.

"Stronger leadership is needed in Washington to counter the forces that would turn back the clock on the last three decades of environmental progress," Flanagan said. "I will vote for Senate leadership that will ensure a national environmental policy that Vermonters can be proud of."

Flanagan For US Senate
P.O. Box 209
Burlington, VT 05402-0209
(802) 862-0769 - Office
(802) 865-2046 - Fax
http://www.flanagan2000.org