On the recordJune 7, 2016
I am so pleased to join my colleague, the Senator from Rhode Island, to discuss one of the most important issues facing future generations in our world, which is climate change, an issue that also directly affects both of our coastal and low-lying States. Many may know Delaware's status as the first State to ratify the Constitution, but I think few of my colleagues are aware that Delaware is also our country's lowest lying State. We have the lowest mean elevation. This status comes with certain challenges, especially with nearly 400 miles of exposed shoreline. That means no part of our State is more than 30 miles from the coast, so the good news is that no matter where you live in my home State, it takes less than 30 minutes to get to sun and sand. But the challenge is that we are particularly vulnerable to the increasing effects of climate change. In recent years, we have seen how flooding can devastate homes and communities up and down our State. Low-lying neighborhoods often don't have the resources to cope with steadily increasing flooding. A community such as Southbridge in Wilmington--pictured to my right--has been disproportionately affected. Environmental justice has long been a concern of mine and of Senator Whitehouse. We had the opportunity to visit the neighborhood of Southbridge. Southbridge is significantly flooded every time it rains more than an inch or two.…
