We oppose the Administration's proposed offshore leasing and drilling. It would make more than 90 percent of U.S. waters available to oil and gas companies.

I invite the current Congress to have the fortitude your predecessors have lacked.

We begin that leadership today as we confront the most pressing issue facing our Nation--climate change.

These special places will serve as refuge for our highest values, and as places of growth toward our Nation's future.

Today is an exciting day. It will be the first of a new era for this Committee and for this Congress, an era of inclusion, where the diverse voices of the American people are clearly heard in these halls.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration has failed to provide this leadership.

We will uphold our public lands as a point of pride that all Americans can share and co-own.

It is time for America to act on climate change, and our public lands are one of the best resources for us to do so.

I think we really need to be proactive and address those things proactively rather than reactively.

I believe it is essential that we focus on environmental justice as we make this transition to reduce our carbon footprint.

I am committed to protecting our sacred lands, addressing climate change, and moving renewable energy forward.