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[Page S1951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Climate Change
Madam President, on another matter, today, Leader McConnell will
follow through on one of his specialties, ``gotcha'' politics, by
forcing a vote of the Republicans' version of the Green New Deal.
Make no mistake--Republicans want to force this political stunt to
distract from the fact that they neither have a plan nor a sense of
urgency to deal with the threat of climate change. With this exercise,
the Republican majority has made a mockery of the legislative process.
It is a political act, a political stunt.
Everyone here knows it is a stunt, including the majority leader
himself, who will put something on the floor and then vote no. What is
the point of that, other than showing how hypocritical this act is?
With this exercise, they have also elevated the issue in a way, I am
sure, they never intended, and, for that, I want to thank them because
now we are finally talking about climate change.
For 5 years, the leader hasn't brought one bill to the floor that
will deal with the issue of climate change. He may not agree with what
some people are for. What is his plan? What is his plan?
Leader McConnell and every Republican, with one exception, has
refused to sponsor a resolution.
Leader McConnell has refused to answer these questions, which he has
been repeatedly asked. One, is climate change real? Do you believe
that, Leader McConnell? Do you believe that, Republican Members?
Two, climate change is caused by humans. Do you believe that? Say it.
Come to the floor and do something about it.
And this is three: Congress must act on climate change. This is a
simple resolution. Every Democrat is for it. Will Leader McConnell sign
it? Will any other Republican sign it? No. It shows where the party is.
We are going to continue asking these questions over and over again
because our Republican colleagues want to play a stunt and vote no on
another bill, but they don't want to say what they are for.
The scientific consensus is clear. Disasters are getting stronger and
stronger. The great irony here is that right after this bill goes down
and the McConnell stunt bill goes down, we are going to vote on
disaster relief.
Do you know what has made disaster relief so much more necessary and
so much more expensive? Climate change. The warmer the air, the warmer
the globe and the wilder the weather gets, as the people in Iowa,
Nebraska, and Kansas have just experienced.
So this idea that we are voting for disaster relief after a stunt, a
sham vote on climate change--and the Republican leader and the
Republican Senators have nothing to say on climate change--reveals in
bright lights their ostrichlike behavior, putting their head in the
sand, ignoring reality, doing nothing about it, and playing games.
Every single Democrat and a few of our Republican colleagues have
joined in the resolution that says these three simple things. We will
not rest until we have most every Republican joining because the public
is on our side, science is on our side, and the need to help protect
America--farmers, urban dwellers, suburban dwellers--from the
devastating changes that climate is bringing upon us is very real.
Let's stop the nonsense. Let's get serious. Our children's future
depends upon it. Our planet depends upon it.
