Adriano Espaillat: “This week, we have seen the events that have gripped this Nation, the potential for a shutdown, the squabble on the…”

“This week, we have seen the events that have gripped this Nation, the potential for a shutdown, the squabble on the floor for leadership, extreme MAGA opinions trying to impose their points of view on the American people. This past year, we have also watched distinctly as climate change- related natural disasters have hit every region of this country. This last week, we saw images from New York City with subways flooding, streets flooding, backyards and front yards of houses flooding. The inability to sustain consistent and persistent rainfall crippled New York City. As we saw New York City underwater, just 2 months ago, wildfires consumed Maui. Mother Nature is talking to us. Mother Nature is never wrong. Madam Speaker, this year the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 within the appropriations process slashes the renewable energy and energy-efficient programs by 14 percent--get this--and instead funds the Department's fossil fuel energy at more than $850 million. In the middle of this climate crisis, we take money away from renewable energy and we empower fossil fuel energy. We put them on steroids. It also underfunds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who will be able to address the flood and storm damage protection and claws back $50 million that would have allowed communities like the one that I represent from becoming energy efficient.…”