The wise stewardship of our natural resources is critical to our nation's national security, public health, and quality of life, and I am a staunch supporter of efforts to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat from environmental contamination.

In order to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment – today and for future generations – we must continue to build on landmark environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. We must also continue to provide robust funding for programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the National Park Service, which help protect important wild places and make them accessible to the public. Coming from a family of avid animal lovers, I am also a strong supporter of legislation to protect animals, wildlife, and the habitat on which they depend.

In the Fourth District, we also understand the importance of new energy and environmental technologies to our economic development, and I have worked as a member of the Appropriations Committee to promote federal investments in environmental research, renewable energy technologies, and other "green" industries that will be essential to our future economic competitiveness. I am a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, and together we are working to promote a more sustainable national energy policy that includes conservation and renewable energy provisions and moves us away from our dependence on fossil fuels.

Unfortunately, in the previous Congress our landmark environmental laws and our investments in a cleaner and greener future came under threat like never before. As your Representative, I will continue working to resist attempts to undercut critical environmental laws and to provide adequate funding for energy and environmental research. As Congress debates these important issues, I hope you will keep in touch with your views.