E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

Vol. 160 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 No. 39—Part II Senate CLIMATE CHANGE—(Continued) timates somehow introduces signifi- I will talk a little bit about what is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cant doubt about what climate change happening with our Department of De- ator from Hawaii. is does violence to the very principles fense. There is growing consensus with- Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I thank on which science operates. in the Department of Defense that cli- the Senator from Delaware for his pow- This problem is no longer confined mate change is shaping the global secu- just to our wilderness areas or to those erful words and his participation in rity environment in new and profound of us concerned with biological diver- this great debate. ways which will affect the U.S. mili- There is plenty of room for a robust sity or environmental issues. In other discussion about what set of choices we words, this is no longer an environ- tary. Climate change is dramatically need to make in order to deal with this mental problem. This is an economic shaping the U.S. military’s strategic very real challenge. We are here to- one. All we have to do is look at the ex- operating environment. In its 2010 stra- night to ask for that discussion, for treme weather and the way it has af- tegic planning document, the Quadren- that debate, in the tradition of this fected both the Nation’s fiscal condi- nial Defense Review, the Department great body. Climate change is the chal- tion and our continuing ability to deal of Defense concluded that: lenge of our generation, and the debate with natural disasters, and the very While climate change alone does not cause of how we confront it belongs here in real possibility that many of our coast- conflict, it may act as an accelerant of insta- the Senate. al communities will be literally flooded bility or conflict, placing a burden to re- We have no illusions about being able by the end of the century. There is no spond on civilian institutions and militaries to reach the number of votes we need way we can allow this issue to remain around the world. to pass significant legislation during a priority for only one party in Amer- this Congress, but we must start this ican politics. This is everyone’s prob- The U.S. military concluded that it conversation now. We must start now. lem. This issue impacts every single is increasingly likely to be called on to We are here agreeing it is time for us American. respond to crises which manifest as a to find a way to work together to find Every single Senator should be down result of climate-related instability. solutions. here. This is our responsibility for fu- These include natural disasters which The Senate is supposed to be the ture generations, not just to preserve emanate from extreme weather events, place where we address and debate the birds and butterflies but to preserve which climate scientists expect to be- big issues. I hope we can work with the the American economy and our way of come more frequent and more severe as House on how best to tackle climate life. Scientists, leaders of States, cit- a result of climate change, because, change as well. But there is no room ies, and counties, the leadership in our like many first responders, the U.S. for those who deny science itself exists Department of Defense, the rest of the military has an obligation to respond or those who deliberately propagate world, the business community, the when called for help, and indeed, the misinformation and scare tactics be- largest insurance companies—which in- cause they profit from pollution. sure actual risk—all agree on the re- U.S. military is often the only organi- I know people are smart enough to ality of climate change. The only place zation capable of helping, with its know the difference between today’s where we are proceeding as if this is an fixed-and rotary-wing lift capacity and weather and what is generally hap- actual open question, as if the science personnel to get relief supplies to those pening with the climate. People cannot is not settled, is in the four corners of most in need. be misled into thinking that just be- the U.S. Capitol. Admiral Locklear, the head of the cause winter still exists, the planet I am not going to point to any one U.S. Pacific Command, headquartered isn’t warming in totality. We can’t pos- extreme weather event and say it was in my home State of Hawaii, said last sibly believe that because there was a caused by climate change, but climate year that climate change is the great- snowstorm last week, there is no such change has increased the likelihood of est long-term security threat in the thing as climate change. increasingly strong and frequent Asia-Pacific region, an area covering Since 1991, scientists have published storms, drought, and floods. more than 25,000 scholarly articles on Through the 1980s, the United States more than half the Earth’s surface area climate change. Only 26 out of the experienced an average of two to four and almost 60 percent of its population. more than 25,000 articles reject the ex- billion-dollar disasters per year for Upheaval and political instability from istence of climate change. This is 1 in storms severe enough to rack up more climate change, he said, ‘‘Is probably 1,000. The idea that because scientists, than $1 billion in damage. But 2011 and the most likely thing that is going to frankly, are scientists and always leave 2012 together experienced 25 individual happen . . . that will cripple the secu- a little room for additional informa- billion-dollar storm events. This is rity environment, probably more likely tion or for the possibility of revising over $25 billion in damages in just 2 than the other scenarios we all often their projections, assessments, and es- years. talk about.’’

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10MR6.000 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 Eleven retired three-star and four- climate change is underway already efficiency standards, energy efficiency, star admirals and generals in 2007 stat- and is causing economic damage and and removing lead from gasoline all ed that climate change is ‘‘a signifi- therefore needs to be insured and un- used the same arguments. They denied cant national security challenge’’ derwritten. From their standpoint, it was happening, they spread misin- which can serve as a ‘‘threat multiplier when billions and trillions of insurance formation, and they sowed fears of eco- for instability in some of the most and reinsurance dollars are in play, nomic destruction. In every case they volatile regions of the world.’’ they recognize what is real, which is were wrong. Climate change is also likely to im- the threat of climate change. Largely as a result of government pact the U.S. military’s facilities and When it is the highest stakes, projec- regulations between 1970 and 2011, total capabilities. America’s military instal- tions, and assessments, these people air pollution dropped 68 percent while lations may be particularly vulnerable look at the world with very clear eyes the U.S. gross domestic product grew to climate change, and the Department and say climate change is real. It is by 212 percent, more than doubling. of Defense has dedicated resources to happening now, and it is already caus- Well designed solutions to environ- assess the risks. According to a 2008 ing economic damage. When money is mental problems can, in fact, con- National Intelligence Council finding: on the line, whether these people are tribute to a healthier and growing More than 30 U.S. military installations Democrats, Republicans or Independ- economy. America can innovate its were already facing elevated levels of risk ents or do not vote, they are looking at way out of this problem. Inaction from rising sea levels. the facts and measuring the risk. They comes with financial costs. Climate The Department of Defense’s own have determined that this risk is al- change is absolutely right now hurting QDR acknowledged that the U.S. mili- ready upon us. It is not imaginary. our economy. It is affecting individual tary’s operational readiness hinges on Let’s talk about big business. Big fishermen everywhere from my home continued access to land, air, and sea businesses, from Nike to Coca-Cola to State of Hawaii, to the Presiding Offi- training and test space, which means Starbucks, and insurers like Lloyds of cer’s home State, to the lobstermen in ensuring that climate change does not London, recognize the economic threat Maine—which my good friend from prevent the military from accessing of climate change as well because it af- Maine has already discussed. these critical training and range areas. fects their bottom lines. For them it is A 2012 study commissioned by 20 gov- This may require costly intervention simple numbers. Their motivation is ernments which was written by more to adapt to sea level rise and other cli- simple: Protect the bottom line. With than 50 scientists, economists, and mate impacts that might otherwise un- billions and trillions of dollars at play, other experts found that climate dermine defense readiness and pre- risk experts such as Lloyds are making change is already contributing to mul- paredness. high stakes risk projections to protect tiple deaths per year costing the world The Department of Defense is already their business models. These projec- $1.2 trillion in 2010, and reducing global working to map out its vulnerabilities tions are telling them that the risk is GDP by 1.6 percent. with offices like the Strategic Environ- increasing. The study also said by 2030 the cost mental Research and Development Pro- For many multinational companies, of climate change and air pollution gram, helping installation planners de- climate change has moved from a cor- combined could rise to 3.2 percent of velop the tools they need and to plan porate social responsibility issue to a global GDP with a 2 percent hit to the accordingly. Climate change has be- bottom-line issue. They are starting to U.S. GDP. Similar effects could cost come an urgent national security chal- see the impact of unpredictable and ex- China $1.2 trillion. Every time we try lenge that our military cannot and will treme weather and realize that invest- to move forward with environmental or not ignore. ing in environmental protection means public health legislation there are peo- Secretary of State John Kerry was investing in the economy. Climate ple who will say that the U.S. economy right when he said that among the change affects the supply of key in- will collapse as a result. This happened global challenges ‘‘know no borders’’— puts, disrupts factories, demolishes in- with the Clean Air Act and the Clean ‘‘terrorism, epidemics, poverty, the frastructure, and drives up prices. The Water Act. Almost every time they are proliferation of weapons of mass de- economic calculus is shifting for them. proven wrong. struction’’—‘‘the reality is that cli- Major companies doing business in The American economy is an innova- mate change ranks right up there with America have signed the climate dec- tion economy. Whenever we require our every single one of them.’’ laration, which acknowledges that American companies to innovate, Let me talk about the insurance in- tackling climate change is one of whether in the interest of public dustry. I make this point about the De- America’s greatest economic opportu- health, the environment or the econ- partment of Defense not because this nities of the 21st Century, and it is the omy, they have thrived. They step up admiral or these generals are members right thing to do. These companies in- to the plate. Climate change is a chal- of the Sierra Club or the National Re- clude Apple, Avon, eBay, GM, Ikea, lenge where America can once again be sources Defense Council. It is because Intel, Levi’s, Mars, Microsoft, Nestle, the global leader. We have to believe in when they do their defense review, Nike, Owens Corning, Starbucks, Swiss our ability to innovate our way out of they have a single-minded objective: Re, Symantec, The North Face, and this problem. To analyze what they see as their stra- Unilever. If we do not make serious When the U.S. economy and our busi- tegic challenge. They are not grinding changes, the only thing we can be cer- nesses are presented with opportunities an ideological ax. They are talking tain of is that uncertainty will in- to innovate, they thrive. During the about what is real. crease. Extreme weather events, debate on the Clean Air Act we heard Insurers are risk experts in a dif- drought, floods, spreading infectious those standards would destroy the ferent way. They are not paid to care diseases, resource wars and other tests economy, but since 1970 every dollar in- about the environment or conservation of human civilization will test us re- vested in compliance with the Clean or future generations or to steward re- peatedly. Our economy thrives on cer- Air Act standards has actually pro- sources. If insurers have personal envi- tainty. Climate change increases un- duced $48 in economic benefits. It is ronmental opinions or whether they certainty. The pragmatic, conservative not just that the American economy voted for President Obama or Governor approach requires us to take action. and business can innovate and thrive in Romney, they do not bring that point We have heard the argument tonight, this context, it is also that we are still of view to the table when it comes to earlier in the evening from the Senator the indispensable Nation. America is risk assessment. They can only think from Oklahoma, from some in this still the Nation where other countries about and quantify risk. Their goal is body at other moments, about climate look to see whether real leadership will to figure out what is going to happen change today, that there is either be displayed. For that reason we need and how much it is going to cost to nothing we can do or that action will to act. cover it. What they are saying about be too expensive. Regulations will kill On this issue that affects every single global climate change is it is hap- jobs and hurt the economy, driving up American and the entire planet, we pening. Climate change is presenting prices on everything from gas to bread. cannot afford to give up on American real risk. They have determined that Opponents of the Clean Air Act, vehicle leadership. We have to believe in our

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.084 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1423 ideas and the power of our ability to Partnership has the enthusiastic sup- protected, we would be in the dark, and innovate, in the strength of our econ- port of our business community, the we would be unable to function. omy and in the American ideal that U.S. DOE and DOD, the State govern- I would like to start with the Ser- whatever problem our generation is ment and even our monopoly electric geant at Arms and all of its depart- faced with, we will meet it. utility company. By 2013 it would sur- ments: doorkeepers, capitol facilities, The idea—and we have heard it be- pass our 2015 goal of 15-percent clean media galleries, executive office, re- fore on this floor from climate change energy while having one of the lowest cording studio, printing and graphics, deniers—that we shouldn’t do anything unemployment rates in the Nation. Ha- direct mail, the fleet office, and the because China won’t do anything waii’s progress has taken creativity, U.S. Capitol Police. You keep our Sen- misses the point. If we do something, collaboration, and innovation, the ate orderly, safe, and functioning China will do something. same qualities that have helped Amer- smoothly, and we thank you for that. Some are saying let’s not do any- ica overcome other seemingly We almost must recognize the Sec- thing because of China and India. I am unsolvable problems. retary of the Senate: the executive of- saying let’s do something because of Transformation did not come easily fice, the office of the Bill Clerk, the China and India. If we lead here we will and would not have occurred without Captioning Services office, the Daily have the economic advantage. collaboration between Federal, State, Digest office, the office of the Enroll- In fact, China has already begun the county, and private sector partners. ing Clerk, the office of the Executive work to fight pollution and to transi- But because of their hard work, we are Clerk, the office of the Journal Clerk, tion to a clean energy economy. Last now on track to achieve the highest re- the Legislative Clerk, our Parliamen- week at the opening of China’s annual newable energy portfolio in the Nation, tarians, and the Official Reporters of meeting of the parliament, the Chinese with 40 percent by the year 2030. Not Debates. You maintain order in the Premier said that China will declare everything we are doing in the State of legislative process and record our ac- war on pollution in the coming years. Hawaii will work in all states, but we tions so this body’s work can be trans- China faces a two-fold threat of ex- are learning that some policies have parent and accountable to the Amer- treme local pollution and the effects of broad application. We know that cli- ican people, and we thank you. climate change, and it recognizes that mate change is a real problem, and The cloakrooms help to preserve transitioning to clean energy sources is that it is caused by humans, but we order on the floor so that our delibera- tions perpetuate the rule of law in our an economic and political stability im- also know that it is a problem that we great Nation, and we thank you. perative. can fix, and we know what to do. The Senate librarians and CRS make In January the executive secretary of The challenges of climate change it possible for us to make informed the U.N. Framework Convention on won’t disappear overnight if Congress statements based on the best informa- Climate Change said that China is acts, but for the U.S. or the world to ‘‘doing it right’’ as it begins to tackle tion available, and we thank you. fight climate change while Congress The Senate pages stepped away from climate change. She said that the Chi- sticks its head in the sand is like try- their usual classrooms and school- nese are ‘‘not doing this because they ing to fight with one hand tied behind mates to support our actions here and want to save the planet, they are doing their back. Americans agree that cli- participate in American democracy. it because it is in their national inter- mate change is real and caused by hu- We thank you. est.’’ mans. They agree that something must While all have roles to keep tonight The Chinese State Council’s Sep- be done. Congress is a necessary but moving smoothly, I would like to call tember Atmospheric Pollution Preven- not sufficient part of this problem, for special focus on the Official Reporters tion Action Plan set specific goals: A we face the biggest collective action of Debates. These folks transcribe reduction in the construction of new problem in the history of humankind— every word we speak here tonight for coal-fired power plants, a goal of gener- bigger than war, bigger than disease, the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, which is ating 13 percent of its electricity from bigger than poverty. then distributed the following day to clean energy resources by 2017. America must continue our role as a more than 20,000 subscribers. Last year China installed 12 to 14 leader that does not shy away from the In 1956, then-Senate majority leader gigawatts of solar panels and is ex- big problems. Climate change is an eco- Lyndon Johnson explained the impor- pected to do it again this year. Prior to nomic issue, a health issue, and a na- tance of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 2013 no country had ever added more tional security issue. Locked in its pages are the debate, than 8 gigawatts of solar in a single I would like to take a moment to rec- the resolutions, the bills, the memo- year. A price guarantee for utility- ognize the many professionals who rials, the petitions, and the legislative scale solar projects known as a feed-in have made tonight possible. The Sen- actions that are the reason for the ex- tariff, as well as low-cost panels drove ate stands out as the greatest delibera- istence of the Senate. Without them, this dramatic growth. China is taking tive body in the U.S. and, in my opin- our words tonight would be lost, so I decisive action. I, for one, do not want ion, the world. Even in our disagree- offer on behalf of all the Members who to give up on American leadership ments, our remarks are generally at have helped to coordinate tonight our here. least collegial and usually friendly. sincerest thanks. We have to believe in our ideas, in The reason is simple: Respect. Respect I am happy to yield to the Senators the power of our ability to innovate, for one another as representatives of from New Mexico and New Jersey if and the strength of our economy, and the concerns of our home States, re- they are ready; otherwise, I would be the American idea that whatever prob- spect for the diversity of experiences happy to continue to speak. lem our generation is faced with, we that qualify us to serve as Senators Does the Senator from New Mexico will address it. but, most of all, respect for this insti- need a few minutes to prepare or would I would like to talk a little bit about tution, which is so much more than the he like to start? our Hawaii experience. I have seen physical infrastructure. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. firsthand from our experience in Ha- Even for the short time I have had WHITEHOUSE). The Senator from New waii that with commitment and spe- the honor of serving, what I see is an Mexico. cific goals, real progress can be made. institution built on people. The Capitol Mr. HEINRICH. Speaking through We have led the way to building clean may be made of bricks and mortar, but the Chair to the Senator from Hawaii, energy infrastructure, producing re- the Senate lives and breathes through I am happy to get started and give an newable energy, and reducing our pe- the people who work here. Often in the opening statement and focus on the troleum dependency. I know we can course of our daily business, we thank State of New Mexico and some of the achieve this kind of change across the the people we work with for their help. climate impacts we have seen in the Nation. As Lieutenant Governor, I led But in light of the unusual demands last decade, and then perhaps engage in our efforts toward Hawaii’s 70-percent that our event requires tonight, I a conversation with my colleague the clean energy goal by the year 2030, and would like to thank not only the indi- Senator from New Jersey. we have made encouraging progress. viduals but their offices and depart- I think it bears saying that this is a The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative ments. Without them, we would be un- historic evening. This is an incredible

