[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 106 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLEAN ENERGY

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, we cannot unravel infrastructure from 
climate. As we consider bold new investments in America's 
infrastructure, our choices will shape our climate future for better or 
worse.
  Failing to address climate pollution and clean energy in our 
infrastructure work will force future generations of Americans to cover 
a blank check. And we are already passing on grave and growing costs 
for our past failures to act.
  But let me put this another way: seizing opportunities to tackle 
climate change in our infrastructure work will help us build 
legislation that makes America cleaner, safer, and more competitive as 
a Nation. It will save countless lives and create millions of good 
American jobs.
  If we make climate a priority, our workers will miss fewer days on 
the job, and our kids will miss fewer days at school. Our local budgets 
will suffer less strain. Our infrastructure dollars will go farther. 
The things we build will last longer.
  Climate is a growing threat that demands urgent, bold action. And 
doing nothing about it is doing something, it is condemning the United 
States to become a weaker, sicker, and poorer Nation. This is our path 
to choose. Do we allow America to further decline or choose a more 
sustainable, prosperous, and just future? To me, the decision is clear: 
Let's move forward.

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