[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14932]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  JEB BUSH SHOULD CONSIDER THE POPE'S CALL TO PRESERVE OUR ENVIRONMENT

  (Mr. FOSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle have continually reminded us that they are not scientists. We 
have also heard this from several of the Republican candidates seeking 
our Nation's highest office.
  As a scientist myself, I appreciate their candor. But what I don't as 
much appreciate is when they use this mantra of ``I am not a 
scientist'' to preface statements that are factually wrong. Facts are 
stubborn things, and they don't only apply to those in the scientific 
community.
  Last week Pope Francis challenged us to take courageous steps to 
combat climate change, a call to action that made many Republicans 
uncomfortable. When asked about the Pope's statement, Governor Jeb Bush 
dismissed it, saying that Pope Francis is ``not a scientist, he's a 
religious leader.'' In fact, Pope Francis is a former chemist, and, as 
such, he has more scientific training than many of our elected 
officials.
  I was hoping that, when the Pope addressed Congress in his remarks, 
he would have explained to my Republican colleagues the effect of the 
infrared absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide on the radiation balance 
and equilibrium temperature of the Earth, but time did not permit.
  I encourage Jeb and my colleagues in Congress to consider the Pope's 
call to preserve our environment.

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