Chuck Hagel: “On just as important business, Mr. President, I will address this morning the issue of global warming. Let me first say…”

“On just as important business, Mr. President, I will address this morning the issue of global warming. Let me first say that the more attention the media and the American people pay to this issue, the better. For the global climate issue will have a major impact on the future of our country, our people, and, indeed, the entire world. How the nations of the world address the global climate issue will be one of the most important global economic and environmental decisions of the next century. There are differing opinions on the conclusiveness of global warming and how we should address it. But this is not a debate nor has it ever been a debate about who is for or against the environment. I have yet to meet any American who wants dirty air, dirty water, dirty environment or declining standards of living for their children or grandchildren. We all agree on the need for a clean environment. We all want to leave our children a better, cleaner, more prosperous world. So the debate is not about those for or against a clean environment.”