Chellie Pingree: “This amendment, once again, is petty and punitive. I don't think this is the appropriate place to pursue grudges against…”

“This amendment, once again, is petty and punitive. I don't think this is the appropriate place to pursue grudges against hardworking public servants who we ask to do an extremely important job in Washington. Let me just say this. This is a use of the Holman rule in a way to-- just talking about my colleague on the other side of the aisle--object to the work that is going on related to climate change. This bill is going to be full of amendments from people who either don't believe in climate change, don't think we should invest in it, or aren't willing to think about the future. It is our job to make sure that we are protecting the future of this planet, of this country, of our economy, of the people who live in the United States, and the future of our children and grandchildren. We are going to hear a litany of opposition through amendments, amendments like these, from people who don't believe that we are having the hottest summer on record, who aren't paying attention to the extreme floods and to the storms that are impacting us, to the damage it has already done to the economy, to the billions of dollars we are already spending, and who are going to use any means possible to block the work we are doing to fight climate change. I oppose this amendment. I am going to continue to oppose these amendments that are really just another way to deny that climate changes exists and that we have a responsibility to work on it.…”