Madam President, as I begin my remarks, let me thank my friend Senator Lankford for his eloquent comments about our veterans and those who have served and given their lives for us. I am here with my trusty and battered ``Time to Wake up'' graphic because, after 4 dark years on climate, there is at last a glimmer of light on the horizon. President-Elect Biden has promised to redirect the executive branch to address climate change in the clear light of real science, out of the dark swamp of fossil fuel denial and obstruction, trying--trying-- to head off a climate catastrophe while there is still time, if there is still time. There is a lot the executive branch can do. The President can lead diplomatic and international trade initiatives. The environmental regulatory agencies of government can be freed from corrupting influence to do their duty with vigor based on science and the law. Securities regulators can put climate risk to the economy at the forefront, as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has just done. Purchasing decisions can be directed toward a clean energy future. Permitting decisions can be made with the social cost of carbon pollution in mind, as courts have already begun to demand even in the corrupt Trump era. On the investigative side, the administration can begin a hard look at the forces of corruption that have blockaded action on climate change: Who did this and how?…
On the recordNovember 10, 2020
Share & report
More from Sheldon Whitehouse
Apr 4, 2025
There is a doctrine or a principle that is kind of a tedious economic term, ``marginal utility of money.'' What it means, in very plain terms, is that if you make $60,000 a year, your last thousand dollars of income is a big deal to you…
Mar 12, 2025
Everybody in the caucus wants an opportunity to vote for a clean 30-day [continuing resolution] that puts us on a pathway to regular, legit appropriations.
May 27, 2025
We write to ask whether Treasury has conducted any analyses on the effect cutting up to 40% of the IRS workforce will have on revenue collection, customer service, modernization efforts, and the share of audits comprised of corporations…





