Kathy Castor

This is our last hearing of the year. I am really proud of what the committee has done, but the big work lies ahead.

We must level the playing field for vulnerable communities. We can't let wealth determine how resilient our communities are.

how do we really ensure that there aren't communities that are left behind, that we do not replicate the inequities of the past?

it isn't it refreshing that we can focus on how we are going to lower the cost of healthcare in America, expand access, build upon Medicare and Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act

This is not a time for despair. It's a time for bold leadership and ambitious action.

Our continued commitment to the Paris Agreement is more important than ever.

Despite President Trump's retreat from this global crisis, that we are still in.

That is why this committee is hard at work developing our proposal to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

We should be concerned about the safety of these products.

If we really want to get the work done, we have to have people to do the work, and I thank the chairwoman for allowing me to add that point.

We need to make sure that we are informing Americans about their risk.

Well, thank you all very much. All right. So we have a climate emergency. We do not have time to wait...

We must create carrots and sticks for local communities in terms of signaling that Federal taxpayer dollar will not support new development in areas that are at extreme risk.

We don't have time to waste and that is why I am going to go to Mr. Levin for 5 minutes.

Today we'll examine the federal government's role in helping communities reduce the risks and costs of climate-fueled disasters.

The best role for the federal government is to empower local communities, to give them the right tools and data.

We have a climate emergency. We do not have time to wait.

The Federal Government could provide incentives to our model building code organizations to speed up, to accelerate the development of codes that will help individuals protect themselves as well as communities.

The federal government also can lead by example, by requiring that federally-funded projects avoid areas that are prone to the worsening effects of the climate crisis.

The federal government has an opportunity to help communities grow stronger in the face of the climate crisis.

We must address their needs as well.

One thing we can't do is move backwards.

Isn't it time to be reconfiguring Federal budgeting so that we actually have a rainy day fund of some sorts or catastrophe fund that is front-end loaded?

One of the bright line rules I think we should adopt immediately is we will not spend in a way that is not resilient going forward.

We must ensure that these investments are made with the long-term impacts of climate change in mind.