On the recordMarch 10, 2014
as I begin, I thank Senator Boxer for her wonderful leadership of the Environment Committee and for her strong activism regarding climate change. I thank Senator Whitehouse and Senator Schatz, as well, for organizing this important discussion tonight. The scientific community has been extremely clear--no debate--climate change is real, climate change is manmade, and climate change is already causing severe damage in terms of drought, floods, forest fires, rising sea levels, and extreme weather disturbances. Given that reality, I find it extremely disturbing that virtually all--not all but virtually all--of my Republican colleagues continue to ignore the scientific evidence and refuse to support serious legislation which will address this planetary crisis. My hope is that my small State of Vermont will be a national leader, will be a model for the rest of the country in transforming our energy system, moving us away from fossil fuels and into energy efficiency and sustainable energy. And doing that, by the way, will not only help the United States become a leader in reversing climate change but can, over a period of years, create millions of good-paying jobs in this country. And that has to be the goal. Some people ask--many people ask--they say: Well, why aren't you guys doing anything on this issue? The scientific community is almost unanimous about the causation of climate change or about its severity. What are you doing?…
