March 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 40 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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SENATE RESOLUTION 97--ESTABLISHING THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 40
(Senate - March 06, 2019)
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[Pages S1710-S1712] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SENATE RESOLUTION 97--ESTABLISHING THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS Mr. SCHUMER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration: S. Res. 97 Resolved, SECTION 1. SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS. (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Senate a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (in this resolution referred to as the ``Select Committee''). (b) Composition.-- (1) Membership.--The Select Committee shall be composed of 16 Senators, of whom-- (A) 8 shall be appointed by the Majority Leader; and (B) 8 shall be appointed by the Minority Leader. (2) Co-chairpersons.--The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall each designate 1 member of the Select Committee to serve as a Co-Chairperson of the Select Committee. (3) Deadline.--Not later than 14 days after the date of adoption of this resolution, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader shall each appoint all members and designate the Co- Chairpersons of the Select Committee. (4) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the Select Committee. (5) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the membership of the Select Committee-- (A) shall not affect its powers; and (B) shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs, in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (6) Departure of member.--If a member of the Select Committee ceases to be a Member of the Senate, the member is no longer a member of the Select Committee and a vacancy shall exist. (c) Funding.-- (1) In general.--The expenses of the Select Committee shall be paid from the Contingent Fund of the Senate, in a total amount of-- (A) not more than $1,500,000 for the period beginning on the date of adoption of this resolution and ending on September 30, 2019; and (B) not more than $2,600,000 for the period beginning on October 1, 2019 and ending on September 30, 2020. (2) Approval.-- (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the expenses of the Select Committee shall be paid upon vouchers approved by the Co-Chairpersons of the Select Committee, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Senate. (B) Vouchers not required.--Vouchers shall not be required for-- (i) the disbursement of salaries of employees paid at an annual rate; (ii) the payment of telecommunications provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper; [[Page S1711]] (iii) the payment of stationery supplies purchased through the Keeper of the Stationery; (iv) payments to the Postmaster of the Senate; (v) the payment of metered charges on copying equipment provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper; (vi) the payment of Senate Recording and Photographic Services; or (vii) the payment of franked and mass mail costs by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper. (d) Staffing.-- (1) In general.--The Co-Chairpersons of the Select Committee may jointly appoint and fix the compensation of employees of the Select Committee in accordance with the guidelines for employees of the Senate and following all applicable rules and employment requirements of the Senate (including those relating to employees of standing committees of the Senate). (2) Agency contributions.--There are authorized to be paid from the appropriations account for ``Inquiries and Investigations'' of the Senate such sums as may be necessary for agency contributions related to the compensation of employees of the Select Committee. (e) Jurisdiction; Functions.-- (1) Investigative jurisdiction.--The Select Committee shall have the authority to investigate and make findings regarding how inaction on the climate crisis is harming the economic and national security interests of the United States. (2) Meetings.-- (A) In general.--The Select Committee shall-- (i) meet at the call of the Co-Chairpersons; and (ii) hold its first meeting to plan the activities of the Select Committee not later than 30 days after the date of adoption of this resolution. (B) Agenda.--Not later than 48 hours before any meeting of the Select Committee, the Co-Chairpersons shall provide an agenda to the members of the Select Committee. (3) Hearings.-- (A) In general.--The Select Committee may, for the purpose of carrying out this section, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, require attendance of witnesses and production of books, papers, and documents, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Select Committee considers advisable. (B) All hearings public.--The hearings of the Select Committee in connection with any aspect of its investigative functions shall be public hearings. (C) Hearing procedures and responsibilities of co- chairpersons.-- (i) Announcement.--Not later than 7 days before any hearing of the Select Committee, the Co-Chairpersons shall make a public announcement of the date, place, time, and subject matter of the hearing, unless the Co-Chairpersons determine that there is good cause to hold the hearing at an earlier date. (ii) Equal representation of witnesses.--Each Co- Chairperson shall be entitled to select an equal number of witnesses for each hearing held by the Select Committee. (iii) Written statement.--A witness appearing before the Select Committee shall file a written statement of proposed testimony at least 2 days before the appearance of the witness, unless the requirement is waived by the Co- Chairpersons, following a joint determination that there is good cause for failure to comply with the requirement. (4) Minimum number of public meetings and hearings.