[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AFFECTING OUR REGION

  (Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the challenges 
facing our coastal communities.
  Last week, I was honored to help organize a conference in my district 
that brought increased attention to the economic, social, and 
environmental priorities of tribal communities.
  With Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, tribal representatives, and 
other Federal agency officials and stakeholders, we were able to make 
significant progress in recognizing the need for active and sustained 
engagement on economic environmental issues affecting our region.
  Secretary Jewell rightly pointed out that we have a moral obligation 
to act in the face of rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and 
severe weather patterns caused by climate change. In my district alone, 
three tribes are currently in the process of relocation due to the 
threats of floods.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to act. Let's help regions identify their 
infrastructure needs and work cooperatively to help ensure that we are 
protecting coastal communities and their heritage sites, maintaining 
livelihoods, and living up to our treaty and trust obligations.
  Let's also work to develop new, cleaner energy sources, cut carbon 
emissions, and lead a global effort to tackle the real threat of 
climate change.

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