The way we preserve our environment will shape the future of our race. With this in mind, I have done my best to be a leader in the House of Representatives on environmental issues, assuming a role on the Speaker's Task Force on the Environment in 1995. The task force was created to bring together those differing views of Members representing Western states and those representing the Northeastern region. As a moderate voice in Congress, I work to ensure that legislation passed by the House both protects our commitment to the environment while at the same time preventing economic hardship to the American public.

In addition, I am also fortunate to serve as the only House Republican on the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. The Commission, which consists of the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and two representatives each from the U.S. House and Senate, allocates funds from the Duck Stamp program and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund to establish and expand wildlife refuges and acquire critical wetlands habitat for migratory birdfowl.
Most recently, my environmental work has focused on our last great undiscovered country, the oceans. I have led the House of Representatives in an effort to renew America's interest in ocean research. Working with the oceanographic community, I was able to introduce legislation that coordinated our nation's oceanographic research capabilities to better address national needs. Named the National Oceanographic Partnership Act, this legislation was signed into law in 1996 by President Clinton. Moreover, I was fortunate enough to host a global conference in Washington, D.C. in May of 1997 to further highlight the need for international cooperation on the oceans. The three-day, bi-partisan event was attended by high level ministers from over 30 countries, Members of Congress, representatives from academia and industry, and representatives of the Clinton Administration. Keynote speakers included Vice President Al Gore, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and Secretary of the Navy John Dalton.