[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             CLIMATE CHANGE

  (Ms. LEE of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with 
my colleagues from the Safe Climate Caucus to call on Republicans to 
end their silence and join the conversation on climate disruption.
  A recent United Nations report provides a stark warning, saying that 
if we don't address climate disruption, the number of people living in 
extreme poverty could increase by up to 3 billion by 2050.
  The report is clear: failing to act now creates a much larger and 
more costly problem later. Fortunately, we have the ability and the 
means to address climate disruption.
  I'm proud to say that clean-energy companies and universities in my 
own district are leading the way in research, clean-job creation, and 
sustainable long-term solutions.
  But this type of innovation and job creation cannot go on if 
Republicans continue to ignore the threat of climate change and 
recklessly cut funding to important programs that protect the air we 
breathe and the water we drink.
  I urge my Republican colleagues to think about their moral 
responsibility to join this dialogue and to protect our planet for 
their children and for the long-term stability of this country.

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