Political Quotes

“I come to the floor today to discuss the global fight to end poverty and specifically the problem of energy poverty. The numbers paint a very grim picture. Worldwide, 840 million people are living without electricity. They can't cook or heat their homes safely or reliably. In fact, nearly 3 billion people--3 billion people worldwide--still rely on wood and waste for household energy. What should the United States do to help? First and foremost, I believe we should push multilateral development banks, like the World Bank, to invest in affordable energy projects, which will help these people. The World Bank's mission is to lift people out of poverty--to help lift people out of poverty. That is their mission. Specifically, it seeks to end extreme poverty while promoting shared prosperity. For 75 years, the United States has been working with the World Bank to help developing countries grow. The United States remains the World Bank's largest contributor. Every U.S. dollar at the World Bank should make a difference for people in the developing world. The World Bank's new policies, however, lead me to call for a review by the United States of how U.S. dollars are being used. Several years ago, the World Bank decided to stop financing certain projects-- specifically, oil, gas, and coal projects. I am concerned the World Bank is now blocking affordable energy development--energy that is needed to make a positive difference for so many people in the developing world.…”