Anna Eshoo: “I thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for his leadership and for what is being brought to the floor…”

“I thank the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee for his leadership and for what is being brought to the floor today. I am very pleased to be here in support of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act. I think this is exactly what our country needs. It is looking into the future and saying this is the way we are going to shape it, that America will become a leader innovatively relative to clean air and clean jobs, good-paying jobs. So this is something that is needed for our country: to promote clean energy and energy efficiency; to protect our planet, which is really facing an existential threat from the warming of the climate. I remember many years ago, Madam Speaker, as there was a debate going on at the Energy and Commerce Committee, I listened to both sides. They were going back and forth. There were clear differences. So, when it was my turn to speak, I said, ``Remember this: I will see you on the floor,'' meaning that something was going to happen in someone's district where there was accelerated flooding, accelerated fires, more powerful hurricanes and tornadoes, and then we have to come to the floor to clean up and try to repair and rehabilitate communities. So this is about our collective future. Those who question the existence of climate change need only look to California, where 10 of the 20 largest wildfires on record occurred in the last decade, including 5 this year alone.…”