[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1619]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          SAFE CLIMATE CAUCUS

  (Mr. WAXMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the nonpartisan Government Accountability 
Office took historic action this month. For the first time ever, GAO 
put climate change on its high-risk list because of the serious threat 
it poses to the taxpayer.
  It makes sense. Just look at Superstorm Sandy and the droughts and 
heat waves we have recently endured. Extreme weather events have cost 
our Nation more than $180 billion over the last two years.
  That's why today the cochairs of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate 
Change are writing to 69 inspectors general across the Federal 
Government. We are asking for their help in assessing whether 
government entities are doing all they can to confront this threat.
  As a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, I believe it's time we take 
this issue seriously. If we don't, we will leave our children an 
unstable climate and disaster costs that they will not be able to 
afford.

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