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.086 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1424 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 first step in recognizing the challenge New Mexico, it was actually the hot- peratures increase. As those tempera- that lies ahead. I am here tonight as a test year we have experienced since we tures increase, the humidity level in member of the climate change task started collecting temperature records. the fuels goes down, and the fuels burn force. I join my colleagues in calling With humidity levels lower and tem- hotter. The fuels are able to jump up for action on tackling what is unques- peratures higher, we are dealing with into the canopy and literally burn out tionably one of our country’s greatest fire behavior in the Southwest that is the entire forest. We can see a few challenges but a challenge we are up to markedly more intense than anything patches of green here. This is one of meeting. we have seen in the past. the most destructive fires in our We are here to illustrate, for start- When people think of the State of State’s history. ers, that climate change is not theo- New Mexico, and if they have not been Over the last 4 years alone, as I men- retical. We are here to discuss how to New Mexico, they often think of it tioned, we have seen the two largest sound science can be used to better un- as one of the southwestern arid desert fires in our State’s history. With ele- derstand and manage the very real im- low-elevation States. The reality that I vated temperatures, studies by Los Al- pacts of climate change that we are grew up with was the high elevation amos National Labs predict that three- seeing and to highlight the moral im- forests of New Mexico. We literally quarters of our evergreen forest in New perative we have in Congress to imple- have millions of acres of mountains Mexico could be gone by 2050. In my ment real solutions. and forests. If you just saw a photo, lifetime, three-quarters of our high-ele- I thought I would start tonight with you might say: Well, that looks like vation conifer evergreen forest could something that is just about anywhere Colorado or that looks like Montana. be gone. in the United States. If you are a gar- Those are all up and down our moun- These are places we rely on for our dener, if you are a farmer, if you are a tain ranges from the southern part of economy. They hold snow in the win- horticulturist, if you have an orchard the State. We have the Gila. Up in the ter. They produce an enormous number of fruit trees, you probably know these northern part of the State, we have the of jobs. We have approximately 68,000 maps. They are the U.S. Department of Santa Fe National Forest, the Carson jobs that are tied to public lands recre- Agriculture plant hardiness zone maps. National Forest, the Jemez mountains, ation in the State. Many of those are When I hear people deny our climate and the Sangre de Cristo mountains. centered around these high-elevation is changing and how much our climate One of the things that has evolved forests where people hunt for elk in the has already changed, I think it is very over the years which exists in the high fall. They produce the waters that helpful to look back to the year 1990— elevation western forests is the ability allow people to raft in the Rio Grande the year I graduated from high to deal with forest fire, in particular, during the summer. They are the school—and to look at the USDA plant our Ponderosa pine forests. We used to places where people cross-country and hardiness zone map for the United have a regime where every 10 years or alpine-ski in the winter. They are States and to compare it to the one so we would have a fire in those for- under direct threat from a changing that came out in 2006. What you see ests. That fire would not burn the for- climate. when you look at this map is literally est down. It would move through the We now know that the extreme every single plant hardiness zone. If Ponderosa pine. It would burn fine weather we are seeing comes at an you are a gardener, you take these to fuels, as we call them, such as the nee- enormous economic cost. There was a the bank. This tells you whether a cer- dles that fall from the canopy of the new study produced in the journal tain crop can grow in your zone. If you Ponderosa pine forest, the small pieces Frontiers in Ecology and Environment are in Minnesota, the answer to what is of woody debris, and the grass that that reveals the trend and how much going to thrive in your garden is going grows in between the Ponderosa pine ignoring this problem has cost the to be very different than if you are in trees, and it would sort of clean out the American taxpayer over the course of Arizona or New Mexico. What you see understory and it would leave this in- the last couple of decades. They went when you look at these maps is all of credible cathedral of high elevation back and looked at firefighting in the these zones have literally moved north. Ponderosa pine forest with grass in be- early 1990s, around 1993. The average In the case of my home State of New tween the trees, but that is changing. cost of fighting fires in our national Mexico, there are zones that existed in This incredibly sad photo is exhibit A forests at that time was $350 million a the northern part of the State—up on what happens when the temperature season. That is a lot of money; that is around Taos and Chama, and at a high increases just a little bit. We are seeing real money; and that is spread over elevation, where the Sangre de Cristo fire behavior in New Mexico that is many different States. Fast forward to mountains reach up to over 13,000 feet. like nothing in the historical record today, and on average we are spending There are zones that existed in 1990 and nothing within the context of nor- $2 billion, with a B, a fire season fight- that exist nowhere in the State today mal behavior. We are seeing what they ing fires. because it has warmed so much. In call stand-replacing fires. I believe this Yesterday the Washington Post re- fact, those zones only exist at the high- was a couple of months after the Las ported that the study’s conclusions est elevations in the State of Colorado Conchas fire a few years ago. If I re- ‘‘underscore what the agencies respon- to our north. member correctly, the Las Conchas fire sible for fighting wildfires—the Inte- I don’t think you can look at this was in 2011 in the Jemez mountains. It rior Department, the Agriculture De- map and say our climate is not getting was the single largest fire in our partment’s Forest Service—have said warmer. It captures year after year of State’s history at the time. Since then, for years. Global warming is accel- real-world experience of the people who we have had a bigger fire, the White- erating climate change in the West, re- rely on these maps to make sure our water-Baldy fire. sulting in winters with less precipita- food supply and all the plants we use What was particularly concerning tion and a drier landscape. The wildfire for other purposes as well are safe and about the Las Conchas fire is how it season that historically started in productive. burned—how intensely it burned, how June and ended in September now In my home State of New Mexico, it burned down slope with stand-replac- starts in May and ends in September.’’ one of the other impacts we are seeing ing flames, and how it literally didn’t I would say that in New Mexico we we have heard from other Western leave behind any of those big fire-pro- haven’t been lucky enough to have it States tonight, as well as up and down tected trees. Those Ponderosa pines are begin in May and end in September; we the intermountain West and the Rocky built to survive fire after fire through- have actually had some fires that were Mountains, has been the impact of for- out the course of their lives. They may completely outside of that window. est fire. We are seeing bigger fires and live to be 300 years old. They have such I remember a few years ago as I was drier summers. We are seeing more se- thick bark that typically in the past running for Congress in the fall of 2007, vere floods when it does rain and less they survived dozens and dozens of leading up to the 2008 elections, I snowpack in the winter. fires in the course of their lifetimes. watched as the Monzano Mountains In 2012, looking back just 2 years ago, As we can see from this, almost noth- near my home in Albuquerque burned it was our Nation’s second most ex- ing survived large parts of this fire, in November, around Thanksgiving treme year on record for weather. In and that is what we are seeing as tem- time. We saw extreme fire behavior

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.087 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1425 there—fires once again burning down snow and winter tourism impacts the same plant, but we will save that slope, in November, and fire behaviors called ‘‘Climate Impacts on the Winter for another day—pistachios, pecans, all even in the middle of the night that we Tourism Economy in the United of these things are tied to irrigation normally wouldn’t see except in the States.’’ That report, completed for the and the ability to irrigate hundreds of middle of the day in the middle of sum- Natural Resources Defense Council and square miles of agricultural land along mer. Protect Our Winters, an organization the Rio Grande throughout the State. It has been something that has founded in 2007 by professional In 1994, in the midnineties, Elephant touched our State dramatically. It hap- snowboarder Jeremy Jones, concluded Butte Reservoir was functioning as it pens now with such regularity that we that the economies that rely on winter had since the early 1900s, storing all of are almost used to it, but it puts lives sports tourists have a lot to lose if we that snowpack we talked about a few at risk. It puts property at risk. Many fail to take action on climate change. minutes ago, making sure it was re- people in this Chamber probably re- The Presiding Officer probably heard leased to serve agriculture, to extend member all of the brave firefighters some of the recent stories around the the irrigation season, to make sure who literally lost their lives in Arizona Sochi Olympics—stories I couldn’t those crops were realized. Then we last year fighting these fires. In fact, have imagined as a child—of literally began to get into this long-term, per- those firefighters helped on a New Mex- covering up huge amounts of snow to sistent drought. My colleagues have ico fire before in the very area we saw insulate it from the elements so it probably heard the stories about Cali- with the picture I showed of how the didn’t melt, so it could be used in some fornia and its drought and its impact Las Conchas fire burned. of those sports. The report states that on agriculture. New Mexico has experi- One of the related issues is the rela- December 2011 through February 2012 enced just as intense a reduction in tionship between the economy of my was the fourth warmest winter on snowpack, in predictability of summer home of New Mexico and the impact of record since 1896 and the third lowest precipitation. We get a lot of our mois- snowfall and how snowfall has changed snow cover extent since 1966 when sat- ture in the summer monsoon, the wet- as a result of a changing climate. ellites began giving us images just like test time of the year outside of the This is a map of the Four Corners these. winter. So we get some in the winter- States. This is Albuquerque, NM, here, When it doesn’t snow in the Inter- time in snowpack typically and then in Santa Fe; this is the Four Corners area mountain West, communities that rely the summertime we have the summer where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and on winter sports tourists take an enor- thunderstorms, and the predictability New Mexico all come together. Histori- mous economic hit. Fewer people lodge of that has all changed now. But as we cally, our economy relies very much on in their hotels, fewer people shop in can see, so has the quantity. not just rainfall and precipitation but their stores, and fewer people eat in Elephant Butte Reservoir is about 2 the value of a strong snowpack. Agri- their restaurants. If we were to ask the million acre feet in capacity. An acre culture in the Southwest does not work businesses in places such as Taos, NM, foot of water is literally taking an acre as it does in other parts of the country or Ruidoso in the south central part of of land and covering it in water 1 foot where crops are literally watered by the State, Red River and others spread deep. It is about 325,000 gallons, if my rain. We store our snowpack in res- across the high-elevation portions of memory serves me well. This is about 2 ervoirs. We rely on the fact that snow my State, they will tell us when there million acre feet. People can do the lasts longer and is released slowly from is no snow; they see an enormous re- math. But it is literally the largest sin- the high elevation forests and moun- duction in the amount of business ac- gle body of reservoir water for agri- tains. It gets stored in reservoirs and tivity, in the gross receipts in those culture and other uses in the State of then is used to irrigate hundreds of small towns, and it ripples through the New Mexico. square miles up and down the Rio entire economy. Fast forward to 2013. These were both Grande Valley throughout the heart of That report points out that ski re- taken in the same month, the month of New Mexico, as well as other valleys in sorts in the northern part of New Mex- July, which is kind of the height of the the State, such as the Pecos Valley. We ico are the primary drivers of New irrigation season. Three percent is have seen dramatic changes in the ex- Mexico’s $182 million ski industry. what was left in Elephant Butte Res- tent of both snow cover as well as the Winter tourism in New Mexico provides ervoir. It literally doesn’t even look amount of water that is stored in that more than 3,100 jobs. We are a State of like the same place. The northern ex- snow. only 2 million people, but 3,100 jobs has tent of the reservoir has been dry land These two images show snow cover in a $104 million impact on our economy. for much of the year in this photo. This 2010 and in 2014. They illustrate a trend In low snowfall years, New Mexico lost has enormous ramifications for agri- that is becoming all too common with out on an estimated $48 million in ski culture in our State and for other in- the current drought conditions and resort revenue and had nearly 600 fewer dustries that use and rely on that with warming winter temperatures. So jobs compared to higher snowfall years. water. 2010 was a relatively good year for us. Winter sports tourists are an ex- Farmers and ranchers are often first We had snow cover, as my colleagues tremely important part of my State’s to see the effects of extreme weather. A can see, across much of the northern economy, and I am very concerned that 2012 study found that by 2020, New Mex- part of the State. As we move into even if we continue to do nothing about cli- ico agriculture and ranching will lose higher elevation areas up in Colorado, mate change, we will lose those tourist $73 million annually due to climate very intense snows in the San Juans dollars. change. We can layer that on to the $48 that drain down into the Rio Grande, Climate change is very real and it is million we talked about a little while the San Juan rivers in New Mexico. If impacting our bottom line in the State ago from impacts to the winter ski sea- we look at the Mogollon Rim, which of New Mexico. Climate change is also son. We start to see the very real cost goes all the way from Gila, NM, up leaving a devastating imprint on our of not doing anything about climate through Arizona on its way toward the agricultural industry in the State of change. Grand Canyon, just a long, high-ele- New Mexico. These images are striking The agricultural sector is incredibly vation geologic feature that stores to me, and these are satellite images vulnerable due to the sustained threat snowpack for both Arizona and New from NASA. to the water supply, to soil and vegeta- Mexico, we can look over at the 2014 This is the largest reservoir in the tion from sustained drought. Livestock image and what we see is a dramatic State of New Mexico. It is called Ele- levels in many areas of New Mexico reduction in the amount of snow cover. phant Butte Reservoir. It is in the cen- were one-fifth of normal levels last As a result, the runoff we have experi- tral part of the State. If a person is year due to the scarce forage. So year enced in this drought has been a frac- used to growing up in a State such as after year of drought—not just 1 year tion of what we used to think of as nor- New Mexico and a person knows there but over and over again—is what leads mal. It is sort of the new normal. are certain crops that are just to this incredible inability to even In December of 2012, two researchers iconically connected to the State, in- manage water. We don’t have the water affiliated with the University of New cluding green chili being at the top of in the reservoir to be able to deal with Hampshire unveiled a study around the list, red chili—they are actually the fact that we are not getting enough

