[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    CALL TO ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Schiff) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, President Obama's call to action on climate 
change is another reminder of the large and growing threat posed by the 
warming of our atmosphere. Yet instead of taking a leading role to 
address the problem, Congress has been held hostage by those who would 
deny the science altogether. Every day that we delay, we are losing 
ground in the race to develop new sources of energy that can protect 
the planet and break the grip of our dependence on fossil fuels.
  This past year was one of the most extreme years for our Nation's 
weather. It was the warmest year on record for the U.S.; and droughts, 
wildfires, and floods were far more frequent and far more intense. In 
fact, nine of the 10 hottest years since 1880 have been in the past 
decade.
  In 2012, 9.3 million acres of land across the country burned in 
wildfires, more than double the annual average, and the second highest 
ever. Rainfall was far below the average, and it was one of the driest 
years in memory. Droughts, heat waves, and wildfires are now the norm 
rather than the exception.
  The extreme weather was also a significant drag on our economy: 
Superstorm Sandy cost $65 billion; western wildfires cost over $1 
billion; and losses from drought cost $30 billion. Greenhouse gases 
emitted as a result of human activity are the biggest drivers of 
climate change. That is a fact that is accepted by virtually every 
scientist around the world.
  We're only beginning to understand the impact of a global temperature 
rise on a nation's long-term environmental health and the health of the 
world; but with each new report by NASA, by the U.N., by universities 
here and overseas, we see that the threat grows and the possibility 
that we can avoid catastrophe and catastrophic consequences in the 
future recedes.
  Some in this body have questioned the science, noting that droughts, 
floods, and climatic variations have been observed for centuries, often 
recalling Noah and his ark; but the speed and magnitude of the changes 
we are witnessing are consistent with scientific modeling of the 
effects of human activity on the climate. We must act now.
  First, we have to diversify our energy sources. Instead of tax breaks 
for Big Oil, we should be investing in the development of new and 
renewable energy sources.
  Second, we must work to reduce our emissions. Power plants are the 
single largest source of emissions in the U.S., accounting for roughly 
40 percent of all domestic greenhouse gases, and the EPA must put in 
place Federal standards that will regulate both new and existing power 
plants.
  Third, we must build a 21st-century transportation infrastructure and 
system that will support a growing economy and population. This means 
we need to invest in mass transit systems, and car makers must continue 
to improve fuel economy standards.

                              {time}  1015

  And fourth, we need to work with the international community, not 
against it, as many in this body have tried to do. America must take a 
leadership role. We need the cooperation of China and India, but we 
should not let their foot-dragging prevent us from taking actions that 
will protect our future.
  President Obama took an important step in exerting American 
leadership on climate change when he called for action at the Federal 
level to curb carbon pollution, just as we limit our toxic chemicals, 
like mercury, sulfur, and arsenic. The President also wants to allow 
wind and solar energy companies to use government-owned land to 
generate more power.
  These are good ideas, but a major effort on climate change depends on 
congressional action, and so far we have allowed this important issue, 
one that will affect our children and grandchildren, to become a 
partisan wedge issue.
  This country did not become great by ignoring problems or wishing 
them away. We did not become great by mocking scientists and those who 
would rely on cold, hard facts or, in this case, long, hot, endless 
summers. And we did not become great by ceding leadership in new 
technologies and new markets to our competitors, like China.
  The time to address climate change is now.

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