Political Quotes

“later today, the Senate will take the first step toward ratifying an amendment to one of the most successful international environmental agreements in modern history, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Members can expect to cast the first vote on cloture later this afternoon after the weekly party lunches. Today's vote will require 60 votes in the affirmative to move forward. And since the Kigali Amendment is part of a treaty, it will require two-thirds of the Chamber to ultimately ratify this provision. The Kigali Amendment will be one of the most significant bipartisan measures the Senate takes on all year, and that is saying something, because we have done a lot. It would affirm our country's intention to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons--commonly known as HFCs--by 85 percent over the next 15 years. Experts say this step alone could prevent half a degree Celsius of warming by the end of the 21st century. Is that incredible? Half a degree. We struggle to get there. This one measure will do it. That may not seem like much, but within the larger context of global temperature, it is really very significant. There are two paths our country can take, depending on what we do with the Kigali Amendment. If we ratify this treaty, not only will we protect our planet, but this is an economic issue and an issue to go after China, which is a rogue nation in this regard.…”