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.089 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1426 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 precipitation. We have over the years ergy resource. Increasing our energy to address the incredible challenge we sort of used our savings account, and efficiency in the residential sector, have with a warming globe. We need to now we are down to a very small commercial sector, industrial and gov- think big, we need to execute, and we amount of water that has to be ernmental sectors offers Americans need to innovate, as the Presiding Offi- stretched as far as we can in summer savings on their energy bills, opportu- cer said. irrigation season. We have seen a num- nities for more jobs, improves our Na- Innovation is going to be so impor- ber of parts of the Rio Grande run dry tion’s competitiveness, and it stretches tant as we deal with this issue. Frank- in the summer as a result. every tax dollar further. ly, in the United States we have met Things are only going to get worse if To help the Nation transition to issue after issue that people said could we don’t act and begin to address some cleaner and renewable sources of en- not be solved or was too big or would of these conditions. If we have any ergy, I am also supporting efforts to cost us too much. We turned those hope of reversing the effects of climate streamline permitting for renewable around and into opportunities to grow change—and we truly must—it is crit- energy projects on our public lands, new jobs and grow new industry. ical we embrace this challenge now and while protecting access to those public As we look at this particular chal- that we lead the world in innovation, lands for families and sportsmen to lenge, the real question is, is the eco- in efficiency, and in clean energy. enjoy. nomic activity that is going to be asso- As our colleagues Senators PORTMAN Another key to further development ciated with solving these challenges— and SHAHEEN know, there is no cleaner of renewable energy is to alleviate the are we going to get the benefit of those source of energy than the ones we don’t bottlenecks in our electric power grid. technologies? Are we going to get the use in the first place. Energy efficiency Much of our power grid was developed jobs from manufacturing, installing, and conservation should be the center- decades ago, some of it nearly 100 years developing those things or are we going piece of any strategy to address cli- ago, and I am working in New Mexico to cede that leadership to other coun- mate change. The easiest way we can to help tap our renewable resources by tries around the world? reduce the amount of carbon pollution, adding new transmission capacity and Even the sleeping giant in China, methane pollution, and other green- smart grids to an aging infrastructure. with all of their policies over the years house gases that make it into the at- We need to find better ways to make that have led to the incredible, dan- mosphere is to not use those in the sure new transmission projects are well gerous pollution levels we see—where first place. planned to protect the environment students actually put masks on statues Conservation pays enormous divi- but can also move forward in a reason- in China to make a political point that dends. I remember when my wife and I able timeframe. Whether for our na- there is no clean air to be had—even bought our first home, we decided we tional security, our energy independ- China is realizing they have to invest wanted to make it as sustainable as we ence or our Nation’s ability to compete in this innovation, that they have a na- could, but it was a retrofit, so where do in the global economy, our efforts and tional interest in it. we start. Well, we have had solar on our solutions should be rooted in fact We have the most innovative folks in the roof of that home in Albuquerque and driven by the best available the world. We have our National Lab- for many years now, but that is not science. oratories. We have scientists and entre- where we started. That wasn’t the first As we heard earlier tonight from our preneurs who can come up with solu- place we put our investment. It friend and colleague from Oklahoma, tions that will take us further than we wouldn’t have made sense. The first not everyone agrees. There are some have seen with the incredible growth in thing we did is we insulated a home who deny that climate change exists. wind and solar in the last few years. that had been built without insulation. There are some who are simply para- We need to make the commitment and We replaced windows that were leaking lyzed by how big the problem is—the move from just having a debate about warm air to the outside all through the fear of the economic or political costs these issues to employing the policy wintertime, not keeping cool air inside along the way. But one of the things changes that will drive that innova- during the summertime. Efficiency is that has bothered me the most, as we tion. absolutely critical if we are going to have had this debate, is too often we (Mr. SCHATZ assumed the Chair) begin to address our overall energy see scientific integrity undermined. We Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Will the Senator usage in this country and to reduce the see scientific research politicized in an yield for a question? amount of carbon pollution in par- effort to advance ideological or purely Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, I ticular we are putting into the atmos- political agendas or to protect certain would be happy to yield to the Senator phere. industries and interests. Too often we from Rhode Island. Getting the most out of each unit of see that some in Washington believe Mr. WHITEHOUSE. The Senator’s energy, kilowatt, Btu should be a con- they are not just entitled to their own point about China makes me think cern at every level of our government. opinions but believe they are somehow that if you look at the behavior of the The U.S. Federal Government is the entitled to their own facts. Frankly, Chinese with respect to this power, you largest energy consumer in our coun- none of us are entitled to our own see a couple things. You see, first of try, and the Federal Government has facts. all, that they have worked very hard to an obligation to lead by example when No area of innovation in science will try to undercut our domestic innova- it comes to energy performance. be more important than our Nation’s tion by dropping prices on solar artifi- We heard a lot about the transpor- ability to tackle climate change and cially. You see that particularly if you tation sector and the advances we have lead the world in clean energy tech- are involved on the Intelligence and made due to the fuel economy stand- nology. We saw a lot of information Armed Services side, the extraordinary ards. But buildings are also an enor- earlier in the evening about the incred- efforts they have made to hack into mous part of our carbon and our pollu- ible growth we have seen in renewable our intellectual property and to try to tion footprint in this country. They ac- sources of energy in recent years, par- steal it back to China so their compa- count for about 40 percent of our en- ticularly in wind and solar. The cost of nies can compete unfairly against ours. ergy use, and they offer the greatest solar has come down precipitously in When you see this activity, particu- opportunities for savings. Investing in recent times. It reminds me that in larly in the area of solar and renew- energy efficiency in those buildings 1961 President John F. Kennedy made a ables, and you see the extent to which isn’t just good for our environment and bold claim that an American would the Chinese are investing in solar and for reducing air pollution; it is lit- walk on the Moon by the end of the renewables, what conclusion must one erally one of the fastest and most cost- decade. To many people that seemed draw about what the Chinese see as the effective ways to grow our economy. absolutely ludicrous. future of solar and renewables? We have seen business energy effi- This is a similar challenge we face. Mr. HEINRICH. The Senator from ciency take off in recent years and Eight years after President Kennedy Rhode Island brings up a very good produce high-quality jobs all across made that claim, Neil Armstrong did point because obviously the Chinese this country. Energy efficiency is a just that. It did not even take a decade. have come to the conclusion that it is large, low-cost, underutilized U.S. en- We need that kind of effort to be able in their best interests to innovate and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.090 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1427 to do it as rapidly as possible. He For all of us who are competitive and Locklear commented that ‘‘People are sur- brings up some issues that, frankly, are have this belief that this Nation of prised sometimes’’ that he highlights cli- not necessarily what I would call the ours should remain a leader in the mate change—despite an ability to discuss a most responsible or moral ways to globe, the Senator from Rhode Island wide range of threats from cyber-war to the North Koreans. However, it is the risks— move rapidly through that ladder of in- makes a very good point. We are a na- from natural disasters, to long-term sea novation. But, nonetheless, it is unmis- tion that has led in innovation, led in level rise threats, to Pacific Nations—that takable that they are realizing just ingenuity. Generation after generation, have his deepest attention. how important this is. we have seen our country excel and ex- Here he is being quoted: I think it is important for us to come ceed economically because of American to the same conclusion. I think it is You have the real potential here in the innovation. not-too-distant future of nations displaced important for us to realize if we cede What the Senator from Rhode Island by rising sea levels. Certainly weather pat- these industries to China, they will be brings up so pointedly is that in this terns are more severe than they have been in selling us the products of the future. area—the technologies of the future the past. We are on super typhoon 27 or 28 We have seen this already with their that are going to have us have an abil- this year in the Western Pacific. The average ability to undercut the price and artifi- ity to produce the energy of the fu- is about 17. Climate change merits national cially lower the cost of producing solar ture—America runs the risk of falling security military attention for very prag- panels and how deleterious that has behind some of our most fierce com- matic reasons. been to our domestic manufacturing petitors. So the Senator from Rhode Island— base for those technologies. But what I would like to ask the Sen- we have talked about many things to- We need to make sure we are making ator from Rhode Island—because it night—understands this issue, and he is the technologies of tomorrow’s clean goes further than that—we know that one of the motivating factors for an energy economy here and installing as to the challenges of the future, we amazing array of Senators from all those technologies ourselves and get- can look at the past and see how eco- around the country tonight to be talk- ting the jobs, all the way from the in- nomic policy has so dramatically influ- ing about the impacts on our indi- novation to the manufacturing, to the enced foreign policy. You can go back vidual States, which I hope to do about supply chain, to make sure we see the to right after World War II, how Amer- New Jersey soon. opportunities in this as well as other ica’s economic dominance helped us to But the bigger issues at stake are challenges. advance. long-term economic competitiveness, I think what motivated me to be part Looking at the Suez crisis, when which the Senator from New Mexico of tonight is that, similar to the Pre- America and Britain had different has talked about, and also the threat siding Officer, I have a couple of young agendas, it was a fact that we held that our military experts see to our kids at home—a 7-year-old named their debt, that we had the economic Nation and global security. I wonder if Micah, a 10-year-old—soon to be 11 advantage that allowed us to press our the Senator for a moment would com- years old—named Carter. interests, but there are other threats ment on that. When I think of some of the issues too. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. On the point the the Senator from Rhode Island brought What is interesting to me is, as has Senator from New Jersey makes about up and the briefings I receive on the In- been stated tonight already—and I economic power being the foundation telligence Committee—and not only would love to talk to folks because for military power and the power of the intellectual property theft that has both of you have already talked about persuasion around the globe, one really been reported in the open media but Senate intelligence briefings and mili- does not have to look any further than also the impacts we are seeing in tary briefings—I would like to read back to the decline and fall of the So- places such as Central Asia, the gla- from a document that talks about viet Union, which is widely viewed as ciers that an enormous part of the Navy ADM Samuel J. Locklear, III, the being based on a country that spent so world’s population relies on for their commander of U.S. forces in the Pa- much on its military without an under- fresh water, a place that has inherent cific, stating very dramatically—and I lying economic engine powerful enough and sometimes volatile conflicts right would love to get the reaction of the to support it that it finally fell in. below the surface, where Pakistan and Senator from Rhode Island to this— So when we are looking out at a India and other countries come to- that significant upheaval related to the clean energy market that has been es- gether—when we look around South- warming of the planet, the admiral timated to be a $6 trillion market, the east Asia and realize there is an enor- says, ‘‘is probably the most likely idea that it is in America’s interest to mous amount of the world’s population thing that is going to happen . . . that cede that entire market to the Chinese, will cripple the security environment, living just a few feet above sea level to let them be the manufacturers, to probably more likely than the other who are exposed to those superstorms trust that we will be fine if they are scenarios we all often talk about.’’ in a way that even those of us who manufacturing solar and wind and all You see, Admiral Locklear focuses on have had to deal with superstorms such of the new battery technologies and risk management and preparedness for as Sandy cannot imagine because they that we are just consumers of that, is our Nation. He does not have time for did not have a home to shelter in or at crazy. That economic weakness has na- philosophy. He does not have time for least a home that looks like the places tional security overtones. politics. He is focusing on a concrete we have, it certainly sobers one. In addition, as the distinguished Sen- risk analysis when it comes to the safe- I see the Senator from New Jersey is ator from New Jersey pointed out, in ty, security, and preparedness of our here. addition to Admiral Locklear—and the Mr. BOOKER. If I may interrupt for a Nation. distinguished Senator from Hawaii question because I would like to stay He goes on: mentioned Admiral Locklear as well, on point. While resilience in the security environ- but he is not alone. Secretary Mabus, Mr. HEINRICH. Absolutely. ment is traditionally understood as the abil- Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- ity to recover from a crisis, using the term Secretary of the Navy, has pointed out sent to engage in a colloquy with the in the context of national security expands the same thing. We are at risk from Senator from New Jersey who knows its meaning to include crisis prevention. global warming from a national secu- firsthand what some of these super- I read on: rity perspective. The Joint Chiefs of storms are capable of. Admiral Samuel Locklear had a meeting Staff is on record about the national The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the other day with national security experts security consequences of climate objection, it is so ordered. at Tufts and Harvard. After this session, he change to our country. As the Senator Mr. BOOKER. I would like to con- met with a reporter who asked him what the from New Mexico knows from his time top security threat was in the Pacific Ocean. tinue to have the Senator from Rhode on the Intelligence Committee, there Rather than highlighting Chinese ballistic are NIEs—National Intelligence Esti- Island as well involved in this colloquy. missiles, the new Chinese Navy aircraft car- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without rier, North Korean nuclear weapons, or other mates—that speak to the danger cli- objection, it is so ordered. traditional military threats, Admiral mate change presents for America, for Mr. BOOKER. Because he brings up a Locklear looked to a larger definition of na- our national security interests when it tremendous point. tional security. happens in other lands. The Defense

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.091 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1428 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 Quadrennial Review, which is the key what moved me about your remarks—I maybe we can put up this other image document that drives our defense pol- have to say, again, I am a new Senator. too, because normally the fires lie icy, has over and over again empha- But the Presiding Officer and I have down at night. That is what they used sized climate change as a national se- both gotten to know the Senator from to do, at least. Here you can see the curity risk, as a liability for our coun- New Mexico. The Senator lives and fire burning north of Los Alamos in the try. So, yes, it is very important that bleeds New Mexico. Our conversations Jemez mountains in the middle of the we deal with this. when we are in the cloakroom are night. You can imagine, this was sort I had a conversation with Henry Kis- amazing. I have learned more about of a scene from Espanola and Santa Fe singer the other day. He was speaking New Mexico than the Jersey boy ever across the valley. Everyone I talked to generally. He used an interesting did back in my own State. It is amaz- at the time had never seen a conflagra- phrase. He said that the big upheavals ing the pride with which you talk tion in the northern part of the State and revolutions in the world have al- about your State. I hope your constitu- quite like it. ways come from a confluence of resent- ents understand how much you are One community that was particu- ment—a confluence of resentment. about New Mexico every day you are larly impacted and is still recovering So I would add to the immediate risk here. today is Santa Clara Pueblo. They have of climate change causing upheaval What was amazing to me as I listened this incredible, beautiful canyon that and causing military problems that to you speak was the numbers that is tied to their identity and their reli- threaten our national security interest rolled off your tongue about the finan- gion and who they are as a people. Un- the larger problem is that America cial impact of climate change on the fortunately, this fire burned the head- stands for something in this world, and New Mexico economy. When you start- waters of that canyon, and that pro- we all benefit because America stands ed talking about the billions—you em- duces the water for their irrigation, as for something in this world, and the phasized ‘‘b’’—spent on fire protection, well as with the Rio Grande. It is more rest of the world knows it. If we come you mentioned the grievous loss of life than just economics. It is an identity. to the point where around the world of firefighters in Arizona who nobly It is a place that cannot be separated people are seeing in their homes, in fought fires in New Mexico. You talked from the community and the people their lives, in their villages, in their about the grievous impact—hundreds there. hamlets, and on their shores the effects of millions of dollars—on industries in The impact of that, unlike a typical of climate change and it is bad for your State, and those numbers, to me, disaster we think about, such as an them—the fish they used to catch are which fly off the tongue, represent earthquake, where you have the dis- not there; the crops they used to grow jobs, represent government tax dollars aster and then you have the recovery will not grow any longer; the river which are being used in your State to from the disaster, these fires in these they used to irrigate is not running as fight forest fires but which could be re- communities happen multiple times. strong any longer; and their lives have invested in the things that rebuild in- You have the fire, and it is usually in been hurt as a result of that, and they frastructure, educate children, do re- May or June, which is the driest time look around, what greater resentment search. of the year in the State of New Mexico. could there be than a resentment of the It is an undeniable fact that fires are It is the time when the snowpack is country that knew this was coming, burning hotter, that reservoirs are get- long gone and we have not had precipi- that said it was a leadership nation, ting emptier, and that is having a seri- tation, oftentimes in months. Then you and that did nothing about it when it ous impact on your economy, but this get these early lightning strikes that knew. is the truth about our country: We are do not actually have rain associated Now, there is a confluence of resent- not New Mexico, Rhode Island, New ment around the world. That, too, cre- with them. Jersey, Hawaii; we are the United You have the fire. Finally, the fire ates a national security risk for our States of America. As much as we goes out when the rains come, and then country. Mr. BOOKER. I appreciate that from might think your economy is insulated you have the thunderstorms that come the Senator from Rhode Island. I have from mine, that is not true. When I and flood these communities and take only been in the Senate for about 4 heard Senator KLOBUCHAR talking their farmland and bury it under 6 months. As soon as I made a decision about what it is doing to crops in her inches of cobble and gravel or a foot of to run for this office, I asked for na- State, that affects food prices in New everything but topsoil, so they cannot tional security briefings to study hot Jersey. When I heard the Senator from use it. You have roads literally impass- points in our country. I figured if I was Maine talking about the lobster indus- able and infrastructure destroyed, irri- going to win this office, New Jersey try, we eat lobster in New Jersey as gation ditches that have been in place would expect me to be prepared to well. We are one integrated economy. for hundreds of years blown out or serve and deal with national security King said it so profoundly—that ‘‘in- filled with sediment so they cannot be issues. justice anywhere is a threat to justice used. I was amazed that, when I was being everywhere.’’ It happens not just that first year, briefed by a group of folks who focus on So if the Senator would comment for but until these places recover with national security issues, a general me a little deeper because I know when some sort of vegetation—I have to say came up to the briefings in New Jersey you leave here and go back to your that they are not coming back as the as well and began to be very intent and State, you are not looking at data or same kind of forest in many cases. But intense on letting me understand that the statistics, you are talking to peo- as the vegetation does recover, you fi- the military is not waiting for us to ple whose lives are not just being dis- nally get a more moderated situation figure this out in Congress. They are rupted by climate change but severely where you do not get those floods. preparing. He told me about flying affected, I wonder if the Senator But I just have been too many times planes on biofuels, thinking about the could—we have seen lots of data and now with people at the Pueblos Nambe resiliency of our military bases here charts tonight and all day, but I was across the valley, same situation, dif- and abroad. It was amazing to hear this hoping the Senator could speak a little ferent fire. It is touching everyone and general talk in such fierce pragmatism bit more to the grievous financial dam- their communities. It is really a strug- about what we must do to protect the age it is doing in our interconnected gle, when we cannot even recognize the safety and the sanctity of our country. economy, to the people of your State problem here in Washington, DC, to But I will tell you this: We are in a and thus to the people of America. look at my constituents, you know, bad economy right now. When I go Mr. HEINRICH. I thank my friend and say: Hopefully, through FEMA and back to New Jersey, I hear people talk- the Senator from New Jersey. These other measures, we can address the ing to me about jobs. I hear people issues have such a profound impact on emergency. But we have to start ad- talking to me about government spend- individual people and communities. dressing the problem. ing. I hear about the strength of our When I think back to that Las Conchas I want to ask the Senator from New country. fire that I talked about a little bit in Jersey—I mean, your State just came If the Senator from New Mexico my comments, I cannot help but think through one of the most unbelievable would allow me to ask him a question, about Santa Clara Pueblo. Actually, superstorms in our country’s recent

