Making Earth Day Every Day

Dear Friend,

Today we proudly celebrate the 46th annual Earth Day. The founder of Earth Day, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, said before his death, "Our work's not finished. There's a lot more to be done."

Senator Nelson was right. Protecting our planet is not something that can be accomplished in one day; it is a long-term investment on the part of every citizen. No one is immune to the effects of pollution, toxic emissions, or climate change. In order to preserve a healthy environment for future generations, it takes a continued commitment from every individual to combat climate change, increase renewable energy production, and further eliminate toxic emissions that wreak havoc on the environment and our public health.

My initial interest in politics came from my desire to help our planet. And as a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), I have made a commitment to use my time in Congress to address climate change. I've stood in defense of the Clean Air Act, fought for increased protections against oil and gas drilling, pushed policies that prevent pollution of our Great Lakes, and been an ardent supporter of President Obama's Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Summit. Over the past few months, I have also warned my colleges on the House floor about the many climate change "tipping points" we are inching towards, the urgent reality of climate change, and its effects on our planet's biodiversity.

Sincerely,

Mike Quigley