[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5460]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          SAFE CLIMATE CAUCUS

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. It is time for a real debate on climate change--right here 
on the House floor. The members of the Safe Climate Caucus come to the 
floor to talk about this critical issue every day that the House is in 
session, but where are our Republican colleagues?
  Last week, we challenged the Republican members of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee to a debate, a debate about the appropriate policy 
response to the threat of climate change, but we've heard nothing from 
the Republicans. The House Republican leadership should schedule that 
debate right away. This problem is not going away. The longer we delay, 
the greater the risks.
  The Energy and Commerce Committee has refused to act or to even hear 
the latest science. Congressman Waxman and Congressman Rush have sent 
over 20 letters requesting hearings with scientists and other experts 
about important developments in climate science, but the Republicans 
have refused to hold any hearings on climate change. The American 
public is entitled to an explanation for this disappointing record of 
inaction.
  Madam Speaker, we need to get serious about tackling climate change. 
That means having a debate about what actions should be taken. That 
debate is long overdue, and my friends, time is running out.

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