[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

  (Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a member of the Safe Climate 
Caucus to note the extraordinary damage done by wildfires in Washington 
State this summer.
  It is a fact that our climate is changing. We just had one of the 
driest springs and summers in more than a century that led to trees and 
vegetation becoming kindling for the massive fires that we have seen.
  The largest wildfire in our State's history hit central Washington, 
forcing thousands to flee and putting firefighters in harm's way. We 
have a wildfire that continues to smolder in Olympic National Park, a 
rain forest. From Washington to California, brave emergency responders 
have spent this summer on the front lines, battling flames, with no 
signs of abating.
  I believe it is time we pay attention to these warning signs. If we 
want a better future for our kids, if we want to protect the 
communities in which we live, then we need to confront the threats of 
climate change.

                          ____________________