[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13702]
[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, today, the Safe Climate Caucus held a 
remarkable forum. It was the first time in Congress that individuals 
were invited to talk about the personal hardships they have experienced 
as a result of climate change. We heard from witnesses from around the 
country.
  Matt Russell, an Iowa farmer, told us how his crops had been flooded 
by record rains. Hugh Fitzsimons, a Texas rancher, described how his 
herd was decimated by a record drought. Emily Dondero from Sonora, 
California, explained how the massive California Rim fire is 
devastating her community. Stephanie Kravitz, a New York homeowner, 
talked about the devastation she suffered when Superstorm Sandy struck 
Long Island, New York, and Reverend Tyronne Edwards from Louisiana 
spoke movingly of the damage inflicted on his community by enormous 
hurricanes.
  For these Americans, climate change is already painfully real. They 
told us climate change is not a distant threat. As scientist Noah 
Diffenbaugh explained, it is already affecting families across the 
country.
  The witnesses ask that Congress stop denying the science. They want 
action, and I think it's about time we start to listen.

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