Bush Cites America's Responsibility to the Environment

President Bush, in remarks delivered April 22 to celebrate Earth Day, said it is the duty of Americans and the U.S. government to make sure the land is preserved, the air is clean, the water is pure, and the parks are open and well preserved.

Speaking in Whiteface Mountain Lodge in Wilmington, New York, following a visit to a nearby state park in the Adirondack mountains, Bush said he believes that -- 32 years after the first Earth Day -- America understands this obligation much more so than in years past.

"Good stewardship is a personal responsibility of all of us .... And that's what's important for Americans to understand, that each of us has a responsibility, and it's a part of our value system in our country to assume that responsibility," he said.

Bush said it's impressive that 200,000 Americans lend their time to the care of U.S. national parks and federal lands. "The commitment they show is more than good stewardship, it is responsible citizenship," he said.

The president said the federal government also has a big responsibility for improving the environment, and called on Congress to pass his administration's new Clear Skies legislation, which he said will do more than ever before to reduce emissions of smog and mercury from the nation's power plants.

"We will reach our ambitious air quality goals through a market-based approach that rewards innovation, reduces cost, and most importantly, guarantees results," he said.

Bush also said his administration is promoting innovative technologies to encourage conservation. "I believe we'll be driving automobiles driven by fuel cells in a relatively short period of time," he said. He added that the United States also needs to promote renewable sources of energy to become less dependent on foreign energy sources.

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