[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 23 (Friday, February 4, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2022

  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4521, The 
America Competes Act of 2022. This legislation is the largest 
investment in our nation's manufacturing industries and reaffirms our 
reputation as a global leader across multiple industries. I am 
delighted to have two of my bills, H.R. 2774--the Green Climate Fund 
Authorization Act and H.R. 3036--the Secure E-Waste Export and 
Recycling Act (SEERA), included as part of this historic American-made 
legislative package to support and secure our technologies, research, 
and development at home and strengthen our collaboration on projects 
abroad.
  Communities of color, indigenous people, and low-income households in 
the United States and across the world are disproportionately impacted 
by climate change and often live near sources of pollution. It is our 
moral obligation to uplift these frontline communities. To effectively 
combat climate change, we must reaffirm our nation's commitment to work 
with other countries to advance environmental justice. The Green 
Climate Fund, established within the United Nations Convention on 
Climate Change, achieves this by helping economically developing 
countries limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to 
climate change.
  During the prior Presidential administration, our nation did not 
fulfill the pledge we made on the world stage to provide funding to the 
Green Climate Fund. As an indispensable player in financing global 
endeavors that achieve the Paris Agreement, we must remedy this and 
continue to promote environmental justice.
  The Green Climate Fund strengthens the economies of neighboring 
countries while also benefitting our nation's economy as we tackle 
climate change. The Tenth Report released by the Green Climate Fund, 
noted that 190 projects advancing climate justice around the world had 
been approved. These projects are helping 127 countries, including 31 
in Latin America and the Caribbean. They are expected to reduce a total 
of 1.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas 
emissions and reach 197 million direct and 399 million indirect 
beneficiaries. The Green Climate Fund benefits the American economy 
because it helps deploy financial flows from the private sector to 
investment opportunities that promote sustainable development.
  The United Nations Children's Fund reported last year that about one 
billion children are at an extremely high risk of enduring the impacts 
of the climate crisis. Climate change threatens their nutrition, 
health, education, and development. We must increase funding for the 
Green Climate Fund because future generations of children are counting 
on us to act so that they can live in a secure world.
  SEERA also combats climate change by addressing electronic waste (e-
waste) management in the United States. It enhances our national 
security, advances environmental justice, and bolsters our economy by 
stopping the flow of e-waste to China and requiring domestic recycling 
of all untested and nonworking electronics, which promotes the creation 
of thousands of new jobs in the United States.
  I urge my colleagues to support The America Competes Act of 2022.

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