Political Quotes

“Madam President, I want to start by thanking my colleague, Senator Whitehouse from Rhode Island, not only for his remarks today but for his leadership on this issue. I rise today to join him in highlighting the toll climate change is taking on coastal communities throughout New England. Senator Whitehouse has been a fierce advocate, and he is dedicated to and continues to push our colleagues to address the dire reality of climate change. I am here to join him in that effort. In New Hampshire's Seacoast region, our State's beautiful coastline helps propel our economy forward, supporting industries such as tourism and commercial fishing and contributing to our high quality of life. Just as proximity to the ocean provides vital opportunities, our communities are finding that as climate change intensifies, these communities are increasingly at risk. As you can see from this photo that was taken last year in Rye, NH, stronger storms and rising sea levels are leading to increased flooding in our coastal areas. As Senator Whitehouse mentioned, our communities are already feeling the direct economic impacts of rising sea levels. According to the First Street Foundation and Columbia University, the increased risk of flooding and damage is hurting property values throughout New England. That report states that New Hampshire has already seen a $15 million loss in property value, particularly in areas such as Hampton, Exeter, Dover, and Portsmouth.…”