The health and welfare of all Missourians depends on a clean and safe environment. Claire was born near Mark Twain Forest. As a young girl, she spent many a day floating in the Jacks Fork River which was right near her hometown of Houston. Her father, an avid hunter, considered it one of his favorite places on earth. Claire believes clean air, clean water and responsible resource management are critical to preserve for future generations of Missourians.
Mark Twain National Forest
Claire believes it is our responsibility to protect our natural heritage. Claire strongly opposed the Bush Administration's proposal to sell off a portion of one of Missouri's most precious natural resources, the Mark Twain National Forest, permanently giving up this land for a one-time subsidy to rural education. Selling off natural treasures for what equates to a drop in the bucket is like selling your front yard to pay off your mortgage -- it's absurd.
Claire unequivocally opposed this proposal because she believes there are better, more responsible, ways to help fund our rural schools and road projects for the long-term. She believes public lands are beautiful, sensitive areas that must be managed responsibly so that future generations of Missourians will be able to experience the State's natural bounty and continue to hunt, fish, hike, and camp there.
Clean Air and Water
For generations, Missourians have found joy and pleasure in our local rivers. The Jacks Fork River, Meramec River, Current River, are a vital part of Missouri's landscape. However, these natural resources are increasingly being threatened due to the Bush Administration's disregard for responsible environmental stewardship.
Claire believes we need to strengthen and enforce the laws that ensure the air we breathe is clean and the water we drink is safe. In Missouri, the air quality problems in our cities and the growing number of people who suffer from Asthma are proof of the dire consequences of neglecting the environment. Currently, only half of the streams in Missouri meet the water quality goals set forward in the Clean Water Act. At the same time, Missouri is losing acres of wetlands at an alarming rate. Wetlands help maintain clean water, flood control and wildlife habitat. Claire believes in upholding and enforcing the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act so that Missourians can rely on healthy air, clean rivers and safe water for drinking, swimming and fishing.
Clean Energy
Claire believes clean energy solutions are a key part of any plan for a strong economy and healthy environment. In order to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, Claire believes we need to invest more in energy efficiency, affordable renewable energy technologies and conservation measures. Missouri has the potential to meet its energy needs through renewable biomass, solar and wind sources. Biomass includes growing such alternative crops as switchgrass and poplar trees, both of which are well-suited for Missouri's needs and can be used to make cellulosic ethanol. Renewable energy will benefit our economy and bring jobs to rural Missouri. It will also result in a cleaner environment for our children and also preserve our natural heritage for all our hunters, anglers and sportmen.
While Claire understands the environmental and safety reservations about nuclear power, as a source of clean energy, nuclear may have a role to play in meeting our growing energy demands. Claire believes that with strict new regulations and oversight, particularly in regards to waste disposal, nuclear power can potentially be a cost-effective and environmentally safe source of energy.
Global Warming
Global warming threatens our health, our environment and our national security. In Missouri, warmer average temperatures could increase heat-related deaths in the summer months and infection of insect-born diseases, such as West Nile Virus. It will also contribute to droughts and floods that lead to property damage. Over time, these higher temperatures are expected to alter the state's environment -- changing the trees in our forests, the fish in our rivers and further reducing the state's vanishing wetlands.
For Missouri's many hunters, fishermen and sportsmen, global warming threatens our way of life. Claire believes such threats can no longer be ignored. We must seek innovative and responsible solutions to slow the rate of global warming before it's too late. A big part of addressing global warming is ensuring America's energy independence by investing in clean energy technologies and lessening our reliance on foreign oil.
