I believe that climate change is not only real, but that it is one of the biggest challenges facing our world today.

The harmful effects of climate change, specifically sea-level rise and extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy, pose a unique and serious threat to my coastal home State of Delaware.

The Government Accountability Office agrees with me--listing this year that climate change is a high risk to our country's fiscal health.

I believe it's time we stop fighting over established science and work together to enact common-sense environmental protections.

I'd like to remind my colleagues that history has proven this is a false choice: we can protect both.

There is a direct correlation to the temperature in those times and the levels of carbon in those times.

It will take years to recover from the devastation caused by Sandy, and it's important that we get it right.

It has preserved critical coastal habitat while protecting communities from storm and flood damage and saving countless tax dollars.

Fortunately, we aren't starting from square one. Already, this country is moving forward on a cleaner economy--due in big part to the commitments made by the Obama administration.

Taking action means investing in a lower carbon economy, but also investing in more resilient communities.

Climate change is the great challenge of our time.

If the bill is passed as it is and mortgage rates rise as is? It would hurt home sales, it would hurt housing construction, it would lower house prices.

It is absolutely critically important that we get it right, that we are careful. Otherwise, as you said, we could ruin the financial system.

We have to get it right not only because we could screw up the housing finance system, but we could screw up the financial system as well.

I hope that is an indication that you and your team are raring to go because believe me, we are and have been for some time.

I always say that is a false choice. We can have a cleaner environment, we can have a stronger economy.

I believe there are three essential elements to solving our Nation's financial challenges.

Before I yield back to Senator Johnson, just to followup on Senator Coburn's last point, I called over to your office, I think the day that your nomination was confirmed in the Senate just to let you know and to congratulate you.