Alan Lowenthal: “I remind my colleagues that these Secretarial actions that I am asking to continue have been going on since September of…”

“I remind my colleagues that these Secretarial actions that I am asking to continue have been going on since September of 2009 with approval and with oversight and reports back to this Congress. These are rational, logical steps that the Secretary has put into place. I ask my colleague, what would you oppose? We should not communicate responses across multiple bureaus? We don't need to understand the science of climate change impacts? We don't need regional hubs to study this, which are ongoing? All we are saying is let's continue this course of action. We need to develop resiliency. We know these impacts. The science is overwhelming. This is an ongoing activity. To deny this now means to stop what is already ongoing, and that would be a shame at this time. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to continue the actions of the Department of the Interior to really coordinate and understand climate change impacts. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”