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.093 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1429 history with Superstorm Sandy. I can Mr. BOOKER. The Senator has it. themselves with artificial heat. It pro- only imagine—we have very different But before I get to my Senate col- duced carbon monoxide from which States. My problem is usually not league from Rhode Island, allow me for they died. Hurricane Sandy displaced enough moisture. Oftentimes in ex- a moment to answer the question of more than 116,000 people and damaged treme weather events you have too my colleague because I am grateful or destroyed 346,000 homes in New Jer- much. We certainly do not have coastal that he asked me about what is hap- sey. issues. I would love to hear more about pening in New Jersey. We have seen in our State these hor- the direct economic impact of what it We know this, that no storm, no rific stories and know for a fact that meant—the Senator from New Jersey flood, no drought, was caused sin- should more hurricanes hit with rising is someone who comes to this Chamber gularly—no single episode could be said sea levels, they are going to do more with something that I value enor- to be caused by climate change. That and more extreme damage. mously, which is the experience of gov- would be irresponsible and give an What I wanted to do, in answer to erning at the local level where you are opening for those people who choose to your question, is those were numbers, close to the people. I was a city coun- criticize those who talk about climate but the stories that came from Hurri- cilor. You were a mayor of a huge city. change, give an opening to pounce on cane Sandy rip your gut. This is one story of Christina, a You know what those impacts are to that. infrastructure and economy and to But we do know, when these extreme homeowner from Toms River, as re- ported in the Huffington Post. They small businesses when a storm such as weather events happen—and I believe had evacuated her house before Hurri- that hits your State. I would love to they are happening more frequently be- cane Sandy hit, Christina did, and then have a little bit of that perspective be- cause of climate change—what we returning found a mysterious note. The cause I think it is important, as this know factually is that when these ex- grows and grows and the challenge letter was hastily scrawled by a person treme weather events happen, they be- who had broken into her house and faces us head-on, to understand how it come more extreme because of indis- is impacting your constituents and taken a blanket and a black jacket to putable climate change that is hap- keep hypothermia at bay. The author their small businesses and all of the pening. things you have direct experience with of the note was sure he was dying. Forest fires, as the Senator said, be- These storms rushed in so quickly from your local government work. come more extreme because of a warm- Mr. BOOKER. I am grateful to the and so severely that it put people in ing climate. We know in New Jersey, conditions where life and death hap- Senator from New Mexico for giving and we have seen painfully from Hurri- me this opportunity to say a word pened quickly. cane Sandy, that when flooding hap- I saw them as mayor of Newark. One about my State. To keep the conversa- pens it is more extreme and more se- of the people who died in my city due tion going, if the Senator from Rhode vere because of rising sea water. to Hurricane Sandy was with folks we Island would indulge me in answering We know in New Jersey that the came to evacuate from Sandy in a low- that question, but I would like to get storm had painful effects. Let me put it lying area east of Newark. I will never back to the Senator from Rhode Island. in numbers, and then I want to talk forget this because the group of men I want to say to the people who are about people. said they did not want to leave. They watching this, perhaps on C–SPAN or The numbers that affect people so were going to stay on the higher floor others, the reason why I am so grateful dramatically are powerful. I am going of a structure, but one of them went to to the Senator from Rhode Island is be- to read some of them. This is a Rutgers move his car at the exact time the cause I have been here, again, for a lit- University report that rising sea levels, water was rushing in so quickly and so tle over 4 months. But the Senator as I mentioned before, mean hurricanes fast that he drowned in his car. from Rhode Island is—and forgive me if will produce more severe damage such This story continues. The man iden- this sounds in any way disrespectful to as the damage caused by Hurricane tified himself as a 28-year-old man say it this way, but I almost think the Sandy, more frequent extreme weather named Mike and left contact informa- Senator from Rhode Island reminds me events, heat waves. Inland flooding tion so that the homeowner could con- of the movie ‘‘Shawshank Redemp- from heavy rains present a growing tact his father and tell him he had tion.’’ I say that because one of my fa- challenge to our New Jersey economy, died. vorite moments in Shawshank was to the environment, and to the every- The note reads: Whoever reads this, I that guy—— day way of life of New Jerseyans and I am dying. I am a 28-year-old. My name Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I am just waiting is Mike. I had to break into your to hear what character I remind the say to Americans. The images left by Sandy’s wakes are house. I took blankets off the couch. I Senator of, because this could be for have hypothermia. I didn’t take any- good or it could be for very ill. seared into the minds of so many New Jerseyans. We saw what happened to thing. A wave threw me out of my Mr. BOOKER. No. I am reminded house and down the block. I don’t that Morgan Freeman or the main some of the most precious parts of our State up and down the coast. The think I am going to make it. The water character of the movie wanted to get a is 10-feet deep at least. There is no res- library for the prison. Frankly, their State’s vulnerability to these extremes we see, the storm and its immediate cue. Tell my dad I love him, and I am strategy was every single day they sent trying to get out. His number is—he a letter. The reason why I have great aftermath resulted in 34 people dying in the State of New Jersey, and it cost gives it to the newspaper and his name respect for the Senator from Rhode Is- is Tony. New Jerseyans an estimated $37 billion. land is he has been relentless, to my He continues: I hope you can read knowledge, in a way I did not know The storm, in its entirety, impacted there in the dark. I took a black jacket about before I came to the Senate—but and claimed more than 150 lives and ex- too. God Almighty, help me. relentlessly and constantly nonstop, ceeded $50 billion in damage. In New The heartbreaking last words of a not only one time when we are going Jersey, nearly 7 million people and Hurricane Sandy victim made its for an entire day, but every single 1,000 schools lost power. Transit sys- rounds on social media. In an interview week going to the floor and speaking to tems and streets were completely later, Mike told listeners the this issue, speaking truth to power, flooded, damaging our infrastructure. harrowing story of how he was swept using his office to try to not only More than 8,000 jobs were lost in the out to sea. speak to issues pertaining only to his month after the storm. I wish to give a couple more quick vi- State, but to speak to issues that re- (Mr. WHITEHOUSE assumed the gnettes. This is Theresa, 41, Middlesex late to our planet, and I have generated Chair.) County, NJ: Walking out of my house a lot of respect for the Senator in his There were power interruptions that the morning after the storm and seeing consistency. lasted for days and days, putting peo- my neighbors, it was unreal. It was Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I appreciate that ple into hardship. As the mayor of a like a war zone. We were unprepared very much. city, I saw that the power disruptions for what happened. Let me say for the RECORD I would be actually cost people lives. There were June, 51, Union Beach, NJ: Living Morgan Freeman all day long and all two people who were without power in through the storm in one of the hard- night long, for that matter. the city of Newark who tried to sustain est hit bay towns of New Jersey, I

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.094 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1430 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 learned that God is good. In the midst about what are the policies we are Mr. HEINRICH. Before there was a of the hardship and trauma, I saw His going to put in place to make sure we Tesla, when I was in college in the love through average people, people do meet that challenge. How are we early 1990s—and this is one of the who care enough to smile, serve, hug, going to do it in a way that recognizes things that makes me such a strong be- and weep with me. I saw such compas- what the Senator from New Jersey had liever in innovation and really gives sion in the young and old. I saw the said a number of times tonight, that me the optimism to say that we can do best in humanity. right now people care so much in this just about anything as a country when This is what should be driving us at country about the fact that we need we set our mind to it—my fellow stu- the core. The heroism we see at these jobs and we need economic develop- dents and I joined the Sun race in 1993. extreme weather conditions, made ment. Even though one can look at the At the college I attended, a number of worse by climate change, shows the stock market and say there has been my colleagues who were studying elec- grit of America. It shows our strength some sort of recovery in this country, trical engineering—I was studying me- and our courage, our willingness to be most of our constituents will tell us chanical engineering, and we had peo- there for one another in times of crisis. they are not feeling it. ple who were studying material But the point of the matter is we are We have an opportunity to create a science—we all got together and we de- in a larger crisis right now, and that whole new generation of jobs. The signed and built a car, a solar car, that demands we should act. There is an old question is are we going to create them we raced across the United States. We saying the only thing necessary for evil in the United States or are we going to raced from Dallas, TX, up to Min- to triumph is for good people to do let someone else create them some- neapolis, MN. nothing. Well, good people in New Jer- where else in the world. People were asking us along the way: sey did a lot during Hurricane Sandy as One of the speakers earlier tonight, When are we going to be driving solar our State had billions of dollars of the Senator from Massachusetts, cars? That really wasn’t quite the damage to their communities, dis- brought up the incredible innovation point, but it was a great opening to say placed people who are still not back in that has happened in recent years in this isn’t about having solar cars. We their homes. But as we look at rising the auto industry with hybrids, plug-in are not going to have solar cars be- sea levels in and around New Jersey, hybrids, and even electric vehicles. cause you need a pretty big car to get we know that if future storms hit that Certainly my State is one of the South- enough sunlight to do the job. But it is the damage as the sea level rises will western States competing, if you will, about driving that innovation and en- be increasingly worse. So we have an to try to get Tesla, a disruptive tech- gaging the best—and we have the affirmative obligation to act. That is nology manufacturing company, to best—education system at the colle- who we are as Americans. We see that possibly put their battery manufac- giate level in the world and putting right now in our country there is a cri- turing facility in the State of New that to work to make sure we are grow- sis. It is unmistakable. Every Senator Mexico. They are looking at a number ing the next generation of jobs and the of States in the Southwest, but we who has spoken tonight has pointed to opportunity that represents. charts with the facts. We talked earlier think with our combination of two na- While there are not solar cars riding about the military recognizing what is tional laboratories, Los Alamos and around in the United States today, happening. They are active. Sandia, the rail lines that we have in there are now electric cars, and many But of this body, the question will be the State, the innovativeness around of the fundamental innovations we asked, did this body, when the evidence renewable energy that is part of their made are now showing up throughout was clear, when the damage was being values, that we offer something unique the auto industry. In fact, one of the done, when homeowner after family we hope they will look at as their site things, if you look at how disruptive and where to put that facility. But after neighborhood after farm town the Toyota Prius was a few years ago, think of all the jobs in an industry and after urban area—when we knew the one of the reasons why it was so effi- a company that a few years ago a few crisis was coming, did we do everything cient was a little thing called regenera- we could to prevent that challenge, people wouldn’t have believed in. Mr. BOOKER. I beg the indulgence of tive braking, where when you step on that damage, that infliction of eco- the Senator, because I am going to put the brakes, instead of all that energy nomic, emotional, physical pain from him on the spot. The Senator was talk- being wasted, the heat through the coming? ing about Tesla, the innovative com- brakes is turned into electricity and I ask the Senator, as I wish to switch pany of today. The Senator and I were put back in the batteries in the car. back in a second, the cost of not doing sharing stories earlier, and this goes to Now you are seeing that in hybrids anything is great. But the Senator the point of the ingenuity of our coun- throughout the auto industry. That is mentioned before the benefit of acting. try. I know some of the people involved something we used in the early 1990s in I thought that was one of the more in Tesla, and they are so inspiring. this contest with our solar car. powerful remarks of the Senator. But But the Senator, years ago, when he We had LED lights long before any- actually there are rewards for acting, was in not quite in high school or col- body had LED lights in their cars. We in creating economic activity, in cre- lege—— were making turn signals and lights on ating jobs, in improving environmental Mr. HEINRICH. College. the solar car with LEDs. We built our conditions, and in saving money. Mr. BOOKER. College. The Senator car out of carbon fiber. It kind of I was wondering if the Senator would got involved in building solar cars and looked like an upside-down wing. All of highlight some more of that intel- racing around our country. To me, that these kinds of innovations are now ligent, enlightened action that could is a tribute to the lessons of what you standard fare. They are things that get actually not be as much of a sacrifice are talking about; that is, No. 1, we are used in the American auto industry in as people are talking about at the be- the leader globally in innovation, but cars built right here in the United ginning. we are also one of the leaders globally States to make all of our cars more ef- Mr. HEINRICH. Through the Chair, I in education and training and pre- ficient and to create some really good thank the Senator from New Jersey in paring people. jobs along the way. particular for sharing those stories, be- So this idea—and I see it in schools I believe we ought to be able to do cause we need to take some inspiration in Newark and in New Jersey—is kids that more broadly with clean energy from people all across this country, innovating in robotics competitions, technology to help address some of and certainly in New Jersey, who have kids innovating in sciences, kids using these climate issues. faced up to incredible challenges such technology and using the platforms Mr. BOOKER. I think my colleague’s as Superstorm Sandy and shown that created by big companies to do things point has been seen in history, before when we put our minds to it Americans that have value and work. he and I were even born. We had a can accomplish just about anything. So let me put my colleague on the President put forth a noble ambition to We need to take that inspiration and spot. Forget Tesla. Long before we make the Moon not a dream but a des- find the will in this body to move for- even knew what Tesla was, my col- tination. What he did was he set in mo- ward on what we know are the facts league was doing something with solar tion, by charting a course for America and to start to have a conversation cars back in college. to be first, to lead the globe to be the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.096 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1431 innovators and to go beyond human the USA, putting Americans to work, When forest fires rage in New Mexico, imagination. It actually affected ev- fueling our economy, and making us they hurt Republicans, Democrats, and eryone, all the way down to our schools strong and successful in a multiple of Independents in that State. When and our classrooms and what kids were layers. droughts hit the Midwest, they hurt studying. Generations came up with That is all in just one segment of the the farms of Republicans, Democrats, that, and not only did we win the space green economy. I am just talking about and Independents. When the lobster in- race, but it fueled new technologies, retrofitting. Hundreds of thousands of dustry suffers in Maine or scallops in new innovations for our generation. jobs have already been created, as we Cape May, this affects all of us. If my Think about this. This company in both know, in the wind and solar sec- colleague will allow me, and then I Silicon Valley, I think it was called tors. People don’t know, but New Jer- would love to get his comments on this Keyhole, looked at the satellite infor- sey is one of the leaders in the solar in- afterwards, I love this editorial, and I mation borne out of the space race. dustry. Only California does better think it is worthy of reading into the That company was bought by another than we do, and those sectors are still record right now. The writers are company called Google, and that in their infancy. former Administrators of the EPA. Lis- turned into Google Maps, something We can have a healthy environment ten to this. This was written by Lee my colleague and I probably both have and a healthy economy. These false Thomas and William Kelly and this in- on our phones. choices that people seem to be putting credible woman from New Jersey So it is amazing when America has up are simply that: false choices. It is named Christie Todd Whitman. She this attitude that we are not going to not the tyranny of the ‘‘or;’’ it is the was our governor. She came and joined put our heads in the sand and deny a liberation of the ‘‘and.’’ They are not the Bush administration. These are new world is upon us; we are going to mutually exclusive. heads of the EPA, people who had to When I was mayor of Newark we took lead the country. That has multipliers deal with the facts, the pragmatism, action. Understanding this data and of collateral benefits that are not an- every single day. Their job was to ana- these facts, we worked with the build- ticipated. As mayor, I became not a lyze what was going on around the ing trades, and they created a laborers convert, because I knew this was an country, and they wrote a letter, and I local, local 55 in my area, that focused issue, but I became a zealot about this think it is worthy of reading, if the idea that you could create a multiplier on weatherizing residential properties in Newark. We recruited Newark resi- Senator will indulge me. effect of benefits when you talk and in- Mr. HEINRICH. Please do. dents who were taught how to perform novate around making the American Mr. BOOKER. Thank you. They say: Dream a green dream. energy audits and residential retrofits. Our residents had new job opportuni- We served Republican presidents, but we Let me share this with my colleague. have a message that transcends political af- We see in a 2012 report by the Rocke- ties, and our homeowners who partici- filiation: the United States must move now feller Foundation that it was estimated pated in the program saw energy sav- on substantive steps to curb climate change that more than $279 billion could be in- ings. at home and internationally. We first did this as a pilot focusing vested in retrofitting existing buildings I’m telling you right now, and my on senior citizen homes in the south making them more energy efficient. colleague knows this, when we lead, ward of my city, and it was amazing. This goes back to the point we were other nations follow. They were seeing reductions in energy talking about—job creation and lead- The letter continues: costs of 25 percent or more. It was ing. This investment, the Rockefeller There is no longer any credible scientific amazing. So we were able to save sen- debate about the basic facts: our world con- Foundation study found, could yield ior citizens money, employ young peo- more than $1 trillion of energy savings tinues to warm, with the last decade the hot- ple from our community, and improve test in modern records, and the deep ocean over 10 years, reducing United States our environment, all at the same time. emissions by as much as 10 percent. warming faster than the earth’s atmosphere. We found this was of value on all the Sea level is rising. Arctic ice is melting But this is the kicker. This creates en- issues. We knew one of the issues was years faster than projected. The costs of in- ergy savings, reduces emissions, and just planting trees. We said: Hey, we action are undeniable. The lines of scientific creates a healthier environment for are going to take action by increasing evidence grow only stronger and more nu- cities such as Newark and Camden that our tree canopy. We brought in private merous. And the window of time remaining are on these heat islands that ratchet dollars at the neighborhood level to act is growing smaller: delay could mean that warming becomes ‘‘locked in.’’ up asthma. So we lower those emis- through community organizing, and we sions, lower the heat in those areas, began the process of making Newark I know my colleague and I both be- which has collateral benefits. Here is greener, thus cooler, and making sure lieve in the free market. the one we should be talking about that new generations had opportuni- Mr. HEINRICH. Absolutely. right now while we are coming out of a ties. Mr. BOOKER. But we know we see recession. It could create more than 3.3 My colleague and I both know that businesses now that are internalizing million new jobs, direct and indirect, in one of the great definitions of leader- profits and externalizing costs. I see the U.S. economy. ship is that great leaders are those who this in New Jersey. We are cleaning up That is just by investing in retro- plant trees under whose shade they will the Passaic River, and it is costing tax- fitting and getting a return on the in- never sit. By our taking action on cli- payer dollars. When we hear com- vestment, with $279 billion, getting a mate change, we will benefit genera- plaints about high taxes, it is going to return of $1 trillion in energy savings, tions to come, but the truth is—the ex- this kind of stuff—cleaning up the Pas- and reducing energy costs for families, citing thing for me—it is going to help saic River because corporations and for governments. These jobs cannot be us in our economy right now. This is businesses are dumping pollutants in outsourced. They are not about foreign why this doesn’t have to be a political there and do not internalize the cost. competition. It is about putting people issue. It can be one about pragmatism They said: Some future generation is here to work, and not only do these en- where left and right can come together. going to pay for it. We are that future ergy efficiency retrofits utilize local If my colleague will allow me, on generation. workers, the vast majority of the ma- that point of left and right coming to- So getting back to this—because I terials used for the retrofits come from gether, I want to explain why this love the free market—I want people where, Senator? should not be a political issue. The op- who externalize the cost to internalize Mr. HEINRICH. Right here at home. portunities are too great for America it. If you are polluting the air and Mr. BOOKER. Right here. Energy ret- not to lead, for us to bolster our econ- hurting the planet, you need to pay for rofits are manufactured right here in omy, for us to improve our environ- that. the United States of America. This is ment, for us to reduce these savage A market-based approach like carbon the collateral benefit, the multiplier weather anomalies. What inspires me tax would be the best path to reducing effect we are talking about. Attic insu- about this is that there are a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, but that is lation, replacement windows, and new people—Republicans—who are realizing unachievable in the current political furnaces—more than 90 percent of the this is not a Republican-Democratic gridlock in Washington. Dealing with energy efficient materials are made in issue. this political reality, President

