[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5946-H5947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
               OCEANS AND CLIMATE CHANGE: SEA LEVEL RISE

  (Mr. LOWENTHAL asked and was given permission to address the House

[[Page H5947]]

for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, on this very solemn day, where we 
commemorate those that gave their lives, I rise on behalf of the Safe 
Climate Caucus to bring to the House another unfortunate new reality. 
More frequent flooding is going to be occurring now because of climate 
change.
  We are already seeing sea level rise; that is without doubt, and that 
has resulted in the frequency of nuisance flooding in coastal 
communities. Cities across America are experiencing nuisance flooding. 
There is a rise in nuisance flooding between 1960 and the present of up 
to 900 percent throughout the country. From 300 to 900 percent, it is 
more often.
  When rising sea levels combine with natural climate patterns like 
this year's El Nino, even higher rates of nuisance flooding will occur.
  For example, in my district, nuisance flooding threatens my entire 
Long Beach Peninsula and the Alamitos Bay. Flooding roads mean a loss 
of work or school days, and eroded beaches can have a negative impact 
on property values.
  Today's floods are tomorrow's high tides. That is why Congress must 
act on climate change.

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