[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 37 (Thursday, February 28, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Climate Change

  Madam President, finally, on climate, in a short time, I will be 
returning to the floor to lead a group of Democratic Senators in 
talking about climate change. One of the great but positive ironies of 
Leader McConnell's stunt to put the Green New Deal on the floor is that 
it has inspired Members of both parties to talk about climate change--
more than ever before, maybe--under the Republican leadership in the 
Senate.
  Democrats are more than happy about that. We want to turn the 
spotlight back to the issue of climate change and keep it there, where 
it belongs. Climate change is an existential threat to our planet, not 
just in the future but right now. We should be talking about climate 
change nearly every day, and more than that, the Senate should be 
taking bold action to address it.
  So I am glad at least Leader McConnell is talking about climate. He 
just says what he is not for.
  So I will repeat the three questions I have asked Leader McConnell 
repeatedly: One, Leader McConnell, do you believe that climate change 
is real? Two, do you believe, Leader McConnell, that it is caused by 
humans? Three, do you believe Congress should take immediate action to 
address the crisis of climate change?
  Until Leader McConnell puts something positive on the floor and 
starts talking positively, no one is going to pay much attention to his 
stunts and his gambits, but, certainly, we Democrats are energized to 
talk positively about the things we want to do to deal with this issue, 
and we will be positive and discuss positive proposals until we get 
something done in this Chamber.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip is recognized.