Good afternoon.

I've got a tough challenge: In three minutes, I need to tell you about a man who has spent three decades fighting for the environment.

So let me get right to the point -- John Kerry will be the strongest environmental president in our history.

Thirty-five years ago, John Kerry was one of the original leaders who began our nation's march toward environmental protection.  And since that time, we have made remarkable progress - raising environmental awareness, protecting public lands, cleaning our air and water, and achieving more efficient energy usage. 

Unfortunately, history is filled with moments when great progress is interrupted.

Right now in America, one in eight women of child-bearing age lives with dangerously high levels of mercury.

Right now in America, 46 percent of our lakes aren't fit for swimming or fishing.

Right now in America, young people are risking their lives to protect our foreign oil lifeline

But - right now in America, we have an opportunity to restore environmental progress.

We can do that by electing a leader who has shown a lifetime of commitment, principles and vision.

John Kerry's leadership is unmatched.

He earned the best environmental voting record of any nominee for president in recent history.

John Kerry's commitment is decades old.  

After returning home from war, he became an environmental leader before it was fashionable - helping to organize the very first Earth Day.

John Kerry's principles have never wavered. 

So often he has faced down the destructive stampede of special interests and lobbyists.  He has never allowed the corporate environment to count more than our living environment; He has never allowed the special interests to get in the way of the special place of the environment in our nation. 

And John Kerry's vision is needed now more than ever.

After risking his own life in war, he is deeply aware of the insecurity our nation faces when foreign oil dictates foreign policy.

In fighting for energy security, he refuses to accept the false choice between promoting our economy and protecting our environment.

It is a fact that more than a million jobs could be created in the next 15 years if we develop new energy technologies. And while environmentalists, businesses and workers have already begun this effort, we need a president with the vision and commitment to make it a reality.

For John Kerry, leadership means enlisting businesses and workers in a fight for innovation -- not enlisting soldiers in a fight for foreign oil. 

For John Kerry, leadership on the environment matters.  That is why the League of Conservation Voters has launched our strongest effort ever to elect a president.

I urge you to elect a true environmental leader - I urge you to vote for John Kerry for president.

Thank you.