[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 126 (Thursday, July 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5075-S5076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CLIMATE CHANGE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, finally, on climate, I want to 
congratulate my dear friend, one of the most intelligent, hard-working, 
articulate Senators we have, Sheldon Whitehouse, on reaching a 
rhetorical milestone. Usually ``rhetoric'' and ``milestone'' don't go 
together, but in his strong eloquence on the environment, they do.
  Yesterday, Senator Whitehouse gave his 250th speech on the subject of 
climate change. Many Members of this Chamber have yet to speak 250 
times on the floor in total, much less on a single topic. Senator 
Whitehouse's speeches have covered everything from sea level rise to 
polar cap ice melting and the effect of climate change on our economic 
security and our national security. He has diligently shone a light on 
the impediments to legislative progress on climate change, and he waxes 
fervent and poetic, condemning the web of dark money that funds 
fraudulent climate research and lobbies against climate action.
  Much more important than Senator Whitehouse's milestone, of course, 
is the issue he is talking about. Each passing week brings another 
proof point that climate change is happening

[[Page S5076]]

right now and reshaping our planet for the worse, moving so quickly 
that, at some point, we will not be able to recover no matter what we 
do.
  The world will be so much worse for our children and grandchildren. I 
think of my 8-month-old--just turned 8 months on the 24th--my little 
grandson. Will his world be the same as ours? Will it be just as 
beautiful, or will it be flooding and fires and changes that make his 
life and the lives of his whole generation far more difficult? If we do 
nothing, that will happen.
  Carbon levels in the atmosphere are at the highest point ever in 
human history. Just days ago, NBC reported that this will be the 
hottest July on record. Last month, June, was the hottest June on 
record.
  We all know the consequences will be devastating, just devastating to 
our planet if we fail to take action soon. It is time for the Senate to 
debate serious, significant policies to address climate change. And, 
parenthetically, it is another place McConnell's legislative graveyard 
unfortunately gains--gains more and more. He will not do anything on 
climate change, as important as it is.
  Let me thank Senator Whitehouse for his leadership on this issue. 
Maybe Leader McConnell will read his 250 speeches and have a change of 
heart. I doubt it, but who knows? I wish that all of my colleagues on 
the other side would listen to him and join Democrats in our efforts to 
pass legislation to combat climate change.

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