I want to ask about some of the downstream effects of developing something like the Willow Project, which many Americans were disappointed to see moving forward.

President Biden has set a goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 50 percent, and achieve zero carbon electric power in our system by 2035.

This Committee has a profound responsibility to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.

It is time to stop the end of fossil fuels.

Cancellation of these leases is a step to rectify attempted violence against our people, the animals and sacred land.

As it stands, nearly a quarter of the United States' current carbon pollution comes from fossil fuel production on federal lands and waters.

But the American people know that security will come when we create an equitable, clean energy economy that puts families and communities first, and ends our reliance on a global extractive industry.

What do you make of this argument that we can simply drill our way to lower gas prices, that we can just drill, and drill, and extract, and extract on Federal and public lands, and somehow that is going to lower our fossil fuel prices?

Republicans are trying to distract us from the internal dysfunction which is steering our Nation toward a government shutdown.

The money is there. The question is how we as elected officials choose to invest in our communities.

Of course, many of us were disappointed to see the Administration approve the Willow Project, which will have significant impacts on the climate and on essential ecosystems.

So, I say to the American people, let's talk about government accountability and responsibility, but let's make sure that Congress is doing its job, and let's keep the government open.