Sheldon Whitehouse actually said...

"Rhode Island is looking at 9 to 12 feet of vertical sea level rise by the end of the century if we continue to do nothing here in Congress."

"We shouldn't have to wait around for that."

"We have seen a rather unseemly spectacle recently which was a member of the Cabinet telling a Senator that they would be punished in grants and in programs in their home State for voting the wrong way..."

"I think in the long run, if you find this becomes politicized, you will find support for the program dramatically decreasing."