Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007

SCIENCE, STATE, JUSTICE, COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - June 28, 2006)

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Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of Congressman Pallone's amendment to provide funding to the National Academy of Sciences to study the impacts of global warming on our coastal areas.

Coastal communities are at serious risk from global warming. We must better understand the specific threats faced by each coastal community to give ourselves a chance to prepare.

As the Earth warms, the sea level is rising. Scientists tell us that global warming likely caused 4 to 8 inches of sea level rise in the last century. Over the next 100 years, we may see up to 3 additional feet of sea level rise.

Warmer water fuels more intense hurricanes and tropical storms. Coral reefs are being damaged by both warmer water and increased ocean acidity from carbon dioxide.

Coastal communities need to know what they are up against. The effects of sea level rise include coastal erosion, land loss, disappearing beaches, saltwater intrusion into underground drinking water supplies, higher storm surges, damages to houses and roads, and harm to fisheries. And we have already seen the devastation that hurricanes and tropical storms could wreak on our coastal communities.

Coastal communities, such as Los Angeles, will be affected by changes inland. One-third of our precious water supplies come from the Sierra snowpack.

Of course, we must do much more than just try to adapt to massive temperature rises. The costs of that are far too high. We must dramatically cut our greenhouse gas emissions over the next few decades to avoid highly dangerous and irreversible warming. That is why last week, together with Congressman Pallone and other colleagues, I introduced the Safe Climate Act. The Safe Climate Act reflects what science says we need to do to protect our children and grandchildren from disastrous climate changes.

While prompt action is necessary to avert the worst effects of climate change, this administration and the Congress are refusing to act. In the meantime, our coastal communities are at risk.

The Pallone amendment is a simple, commonsense measure to assess some of these vulnerabilities. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

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