Health knowledge made personal
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Just how informed and mature are our U.S. representatives? Do they care about anything but getting back at the “other political party"? Do they have any educated thoughts at all? According to NPR , Republicans have re-introduced the plastic foam coffee cup and are doing away with the Green the Capital program that Democrats started four years ago. This program was designed to reduce the footprint of the federal government and required the use of biodegradable utensils and trays plus composting food wastes. Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Dan Lundgren, says that the program was too expensive, so he reinstated plastic. The program costs $475,000 more per year but it is not clear what that involved. Did Lundgren consider the cost of hauling plastic to the landfill or the cancer dangers of Styrofoam? I wrote a letter to Dan Lundgren of California and to my own representative Todd Rokita of Indiana to request the data that went into this decision. I have not heard back from either one yet. “After a thorough review of the House's composting operations, I have concluded that it is neither cost effective nor energy efficient to continue the program. Therefore, I have directed the CAO to suspend the program until further notice. "While I am suspending this program because it is costly and increases energy consumption, I would like to assure the House community that this Committee will continue to evaluate all components of House operations and will work with the appropriate agencies to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices when feasible." Rep. Dan Lundgren I find it disheartening that our government representatives’ main objective is to get back at the other political party whenever possible. These people are making decisions for us, the everyday people. They should be an example to us - especially when it involves taking care of the earth. |
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