[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11545-11546]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             GLOBAL WARMING

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I take this time to urge my colleagues to 
put aside our partisan differences. Let's follow the leadership of 
Senator Lieberman, Senator Warner, and Senator Boxer and find a way to 
move forward with the global warming legislation. It is so important to 
this country.
  The scientific information is clear. There is something happening out 
there. We all know about it. We know the weather changes. We see 
extreme weather taking place--the droughts, the floods, the impact it 
is having on

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our food chain, the drought in Australia with the wheat crop and what 
it has done with bread prices. In my State of Maryland we see the 
warming of the Chesapeake Bay and the impact it has on blue crabs with 
the eelgrass which is critically important for juvenile crabs not being 
there.
  The Governor imposed a restriction on the taking of blue crabs during 
this season. I could give 100 more examples.
  If I can't convince my colleagues on the science, let me refer to an 
issue on which we can all agree; that is, we need energy independence. 
Our global warming bill leads us to energy independence. We need energy 
independence for national security, so we are not dependent upon other 
countries. We need energy independence so we don't have to wake up 
every morning to find out what OPEC is doing that affects gasoline 
prices in the United States. We need energy independence for our 
environment.
  This legislation uses market forces to solve the problem of 
greenhouse gases. We did that with acid rain, and it worked, far less 
expensively than the projections, and the benefit ratio to cost was 40 
to 1. If we unleash our economy, we can solve this problem.
  Let me state the obvious: When we invest in renewables--and this 
legislation does--we invest in energy efficiency. If we invest in 
public transportation, we are going to have less use of gasoline by 
Americans--yes, less use of oil. If we have less use of oil, gasoline 
prices are going to go down, supply and demand. If we have less use of 
oil, we are going to be less dependent on other countries. If we use 
less oil, we control our own economic future.
  But this legislation goes further than that, providing assistance 
for, perhaps, consequences we can't fully understand. So we provide 
help to heavy industry. Maryland is a proud manufacturing State. It has 
a great history of manufacturing. I want to make sure Maryland has a 
future in manufacturing. This legislation deals with that, providing 
help to our industries. We don't know exactly what impact it is going 
to have on different constituencies. The legislation provides help for 
consumers. Just as importantly, this legislation provides that it is 
deficit neutral; that we will make sure we don't have to borrow more 
money. In fact, this legislation will mean Americans will borrow less. 
It is good for our economy.
  Another part of this bill I found very helpful and that hasn't 
received a lot of attention is that we establish a level playing field 
so if other countries don't put a cap on their carbon emissions, they 
have to pay a tariff to bring their product to America, so that we 
don't put American manufacturers, producers, or farmers at a 
competitive disadvantage.
  There is one particular section of this bill I would like to 
underscore and I am particularly proud of because I introduced the 
amendment in committee and worked with Senator Boxer, and that is the 
public transit provisions. It provides over $170 billion during the 
life of the bill to build stronger public transportation in America. 
One-third of all CO2 emissions come from transportation. But 
in the last 15 years, 50 percent of the increase in our emissions have 
come from the transportation sector.
  The projected growth in the next 30 years of vehicle traffic alone 
would negate all the benefit from the CAFE standard increases we passed 
last year if we don't take more aggressive steps to get cars off the 
road. Public transportation is critically important. It reduces 
emissions.
  People are interested in public transportation. Since 1995, we have 
seen a 32-percent increase in ridership, 10.3 billion passenger trips 
in 2007. In the first quarter of this year, there has been a 3.3-
percent increase in public transportation. That is 85 million more 
trips on public transportation. The problem is the physical 
infrastructure needs attention. The ridership at peak hours is already 
full. We need greater capacity. We need more efficiency and more 
economy in the use of public transportation. This legislation provides 
for it. Of the funds that are provided--the $170 billion plus--95 
percent is distributed on the SAFETEA-LU formula; 65 percent for 
existing systems; 30 percent for new starts; and 5 percent in 
competitive grants for transportation alternatives and travel demand 
reduction projects.
  It is supported by the American Public Transportation Association, 
the National League of Cities, and I could add many more.
  Mr. President, I strongly support this bill as brought forward by 
Senator Boxer. I urge my colleagues to support it. I do have amendments 
to improve it. I hope we will get to amendments. One of my amendments 
would include the public transportation sector by including 
metropolitan planning organizations as eligible entities to receive 
grants under the funding. This builds upon smart growth. Maryland 
provided leadership nationally on how smart growth can add to our 
energy independence and a cleaner environment. That experience in 
Maryland can be used nationwide. My amendment will make funds available 
for States to move forward for smart growth.
  The amendment also provides for transit enhancements, including 
pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that would be eligible 
activities. In Maryland, I am proud of the work we have done in taking 
funds and building paths for bicycles and pedestrians. The Gwynns Falls 
Greenway in Baltimore and the Jones Falls Greenway are examples of how 
we have rehabilitated historical trails where people can walk and bike 
and add to the quality of life.
  Another amendment that I intend to offer will allow for the clean, 
medium-heavy truck vehicle fleets which are provided for in this bill, 
funds to help fleets use clean energy but to expand that to public 
entities--Senator Specter and Senator Carper are joining me on that--
that they would qualify. That will help vehicle manufacturers. The 
coalition that supported the original provision for fleet vehicles--
such as Volvo, PowerTran, UPS, Federal Express, and PepsiCo--supports 
the change I am suggesting.
  Lastly, let me point to intercity rail. I will offer an amendment to 
provide funding for intercity rail. I think it is another way we can 
get people out of their cars. That is what we have to do if we are 
going to have a clean environment and be energy independent. The 
intercity rail is another way we can do it.
  Let me make it clear, I hope we get to amendments. Amendments can 
strengthen this bill. This bill needs to be strengthened. But the bill 
before us today is a bill that deserves our support. I hope my 
colleagues will vote in favor of making sure we move forward to enact 
global warming legislation this year. I urge my colleagues to do that.

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