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ENVIRONMENT: Introduction Members of Congress regularly struggle with the perceived contradiction between environmental protection and job creation. Community leaders and various citizen and business groups sometimes hold different views on this issue, which members of Congress may have difficulty resolving. The purpose of this seminar is to provide an opportunity to discuss and explore the issues involved in the environment and jobs debate. By participating in a debate on all sides of this issue, you will be better able to reach your own conclusions. You may find the issues to be more complicated and interconnected than expected. Like a Senator, you will contribute your own ideas and experience in reaching a decision. To guide our discussion, we will all become members of a simulated town called Simmeon. Simmeon is facing a dilemma regarding the future of the community. The Beautimus River runs through town. Some members of the local business community want the federal government to build a dam on the river to provide low-cost hydroelectric power. The local business community believes the dam is a good idea because the low electricity rates will bring manufacturing facilities and high-paying jobs to town. These groups believe the dam would bring much needed growth to the community. At the same time, other business leaders in the central business district who are committed to preserving Simmeon's small-town feel are actively working against the project. Citizens who are advocates for the environment also oppose the dam because of the possible damage to wildlife, while the agriculture community supports the project because of the opportunity to expand production. As is common for large projects of this type, Congress will be asked to provide part of the cost of the dam. Before approving federal funds, a committee of Congress usually holds a public hearing to gather information. Our session today will feature a brief hearing to provide an opportunity for all viewpoints on the proposed dam project to be heard. In preparation for the hearing, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Projects asked for an evaluation of the project by experts at the federal Department of Dams -- the preliminary report is included here for your reference. You will be divided into four groups, each representing a particular viewpoint in the community. Your group will develop a position for or against the project and will prepare brief testimony in support of that position. Your testimony will be presented in a hearing before the Senate Committee on Public Projects. You should be prepared to defend your viewpoint and to counter the arguments from groups with a different view. Several of you will be nominated to serve as senators on the committee to help with the questioning of the witnesses. In addition to the facts provided here, you should draw on your creativity and experience in your own community to incorporate additional factors you think that should be considered during the hearing. At the end of the hearing, you will vote on whether the federal government should support the project. |
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