[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             CLIMATE CHANGE

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, recent superstorms like Hurricane Sandy, 
Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee have tested the resiliency of 
our infrastructure. During these severe weather events, bridges failed, 
blackouts occurred, and communities were devastated by flooding at the 
same time that our water supply systems failed. It took weeks to 
restore these vital services. Our electricity, potable water, and 
transportation networks must be reliable even in the face of severe 
storms.
  The American people need and deserve a Congress that will work 
together to address the present and growing threat of climate change 
and do what is necessary to ensure the resiliency of our roads, 
bridges, electrical grid, dams, and water systems. Accomplishing this 
would create jobs and support our communities and our economy.
  This week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
reported that Sandy-like flooding is now twice as likely due to the sea 
level rise associated with climate change. One need look no further to 
understand that the time is now to act on climate.

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