Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator (D-NY)

Today's Date: 14 Feb 2008

Dear Mr. Taylor:

Thank you for your letter regarding actions that Congress should be taking to curtail global climate change. I share your concern for the health of our environment, especially the fragile balance of ecosystems that may be destroyed by the climatic changes that we are now experiencing. As Senator, I have pushed legislation that would address some of the causes of climate change, in particular by trying to reduce carbon emissions.

The recent passage in the Senate of H.R. 6, the Clean Energy Act of 2007, provided an important first step toward improving the ways our nation uses energy. This bill includes substantial increases in fuel economy standards for cars, including a 35mpg standard by 2020 and closing the SUV and flex-fuel-vehicle loopholes. The Senate’s success in this area will reduce our consumption of foreign oil by 10.7 gallons annually by 2020. I believe that H.R. 6 makes important steps towards curbing climate change. For the first time in decades, the Senate has produced a bill that does not give tax breaks to big oil, but instead gives incentives to companies to use renewable fuel sources, makes significant improvements in cars’ fuel economy, and requires improved energy efficiency in government actions.

However, there is still more to be done. I introduced four amendments to the energy bill which would improve energy efficiency in practical, cost-effective ways. The first would require power utilities to gradually reduce their fuel consumption by improving their efficiency to reach a final target of 10% less fuel use by 2020. The second amendment required states to make their building codes 30% more efficient. The third and fourth amendments would improve energy efficiency in appliances like washing machines, commercial boilers, and air conditioners. All told, these four amendments would have saved the same energy as would taking more than 150 million cars off the road. Unfortunately, none of these amendments were included in the final bill, but I will continue to push for these, and other, energy efficiency ideas.

I also support several other bills aimed at helping to slow this crisis. I am a co-sponsor of S. 590, Securing America's Energy Independence Act of 2007, which extends and improves tax credits for individuals and companies to invest in solar technology. I also co-sponsored the Clean Air Planning Act, S. 1177, a multi-pollutant bill that will require fossil-fuel-fired power plants to cut their emissions of four dangerous compounds, including carbon dioxide. This bill will halt the increase in CO2 emissions in 2012 and will implement a 57% cut from today’s levels by 2050. I was also an original co-sponsor of S. 339, the DRIVE Act, which will reduce our oil use through a range of actions, from improving fuel economies to encouraging development along existing transit corridors, rather than into new areas. It was passed by the Senate as part H.R. 6.

Climate change matters to all of us and we need smart, pragmatic policies now if we are to address this crisis. We cannot afford to delay action in the hope that a “silver bullet” will save us: there will be no perfect new technology to produce infinite energy, no special sponge to take carbon out of the air, no global air-conditioning system. It takes lots of smart changes in the ways that we make and use energy to fix this problem, and we need to approach this complex problem from every angle possible.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me on this important topic. I always appreciate constituents’ input and hope that you will continue to share your thoughts with me in the future.


Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator


This is a message I got via email, either as a result of submitting my survey to Senator Schumer or as a result of one of the various “contact your Senator” actions I have taken through the various groups I am a member of. I am sure it is a prepared statement, and not written specifically for me, but I thought it was still worth sharing. - Jeremy

Karma Lekshe Tsomo

President – Sakyadhita (International Association of Buddhist Women)
Director – Jamyang Foundation
Associate Professor – University of San Diego, Theology & Religious Studies

Today’s Date: Feb. 1, 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

1. My close friendship with my collie dog from age 8-12
2. Getting bitten by a viper in India and almost dying from it

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

The woods in Malibu, CA

Now? The mountains overlooking the sea on Oahu, HI

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

I love all animals equally, but have a special place in my heart for large furry dogs

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

1. Environmental pollution
2. Water

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Simplify your life for the benefit of all living beings. Learn to be happy with less and help save the planet.


Received via postal mail

Diane MacEachern

Founder & CEO, Big Green Purse (www.biggreenpurse.com)

Today’s Date: Feb. 4, 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Once I graduated from college, I spent a summer working and hiking in the Tetons, outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was inspiring to live so close to nature.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

The simple field across the street from my parents' home

Now? Anywhere near the ocean

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

My dog... a great companion and loving spirit

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

The greatest challenge is always and ever will be getting clarity on what the right thing to do is, and then doing it. Probably the second greatest challenge is to encourage people to want less when they can have much more.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Waste not, want not.

Kyla Buckingham

Alternative Consumer

Today’s Date: 1 February 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Working with non-releasable raptors (birds of prey) at a local museum in high school

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

Lassen Volcanic National Park - I grew up near it and took frequent trips

Now? The beach!

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

Peregrine falcon - it can fly, it's beautiful, strong, great vision, and made a REMARKABLE recovery from near extinction

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Over-fishing right now, global warming in the future

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Nature is sacred - preserve it, take care of it, leave it for our children.

Allie Almario

Vice President – Myths and Mountains (http://www.mythsandmountains.com/)

Today’s Date: 1 February 2008

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

So many - I worked at a zoo for 11 years and have spent the last 20 years traveling the world to all 7 continents and close to 70 countries specializing in eco-tourism. I would say my encounters in Africa (7 trips) and the Galapagos (12 trips) have made the most impact on me, particularly since I have been involved with combined tourism / conservation efforts in the Galapagos.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

I grew up in NJ, so I'd have to say that I loved the ocean and the Pine Barrens, particularly a tiny little spot called Mt. Misery.

Now? Now I live in Lake Tahoe. It is mesmerizing.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

As a former zoo employee (administration), I'd have to say I was particularly enamored of naked mole rats.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

If we don't educate humans about their impact on the environment, we won't be able to do a thing. Start with the children, start with populations in the most remote areas, start with those living in the big cities. They don't realize that what they do NOW in NYC actually impacts Antarctica.

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Go travel the world. See what you are destroying. Learn how to be a better human and protect your earth.


"Myths and Mountains is a proud corporate sponsor of READ Global (www.readglobal.org). We contribute $50 from our company profit on behalf of each traveler to this organization. READ Global builds self-sustaining community centers with village libraries at the heart and its pilot site, READ Nepal, is the winner of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's 2006 Access to Learning Award."