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.097 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 Obama’s June Climate Action Plan mark international treaty, which took effect to pause in her passage, but time is adamant lays out achievable actions that would in 1989, already has been hugely successful in to every plea and rushes on. Over the deliver real progress. This is amazing solving the ozone problem. bleached bones and jumbled residues of nu- to me. Four Republicans who served Rather than argue against his proposals, merous civilizations are written the pathetic our leaders in Congress should endorse them words, ‘‘Too late.’’ under Republican Presidents as heads and start the overdue debate about what big- As the Senator obviously knows, of the EPA are saying President ger steps are needed and how to achieve those are the words of Martin Luther Obama’s June Climate Action Plan them—domestically and internationally. King. lays out achievable actions that would As administrators of the E.P.A. under I know for the people in New Jersey, deliver real progress. Presidents Richard M. Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush, who stand with the understandable an- The President also plans to use his guish of a State still recovering from regulatory power to limit the powerful we held fast to the common-sense conserv- ative principles—protecting the health of the Hurricane Sandy, that should the sea warming chemicals called American people, working with the best levels continue to rise in the coming hydrofluorocarbons. People under- technology available and trusting in the in- years, we know cities such as Atlantic standably don’t like overregulation, novation of American business and in the City and others could see not hundred- but the reality is that if this is being market to find the best results for the least year floods but ten-year floods, which released as pollutants into the air, we cost. will severally damage those cities’ should be doing something about it. Highlighting the Senator’s words. ability to continue as we know them Mr. HEINRICH. If the Senator would That approach helped us tackle major en- today. For my State, there can be no yield, we have heard time and time vironmental challenges to our nation and ‘‘too late.’’ We must act now. And the again that when we allowed the market the world: the pollution of our rivers, drama- Senator sees that urgency as well in to innovate and deal with these same tized when the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland New Mexico. caught fire in 1969; the hole in the ozone kinds of challenges—whether it is NOX Mr. HEINRICH. I do. And I think it is and SOx or other pollutants we have layer; and the devastation wrought by acid rain. worth noting that when we speak about been able to address in the past; wheth- the four Republican Administrators of er it is the hole in the ozone layer—I These are all points just made by the the EPA, they have all looked at the mean, talk about a global issue of pol- Senator from New Mexico. history of this argument and how it lution—the market was able to solve They continue: really reflects on a conversation we those. The solutions we supported worked—— have had since the 1960s—and I think Mr. BOOKER. I don’t mean to ques- Government acted. They worked—— the Senator put it so eloquently—that tion the Senator’s integrity, but I just although more must be done. Our rivers no it is not about jobs or quality of life; it don’t know if he was alive at the time. longer burn, and their health continues to has to be about both. Mr. HEINRICH. I think I read it in a improve. The United States led the world Those Republican Administrators of book somewhere. when nations came together to phase out the EPA have watched as the Clean Mr. BOOKER. Allow me to continue ozone-depleting chemicals. Acid rain dimin- Water Act and the Clean Air Act and because the Senator is absolutely ishes each year, thanks to a pioneering, mar- the work done on the Montreal Pro- ket-based emissions-trading system adopted right. I heard some incredible examples under the first President Bush in 1990. And tocol—all those debates were fun- from other Senators talking about despite critics’ warnings, our economy con- damentally identical to this one. Peo- things we did. I love the story by the tinued to grow. ple said that this was going to cost too Senator from Maine about the pull-top Climate change puts all our progress and much, that we were going to lose jobs cans. our successes at risk. if we made these decisions to clean up Mr. HEINRICH. It reminded me of It says what the Senator and so our environment. And what happened? growing up as I did. My mother worked many others have said: Climate change If we look back at 1980 and today and in the auto industry, and there was a puts all of our successes and our com- the policy changes made, we have a time when we had a great debate. My munities—like Toms River, like Cape GDP twice as big as what we had in grandfather complained based on some- May County—at risk. 1980. We have doubled our country’s thing he heard on the radio about these If we could articulate one framework for economic output at the same time we catalytic converters which were going successful governance, perhaps it should be have cleaned up our air and water and to ruin the American auto industry. this: When confronted by a problem, deal said we are going to have the cleanest What happened is when we decided to with it. Look at the facts, cut through the country in the world. We are not going clean up emissions from the auto in- extraneous, devise a workable solution and to be like China, where kids walking to dustry, we actually created an entire get it done. school have to wear masks and can’t We can have both a strong economy and a play outside. new industry around catalytic con- liveable climate. All parties know that we verters, which for many years after- When we think about young people in need both. The rest of the discussion is ei- this country, the thing that always ward was an export industry for the ther detail, which we can resolve, or purpose- United States. Since we took the first ful delay, which we should not tolerate. strikes me is that when we talk about step, none of the other countries under- Mr. Obama’s plan is just a start. More will climate change and when I go home, stood the technology well and could be required. But we must continue efforts to people are concerned about impacts manufacture it well. So as the rest of reduce the climate-altering pollutants that and the things we talked about be- the world followed our lead to clean up threaten our planet. The only uncertainty fore—not the fact that forest fires are about our warming world is how bad the their pollution, they were importing happening but that they are happening changes will get and how soon. What is most too often and with such extreme fire our catalytic converters. clear is that there is no time to waste. We can look at example after exam- behavior now; the fact that drought is Republicans who echoed to me these ple where this has been the case. When getting to be the norm, not the excep- words—and I know the Senator knows we allow the market to innovate, we tion. But kids understand this issue, who wrote them, but I will read them can solve the most challenging pollu- young people understand this issue in a first and cite them later. We heard four tion problems. way that calls out for action. I think Republicans speaking today echoing Mr. BOOKER. I love that. Never bet that is why it is so important that we the words of someone who wrote in the against America’s ability to innovate, are doing this tonight, to send a mes- 1960s: to be resilient, to be industrious. sage that we are hearing that because So I continue on this editorial writ- We are now faced with the fact, my friends, when I talk to high school students or that tomorrow is today. We are confronted kids in junior high or at college cam- ten by four past Republican EPA Ad- with the fierce urgency of now. In this un- ministrators: puses, they understand they are inher- folding conundrum of life and history, there iting all the weight of inaction. The president also plans to use his regu- ‘‘is’’ such a thing as being too late. Pro- I remember as a kid hearing expla- latory power to limit the powerful warming crastination is still the thief of time. Life chemicals known as hydrofluorocarbons and often leaves us standing bare, naked, and de- nations of how the greenhouse effect encourage the United States to join with jected with a lost opportunity. The tide in works and what this is going to do long other nations to amend the Montreal Pro- the affairs of men does not remain at flood— term. Here we are close to 35 years tocol to phase out these chemicals. The land- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time later, and we are seeing the impacts.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.099 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1433 Our kids and our grandkids are going isiana in the debate about flood insur- again, the goodness you have done to to see impacts a whole lot more ex- ance and how these waters are rising. educate me. I hope I have done as good treme than even what our constituents These are becoming more severe prob- a job educating my friend about New have already shouldered. We can’t wait lems. I heard some of my Northeastern Jersey, and he is welcome to come to anymore. We have a moral obligation. colleagues talk about the erosion, how our State. We can argue about what the best way we are losing acres and acres every Mr. HEINRICH. I am learning every- to address these challenges is and we year with rising sea levels. One of the day, but I am looking forward to vis- should. We should find a way to address times I got very moved listening to iting too. these challenges that gets the buy-in of Senator LANDRIEU talk was when she Mr. BOOKER. My colleague from a majority of this deliberative body. was reacting to people who say this is New Mexico represents everything But we can’t step aside any longer and about people who have lost their vaca- from Native American peoples to a say we are not going to act. That would tion home. I heard this in New Jersey very diverse State. I am wondering if be irresponsible. as well. What bothered me about that he could talk for a moment about the Mr. BOOKER. I will ask the Senator is what many folks do not realize is the urgency he sees of this problem for the about some of the vulnerable commu- pain of climate change often affects more vulnerable populations who are nities in his State, but I will go about the most vulnerable Americans most— becoming—the situation they are in it this way. I have such great memories the poorest people. right now is becoming much more dire of my father and grandfather, both of She was talking about those people and should call to the consciousness of whom passed away. Probably the first who make a living, scratch out a living our country and should challenge our time I passed through the Senator’s in her State, whose livelihoods—who morality as a people, should expand State was in a mobile home, in which really have not that many other our moral imagination about what we my grandfather took us and drove us choices. I was in Cape May County can and should do and must do. across the country. I saw America, talking to these fishermen and listen- Mr. HEINRICH. I think the Senator north and south. We did that a number ing to the kind of tough jobs they have. has hit the nail on the head when he of times. I remember standing with These aren’t people who are million- said that those among us with the least him and looking at Mount Rushmore. aires. They go out there. Talk about an economic means often bear the highest My grandfather had a great sense of honest day’s work. I have to say I am cost. humor, and if he didn’t know a histor- a northern New Jersey boy, listening That is certainly true in New Mexico. ical fact, he would just make it up. But to these men talk about the toils of We have enormous economic chal- he taught us to appreciate and love pulling from the sea. Cape May is one lenges. We have communities where this country. My father was the same of the most productive areas to bring people cannot afford to get up and way. He grew up in the mountains of in the sea’s bounty in our country. move because the climate situation North Carolina and took me there as a They say it is No. 4. changed. We have literally cities where little boy and with such pride showed To hear them talk about their jobs— wells are dry and there is no water. me mountains and lakes, and I fell in but their fear, their worry in their eyes Reservoirs run dry, and there is no love. My mom also took me around that with the warming waters their water. Las Vegas has come within—Las New Jersey to some of our great parks catch is moving north. They are get- Vegas and New Mexico has come within and hiking the Palisades of New Jer- ting less out of the sea. I know this as a month or two, several times now, of sey. I have incredible memories of the a former mayor of Newark. I see this their reservoir literally going dry. A Jersey Shore and walking the board- when I go to my schools and talk to my town such as Magdalena, NM. Their walk with my hand in my parents’ school nurses, and they use the word well lost water to the town for a num- hands. All these memories are so great. ‘‘epidemic’’ with asthma, seeing the ber of weeks and they had to come up My father had this story that I think warming climate, what it is doing to with a plan for how to deal with that makes this point about tonight. One of the lung development on these chil- and diversify their water supply again the slogans for tonight is ‘‘Wake Up.’’ dren. at huge costs to local residents and the My father tells a story about a guy I know from Sandy that when a State. walking along and sees a porch, a man storm like that hits, everybody as- These are real challenges being borne sitting in a rocking chair, and this sumes why not get in the car, drive by people who do not have discre- hound dog sitting next to him. The someplace, stay in a hotel. Many peo- tionary income to be throwing at these hound dog is just howling away like he ple, No. 1, do not have cars, cannot just challenges. We have people who live a was in great pain. The man says, pull out of their pocket a couple hun- very traditional lifestyle, who are liv- ‘‘What is wrong with your dog? Why is dred bucks to stay in a nice hotel for 1 ing in these forests. When there are he howling so much?’’ month or 2 months. When they lose wildfires, they are the first to bear the And the man says, ‘‘Well, he’s sitting their home, they lose everything, and economic brunt of that. on a nail.’’ We see the impact drought has had. And the other man says, ‘‘Why then when they come back, they are The Senator mentioned fishing off the doesn’t he get up?’’ told they have to build in a certain And the man says, ‘‘Because he’s not way. So this is something that affects coast of New Jersey. That is kind of hurting bad enough yet.’’ us all. how many of our traditional commu- I tell you, the story used to always As King said, to quote him again in nities view mule deer and elk and wild get me because my father used to al- the letters from the Birmingham jail: game that have always called New ways say: Son, get up. Do not tolerate We are all part of an inescapable network Mexico home. We see direct impacts to bad. You are better than that. Do not of mutuality, tied in a common garment of our rival population when people— just lie there. destiny. when the mule deer population crashes I think about our country and know In America there is no rich destiny or there is a fire that literally you can- our history. and poor destiny. There is no Repub- not hunt in the same places because You and I have been talking about lican destiny and Democratic destiny. this year it is closed due to the damage our history. You and I were born in an There is no Black destiny and White by fire and they are not letting anyone amazing generation. We were born destiny. We have one destiny here. But in. after the dawn of the civil rights move- the truth is, in this country, the people There are people who rely on that ac- ment, born after going to the Moon. So who are most immediately impacted by tivity to literally get them through the much we are talking about tonight is this growing problem are these vulner- winter. Those impacts are always felt the history of our elders who did give able populations. We have to talk more by the people who have the least need to us a country of unbridled possibili- about those folks. They cannot hire to be in control of that situation, and ties. We are America, but we are hurt. lobbyists to come down here. They do that is an enormous challenge. We We are hurt, and we represent commu- not represent some industry we give should do a better job of illustrating nities that feel all this pain. tax breaks to but folks who cannot en- some of those stories and making sure This is the point I wish to make. I gage in expensive fundraisers. The Sen- we make clear what the impacts are to heard Senator LANDRIEU from Lou- ator from New Mexico has a State—and the people who have the least means.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.100 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 They cannot stay in a hotel simply be- street from a lot. It was fenced in by I thank my friend from Hawaii for cause there is an extreme weather some iron, but the iron had given way, his extraordinary leadership on bring- event on the coast of New Jersey or so it was full of debris and junk. There ing this issue to the floor. He has spo- there is a fire in New Mexico. were some guys who dealt drugs out ken so eloquently about Hawaii and There are many of my constituents there. People looked at that as an area the impact of the severe weather who could not afford to stay in a hotel, you just do not go to. This guy got a changes. I am very much looking for- and they are the ones bearing the brunt stimulus check in the mail. You were ward to hearing that now. of the challenges. Traditional farming saying before how expensive it is. I do want to say that right after I communities that used to be able to James Baldwin, the great American au- turned 17 and got my New Jersey driv- grow, they are cut off from the irriga- thor, said something about is very ex- er’s license, one of the earliest places tion season. If they get cut off from pensive to be poor. But I also find there where I drove was on a trip to Hawaii— water halfway to a crop that pro- are those who have the least who are the only trip I had ever taken—and I duces—some sort of production that is the most generous to others. found it to be an extraordinary State. not like growing grass or alfalfa, but This retired State worker, instead of Mr. HEINRICH. The Senator didn’t they literally cut off the water before just saying, great, I got a check in the drive to Hawaii. their crop comes in, they lose it all. mail—he didn’t do that—he said: I am Mr. BOOKER. I did not drive to Ha- Even if they got to 90 percent but going to use this check. So he went and waii. I thank the Senator from New didn’t quite get to where their crop ac- bought a lawnmower, a rake, and gar- Mexico for that clarification. I appre- tually produces, they can lose it all. It dening materials. He went into the lot ciate that for the CONGRESSIONAL is those kinds of impacts my constitu- the drug dealers were using—the elder- RECORD. ents feel when we have some of these ly man goes into the lot and he tended I do want to say that Hawaii was a extreme weather events. to the earth; cleaned it up, mowed the paradise, except that it lacked some Mr. BOOKER. I guess what makes me lawn, a little bit every day. He didn’t fundamental things. For one, it lacked emotional, I have to say, is I do not do it all at once. a good Jersey diner. In a future career, need to imagine what the future will be First, people were worried about it. the Senator might want to open a like because I have seen it in the urban The drug dealers didn’t pay him any diner. It would be so successful there. area I have represented for the last 7- mind. He tended to the earth. Before he Please, Senator, go ahead. plus years. Let me go a little bit deeper knew it he became a hero in his build- (Mr. HEINRICH assumed the Chair.) into what I mean. ing, not just because that lot became Mr. SCHATZ. I thank the Senator We wanted to do urban gardening. We more beautiful than the White House from New Jersey and the Senator from were told by environmental regulators lawn down the road but because after New Mexico for such an energetic dis- in our State that we couldn’t dig into he made it look so beautiful, what hap- cussion at this earlier or late hour, de- our soil because the soil in my city was pened to the drug dealers? They left. pending on how you define it. It is toxic. Not one of my residents did it, They left that spot. nearing bedtime in my home State, but I heard about this gentleman. I went not the folks who had been living there for the rest of us across the Nation, to visit him in his building, and it was for generations. It is toxic because many of us are asleep. But we are up just to me this amazing story of the folks put things in the soil. for climate. The hashtag is up4climate, pride people have, of the desire they We have the biggest urban gardening and we encourage you to jump on that have to take care of their community. city, Newark, NJ, but they are planting hashtag. Mr. HEINRICH. The amazing thing is I thank both of the Senators for par- in beds above ground. I already talked that in our conversations we have sort to you about the air quality. This is ticipating in that discussion. of educated each other on these two I spent a fair amount of time on the why so many cities in New Jersey now States that are kind of close to each are working very hard—and I am Senate floor today talking about how other in the alphabet—— serious, how dire, and how real climate proud—on two items, and one of them Mr. BOOKER. Right. is we have epidemic asthma rates. Go Mr. HEINRICH. But miles and miles change is. But I think it is important— to urban places around the country and apart. New Jersey has a coastline. New and consistent with what Senator you will see that. Now we are separated Mexico does not have anything resem- KAINE from Virginia and Senators from the air, separated from the soil. bling an ocean anywhere near us. Our BOOKER and HEINRICH have talked Go to your river. It used to be, if you States have incredibly different his- about—to talk about the opportunity were poor, you could just go to the tories and yet so many of the same for American leadership in economic river and get some shellfish. Go fish- kinds of issues. I think another State and technological innovation. There ing, eat a meal. But somebody took that could have a different set of are such incredible opportunities for that away, and now you cannot do issues, yet many of the same threads our country in innovation that it is that. Now you have to find money and run through it, is obviously the State really worth drilling down and talking see if you can buy something from the of Hawaii. Our colleague Senator about the details. store that nature used to provide in the SCHATZ of Hawaii took it upon himself First, let’s talk about battery stor- safe river. So you are separated from to help organize this. I have been age. One of the challenges in the State your water. So the collateral damage amazed at the things that my home of Hawaii is this. We have abundant all through the populations, I do not State of New Mexico has in common wind and solar energy. We are the most have to see what it is going to be, I see with the State of Hawaii. I wonder if isolated populated place on the planet. it now. the Senator would maybe spend a little We still burn 85 percent of our energy Mr. HEINRICH. You see it now. time talking about what with regard to as low-sulfur fuel oil. In other words, Mr. BOOKER. There is wisdom in my his constituents inspires him when the we import oil and burn it for elec- community. There is still wisdom. If Senator sees how they are stepping up tricity, which at this point in time is you will, allow me to share a story and doing what we need to do in the really unheard of and overly expensive. with you. Senate, recognizing there is a problem Three to four times the national aver- I have learned my best lessons in life that we as a nation or at least in our age is what we pay for our electricity. from some of the humblest folks who communities have the potential to It is really hurting us in the pocket- have this wisdom. There is something solve. books, and so we are adopting solar and about the DNA of human beings that Mr. BOOKER. Can we pause for sta- wind and other clean-energy resources knows we have to respect the environ- tion identification in the sense that as fast as we possibly can. ment that gives us everything. We are the Senator from Hawaii is really the The challenge with a grid system a people that used to be an agrarian so- ring leader, so to speak, in bringing us that is island by island is this. When ciety. together in almost a 24-hour period. you need the energy, you need the en- In my city there is a gentleman. I The Senator has done a great job of ergy. If the sun is not shining, and it is talked about this gentleman in the pulling our colleagues together. There the evening time, or if the wind is not State of the City Address once who was have been a little more than two dozen blowing, you need either dispatchable living in a high-rise building across the Senators who have come to the floor. power or some other kind of reliable

