September 26, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 156 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H7999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AMERICA MUST LEAD ON CLIMATE CHANGE

  (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, this week, the United Nations is hosting 
its Climate Action Summit. Robust funding and sound policies are needed 
to ensure we effectively combat climate change.
  Threatened by increasingly more frequent and extreme changes in our 
climate, territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands stand at the front 
line of this quickly escalating climate crisis.
  Within the past decade, my district has reduced fossil fuel use by 20 
percent and has become a regional leader in clean energy. States and 
territories have also passed regional and State-specific legislation to 
combat climate change, but we need a comprehensive, forward-looking 
national plan to address this threat to our children and our children's 
children.
  While we don't yet have all the tools to address rapid climate 
change, we must create them through increased Federal investment in 
research, development, and deployment of emerging technologies.
  Across the Nation, climate change is threatening our economy and our 
lives. Hurricanes like Irma and Maria collectively cost $140 billion, 
according to NOAA, and, most importantly, they cost thousands of lives.
  America must lead the charge to preserve our planet.

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