Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this Perry amendment which will strip vital language regarding the impact of Department of Defense activities associated with climate change. The Defense Department does so many vital things for the safety and security of the United States and the American people. We all owe the brave men and women who wear the Nation's uniform a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay. However, we must be cognizant of all the impacts that DOD activities have across the globe. The Defense Department has such a large footprint, and the amount of military construction and other activity that it undertakes year round impacts our environment. How could it not? We are talking about possible implications such as contributions to sea level rise--which is particularly important to my constituents in south Florida--that it would be irresponsible for us to ignore. I have a Coast Guard base in my district, Coast Guard Miami Beach, located right there on the water in Miami Beach, and we know the impact of sea level rise in that area. So as a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, I urge my colleagues to oppose this Perry amendment. We have got to be clear-eyed, Mr. Chairman, about every possible impact of our military activities, and that includes the impact that we place on our environment.”