Bob Menendez: “I thank all of my friends who are speaking on the floor tonight for their continued commitment to not just bring…”

“I thank all of my friends who are speaking on the floor tonight for their continued commitment to not just bring attention to climate change, but to push for decisive action on the issue. As experts from around the world show us beyond a reasonable doubt that we, as a global community, are contributing to rising temperatures, there are those that would deny that human actions can have any effect on our climate and environment. Too often, lawmakers try to legislate their own ``science'' rather than properly utilizing the conclusions and recommendations made by skilled experts--yet nature does not conform to our laws. That is why the United States must be an innovator in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and a leading light in the clean energy sector. My own home State of New Jersey has shown strong leadership in moving our country towards a sustainable energy future. We have developed and implemented an aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires over 20 percent of New Jersey's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2021. We have put in place strong incentives for energy customers of all sizes, from single families to the many businesses that call New Jersey home, to become energy efficient and even clean energy producers, by installing solar panels on their homes and buildings.…”