Cynthia McKinney on Environment Green Party Presidential challenger (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

We need sustainable production and consumption policies

We need air, land, water, climate, production and consumption policies that reflect the real limits within which we must live. We need an entirely new paradigm that encourages us to produce green, local, and fairly; most importantly we need true, representative government that serves the needs of the people over that of corporations so that these policies can become law.

Add organic farming, sustainability, and GM ban to Farm Bill

A: I would make sure we had a program to encourage organic farming. I would also like to see some money set aside in the Farm Bill for damages to black farmers and other minority farmers for discrimination that USDA admitted to. The attorneys received millions of dollars. I would eliminate genetically-modified foods. I would also look at our land and water use policy--because some of what we are doing is absolutely not sustainable.

Recognize Katrina victims as Internally Displaced Persons

1. Recognition of dispersed hurricane survivors as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs);
2. Support for the rights of return for IDPs, including their right to vote in their home states;
3. Reparations for IDPs for the losses they incurred due to government abandonment and negligence;
4. Support for a massive federal public works project in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Source: Interview with "Reconstruction Renaissance" Jan 8, 2008

   Assess toxic contaminants in aftermath of Katrina & Rita

   McKinney introduced the following bill in the 109th Congress: H.R.4139: To minimize harm to populations impacted by the release of environmental contaminants, hazardous materials or infectious materials in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by providing for a Comprehensive Environmental Sampling and Toxicity Assessment Plan (CESTAP) to assess and monitor air, water, soil and human populations, and for other purposes. Source: Campaign website, www.cynthiaforcongress.com, "Legislation" Nov 1, 2006

   Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M.

   Voting YES on this amendment would restore $214 million in funding for AMTRAK, bringing the total annual expenditure for AMTRAK to $1.114 billion. The chairman of the Railroad Subcommittee explained the increase as follows:
   • Unlike aviation, highways and transit, there is no dedicated funding for investing in our Nation's passenger rail service. This amendment restores $214 million to the Amtrak account, taking it to $1.114 billion, which is still about $300 million less than we had during the course of last year's discussion.
   • Last year the President sent up a budget of zero for Amtrak. We had an amendment process that we went through this time. This time we are up to $900 million in the bill [without this amendment].
   • But if you look at that $900 million, there is only $500 million for capital expenditures, out of which has to come a debt service of $280 million, which only leaves $220 million for the capital needs of this country for Amtrak, for passenger rail.
   • There is nothing for operation, and I know that the response to that is going to be that there are some incentive grants in the bill.
   Opponents of the amendment say that it would increase funding for Amtrak by gutting and eliminating critical programs, including safety programs, resulting in reductions in force at several agencies. Reference: Department of Transportation appropriations; Bill HR 5576 Amendment 1008 ; vote number 2006-263 on Jun 13, 2006

   Voted NO on deauthorizing "critical habitat" for endangered species.

   To amend and reauthorize the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide greater results conserving and recovering listed species, and for other purposes, including:
   • Repealing the authority to designate an area as “critical habitat” for an endangered species
   • Requiring the Secretary of the Interior to create “recovery plans” within two years of classifying species as endangered or threatened
   • Allowing recovery agreements with private citizens whose land may be part of a species recovery plan
   • Issuing grants to support private property owners who voluntarily help to increase the number of endangered or threatened species on their private land
   • Providing compensation in an amount no less than fair market value to private landowners who have had regulation imposed upon their land
   • Calling upon the Secretary to submit an annual cost analysis of the previous years spending to Congress, including the amount of Federal and State funds used for each species
   Reference: Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act; Bill HR 3824 ; vote number 2005-506 on Sep 29, 2005

   Sponsored bill prohibiting commercial logging on public land.

   McKinney sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands

   PROPOSED FINDINGS:

   Congress finds the following:
   1. Forest Service polls show that a strong majority of the American people think that natural resources on Federal public lands should not be made available to produce consumer goods.
   2. Recreation and tourism in the National Forest System creates over 30 times more jobs, and generates over 30 times more income, than commercial logging on national forests.
   3. Timber cut from Federal public lands comprises less than 5% of US annual timber consumption.
   4. The vast majority of America's original pristine forests have been logged, and what little primary forest that remains exists almost entirely on public lands.
   5. It is in the interests of the American people and the international community to protect and restore native biodiversity in our Federal public lands for its inherent benefits.
   6. Commercial logging has many indirect costs which are very significant, but not easily measured, such as flooding damage, damage to the salmon fishing industry; and harm to the recreation and tourism industries.

   EXCERPTS OF BILL:

   • Prohibits commercial logging and timber sales (with specified exceptions) on Federal public lands, with a two-year phase-out for existing contracts.
   • Provides for payment of relinquished contracts.
   • Establishes a National Heritage Restoration Corps to restore (and monitor) such lands to their natural pre-logging condition.
   • Sets forth provisions respecting forest fire and hazardous fuel reduction.
   • Provides for worker retraining of eligible persons whose jobs have been lost due to terminated timber and logging contracts.
   • Sets forth fund allocation provisions, including amounts for an Environmental Protection Agency investigation of non-wood paper and construction alternatives.

   LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness; never came to a vote.

   Source: National Forest Protection and Restoration Act (H.R.1494) 01-HR1494 on Apr 4, 2001

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