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.102 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1435 power. The breakthroughs with battery We have a company that has a test if you have the Sierra Club and the tea storage that are being driven by this case where they think they can in- party pulling side by side, you know it new clean-energy economy in the State crease the productivity of a wind tur- is not ideology. You know at that point of Hawaii is really extraordinary. bine by 15 to 25 percent. What would it is a pocketbook issue, and that peo- The technicians that have run the that mean? If they can actually prove ple are starting to see savings from utility companies for many years used this technology out, every existing putting solar on their own home and to think that the maximum penetra- wind farm—if they just swapped out they don’t want anybody to interfere tion of renewable energy on to the the turbines—could be 15 to 25 percent with that. That is a story that is a long grid—a grid like Hawaii—ought to be more productive for the grid. That way from Hawaii, but it helps to illus- around 15 percent. Well, we blew means no additional siting and no addi- trate that point. through 15 percent in parts of our grid tional permitting. If we could simply Mr. SCHATZ. I thank the Senator. 3 or 4 years ago. There are parts of our swap out new wind turbines, we could Although the tea party is in the State grid that are in the high 20s to low 30s. see a massive new increment of clean of Hawaii, they are not as strong there We are on the leading edge of all of energy onto the grid. as they are in other places across the this. Solar energy is another area that is country. We do have a strong strain of The good news is that on the utility exploding all across the country. I was conservatives across the State of Ha- side—in terms of battery storage—the talking to somebody who was working waii who want to get off the grid or at consumer side, and the power-producer in the Capitol Rotunda as we were least want to participate in the clean- side, we are making tremendous break- doing a live television show this after- energy economy, and it has to do with throughs in battery storage. That noon. He was telling me how he just the very simple fact that we pay 38 brings us to this overall question of the got solar energy, and that is happening cents a kilowatt hour for the privilege smart grid. all across the country. Solar is just ab- of burning low-sulfur oil for elec- The smart grid means a lot of things solutely going crazy in the State of Ha- tricity. That is not a left-right issue. to a lot of people. It means increasing waii. With costs of 38 to 40 cents a kilo- That is a ‘‘this makes no sense’’ issue. the resilience of our infrastructure in watt, solar energy makes a lot of sense We are one of the very few States the case of either a manmade or a nat- for everybody. where we have a good bipartisan con- ural disaster. It means making sure we We are doing utility scale solar, but sensus. We have been moving forward are not wasting energy by curtailing we are also doing distributed solar be- with our clean-energy initiative pre- power. What is curtailing power? It ba- cause people want to get their own sav- viously under a Republican Governor sically means that sometimes there is ings. They want to participate in a with the participation of the Repub- clean energy coming onto the grid that clean-energy economy, but speaking licans in our legislature, with our cannot be used. Because battery stor- practically—this is not ideological, Chamber of Commerce, with our busi- age is still overly expensive, there is no this is not political, this is a pocket- ness roundtable, with our tourism in- way to store that energy. book thing—they are doing the math. dustry, with our Department of De- Although the wind might be blowing These people are not Democrats or Lib- fense. It is exactly what the Senator on the island of Maui—sometimes the erals or Independents. They don’t wake from Rhode Island has been talking wind is blowing and the turbines are up every morning—like many of us— about. It is about doing what makes turning, but we can’t utilize that power thinking about how to solve this prob- sense rather than subscribing to any because we don’t have a smart enough lem. They are looking at their own bot- particular political ideology. grid. So what we are doing is attract- tom line and saying solar makes sense. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. It is interesting ing investment from all over the planet Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Will the Senator that my friend should mention his to develop a smart grid. yield? Chamber of Commerce. In Rhode Is- We have a partnership in Maui Coun- Mr. SCHATZ. I am happy to yield. land, we too are seeing very active par- ty and with the State of Hawaii with Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Michael Brune, ticipation by our local Chambers of the Hitachi Corporation and the Japa- who is the head of the Sierra Club, Commerce in green, solar, alternative nese government. They are investing came in to see a number of Senators energy, energy efficiency, and other tens of millions of dollars in little the other day. He told an interesting such endeavors. They see it is a pocket- Maui County to better understand how story that lines up with what Senator book issue. They see it makes sense. to integrate large-scale penetration of SCHATZ said about how solar is a pock- It is a stark comparison with the so- renewable energy into a relatively etbook issue and not a political issue. called U.S. Chamber of Commerce—the small grid. This story involves Atlanta, GA, national organization—which tends to There is a new area that I am learn- which is not exactly a hotbed of liberal represent the multinational corpora- ing about where we are really inno- sentiment. In Atlanta, the cost of solar tions which have very little, if any, al- vating in the State of Hawaii, and that on a residential rooftop—the cost of legiance to this country and the big is aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. putting a solar panel on your home— polluters. The U.S. Chamber of Com- Unlike the Presiding Officer, I do not has now leveled out with the cost of merce has been an absolute menace in have a background in engineering, but electricity at the plug in your home. terms of any responsible dealings with I understand aerodynamics and As a result, residential installations of climate change. But as soon as you get hydrodynamics in the following way: It solar energy started to boom. away from the so-called U.S. Chamber is basically trying to get things to Now, for economic reasons, the fossil of Commerce—the multinational move through water or air as effi- fuel polluters were against that, and so Chamber of Commerce is what it ciently as possible. This has tremen- the Koch brothers and the polluters got should probably be called—and get dous implications. behind this group called ALEC, the down to these Chambers of Commerce As you can imagine, the Air Force is American Legislative Exchange Coun- that are grounded with our States, very interested in aerodynamics be- cil, which is basically a front group for grounded with local businesses, cause fuel costs are really out of con- them. They tried to put through a tax grounded in commonsense, you imme- trol for all branches of the service, but on rooftop solar installations so that if diately see that they step right up and in particular in the Air Force and the you put a solar panel on your roof, you want to be a part of this solution. Navy. The Navy is also looking at would get taxed for it because they Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask hydrodynamics to try to figure out how didn’t like the fact that solar had actu- unanimous consent that we be given their ships and other vessels can move ally caught up to polluting fossil fuel permission to engage in a colloquy. through the water as efficiently as pos- power at the plug. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. sible, and again, not for conservation Who came together to fight that tax? BOOKER). Without objection, it is so or- reasons. It is not because they are so The Sierra Club and the tea party. The dered. interested in the climate, but because Sierra Club and the tea party worked Mr. SCHATZ. One of the things I they want to save money on fuel. So we together to beat that tax and to beat would like to add is a specific tech- are making really good progress in ALEC and to beat the Koch brothers nology that is happening that is trying aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. and the polluters back on that. Again, to be developed in the State of Hawaii

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.103 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1436 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 and which is a perfect example of the Mr. SCHATZ. I wish to ask the Sen- ple who are elected politically, we see kind of partnership between the clean- ator from Rhode Island to give us a lit- Republicans in abundance supporting energy industry and some of the more tle bit of context. The Presiding Officer doing something about climate. traditional companies. It is called sea- and I are new to the Senate. I think it The Presiding Officer, the distin- water air conditioning. Even with my is important to understand tonight in guished Senator from New Jersey, dis- nonengineering background, I can un- context. cussed earlier the Republican former derstand it. It is cold water from deep From my perspective, having 30 Sen- EPA Administrators who came forward within the ocean that cools air condi- ators on the floor, to take the floor for to say: Hey, guys, time to wake up. tioning systems. about 15 consecutive hours to speak This is serious. You have to be respon- Rather than using electricity to try about one topic, with the emphasis, sible about it. to cool water and cool air and blow it with the clarity, with the unanimity of George Schultz has campaigned for a through, you just grab the cold water this group, 28 Democrats and 2 Inde- carbon fee, to put a proper price on car- and put it into the pipes and it cools pendents, is significant. It is histori- bon so we can deal with this issue. systems. This makes perfect sense for cally important. But I am wondering Former Representative Bob Inglis is Waikiki and for the physical plant of whether the Senator from Rhode Island out barnstorming around the country Waikiki as well as our millions and can give us a little context and let us arguing that there should be a Repub- millions of visitors and our thousands know what has happened in the past lican conservative carbon fee proposal. and thousands of hotel rooms and our and how he views tonight in the arc of So even though that side of the Sen- 38-cent kilowatt costs. our efforts to take action on climate. ate has been empty all night since Sen- One of the highest cost drivers—more Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I think this is an ator INHOFE left—and he was here to than labor and more than our physical important turning point, an important deny there is a problem—so there has plant—is the cost of energy for the launch point for the final phase of get- been no voice for doing anything re- Waikiki hotels. We believe that having ting to responsible climate legislation. sponsible about climate change all a private sector company—one that is We were so close. We were night from that side of the aisle. It has trying to build a seawater air condi- heartbreakingly close when the House been absolutely silent, absolutely tioning system which would be envi- passed Waxman-Markey and in the empty. But it is closer than it looks ronmentally conscious—move into Senate we failed to bring up any bill when we actually look at the history of Waikiki can literally save 40 percent that could have gone to conference. We Members on that side of the aisle, when for all Waikiki hotels. This is an ex- just failed to do it. we look at the position of Republicans traordinary opportunity. There was a period after that when who are not up for election. The Sheraton and the Royal Hawai- Mr. SCHATZ. I wish to speak a little the White House would barely mention ian and the Hilton Hawaiian Village bit about how I believe taking action climate change. It was deeply discour- and the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, and all on climate is consistent with conserv- aging for people across the country to of these wonderful hotels, I know their ative principles. My understanding of see the Senate fail that way and the GMs, I know the work they do, I know conservative principles—and I am a White House retreat that way, but that their employees, and they are all doing progressive—but my understanding of has changed. The White House is back. great work. But they are not interested conservative principles is basically The President is reengaged. He has an- in sea water air-conditioning nec- that they value incrementalism, that nounced a very strong climate action essarily because of its environmental they understand the importance of in- plan that has as a critical element put- benefits. They are looking to save 40 stitutions, that they try to move slow- percent on their electricity bill and ting some regulation on the big power- ly where possible, that they try not to that it just makes sense. That is what plants that are doing so much of the make radical changes to communities this is all about. polluting. By the way, when I say big or societies or organizations unless it Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Let me mention powerplants that are doing so much of is absolutely necessary. There is no one thing. The Senator from Hawaii the polluting, I mean 50 top polluting more radical change that we could was good enough to mention that our powerplants in this country put out make to our economy, to our physical hashtag tonight is up4climate, with the more carbon than Korea, which is a environment, to our communities, to ‘‘4’’ being a numeral, so up numeral 4 very industrialized country, put out our government than to allow climate climate. There was a remark made ear- more carbon than Canada. That is just change to move forward. lier that we are just going to be up late the top 50 polluting powerplants. It seems to me what the Senator is at night talking to ourselves and that So that was a big shift when the saying is exactly right. There are plen- nobody is going to be paying attention. White House did that, and this signals ty of conservatives who are prepared to The reports I have are that the League a shift that is coming to the Senate. take action in this area. Right now of Conservation Voters is tracking this The next big shift we need to get to is what we need is a Republican dance with a Web site and 70,000 people have one where this line in the Senate, partner. I think we have them. I think gone to their Web site to support us in marking Democrat from Republican, is there are those who understand and our effort tonight. 350.org has 15,000 not such a harsh line on this issue. may have quiet conversations with us people who have gone to their Web site There is no need for it to be. This has and nod and agree that the situation is to support us. Our own Web site has in the past been a bipartisan issue. getting increasingly dire and increas- 40,000 people, for a total of 120,000 sig- Senator Lieberman on our side and ingly real and scientifically based in natories just on these Web sites. We Senator Warner on the Republican side fact, but they don’t want to be the first also have people who have been going did one of the early climate bills. This one caught making sense. They don’t out on Twitter on this. We have people is an issue where Republican can- want to be putting themselves at the such as Leader PELOSI from the other didates for President who served here tip of that spear. side of the Capitol. They are locked still campaigned for President on the So one of the reasons we are here to- down hard by the polluters over in the issue of climate change. There is a night is to hopefully galvanize the House right now. Nevertheless, Leader Member on the other side of the aisle American public to go back to their PELOSI wanted her voice to be heard, who was the original cosponsor of a cli- more reasonable Republican Members and so she has tweeted out and put out mate fee bill. There are Republican and say: Remember when you said you a release about this. OFA has tweeted Members who when they were in the would be a middle-of-the-road Repub- out about what we are doing tonight, House voted for Waxman-Markey. lican. This is the way to demonstrate and they reach 42 million people. There are a number of Republican Sen- that you are a middle-of-the-road Re- So if anybody thinks nobody is lis- ators who have publicly said they publican. This is the way to dem- tening to what is going on tonight, think a carbon tax or a carbon fee is a onstrate that you are a true moderate. wrong. Millions of people are following sensible idea or is an idea they would When the Department of Defense is this on Twitter, have been notified support under the right circumstances. saying this is a real strategic chal- about it on Twitter, and literally over So there is a great opportunity to lenge, this is not the province of the 100,000 people have joined these Web reach out to colleagues on the other League of Conservation Voters any- sites with more to come, I hope. side of the aisle. Once we get past peo- more. I love them. But listen. This is

