Mike Honda: “Last week's historic storm, Hurricane Patricia, was the strongest hurricane on record. My thoughts are with those who…”

“Last week's historic storm, Hurricane Patricia, was the strongest hurricane on record. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones, their homes, and their livelihoods. We must ensure that the thousands affected have access to food, shelter, clean water, services, and the resources to rebuild their lives to limit the impact of Patricia's devastation. But we should not limit the storm's impact on our consciousness. Hurricane Patricia should be a wake-up call that our planet's climate is changing. September was the warmest month ever recorded. As our planet warms, we expect more extreme weather: lengthier droughts, higher floods, and stronger storms. Our Nation must invest in understanding and better preparing for the effects of climate change. Deprioritizing earth science and capping spending for research programs is irresponsible and shortsighted. Hurricane Patricia showed how being informed and prepared about coming storms can save lives. Investment in earth science research is vital to improving our understanding of our planet and building resiliency to a shifting climate. ____________________”