On the recordMarch 10, 2014
I am also very pleased to talk about one of the most pressing challenges confronting our Nation and my State of Colorado, and that is climate change. We have seen in my State this is not an obscure threat or distant problem. We have had catastrophic floods and mega wildfires that have been the result of drought, of a whole series of changes in a way we see climate systems operating in Colorado. It is threatening our way of life. I have a powerful photograph here. We have had in the past 2 years three successive mega fires. Last year's Black Forest fire brought destruction to Colorado Springs. Over 500 homes burned and we lost 2 lives. This fire quickly surpassed the Waldo Canyon fire which was the most destructive fire in Colorado history. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to grab the opportunity to create new emergency technologies, to enhance our national security and, by the way, to keep faith with our children. We do not inherit this Earth from our parents. We are borrowing it from our children. If we do not act on climate change, we will leave them a less bright future. If we do act, we can create jobs and protect the environment. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, along with the Presiding Officer, we can enhance our Nation's security with these new technologies. Let's act now. I am here in this Congress and this Senate to protect our way of life. If we act now, we can protect that special way of life. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
