[Page H3310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CLIMATE CHANGE

  (Mr. HIGGINS of New York asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, this week, the House will 
pass major legislation to reassert America's leadership on climate 
change.
  America's leadership on this issue cannot be more urgent and needed. 
The current administration has ignored the consensus of scientists and 
the need to act in a responsible manner.
  Nearly 50 years ago on the first Earth Day, tens of millions of 
Americans demanded change from their government. Later that year, seven 
major pieces of legislation were signed into law--the Clean Water Act, 
the Clean Air Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act--with overwhelming 
bipartisan support.
  Last week was Earth Day, and I saw firsthand that my community of 
western New York continues to lead to confront this challenge. With 
students finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint, Re-Tree Western 
New York celebrated 30,000 new tree plantings, and the Western New York 
Land Conservancy is preserving green space for generations to come.
  Now Congress needs to follow this example and restore America's 
leadership role on the environment.

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