Tom Udall: “thank you for the recognition. Let me begin today by commending the efforts of Senators Murkowski and Manchin for…”

“thank you for the recognition. Let me begin today by commending the efforts of Senators Murkowski and Manchin for working across the aisle to bring an energy bill to the floor. This bill has positive initiatives--promoting energy efficiency, modernizing the electric grid, and research funding for clean energy-- but the full Senate deserves a chance to be heard on the important issues at stake with this bill; namely, energy. Most importantly, we must take real action on climate change and address a problematic provision in this bill to limit environmental reviews of massive and potentially toxic mining projects. Everywhere we look, we are experiencing the devastating effects of climate change--whether they are hurricanes along the southeastern coasts, flooding in the Midwest, drought in the Southwest, or out-of- control wildfires in California--and we are careening too close to climate change tipping points that scientists warn will doom the planet. The bill before us does not set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels required to meet global targets or transition us to a clean energy economy, which is where we need to head, and we need to be heading there fast. A few things would dramatically improve this bill's climate impact. First, we need to add clean energy tax incentives.…”