Quigley Statement on Earth Day

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC), released the following statement in honor of Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22:

"Each year, Earth Day reminds us not to take our home for granted. It reminds us of the importance of clean air and safe water, the necessity of open lands and healthy ecosystems, and the moral value of the pristine natural places entrusted to us by previous generations.

Earth Day also reminds us of the hard work necessary to defend all the living things we share this planet with, and the importance of this work. Today we are faced with unprecedented threats to the natural world: man-made climate change, habitat loss, and near-sighted thinking which fails to recognize the necessity of responsible resource stewardship for sustainable economic growth chief among them.

Let us use tomorrow as a renewed call to action. Clear blue skies, green grass, and snowcapped mountains are the birthright of every American and we must step up for current and future generations to meet the challenges we face head on. I call on all Americans to get involved, to be vocal, and to advocate fiercely for all our neighborhoods, parks, streams and fields and together we can leave future generations and Earth to celebrate and be proud of."