[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 123 (Wednesday, July 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Climate Change

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, this morning, our friends in Europe 
claimed first place in the race against climate change. The European 
Union has laid out a plan to decarbonize Europe and reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions by 55 percent at the end of this decade. It is an 
ambitious plan, and it is one that will, in the words of EU climate 
policy chief Frans Timmermans, ``give humanity a fighting chance.''
  To our allies in Europe, I want to say: America stands with you in 
this effort, and we welcome the friendly competition to see who can 
move quickest to save our planet.
  Earlier today, President Biden joined members of the Senate 
Democratic caucus to discuss our historic budget proposal that was 
unveiled last night. It is a proposal designed, first and foremost, to 
help working families and secondly--and not a distant second, right up 
with that--to secure our planet's future.
  Climate change impacts every single one of us. It doesn't care about 
our borders or national identities. It does present an opportunity for 
us to lead the world in saving this planet, literally, for our kids and 
grandkids.
  I am glad we have a President who understands this issue. The budget 
resolution we discussed with him today will pave the way for that to 
happen.