[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 120 (Tuesday, June 30, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H2680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0945
                              CLEAN ENERGY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Levin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, as a freshman Member of 
Congress, it has been an honor and a privilege to get to serve on the 
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and I am so grateful for that 
opportunity. I commend Speaker Pelosi and Chair Castor for their 
outstanding leadership.
  Long before I pursued public office, I was a proud clean energy 
advocate, and I knew then, as I know now, that solutions to the climate 
crisis could also be solutions to many economic challenges we face.
  We have seen that come true in my home State of California where we 
have embraced ambitious measures to combat climate change and have seen 
strong economic growth, particularly in the clean energy sector.
  Last year, California supported more than half a million clean energy 
jobs in areas such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean 
vehicles. Through 2019 job growth was nearly 10 percent annually.
  Clean energy technology, clean domestic manufacturing, and 
environmental restoration is already putting Americans to work.
  Our report highlights a number of ways that we can combat the climate 
crisis and create more jobs at the same time. For example, the report 
includes bipartisan legislation I introduced to reduce our dependence 
on fossil fuels by promoting environmentally responsible development of 
renewable energy on public lands.
  We can expand those technologies and grow our economy by extending 
important tax credits like the solar investment tax credit which drives 
job creation, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps level the 
playing field for clean energy. We will also create jobs with strong 
Federal funding for infrastructure, investments in new and retooled 
domestic manufacturing facilities, new buy clean procurement rules, 
expanded loan opportunities for decarbonization technologies, and the 
creation of a civilian conservation corps and a climate resilience 
service corps.
  Alternatively, if we fail to act, we will allow other countries to 
take the lead on developing clean technologies. China, India, and 
nations in Europe will reap the economic rewards, and we will find 
ourselves purchasing foreign products that should have been made right 
here in America.
  Some might take issue with the perceived cost of climate action, but 
it is also important to note the cost of inaction. My friend, Marshall 
Burke, a researcher at Stanford University, has studied this 
extensively and found that if we don't take substantial action to 
mitigate the climate crisis, it will cost the U.S. economy $25 to $35 
trillion over the coming decades.
  That is why we must act. I have a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old at 
home, and, like any parent, there is a lot that I worry about for their 
future; but I am most concerned about the planet that we are going to 
leave behind for them and for their children. The path we are on right 
now leads to a grim future for our planet. Our report charts a new 
hopeful course for the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues and the outstanding staff who made 
this report possible. Now let's get to work.

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