The following prepared remarks were delivered by Allan Burns, Candidate for U.S. Congress in Georgia's 7th District, to the annual meeting of the Lake Lanier Association in Dawsonville, Georgia on May 11, 2006:

Hello and good evening. I would like to say thank-you to the Lake Lanier Association for allowing me to be here tonight.

My name is Allan Burns and I’m running for the U.S. Congress in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District, a seat currently held by John Linder. I am a small business owner and a life-long Georgian, but I am not a politician. I have never run for an elected office before, but I am passionate about doing what is right for my district, for my state, and for my country, and I felt compelled to offer an alternative to the voters of the 7th District.

I have very different positions from my opponent on the critical issues, including energy, health care, education, immigration, tax reform, homeland security, and protecting the environment. And, there is no doubt in my mind that Congressional politics is corrupted by the influence of lobbyists, special interests and money, and I pledge to be an independent voice for change and reform to restore ethics, integrity, openness, accountability and fairness to the House of Representatives.

I’m not going to say much about my opponent John Linder, who is not here tonight to respond. But I will point out that Mr. Linder talked about term limits when he was first elected to Congress in 1992 and was quoted in USA Today stating: “I will come home after 12 years.” Well, 2006 marks his 14th year and he’s running for another 2-year term. I think it is reasonable for us to expect our elected officials to say what they mean and mean what they say, and I pledge to speak from my heart and honor my commitments.

I don’t pretend to be an expert on the issues of concern to your organization, but I believe we share a common goal. And I am here tonight to listen and learn, and to make clear my commitment to preserve the quality of Lake Lanier.

Georgia’s quality of life is very much dependent on Lake Lanier. The lake plays a critical role in our water supply, recreation, economy, and natural environment. As such, all of us have a responsibility to ensure Lake Lanier’s continued viability. Government and elected officials have a special responsibility to be pro-active in protecting and enhancing the lake’s quality and sustainability. If elected to represent Georgia’s 7th District in the U.S. Congress, I pledge to fulfill that responsibility by being informed, working to resolve conflicts, and fighting for adequate funding to plan and implement strategies that insure Lake Lanier is protected to meet our needs for today and for future generations.

There is a good deal of talk today about values. But environmental stewardship is one of our values that in recent years has not received the attention it deserves. It is absolutely critical to our future to mitigate conditions that threaten our natural environment. Water is one of our most critical resources that must be carefully managed for the benefit of sometimes competing interests. The role of Lake Lanier in economic development and meeting the needs of our growing population must be balanced with environmental quality and sustainability. Although we sometimes ignore the obvious, common sense tells us we cannot sustain unlimited growth with limited resources.

Lake Lanier’s water quality depends on preventing or controlling contaminants that find their way into the lake through treated sewage discharges, runoff, and other sources. I am committed to working in anyway possible to require enforcement of existing regulations, setting more stringent requirements for water quality, and proposing legislation as needed to insure we meet the highest standards of water quality for all of our lakes, rivers, and streams.

Regarding the ongoing legal battle involving Georgia, Alabama and Florida, I believe it is essential that Georgia aggressively defend our right to enjoy and utilize the lake to meet our current and future needs. I will work with our Congressional delegation, our state officials, and others to seek a solution to this difficult and complex problem while protecting the rights and needs of Georgians and preserving the environmental quality of Lake Lanier.

The Lake Lanier Association is making an important contribution to preserving the beauty and quality of Lake Lanier, and I salute your organization for some noticeable accomplishments, including your effective involvement in Gwinnett County’s sewer discharge permit. Your Association fulfills other vital functions as well, including keeping the membership informed, challenging actions that threaten the lake, bringing attention to important issues, monitoring water quality, and sponsoring cleanup projects. It is important for your association to continue these efforts; especially holding your elected officials’ feet to the fire, and shining a light on those issues that impact Lake Lanier’s sustainability.

As the next U.S. Congressman representing Georgia’s 7th District, I would welcome regular briefings with the leadership of the Lake Lanier Association as we pursue a common goal of preserving the beauty and the quality of Lake Lanier.

In closing, let me state my guiding principle for decisions and actions affecting Lake Lanier. I will support only those actions that preserve the lake’s sustainability and oppose any actions that threaten it.

Thanks for inviting me and thanks for listening.