Ed Markey: “what an honor it is to be out here with the great leader from the State of Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, who has…”

“what an honor it is to be out here with the great leader from the State of Rhode Island, Sheldon Whitehouse, who has come onto the Senate floor 250 times to say to the Senate and to say to our country that it is time to wake up. His voice is inspiring. His voice cuts through all of the obfuscation that has been paid for by the special interests. It ensures that we hear the truth about the danger climate change poses to our country and to the planet. I came out here just to say how special it is for me and for every other Member who partners with Sheldon Whitehouse on this issue. This is somebody who has dedicated his career to solving this problem. He knows all issues go through three phases--political education, political activation, and political implementation. He has been a one- man tutor in his educating of the American public and the U.S. Senate on not only the technical aspects of climate change but on the political aspects of it because, ultimately, it is not a technology problem; it is a political problem we have. The technologies are ready to go. What Senator Whitehouse has done is to have served as this inspirational center point. He has ensured that the voice of sanity has been heard, that the voice of truth has been heard. Why is it important for him to be this incredible leader? It is that climate change--or the climate crisis--is the national security, economic, environmental, healthcare, and moral issue of our time, of this century.…”