[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 79 (Monday, May 8, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2787-S2788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Paris Agreement

  Finally, Mr. President, a word on the Paris climate agreement. 
Reports have indicated that the Trump administration is leaning toward 
withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement. This 
would be a historic misstep that would massively disadvantage both 
American businesses

[[Page S2788]]

and diplomats. It would damage our standing on the world stage and 
allow China to take the high moral ground and the economic upper hand 
in combatting climate change. Most importantly, a great step forward 
made by President Obama to get the entire world community to work in a 
coordinated and concerted effort to reduce carbon pollution so that the 
United States does not have to bear the burden and so that China would 
do much more than it has done--all that would be undone in one fell 
swoop.
  Europe and other countries have warned the Trump administration that 
abandoning the Paris Agreement could lead to carbon tariffs on U.S. 
goods, stymying access to global markets for our companies and 
undercutting our trade position. That is why hundreds of American 
companies, including 28 Fortune 100 CEOs representing 9 million jobs, 
support the climate agreement.
  There is a giant difference between putting America first and making 
America an international pariah. The latter approach only undermines 
our power and erodes our standing in the world. Right now, there are 
only two countries in the world that are not parties to the Paris 
Agreement--Syria and Nicaragua, the latter of which objects because 
they feel the agreement is not strong enough.
  Climate change is real. It is driven by human activity. It is 
happening right now. These are facts. They are not in dispute. Our 
scientists know it, our businesses know it, the world knows it, and the 
American people who have experienced such changes in weather and 
climate know it too. The United States needs to have a seat at the 
table as the world works together to solve this existential challenge.
  I strongly encourage the administration to rethink its position and 
remain in the agreement.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Florida.