John Garamendi: “Mr. Tonko said something a moment ago that I know will happen. He is presently the ranking member of the Environment…”

“Mr. Tonko said something a moment ago that I know will happen. He is presently the ranking member of the Environment Subcommittee of Energy and Commerce. In about 1 month I believe he is going to be the chairman of that committee. The hearings on this issue, the Fourth Annual Climate Assessment, will finally be heard and the issue will finally be before the Congress. It has been 8 long years of denial by the Republican-led Congress and 2 years by the current President. I know that in his role--and I believe he will be the chairperson of that committee--he will make sure that America and the Congress know and understand this critical issue. I look forward to those hearings. I look forward to his leadership on it, and once again to be on the floor with the gentleman with what we fondly call the East Coast West-Coast program. We are back.”