Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment to H.R. 9. My amendment is straightforward. This bill requires the President to submit a plan to Congress to meet our obligations under the Paris accord. This amendment ensures that we do not forget the impact of our infrastructure when addressing the threat of climate change. We know that climate change is real. We know that we are already feeling its effects and that it will only intensify. Strong scientific research tells us that storms are getting stronger and more frequent. Sea levels are rising, and this poses a direct threat to our coastal communities. While this bill and the Paris accord take significant steps to address the root causes of climate change, we must be prepared to address the significant impact it is having on our Nation's infrastructure today. My district in New Jersey was among the hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy. Toms River alone saw $2.25 billion in property damages, the highest out of any township in New Jersey, and we are still recovering from that storm that hit our State years ago. In 2017 we saw three of the five costliest storms in our history in Harvey, Maria, and Irma. Rising sea levels are increasing the severity and frequency of flooding and are contributing to beach erosion, posing a major threat to our coastal tourism economy. Climate change isn't just measured by rising tides and rising temperatures.…”