Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, Ranking Member Waxman and I have sent 24 letters to Chairman Upton of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Whitfield of the Energy and Power Committee since May 2011 requesting hearings on the science of climate change. Mr. Speaker, since Mr. Waxman and I are not able to get the majority on the Energy and Commerce Committee to act, I take it upon myself to come to the House floor to speak directly to the American people on why this issue is so important to them. Power to the people. Mr. Speaker, last year, 2012, marked the hottest year ever recorded in U.S. history. Fully two-thirds of our Nation experienced drought. Half of the Nation's grazing pastures and up to 30 percent of the Nation's corn crop was in poor condition, or in very poor condition, which impacted the price that the American people pay for their food, for ethanol, and for consumer goods for all of the American people. Mr. Speaker, just because some of my colleagues might not like what the science is telling us, it does not mean that they can continue to put their collective heads in the sand and simply ignore these facts or wish these facts away. Last year's record temperatures, serious droughts, pervasive wildfires, and widespread flooding prove that there is climate change occurring all around us on a regular basis continually. And Mr.…”