Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, Americans nationwide have felt the impact of this year's extreme weather, from flooding to wildfires to record heat. In Washington State, heat domes in June and August of this year have caused hundreds to die of heat exposure, roads and highways to buckle, and shellfish to broil in their streams. The iconic Mount Rainier, one of the snowiest places on Earth, was not immune to this. The unprecedented heat, nearly 40 degrees above the previous recorded high, has had a devastating impact on the mountain. This image shows Mount Rainier during most of the summer, its sides bare, compared to its typical snow cover. For longtime residents of Washington State, it is jarring to see Mount Rainier without snow on its peak. In just 4 days this summer, 4 days in late June, the peak of the heat dome, the mountain lost 30 percent of its total snow cover. This is a visual demonstration that climate change is real. The lack of snow became more notable as the summer progressed, and this heat is an ecological issue and an economic issue. Washington State's shellfish industry is among the largest in the Nation, contributing $270 million to the State economy and supporting nearly 3,000 jobs. The heat dome this summer devastated shellfish farms that make up the core of this industry. Shellfish growers reported shellfish baking to death, literally, in shallow water and on the beach. Taylor Shellfish, located in my district, reported losing over 2 million clam seeds.…”