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.104 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1437 beyond conservation organizations. climate change. Unless you are a de- Kiribati’s President, Anote Tong, has This is beyond my particular passion nier, they either punish you or threat- taken great pains to focus attention on for Hawaii’s environment. This is en you. his country’s plight. His sobering re- about the future of the United States Since that time, that is why there marks from last November are worth of America and our economic viability. has been silence on the Republican recounting. He said: So there are going to be Republican side. It is not because there is not a The outer island communities have been dance partners, but we all as—not just tradition of Republicans caring about affected, we have a village which has gone, as a Senate but as a country—have to the environment. The Environmental we have a number of communities where the create a political environment in Protection Agency was established by sea water has broken through into the fresh- a Republican President. Theodore Roo- water pond and is now affecting the food which they can operate with us and we crops. can get to 60 votes. We don’t have sevelt was our greatest conserva- That is happening on different islands, it’s those votes right now. But as the Sen- tionist. There is a Republican tradition not an isolated event, serious inundation is ator from Rhode Island said, it always of this. There is a Republican tradition being witnessed. These are the realities we looks more difficult than it is, and it is of standing up to the big money and are facing, whether they are climate change always impossible until you get it sticking up for regular people but not induced or not. done. since Citizens United, not since that If you travel around Kiribati, it is So that is what this is about tonight. baleful decision cast an absolute ava- impossible to miss the long stretch of Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Here is a fairly lanche of dark money—of unlimited seawalls people have built to protect well-known Republican conserva- money and anonymous money—into their homes from the encroaching sea. tionist; indeed, perhaps the greatest the elections. I will speak more about Besides the sea level rise, low-lying conservationist President in American that later, but that is what the prob- atolls such as Kiribati face risk of history: Theodore Roosevelt, a Repub- lem has been. The only thing it takes being pummeled by the next tempest. lican. He had two very important char- to cure that is for the Republican Barely above the water’s edge, places acteristics that there is no reason the Party to become more worried about such as Kiribati face the risk of having Republican Party should not be fol- the reality of climate change and the storm surge and sea level rise ampli- lowing today; one was he cared about opinion of the American public than fied by the typhoon that roars through America as a physical and spiritual they are about the Koch brothers’ mil- the Pacific, washing over runways, space. It wasn’t just about the money. lions and what is going to be spent roads, and homes lying just above sea It wasn’t just about who could make against them. level. money buying and selling what, who If the American public makes it clear The risks are even more acute for could make money extracting this or in the coming months that they are families living in these Pacific island doing the other. He cared about Amer- tired of Congress being stuck, if the states where, because of the limited ica as a physical and a spiritual place. American public decides it is time to space for agricultural and commercial He would go out and camp in the for- wake up here in Congress, then the development, population density re- ests with John Muir to get the experi- choice becomes inevitable. As the Sen- mains extraordinarily high. ence and to embody the value of Amer- ator from Hawaii said, the dance part- Take South Tarawa, the capital of ica as a physical and a spiritual space. ners on the Republican side have to Kiribati, where the population is close So that was one characteristic that come off the wall and come back onto to 5,000 people per square kilometer— one of the most densely populated was very important. the dance floor. There is a conservative areas on the planet. These densely pop- Here is the other one: He was willing way to do a carbon fee, as Secretary ulated areas make Mother Nature’s de- to stand up against the big money. He Schultz and Representative Inglis and structive power even more devastating. was willing to tell the big money, basi- Reagan’s budget officer, Laffer, have The cards would appear to be stacked cally: I am against you. I am willing to all come forward to say. have a fight with you. The fact that Mr. SCHATZ. I would just add there against countries like Kiribati, and not you are big money is not alone enough is another motivation that I think will surprisingly outside observers have for your argument to prevail with me. come to bear among all of our col- been less sanguine about its fate. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg described He went after the big trusts and he leagues. Actually, the Presiding Officer it this way: stuck up for the little guy against the spoke passionately along these lines, big money. There is nothing that says and that is our conscience. There is no The apocalypse could come even sooner for the Republican Party couldn’t do that Kiribati if violent storms, of the sort that re- doubt there are people of good will on cently destroyed parts of the Philippines, again, although right now that is not both sides of the aisle in this Senate strike its islands. their situation. and in the House, and what is hap- He said: I mentioned earlier how we had a pening to people as a result of climate former Republican Presidential can- For all of these reasons, the 103,000 citizens change pricks everyone’s conscience. of Kiribati may soon become refugees, per- didate who campaigned on climate I wish to talk a little bit about a haps the first mass movement of people flee- change, how we have a Republican Sen- small island state that probably most ing the consequences of global warming rath- ator who was a cosponsor of a climate people have never heard of. It is called er than war or famine. fee bill, how we have a Republican Sen- Kiribati. It has become a cautionary Almost 6,000 nautical miles away, in ator who voted for Waxman-Markey tale for low-lying places across the the Indian Ocean, the Maldives face a when he was in the House, how we have Asian Pacific region and the world. It similar fate to Kiribati. The island Republican Senators who have spoken is 900 miles south of Hilo. Kiribati’s state of nearly 400,000 faces risks of sea for a carbon fee. All of that happened Fanning Atoll is the closest land fea- level rise and extreme weather events before 2010. What happened in 2010 that ture to Hawaii, making Kiribati actu- that threaten to inundate its commu- drove every Republican back under- ally way closer to Hawaii than to Cali- nities with swells of storm surge that ground on this issue? I will tell my col- fornia. leave families and their loved ones lit- leagues what happened. The U.S. Su- Put another way, the people of erally underwater. preme Court decided a case called Citi- Kiribati are our neighbors. More than In 2009, leaders in the Maldives zens United, and the instant they de- 100,000 people live on 21 of Kiribati’s 33 staged a dramatic demonstration ahead cided Citizens United, the Koch broth- corral islands. Thirty-two of those is- of the U.N. Climate Change Conference ers and the big polluters put enormous lands are low-lying atolls where most in Copenhagen, when they held a cabi- amounts of money into elections. They of the population lives just 2 meters net meeting on the bottom of the ocean didn’t just put the money into elec- above sea level. floor to foreshadow their impending tions between Republicans and Demo- The close proximity to the sea is al- fate if the world failed to act in the crats, they put money into elections ready taking its toll, as rising seas face of climate change. between Republicans and Republicans. contaminate water tables with salt Maldives President Mohamed They went into primary elections and water, denude fertile land, and deci- Nasheed told observers: they went after Republicans who were mate the few island crops the land can We’re now actually trying to send our mes- not consistent with their orthodoxy on support. sage, let the world know what is happening,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:18 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.106 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1438 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 and what will happen to the Maldives if cli- Those were her memories of a Rhode the oceans; 30 percent of the carbon. mate change is not checked. Island summer: playing on the lawn, The oceans bear witness to what is If the Maldives cannot be saved today we seeing the cars come to the beach, run- happening, and right now, if you look do not feel that there is much of a chance for the rest of the world. ning across the hot sand to the cool at the rate at which the oceans are water. acidifying, it is happening—here is a Leaders spent 30 minutes on the In her lifetime the beach is gone, the graphic on the effects. Where does the ocean floor that day. When later asked parking lot is gone, the road is gone, about what would happen if the U.N. heat go? Mr. President, 93.4 percent the lawn is gone, and the ocean is tear- Climate Change Conference in Copen- goes into the ocean; 2.3 percent goes ing out the underpinnings of these hagen failed to produce an agreement into the atmosphere. The oceans are homes. among states, President Nasheed sim- getting bombarded with this heat, and You can go as far away from Rhode ply said: ‘‘We are going to die.’’ they are also acidifying. In addition to sea level rise, island Island in the United States as you can Mr. SCHATZ. I ask the Senator, what nations face other immense challenges get on the mainland and where do you does that mean as a practical matter from climate change. Slight changes in end up? Alaska. What do you see? A for the fisheries industry, for people ocean temperature from increased very similar phenomenon of houses who like to eat fish? What is the im- warming and increased ocean acidity, falling into the sea. This is a town pact of ocean acidification? Because which scientists explain as a con- called Shishmaref. It is a little bit dif- the Senator has, in very plain lan- sequence of oceans observing more car- ferent in Alaska as to the reasons. It is guage, explained the science of this. bon dioxide from the atmosphere, dis- often because the ice that protects the Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Yes. proportionately affect communities shore from winter storms—because the Mr. SCHATZ. But what does this living on island nations. waves break against the ice and not mean to a regular person? I would like to ask the Senator from the shore—the ice is not there. The ice Mr. WHITEHOUSE. When the carbon Rhode Island to talk a little bit about has melted away. So now the winter is absorbed by the ocean, it makes it ocean acidification and the impact it is storms beat directly against the shore. more acidic; and when the ocean be- having on fisheries in the Northeast. I There are villages like Shishmaref comes more acidic, it makes it more know it is having a real cultural and that have been at their location for as difficult for all the little critters that economic and environmental impact, long as the memories and the tradi- live in the oceans that have a shell to and I am not totally sure people are tions of the indigenous tribes who live make that shell. Because shells are fully grasping how dangerous this is, there go. For as long as the memory of made out of something called calcium not just from an ecological standpoint man runneth in those areas, those vil- carbonate, and the calcium carbonate but from a food security standpoint, lages have been there. But now, in a is eaten away by acidic waters. So it from a price of food standpoint, from generation, they are going. means a small creature such as a pter- the standpoint of jobs and the econ- We see it in comparisons like this. opod has a harder time making its lit- omy. I am hoping the Senator from This was, again, after Sandy. Here is a tle shell, so they do not grow as well, Rhode Island can elucidate this. beachfront building at the South and ultimately they could be elimi- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I would love to. Kingstown Town Beach in Rhode Is- nated by acidified waters. But before I do that let me follow up on land. You can see the ocean right up Who cares about the humble pter- the point Senator SCHATZ was making against it. opod? Most people have never heard of because you do not have to go to far- That is what it used to look like not the humble pteropod. I will tell you away island nations to see people who too long ago, as shown in this picture, who cares about the humble pteropod. are being hurt by rising sea levels and in just 1994. This building is that build- Salmon care about the pteropod. For eroding shorelines. You do not have to ing now shown in this other picture. some species, it is a huge part of their go to island nations. You can go to This walkway is that walkway. As you diet. Rhode Island and you can see it. can see, this walkway was broken up So if they are not there, then the Here is a photograph of some homes by the storm. The ocean has now come salmon are in trouble. If the salmon at Roy Carpenter’s Beach on the south to here. The entire beach has gone. are in trouble, the salmon fisherman shore coast of Rhode Island in Wash- So we see it in Rhode Island, I say to and the salmon industry are in trouble. ington County after Hurricane Sandy. the Senator, as much as we do in far- It really hit home on the west coast of This is Governor Chafee, former Sen- away island kingdoms. But to the Sen- America a few years ago when oyster ator Chafee, who used to serve in this ator’s point about acidification, the fisheries—on the coast of Washington I body. These homes—I remember speak- seas are an honest witness. The oceans think it was, but Oregon was hit as ing to a lady who was with us that day, do not lie. You can measure what the well—literally got wiped out when a and I do not remember if it was this oceans are telling us about climate sudden upwelling of Pacific waters that house in the picture or this house that change, and they are telling us they had become heavily acidified washed was hers. But she had started coming are getting warmer. It is not com- into where the young oysters were as a very little girl. Her childhood plicated. You measure that with a being grown. The waters were so acidic memories were on this beach. This thermometer. They are getting bigger, that the little baby oysters, the little house used to have a lawn in front of higher. The law of thermal expansion spat, could not grow their shells. The it. She can remember playing bad- means that when you warm fluids, they water was too acidic for them to grow minton on the lawn in front of her expand and the seas, therefore, rise. their shells. house. On the other side of the lawn You measure that with, more or less, Again, you can say: Who cares about was a road—just a dirt road—so cars the equivalent of a yardstick. Ther- an oyster? Well, people who grow oys- could come in and out. On the other mometers and yardsticks—it is not ters care a lot about them. It is a big side of the road was a parking lot, complicated. It is undeniable. industry in a lot of places. We are actu- where the cars could park, and on the The third piece, as the Senator men- ally rather proud of our Rhode Island other side of the parking lot began the tioned, is ocean acidification, which oysters. beach. everybody who has an aquarium knows Mr. SCHATZ. You should be proud of She can remember, as many little how to measure acidity. It is a litmus your Rhode Island oysters. I care about children who have been to the beach test. You can do it in any laboratory. oysters. can remember, that when that hot Sun You do it in school. It is not com- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I will turn it beats down on the sand, it gets hot, and plicated. You can take measurements back to you. Because one of the things on the child’s little feet that heat can like that of the ocean and you can see that Hawaii is famous for that we do hurt. So she would have to run. She it is acidifying. not have much of in Rhode Island is would have to run across this long, ex- It is acidifying for very simple rea- tropical coral reefs. Coral reefs are af- pansive beach. She can remember the sons. One-third of the carbon that goes fected by acidification, by runoff, by distance running across the hot sand into our atmosphere gets absorbed by warming, and they can bleach. When until her feet got into the cool, spar- the oceans. Ninety percent of the heat they do, what once was a healthy reef, kling waters of the ocean. from climate change gets absorbed into rich with fish, a nursery for all of the

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Well, it is really impor- for as long as Rhode Island fishermen these changes are real solutions or just tant to dwell on the question of what is remember them are changing in un- stopgap. happening to our oceans, not just be- precedented ways. Of course, skiing and snowboarding cause it is critically important but be- I will close. As one fisherman said to are just two examples of outdoor rec- cause I think that because it is more me when he came to visit here in Wash- reational activities that are increas- difficult to see it does not get enough ington maybe a year ago, he said some- ingly in peril as a result of future cli- attention. What is happening to our thing unforgettable. He said, ‘‘Sheldon, mate change. Sportsmen such as hunt- fisheries is every bit as drastic, in some it’s getting weird out there.’’ ers and fishers should keep a watchful cases more drastic, than what is hap- Mr. SCHATZ. I thank the Senator eye on the changing climate as well. pening in our agricultural sector. When from Rhode Island. We all know that Americans in every there is a drought or when there is dif- I am going to talk about something State love to hunt and fish. In 2011, al- ficulty in our agricultural sector, it is that I think is astonishing. The Sen- most 14 million people, or 6 percent of ably represented in the Senate by its ator from New Mexico earlier talked the United States population 16 years able home State Senators. Yet when about this, but this is mind-boggling to old and older, went hunting. Hunters there is a fisheries difficulty, it is more me, and it may be a surprise that the spent $34 billion on trips, equipment, difficult to pin down. It does not nec- Senator from Hawaii is talking about and licenses. More than 33 million peo- essarily become the new story a this. I have a 10-year-old son and a 6- ple 16 and older fished in 2011, spending drought or any difficulty in a growing year-old daughter. It has been at least almost $42 billion on trips, equipment, season may create. that long since I have been licenses, and other items. As the cli- This is something we have to talk snowboarding, but I enjoyed it when I mate warms, hunters and anglers will about both on the recreational fisher- was a lot younger and my knees were see decreased opportunities as a result man side as well as on the commercial better. But what is happening to win- of lower streamflows, population de- fishing side. I know that in a lot of ter recreation is really bad news. One clines, and changing migration pat- States in the Southeast, in the north- source states that roughly 23 million terns. east, on the west coast and certainly in people participate in winter sporting Organizations such as the Theodore Hawaii, people who fish, maybe activities, adding $12 billion to the Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recreationally, maybe for subsistence, economy and employing almost 212,000 which exist to promote hunting and or maybe as a commercial venture, it people. Roughly 20 million Americans fishing recognize this trend and believe is really part and parcel of the culture over the age of 6 ski or snowboard. The it is in the best interest of the hunting of the place. It is not purely an eco- industry generates more than $11 bil- and fishing communities to take action nomic issue, it is something you do lion across 38 States. on climate change. The organization’s with your children and their children. You do not have to be a climate sci- director, Bill Geer, published a cau- It is part of where you live. It is part of entist to recognize that skiers are de- tionary note in 2012 that is worth re- what it means to be from Hawaii or pendent upon consistent, plentiful counting: from Louisiana or from Florida or from snow. You do not have to be an econo- Contentious or not, climate change is real, Rhode Island. This is part of the Amer- mist to realize that ski areas are only and it is already affecting our natural re- ican experience. sustainable in places with plentiful sources, fish and wildlife and outdoor oppor- To the degree and extent we are di- snow and cold weather, aside perhaps tunities. At the Theodore Roosevelt Con- minishing that experience, setting from the indoor ski slopes in certain servation Partnership we aim to educate aside the economics for the moment, places such as Dubai. sportsmen about the effects of climate that is very significant. I know people So what does it tell you when you see change and ensure sportsman involvement in across the State of Hawaii grew up ski resorts struggling to meet their mitigation efforts. fishing and treasure that opportunity bottom lines due to winters so warm This is another example of conserv- to share what is in the ocean with their that even with enormous artificial atives, of independents, of progressives, families. snow systems, they cannot keep snow of basically everybody outside of the Mr. WHITEHOUSE. May I tell you on their mountain? Mountains cannot four corners of the U.S. Capitol recog- story about a Rhode Island fisherman. move. They cannot migrate. So when nizing that is what is actually hap- There is a fishing captain, Christopher the climate warms, ski resorts that de- pening is actually happening. It is only Brown, who came recently to testify pend on them face difficult choices, if in the four corners of this Capitol that before the Environment and Public they have any choice at all. the debate rages on, as if we can ignore Works Committee. He has been fishing According to one study on the impact the facts of the matter. This is no all of his life. He is a real Rhode Island of climate change on the ski and longer confined to conservation organi- fisherman. He used to go out with his snowboard industry, more than half of zations or people who are concerned dad, who was a Rhode Island fisher- all sky resorts in the northeast will no primarily with biological diversity. man. When he was probably 20 years longer be viable by 2039. I will repeat Look, I am a hiker. I am a surfer. I old, he built himself a fishing boat and that. More than half of all ski resorts love Hawaii’s natural environment, in then went out and began fishing on his in the northeast will no longer be via- particular. So that is the origin of my own. He fished that fishing boat he ble by 2039. passion for this issue. But the way this built for 30 years. He is the real deal Another study of Washington State issue has evolved, it is way beyond any when it comes to fishing. ski resorts found that almost 13 per- of those questions. It is national secu- He can remember as a boy fishing off- cent of the ski areas in the Cascades rity; it is economic security; it is our shore with his dad, dragging nets be- and fully 61 percent of the ski areas in ability to grow our own food and catch hind them, trawlers. Now he goes out the Olympic mountain range are at our own protein; it is literally the to those same waters, and he gets com- risk from the future effects of climate American way of life that is at stake pletely different fish. He says he pulled change. here. up a net full of spot. When he was out Another study of ski areas in south- I think the reason we have had such with his dad, his dad virtually never ern Ontario Canada cautioned that by great participation last night and well saw a spot. He said now he is catching the year 2080, with current snow-mak- into the morning is because there is a fish like grouper and tarpon that his ing technology, the ski season will be growing recognition on the left, right, dad never saw in his life. The waters reduced by anywhere from 11 to 50 per- and center that we have got to take ac- are changing. cent. Operators of ski areas do not tion. When you have regulations over what have too many ways to adapt. They Mr. WHITEHOUSE. To follow up on you can and cannot catch that are not can move their runs to north-facing Senator SCHATZ’s point in terms of the