--The Select Committee shall hold not less than a total of 5 public meetings or public hearings. (5) Technical assistance.--Upon written request of the Co- Chairpersons, a Federal agency, including an agency in the legislative branch, shall provide technical assistance to the Select Committee in order for the Select Committee to carry out its duties. (6) Coordination with standing committees of the senate.-- The Select Committee shall, in conducting official business, coordinate with standing committees with relevant jurisdiction. (7) No legislative jurisdiction.--The Select Committee shall not have legislative jurisdiction and shall have no authority to take legislative action on any bill or resolution. (f) Reporting.-- (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), not later than July 31, 2020, the Select Committee shall submit to the Senate and any relevant committee of the Senate a comprehensive report of the results of its investigations and studies, together with such detailed findings as it may determine advisable. (2) Separate reports.--If the Select Committee is not able to agree to a report described in paragraph (1) by a majority vote, each Co-Chairperson may submit to the Senate and any relevant committee of the Senate a report on behalf of the members of the Select Committee appointed by the Senate leader that appointed such Co-Chairperson regarding the results of the investigations and studies of the Select Committee. (3) Publication.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which a report under this subsection is submitted, the Select Committee shall make the report publicly available in widely accessible formats. (g) Termination.--The Select Committee shall terminate on October 1, 2020. Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, maybe Leader McConnell doesn't realize this, but because of the political stunt vote he is planning on his version of the Green New Deal, for the first time in a long time, the Senate is finally debating the issue of climate change, and if you ask me, it is about time. Climate change is an urgent crisis and an existential threat to our country and to our planet. The last 4 years have been the warmest 4 years on record. Sea levels are rising. Marine life and fishing communities are being destroyed. Wildfires have roared against the West. More powerful hurricanes have buffeted our coastlines. Over the next few decades, climate change will affect every part of American life--our health, our economy, our national security, and even our geography. So if there were ever an issue that demanded particular focus from this Chamber, it is climate change. That is why today I am introducing a resolution to create a select committee on climate change to correspond with the House committee that was created this year for the same purpose. For the same reason that we dedicate groups of Senators to focus on health, national security, judiciary, agriculture, and banking, we should have a bipartisan group of Senators who meet to focus on climate change, to hold hearings, to debate the issue, and to craft, refine, and enact legislation to address this problem. I understand that my friends on the other side of the aisle don't like the Green New Deal. OK, that is fine. What is your plan? Maybe a lot of Members think they can get away without having to answer the question. They will not. They will not. That is why we need a committee focused on this to bring Democrats and Republicans together on an issue that demands progress. So I will introduce a resolution to create a new committee on climate. Democrats believe this is an issue of surpassing importance. What do our Republican colleagues believe? We sincerely hope that our Republican friends will come around and view it the same way. Yet we are still trying to get the Republican leadership, and Republicans in the Senate in general, to answer three key questions. I ask once again. I have asked them every day. One, Leader McConnell, do you believe climate change is real? Two, Leader McConnell, does human activity contribute to it? And, three, should Congress take immediate action to address it? Our Republican friends are silent--silent. Some have argued that it is because they get so much money from the oil industry. Some have argued that it is because they don't believe in science. It is amazing that they can't even answer a simple question that is one of the leading questions of our time when two-thirds of all Americans believe that climate change is real and urgent. We are not trying to lock our Republican friends into any one or two solutions. We are not saying: Let's do it our way or the highway. As a first step, we want Republicans, particularly their leader, to agree with us that climate change is a problem that must be addressed. And what do we get from our Republican friends? Either silence or a stunt--putting on the floor a bill they will not vote for. That doesn't say anything. That doesn't address the problem. It is a stunt. That is all they can do. They can't come forward with a single positive thing to say or do. So they put a bill on the floor that they will not vote for--what a ruse. What a mocking of the way the Founding Fathers wanted democracy to work--it is a disgrace. That is why we need a committee. At least let them go forward with a committee, where Democrats and Republicans can discuss the issue, debate the issue, and perhaps come up with some bipartisan solutions. That is what we hope to achieve when we come to the floor and ask our friends, sincerely, if they agree with those three items, because climate change will not wait for the partisanship, which so often defines this Chamber, to ebb. It will not pause while one party is in power. Its impacts will not discriminate between red States and blue States. It is time to put our party affiliations aside and agree that we face a major crisis that is caused by humans and that we have an immediate and glaring need to address it. [[Page S1712]] ____________________
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