Dick Durbin: “let me thank my colleague from Rhode Island. He and I did travel to Havana, Cuba, earlier this week. Interestingly…”

“let me thank my colleague from Rhode Island. He and I did travel to Havana, Cuba, earlier this week. Interestingly enough, we sat down with the scientists and the people responsible for the oceans and other natural benefits in Cuba to discuss global warming, and the conversation started at the same place. Even with these scientists, there is no question they can see the impact, and they started their predictions about the rise of the ocean levels--and the Senator from Rhode Island knows this far better than I do--with their anticipation that the ocean levels will rise over a foot in just 10 or 20 years and then twice that over a period of 50 years or more. That will have a profound impact on the island, the archipelago of Cuba, and the United States. Senator Whitehouse of Rhode Island, more than any other Senator, has really brought this issue home--not just to his home but to the Atlantic Coast States--and has reported on the impacts they face. Now, I live smack dab in the middle of the country--in Illinois. I can tell you we appreciate there are changes taking place on this planet that are not in our best interests--nor will they leave our children and grandchildren a better place to live. The obvious question we face is what will we do in this generation. This bill, S. 1, which has been chosen by the Republican majority, has given us a venue finally to raise some important environmental issues which have been ignored for too long.…”