Washington, DC - In recognition of the 45th Earth Day, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement.

Senator Boxer said, "As we take time this year to celebrate Earth Day, we remember the progress we have made since the first Earth Day 45 years ago. We have seen the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and passage of landmark legislation that protects the air we breathe and the water we drink.

"However, in recent years, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly tried to roll back our public health protections for clean air and clean water, and they have blocked attempts to address dangerous climate change. They are doing this at a time when our world is witnessing record warm temperatures. Just last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that March 2015 - and the first quarter of 2015 - were the hottest on record.

"I agree with President Obama who said this past weekend that there is ‘no greater threat to our planet than climate change.' Rest assured that on this Earth Day and every day, I will keep working to support President Obama's initiatives to address climate change and to protect the health of our children and families."

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