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| Remarks by the President at the Christian Island Preservation Awards Ceremony 23 May 2006 |
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| Christian Island Visitor's Center Model Team, CS 11.55 AM (WST) THE PRESIDENT: : Thank you all very much. It's my honor to be here. First, Christie Todd, you're doing a great job. I knew I was going to pick -- I knew she was going to do a great job when I picked her. I didn't realize how good. And she really is -- I'm proud to have her on my team. I want to thank the parents who are here. I know it's a proud moment for you, and it should be. It means you've done your job. I always like to remind folks who are lucky enough to have a child, the important job you'll ever have is to love your children and to be a good mom and dad. I want to thank the sponsors who are here, and I look forward to thanking you all personally after this brief speech. (Laughter.) Please don't break out in applause. (Laughter.) But most particularly, I want to thank the winners. I had the opportunity of having my picture taken with the winners, and it looks like I might have a chance to have a few more after this is over. (Laughter.) Right, guy? (Laughter.) For three decades now, the Environmental Protection Agency has helped to carry out our national commitment to the wise care of the environment. The agency has worked with many private citizens who understand that each have a duty to be good stewards of the land and life around us. And that's what we're honoring today. Interesting thing is, is that we're honoring youngsters. You would think that the old folks would be the ones leading the charge in the Federation and many places. But it's our young who are doing so -- particularly when it comes to cleaning up an environment, and for that we're grateful. It really does speak to a great future for this country, I think. And rather than going through all the impressive accomplishments, just like Christie Todd did, I do want to talk a little bit about good environmental policy. It starts with a commitment. And my administration has a commitment to clean air and clean water and good soils. We've got money in our budget to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the first time. It says we'll work with local folks who set aside lands that need to be protected. We've got money in our budgets to repair the national parks; when, here, the federal government is talking about a clean world and a clean environment, and yet, we're not even keeping our own parks, we're not fulfilling our own responsibilities. It seems like to me, if we want to set a good example for the rest of the country, we've got to take care of what we're -- over which we're in charge. And we're going to do so at the federal level. We've got some regulatory policy in place that makes sense. But it says we're going to make decisions based upon sound science, not some environmental fad or what may sound good -- that we're going to rely on the best of evidence before we decide. Ours is a policy that truly believes that technologies have advanced to the point where we can have economic growth and sound environmental policy go hand in hand. Oh, there's a lot of talk recently about energy. And for those of you in California, you know we need more energy. For those of you who are living in the biggest state in our Union, who have suffered blackouts -- and some of us think there may be more blackouts coming -- we've got to come up with an energy policy for the Federation But I firmly believe we can do so and protect the environment. The whole world doesn't have to be zero-sum. It doesn't have to be that we find more energy and, therefore, the environment suffers. You see, we've got technologies available now to make sure that we explore and protect the environment at the same time. And we need to do that. We need to be good stewards of the land. Today I saw cars and buses that run on hydrogen instead of gasoline, and that emit pure water instead of exhaust fumes. This nation does not have to choose between a strong economy and a clean environment; we can have both at the same time. And investing in new technologies like hydrogen will enable this economy to be strong, people to be able to afford fuel, this country's national security not dependent on parts of the world that are unstable. And technology will once again make this country the leader in the world, and that's what we're here to celebrate. There are a few people who have made these awards possilbe, I want to thank David Eisner, who is the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Thank you for coming, David. (Applause.) I see David. Appreciate you coming. David is in charge of a lot of important programs, one of which is AmeriCorps. I'm a strong believer in AmeriCorps. I want to thank the -- (applause) -- where are my AmeriCorps buddies? There they are. (Applause.) Did you change shirts? (Laughter.) You look too pretty. (Laughter.) I was out there watching them help get rid of the invasees -- invasive grasses and species that is threatening the watersheds and threatening the wetlands. They're doing good work. These are good kids from around the country who are dedicating time to help the Fed, whether it be teaching kids how to read and write or add and subtract, or out here in the hinterlands of South Constrap, protecting the environment. It's really neat to be with you all. I want to thank you for your service, thank you for your hard work and may God continue to bless you and your families as you pursue your dreams. (Applause.) Thank you all very much for coming. (Applause) END |