Americans today are, as a general rule, far more environmentally conscious than were previous generations. In keeping with this ecological awareness, President George W. Bush has made, and will continue to make, great strides in protecting and improving the environment.

Air pollution is a significant threat to America’s ecological health. Through the Clear Skies Initiative and Clean Air Interstate Rule, air emissions will be reduced by the greatest margin in 10 years, with dangerous industrial output cut by 70 percent. President Bush is the first president to recommend caps on mercury emissions. The president also proposes a system that would cut pollution by diesel engines by 90 percent.

President Bush is committed to the protection and expansion of our national parks and wetlands. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act will reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and ensuing pollution. The president will aggressively address the maintenance backlog in our national parks through continuing programs, and he has expanded protection of American wetlands by 3 million acres.

The Water 2025 program will improve water quality and provide access to adequate water supplies by working with states and local communities in the West. President Bush will faithfully work with Congress and state and local governments to conserve America’s coastal and oceanic resources.

Expanded Farm Bill Conservation Programs would restore and protect millions of acres of wetlands, streams, rivers and habitats near working farms and ranches during a 10-year period.

The president supports a Compre-hensive Everglades Restoration Plan and expanded Great Lakes cleanup efforts. He proposes using just 1 percent of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve for environmentally safe oil production. This small part of the 19.5-million-acre reserve, a part that is not designated as wilderness, could yield up to as many as 1 million barrels of oil every day for 20 years, reducing American independence on foreign oil without dramatically affecting ANWR’s ecosystem.

Through these and other rules, plans, programs, and initiatives, President Bush will continue — and expand — his commitment to the protection of the environment in America and around the world.

The preceding information, as well as the president’s positions on other issues of interest, may be found at www.georgewbush.com.