Giffords Calls on Congress to Increase Fuel Efficiency Standards
Congressional Candidate Travels Southern Arizona to Celebrate Earth Day
TUCSON €“ Former State Senator Gabrielle Giffords will join Southern Arizona celebrations of Earth Day 2006 by laying out an agenda to reduce our dependence on high-priced oil and to protect the environmental qualities that make our state such a wonderful place to live.
“This is the most important Earth Day we’ve had in a long time, and with gas prices as high as they are, it’s clear that we need new leadership for our energy and environmental policies,” said Senator Giffords, who is running for the U.S. House in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. “Unfortunately, the current Congress is trying to remove environmental protections. I am committed to changing that direction and ensuring that our children and their children will still be able to enjoy Southern Arizona’s majestic wide open spaces.”
Senator Giffords earned high ratings from the Arizona League of Conservation Voters and “Most Valuable Player” ratings from the Sierra Club during her service in the state Legislature. She has pledged to work in Congress to:
- Increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements. This will encourage automakers to use proven technologies to increase gas mileage and build more hybrid and alternate-fuel vehicles.
- Protect the San Pedro watershed and the unique habitat it supports.
- Oppose efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act.
- Reinstate “Polluter Pays” provisions in the federal Super Fund legislation.
- Upgrade U.S. sewer systems to reduce pollution of waterways and ground water aquifers.
- Oppose efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration to increase overflights within the Grand Canyon National Park.
On Saturday morning, Senator Giffords will visit the 17th Annual Bisbee Earth Day celebration in Vista Park in Warren.
She will also visit the Sierra Vista Farmer’s Market, located at the northwest corner of Wilcox and Carmichael, where she will tour exhibits promoting rainwater harvesting, birding and composting. She will also attend the annual picnic sponsored by the Cochise County Democrats in Sierra Vista.
The Giffords team will also set up an information booth at Community Earth Day at Reid Park in Tucson from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide information on Gabrielle Giffords’ environmental positions.
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