DRAFT^*

108th CONGRESS, 1st Session

H. CON. RES. #

Expressing the sense of the Congress that it should explore the feasibility, costs and benefits of the Nation moving toward a sustainable economy.

 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. _________________ (for himself and __________________ ) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce,

1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United

2. States of America in Congress assembled,

3.  SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4. This Joint Resolution may be cited as the "Sustainable United

5. States Economy Resolution of 2003".

1. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

2.

3. Expressing the sense of the Congress that it should explore the

4. feasibility, costs and benefits of the Nation moving toward a

5. sustainable economy;

6.

7. Whereas, a sustainable economy is defined as one which provides

7. for the present without compromising the ability of the economy

8. to provide in substantially the same way for future generations;

9.

10. Whereas, each generation has the obligation to provide a 

12.

13. Whereas, endless growth is an impossibility in a finite world;

14.

15. Whereas, the economic policy of the United States is to promote

16. unlimited growth;

17.

18. Whereas, growth creates serious problems both in the United States and abroad;

19.

20. Whereas, the threat of worldwide climate change makes a

21. sustainable U.S. economy essential because United States

22. activity already emits nearly one-quarter of the principal

23. greenhouse gas responsible for global climate change;

24.

25. Whereas, the people of the United States envision a world with a

26. healthy environment, clean air and water, uncluttered land,

27. ample open space, natural beauty, wilderness, and abundant

28. wildlife, in which the dignity of human life is enhanced;

1. Whereas, growth increasingly depletes irreplaceable natural

2. resources, including energy resources;

3.

4. Whereas, growth significantly increases the difficulty and cost of

5. solving the social, economic, and political problems of the United

6. States, and directly contributes to the pollution and degradation of

7. the environment;

8.

9. Whereas, the United States is already experiencing shortages of 

10. water, clean air and landfill space, is experiencing automobile

11. transportation gridlock, and is anticipating shortages of electrical

12. generating capacity due to growing demand;

13.

14. Whereas, the United States has by far the fastest growing

15. population among the large industrialized countries;

16.

17. Whereas, the Commission on Population Growth and the

18. American Future, appointed by the Congress in 1970 at the

19. request of President Nixon, reported in 1972 "we find no

20. convincing economic argument for continued national population

21. growth";

22.

23. Whereas, the President's Council on Sustainable Development

24. Task Force on Population and Consumption in 1996 found that

25. slowing population growth is important to improving the quality

29.

30. Whereas, at some point, growth in the literal sense of expansion

35.

36. Whereas, government subsidies distort economic markets and

37. encourage unsustainable practices;

38.

39. Whereas, water tables in many parts of the United States have

40. been falling for years due to unsustainable overdrafts;

41.

42. Whereas, certain ocean fisheries, on some of which the U.S.

43. fishing industry depends, have dropped below sustainable yield;

44. and,

45.

46. Whereas, this Congress in this generation has an obligation to do

47. what eventually must be done to achieve sustainability —for if

48. not now, when?

 
Therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that it is the sense of the Congress that it should explore the feasibility, costs and benefits of the Nation moving toward a sustainable economy.

Co-sponsors

Rep. _____________________, date _____________ ,2003

Rep. _____________________, date _____________ ,2003

Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Date: _______________ , 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment,
Rep. Michael Bilirakis, R 9th FL, Chair
Rep. Sherrod Brown, D 13th OH, Ranking Member.