[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16798-16799]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1815
                   PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CLEAN POWER PLAN

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of President Obama's 
Clean Power Plan, and I would like to applaud the 10,000 men and women, 
African American faith leaders, who are engaged, involved, and 
committed to clean air. These faith leaders represent 13 million 
African American churchgoers who remain steadfast and unmovable in 
their cause to combat the negative impact of climate change.
  Mr. Speaker, members of the Congressional Black Caucus tomorrow will 
receive the signatures and public statements of those demanding that 
this body fully support President Obama's Clean Power Plan. Nearly 40 
percent of the 6 million Americans living close to coal-fired power 
plants are people of color and disproportionately African Americans.
  Pollution and damaging toxins from these plants are responsible for 
thousands of premature deaths, higher risk of asthma attacks, 
respiratory disease, and hundreds of thousands missed workdays.
  I believe this Congress can hear the Black church and work together. 
The Black church and their fearless leaders for generations have stood 
united on critical social, economic, and moral imperatives that are 
meant to strengthen the communities they represent. They have been in 
the forefront, like Dr. Martin Luther King, who walked across the 
Edmund Pettus Bridge with our colleague, John Lewis, for voting rights.
  Climate change and their support for the Clean Power Plan is no 
different. They are in the forefront. As they state in their letter to 
us, ``The Bible speaks passionately about the importance of stewardship 
for God's creation,'' and they believe that Obama's Power Plan calls 
them to action.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with these ladies and gentlemen in their 
dedication to saving lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of President Obama's 
``Clean Power Plan.''
  I would like to applaud the more than 10,000 men and women African 
American faith leaders.
  These faith leaders represent 13 million African American church-
goers who remain steadfast and unmovable in their cause to combat the 
negative impact of climate change.
  Tomorrow, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus to receive the 
signatures and public statements of those demanding that this body 
fully support President Obama's Clean Power Plan.
  Nearly 40 percent of the six million Americans living close to coal-
fired power plants are people of color and disproportionately African 
American.

[[Page 16799]]

  Pollution and damaging toxins from these plants are responsible for 
thousands of premature deaths, higher risks of asthma attacks, 
respiratory disease, and hundreds of thousands of missed workdays.
  The Black Church and their fearless leaders, for generations, have 
stood united on critical social and economic moral imperatives that are 
meant to strengthen the communities they represent.
  Climate change and their support for the Clean Power Plan are no 
different.
  As they state in their letter to us: ``The Bible speaks passionately 
about the importance of stewardship for God's creation. And President 
Obama's Clean Power Plan echoes God's call.''
  Once again, I salute these dedicated men and women of God and for the 
vital work they are doing on this important issue.

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