Lead on the Crisis of Climate Change

Floor Speech

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Mr. HIMES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the opportunity we have today to lead on the crisis of climate change.

The climate change crisis is unlike any other that we have faced. It cannot be defeated on the battlefield; it cannot be cured; it cannot be wished away; and it, certainly, can no longer be denied.

What we can do is what we have always done and lead the community of nations to address a problem that would leave our children and their grandchildren with an unbelievable crisis and possibly a planet that they can no longer inhabit.

The Paris climate agreement was a set of targets that we developed that are not mandatory. The Paris climate agreement is about making a statement that this is a problem and a crisis, and that America will lead.

Today, this Chamber has an opportunity to say, yes, we will lead. We will not hide from the problem. We will not let this crisis distract us. We will lead.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9 today and to send a statement to the world that, as we have always done, we will lead on this global crisis.

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