Hank Johnson: “I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose S.J. Res. 23 and 24, which constitute…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose S.J. Res. 23 and 24, which constitute the latest salvo by my friends on the other side of the aisle attacking our Nation's commitment to cut carbon pollution and slow climate change. Now, I do realize that some of us really don't care whether or not mankind's actions contribute to climate change. Some of us really don't care. Some of us don't care to consider that 95 percent of scientists recognize that it is man's activities that are contributing to the astronomical rate of climate change that is occurring that has the potential to render our planet uninhabitable by human beings. You can laugh, you can smile, you can joke, but 95 percent of the scientists agree that if we continue along the same path that we are continuing along, it is the demise of humankind itself that is the end result. Now, some say you can adapt. Well, what we should be adapting to is the reality of the fact that we can change this. We can make things better for our children. That is why 195 progressive-thinking leaders of 195 countries represented in Paris today--right now, as we speak-- are working on this very profound issue that affects humankind. And what are we here in Congress doing? We are trying to scuttle the plans that have been made by this country to try to reduce carbon pollution. We are trying to scuttle it.…”