Suzanne Bonamici

Following up on Mr. Courtney's comment, our Oregon legislature did just pass paid sick days, which is really important, to make sure that we have a healthy workforce.

My home State of Oregon has often been a leader in finding more efficient and effective ways to deliver health care and improve health outcomes.

The protection of visibility in our most treasured parks and wilderness areas drives economic progress in those regions and nationally.

We did this because coal-fired power plants are some of our biggest polluters, and if we are going to make significant progress in combating air pollution in the future, we need to transition to cleaner sources of energy now.

I applaud you for your work on STEM research and education.

The grants are really designed to help communicate threats, especially to vulnerable communities.

I did mention in my opening statement that there are some regional fisheries' managers in the Northwest considering closure of Oregon and Washington ocean salmon fisheries.

I think that this challenge of spectrum is something that we can work together on on a bipartisan basis with NOAA.

I support this increase. I'm leading a letter asking the Appropriations Committee to fulfill it.

Mr. Chairman, thank you, again for holding this hearing. I look forward to working with you and our colleagues.

Although I am generally pleased with the President's budget request for NOAA, I will mention a specific concern.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding this afternoon's hearing.

It is time, past time, that our country joined the rest of the world in offering family leave.

I must tell you, I'm currently circulating a letter to my colleagues urging their support in an attempt to fully fund this program at its authorized level.

It is also unfortunate that school privatization efforts also tend to be based on the premise that our public schools are failing.

I am concerned that today we are discussing the possibility of diverting taxpayer dollars from public schools to give students resources to attend private schools.

If we do, then it will be a sound analogy, but without that, we are talking apples and oranges.

I really look forward to working with all my colleagues and continuing to raise awareness about this important issue.

I'm encouraged this morning because I heard both Dr. Lomborg and Chair Smith talk about the importance of investing in technology and research in clean energy.

When you have the scientific and business communities agreeing that action to address climate change is necessary and that the benefits outweigh the risks, it is clearly time for Congress to listen.

Some here today might question the climate scientists and their research, yet the overwhelming body of scientific research shows that we must take action.

Our commitment to a cleaner future is what allows the United States to lead by example.

The success of RGGI highlights how we can have strong environmental regulations and a strong economy.

But now we are seeing the benefits of that leadership.

I was proud to be part of the State Legislature in 2007 when we passed our renewable fuel standards.