Political Quotes

“I commend Chairman McCain for his extraordinary leadership on this issue, and Senator Lieberman for being able at this point for the first time to debate global climate change here in the Senate. Chairman McCain has held many Commerce Committee hearings. As a member of that committee, I can tell you that he is focused singularly on this issue in terms of trying to address one of the most significant environmental issues facing this country in this century. It is long overdue, and this is the first real debate the Senate has had. I am glad that Senator Lieberman raised this issue on domestic reductions because that is what this legislation is addressing, domestic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide, thought by the vast majority of international scientists to be the cause of global warming. The legislation before us today, the McCain-Lieberman amendment to the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003, sets out to do just that in an environmentally and economically friendly way. I believe any future delay in acting on climate change will lead the U.S. down a path to even greater environmental damage and greater economic harm. As we review more and more the scientific evidence, it is clear to me that we have to address this issue in a very vigorous and aggressive way.”