[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 72 (Thursday, May 2, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           A FIRST STEP TOWARDS THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE ACTION

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, it was an honor to preside over the 
House during the debate on H.R. 9 yesterday to uphold our commitment to 
the Paris climate accord, our first real piece of climate legislation 
in over 9 years. It may have been an honor, but it was jarring to 
listen to my Republican colleagues in denial.
  For decades, Americans have seen with their own eyes rising sea 
levels, extreme weather events, and temperature increases, all 
terrifying prospects for our children and grandchildren, yet 
Republicans are defending the Trump administration's action to undercut 
and isolate the United States as the only country to withdraw from the 
climate accord, placing us firmly on the wrong side of history.
  In contrast, I am thankful that today's action demonstrates that 
Democrats are on the side of protecting our children's future. H.R. 9 
is a first step towards a future of climate action and climate justice, 
a Green New Deal for clean energy jobs, rebuilding and renewing our 
infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and environmental justice.
  We can't afford to wait, and neither can the planet.

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