[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6070-S6071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Snowe, and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1389. A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to 
establish a Climate Change Education Program; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation, 
cosponsored by Ms. Snowe and Mr. Bingaman, to better educate Americans 
about climate change. We are today introducing the Climate Change 
Education Act, to broaden Americans' understanding of global warming.
  There may still be disputes about exactly how much humans contribute 
to the warming of our atmosphere. But there is near certainty that the 
air we breathe is being changed by ever increased levels of greenhouse 
gases, with effects on climate, resources, and habitats.
  Last week, I attended a hearing of the Foreign Relations Committee, 
where the issue of climate change was shown to also affect our national 
security. A report issued by a panel of distinguished military leaders 
concluded that climate change will be globally

[[Page S6071]]

destabilizing, leading to diminished access to fresh water, reduced 
food production as India and sub-Saharan Africa become hotter and 
drier, increased health crises as vector-borne diseases spread, and 
displacement of large populations as sea levels rise and coastal lands 
flood. As scarcities increase, conflicts over diminishing resources 
will also increase. Governments in resource-stressed countries may 
collapse. Environmental stresses may lead to human migration and 
refugees.
  I mention this to emphasize that climate change has surprising 
ramifications, and that there is still much that we can all learn about 
this issue, with effects that go well beyond traditional environmental 
concerns. It is important that we all become better informed, that we 
analyze the information about climate change, so that we can learn how 
to more rationally respond.
  We believe it is important to educate our Nation about the causes and 
effects of climate change and about how we might effectively respond. 
Reaching a solution to the challenge of climate change will require 
changes in both national policy and in our use of energy and resources. 
All of this will require a thoughtful understanding of the issue.
  The Climate Change Education Act would create a program at the 
National Science Foundation, which would provide opportunities for 
students and citizens to learn more about global warming. The program 
would include a national information campaign to promote new approaches 
to addressing climate change and would also establish a competitive 
program to provide grants to develop education materials. Earlier this 
month, the House of Representatives passed the campanion, H.R. 1728, to 
this bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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