Wayne Gilchrest: “I thank the gentlemen from Utah for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule and I rise to support the…”

“I thank the gentlemen from Utah for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the rule and I rise to support the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, what I would like to speak to at this point is in the underlying bill there is a provision which states that this body, that there is a sense of Congress that we should recognize that there is an ongoing problem with the amount of carbon dioxide, CO<INF>2</INF> that is being emitted as a result of burning fossil fuel and that the United States should take steps to reduce that emission of CO<INF>2</INF>. Now, carbon dioxide makes up a fraction of less than 1 percent of the atmosphere, and yet that one element in the atmosphere, less than 1 percent, a fraction of 1 percent, pretty much determines the heat balance or the climate of the planet. CO<INF>2</INF> is increasing, especially over the last 100 years, as a result of burning fossil fuels. We are having a dramatic impact on the heat balance of the planet. Let us just look at some simple scientific observations. This is data that is conclusive among the scientific community. 10,000 years ago we were at the end of the last ice age, and we can measure the amount of CO<INF>2</INF> in the atmosphere 10,000 years ago. It was 180 parts per million. 180 parts per million of CO<INF>2</INF> in the atmosphere 10,000 years ago. Now, let us fast forward almost 10,000 years. It was 280 parts per million 100 years ago.…”