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Utah, which runs all of the Park City ter Olympics are no longer climate For example, the rising temperatures will resorts, the Park City Foundation in suitable for Winter Olympics, including cause loss of habitat, there will be changes Utah predicts an annual local tempera- Lillehammer, Nagano, Torino, Inns- in water supply, and it could push certain ture increase of 6.8 degrees Fahrenheit bruck, Oslo, Sarajevo, Squaw Valley, species to the endangered species list. The by 2075. That would cause a complete Vancouver, Chamonix, Grenoble, and animals my grandpa and I look and hear for may soon no longer be there at all. loss of snowpack in the lower Park on. In addition, I can’t even imagine how it City resort area—a complete loss of So the people who are involved in will be like if our coral reefs die from global snowpack. The foundation—this Utah these winter sports know about this. warming. Beach erosions will multiply rap- foundation—estimates it will result in One hundred athletes of the Sochi idly and people’s homes will be prone to de- thousands of lost jobs, tens of millions Olympics from 10 different nations struction. Hawaii’s beaches could be gone. in lost earnings, and hundreds of mil- wrote a letter saying we have to take Not only would this affect Hawaii’s beauty, lions in lost economic growth. but it would affect Hawaii’s economy be- climate change seriously. They par- cause of the heavy reliance on tourism. Cli- We have to be able to find a way to ticularly focused on the small towns in mate change is real and in need of full atten- work with Senators from Utah on that. the mountains where skiers and tion. The point that Senator SCHATZ made snowboarders train and where the I have seen many programs for sustain- about the northeast comes home be- economy is based on snowboarding, ability in my community from the recently cause when you drill down into the re- skiing, and winter sports, and the dev- built wind turbines by my house to programs port a little further, they say the num- astation that would happen in those in elementary schools, like Aina in the ber of economically viable ski loca- Schools, that have raised the awareness of small towns if that economy collapsed climate change. tions in New Hampshire and Maine will because of climate change. I believe that there needs to be more re- be cut in half; that skiing in New York I yield to the Senator from Hawaii. search about climate change and its effect on will be cut by three-quarters. I do not Mr. SCHATZ. I thank the Senator the environment. When I become a parent, I know what that does to skiing in New from Rhode Island. hope I can share the same sounds and sights Jersey, but I will say that they said I would like to offer a personal story that my Grandpa has shared with me, to ex- there will be no ski areas in Con- from a young lady in Hawaii because I perience wildlife with my children rather than teach them how the environment could necticut or Massachusetts. They over- think it is very important to think of have been or was like before. looked Rhode Island. They did not this in generational terms. Her name is Kara’s words, spoken from her heart, mention Rhode Island. But I can prom- Kara Tanaka, and she is a senior at a reflect the deepest feelings of her gen- ise you, knowing geography, if there is school called Hanalani. She wrote me a eration, not only in Hawaii but no ski area that can survive in Con- letter, and I will read it into the throughout the United States. I repeat necticut or Massachusetts, then RECORD. the most resonant of her thoughts: Yawgoo Valley in Rhode Island is in She states: When I become a parent, I hope I can share trouble. That is our sky slope. So this Recently, I read that Hawaii is one of two the same sounds and sights that my Grandpa really does hit home. destinations being considered for the World has shared with me. I want to mention, the bicameral Conservation Congress. Indeed, Hawaii has a remarkably task force that HENRY WAXMAN and I The International Union for the Conserva- beautiful environment. Yet I think we run brought in all of the major sports tion of Nature is the organization that con- venes this meeting which brings together na- all agree that throughout our home leagues to talk about how climate States, from sea to shining sea, there change is affecting their sports. We had tions to discuss conservation on a global scale. are lands that define who we are and the National Basketball Association, As this meeting has never been held in the that call upon us to teach what is right we had Major League Baseball, we had US, Hawaii hopes to be selected as the host and to rightfully protect them. the U.S. Olympic Committee, we had location. For many reasons, Hawaii is the These thoughts from Kara inspire the National Football League and the perfect place to hold this meeting. me. I think they inspire all of us. There National Hockey League. They all Hawaii is the most remote set of islands in is a Kara Tanaka in every community agreed we need to take action on cli- the world and has the most concentrated ex- amples of flora and fauna that are in jeop- who inspires us to take action. It is mate change. In particular, the NHL time to wake up. That is why we are up talked about the history of their sport, ardy in the United States, our islands could be subjected to rising waters caused by glob- for climate, and that is why we are in with kids growing up and playing on al warming. this fight. frozen ponds. Many of those frozen Mr. WHITEHOUSE. If I may, let me ponds do not freeze any longer or they (Mr. MURPHY assumed the Chair.) Continuing: ask people who are listening to think freeze so little that a child does not back in time. Think back in time to The outer reefs that protect our shores will have a chance to learn to skate and de- many years ago when Abraham Lincoln velop that skill out on the pond. So the be in crisis if the current environmental challenges are not addressed and solutions was President of the United States, NHL has been active. I appreciate that. enacted upon. when this room was just under con- The other point I wanted to mention I have been blessed in growing up on the struction and soldiers coming down oc- is a lot of these winter sports are part north shore of Oahu and have experienced cupied it, camped here, camped in the of the Winter Olympics. There was a the beautiful scenery of nature which sur- lounge, and actually made fires in the study done by the University of Water- rounds me. lounge across the way to cook their loo that took a look at all of the dif- As a first generation Japanese American, bacon. One could hear cannon fire from my 92 year old grandpa loves to tell me sto- ferent locations in which there have the Capitol. The Civil War was hap- been Winter Olympics, all of the way ries about spending his youth living on the plantation fields in Mokuleia. During our pening in America. up to Sochi. The green shows that from early morning hikes up Peacock Flats and When that took place, there was a 1981 to 2010, all of these locations for lunches on the beach, my grandpa enjoys scientist named John Tyndall who de- the Winter Olympics were climate reli- telling me about all the edible plants we livered a paper that showed that when able for snow conditions. walk by and can identify all the animals you added carbon dioxide to the atmos- Then they run a couple of different that we hear and see. phere, it warmed the Earth. That is scenarios, 2050s with low emissions, My grandpa also shares with me the things how long it has been that we have 2050s with high emission; 2080s with low that are no longer around: dry streams, less known that when you add carbon diox- emissions, 2080s with high carbon emis- wildlife, and lower water levels. Although ide to the atmosphere, it warms the sions; and one by one the sites of pre- there may be other factors affecting the en- vironment, I truly believe that climate Earth. vious Winter Olympics fall away as change is a major reason causing these Since that time, we have probably reasonable sites. If we go to the 2050s changes. added close on 2,000 gigatons, 2,000 bil- low-emissions scenario, there goes For both my grandpa and me, climate lion tons of carbon dioxide to the at- Sochi and there goes Grenoble. If we go change is real, he sees the changes. It is a mosphere. What happens when we do

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:43 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.110 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1441 that? This goes back to 800,000 BC. sketchy. A lot of these organizations erence in the history of the Senate to That is nearly 1 million years. We can have a tradition of denial. They denied dinosaur flatulence. see that in the time we have measured that the ozone hole was growing. They Mr. SCHATZ. I would hope. here, 800,000 years, there has been a denied that tobacco caused cancer. Global warming is a total fraud, and very clear range of carbon concentra- Heck, some of them probably even de- it is being designed because what you tion in the planet. nied that seatbelts made auto travel have got is you have got liberals who We kicked in around 200,000 years ago safer. That has been their industry. get elected at the local levels, want as human beings. This is about where They have been in the denial industry. State government to do the work and homo sapiens showed up. So long be- But that is a dangerous place to be, let them make the decisions. Then at fore there were homo sapiens, the particularly because the oceans don’t the State level they want the Federal Earth stayed between about 170 and 300 lie. The oceans tell the story, and they Government to do it, and at the Fed- parts per million of carbon dioxide. For tell it in ways we can’t deny. eral Government they want to create every single year human beings have It is big—what happens in the global government to control our lives. inhabited this planet, we stayed within oceans—because 93 percent of the heat that window. But then that 2,000 goes into the oceans. What do we see? Here is one about global climate gigatons started to kick in, and here it We know perfectly well what happens change. goes, up through 250, up through 300, up to liquids when they get warmer. That It could just be a shift on the axis. through 350, and for the first time it is a law of science. It is called the law I don’t even know what that means. hit 400 parts per million. So that is of thermal expansion. When liquids get And they are a little humorous except very real. bigger—get warmer, they get bigger. these are sitting decisionmakers. So it If people are worried about deniers Sure enough, when the ocean gets big- is time to wake up. It is time for those out there, we can’t deny Tyndall’s the- ger, the sea level rises. folks who are denying the reality of ory. Nobody denies that when we add Here is a time series showing the sea climate change to move off of their po- carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, it level rise taking place. sition, and for those who are quietly has this effect. Nobody denies that we So we have the principle of carbon di- oxide warming the temperature of the agreeing with us about the sciences but have put roughly close on 2,000 Earth. We have the addition of the car- not stepping forward and showing lead- gigatons of carbon into the atmosphere bon dioxide. We have the measurement ership to show leadership. since then, and nobody denies these in the atmosphere of the effect of that measurements. These are measure- Frankly, I think it is time for those addition. We have the laws of nature ments. This isn’t theory; these are of us who have been passionate about which show what happens when the measurements. this issue to work together and to re- ocean warms and rises. Then we go It is one thing if the Republican double our efforts. But I have 20 or 30 back out, measure, and we see it com- Party wants to be the party that is pages worth of quite alarming quotes. ing through exactly as predicted. against science. I doubt they want to Again, they would be funny if they By the way, it is 93 percent of the go so far as to be the party that is weren’t from sitting decisionmakers heat, but it is 30 percent of the carbon. against measurement, but here we are who have real authority over this ques- We can go into a regular chemistry tion. at 400. lab and we can do the experiment of Sure enough, some strange behavior adding carbon dioxide to saltwater and Mr. WHITEHOUSE. The one we hear is showing up, and this shows where all watching its acidification go up. Sure the most often right now is: Don’t the land and ocean temperature anom- enough, we can go to the ocean and do worry, climate change has leveled off. alies are showing up. If we look, start- this as well. Again, this isn’t theory; Global warming and the temperature ing in 1880 it goes from blue—the cold this is measurement. increases have leveled off. anomalies—to red, and we can see a Does the Republican Party want to Well, as you just saw, 93 percent of very distinct line. be the party that doesn’t just deny the heat goes into the ocean. So if you People who look at it say: Well, that science but denies measurement? I are measuring just the atmosphere, a is that undeniable climate change hap- don’t think so. There is no future in tiny wobble in the 93-percent share the pening. That is that 400 parts per mil- that. oceans take up will make a massive ef- lion. That is the increase in carbon di- Responsible people who back the Re- fect in the atmosphere. oxide. publican Party need to bring their But more to the point, if you take a How many people think that? Well, party back from the brink of one of the graph, here is the leveling they show about 14,000 peer-reviewed articles most embarrassing fiascos any polit- over the last 15 years. The problem is, think that; 24 reject global warming. ical party could get itself into. if you go back through the data, you That is the little red line if you are Mr. SCHATZ. If I may, the Senator can show it leveled here, and then it comparing the two. The blue is the uni- from Rhode Island has elucidated the leveled here, and then it leveled here, verse of peer-reviewed articles on cli- problem with respect to climate and then it leveled here, and then it mate change, and that tiny little red change deniers. I wish to read a few leveled here, and then it leveled here. line is the 24 out of 14,000 who reject quotes from Members of Congress, un- There are constant levels in an upward- climate change. fortunately. They would be funny if going staircase. If you cherry-pick the I ask my friends on the other side of they weren’t so alarming. These are di- data, you can say: OK, it has gotten the aisle, you are betting the reputa- rect quotes from Members of Congress level for that period. But if you really tion of the Republican Party on your who are denying the reality of climate look at the trend of the identical data, current de facto premise that climate change. that is the real trend. That is the ac- change isn’t real? Do you really want The first quote: Is there some tual trendline through the data. to take a 24 out of 14,000 article bet? Is thought being given to subsidizing the that the smart place to put the reputa- clearing of rain forests in order for So when somebody comes to you and tion and the honor of the Republican some countries to eliminate that pro- says: Ignore that trendline; instead Party? I don’t think so. duction of greenhouse gases? look at it having gotten flat. And by That is another reason I am con- Second quote: We don’t know what the way, forget all those other times it fident we can get to a bipartisan solu- those other cycles were caused by in got flat before. What do you think tion. I don’t think it is smart for Re- the past. It could be dinosaur flatu- about somebody who makes an argu- publicans to take the reputation and lence, you know, or who knows. Global ment to you like that. It is a ridiculous honor of their party and bet it on a warming is a total fraud, and it is argument. It ruins the credibility of theory that is 24 out of 14,000. being designed because what we have the person who makes it. How you can If we look a little bit behind the cli- got is you have got—— believe that is astonishing. mate denial operation, we will see that Mr. WHITEHOUSE. May the record Mr. SCHATZ. I think the Senator is it is actually very sketchy. It is very reflect that this is perhaps the first ref- exactly right. In some ways that is a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.112 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 more dangerous argument than some of ocean is becoming more acidic. We let us hold that in abeyance for a sec- the other denier arguments, because it have objective measurements of that. ond, that question, and just deal with sounds like science. It is not, but it Sea levels are rising because of the ex- what we talked earlier about—the mili- sounds like science. pansion of warming oceans. Obviously, tary that deals with the fierce urgency But the most recent, and in my view that is just basic, basic science we of now. Even not dealing with the ques- most absurd, and we have now I think learned in our earlier years. The tion of how this issue is created, we seen it for three or four winters, is amount of land covered in snow is de- should be doing things right now to every time there is snow—and at first I creasing in the northern hemisphere. deal with the consequences—invest- thought it was sort of a little jab, a lit- We have evidence of that. Glaciers are ments in resiliency and adaptability tle rhetorical joke—but they are actu- melting away. There is evidence of along our coasts. There is so much we ally saying that because it was snow- that. Arctic sea ice is decreasing. We should be compromising on both sides ing last week there must not be cli- have evidence of that. Again, we see in of the aisle. If they want to argue mate change. That is an argument they New Jersey evidence of measurements about what is causing it, that is an ar- are relying upon. of these things happening. gument we should take, and I believe I think because in the face of actual Scientists at Tufts and Rutgers esti- we will win, but absent that, even if evidence they are now having to rely mate the New Jersey shore will experi- you say these trends are happening, on anecdotes, on the fact that it is icy ence a sea level rise of 1.5 feet by 2050. now what are we going to do as a coun- in Antarctica or there was a snow- This is based upon what is happening try? Nothing or are we going to prepare storm in DC, or it was unseasonably right now that they can measure. The for that? Isn’t there a lot of action we cold for a weekend in Georgia or what- projections for the New Jersey coast can take even before we get to the ar- ever it may be, but to rely on indi- are higher than projected for average gument of whether this was manmade? vidual anecdotes about the weather I sea levels that rise globally. The pro- Because these are trends that are hap- think is pretty tough stuff to take and jected sea level rise of 1.5 feet by 2050 pening and there are things we should I want to make sure we don’t let that for the New Jersey coast in places such be doing about it. stand; that the idea you get to look out as Atlantic City, if there were a 10-year Mr. WHITEHOUSE. The Senator the window and understand what is storm—not a 50-year storm or a 100- knows better than I what is happening happening with the climate is a lack of year storm, but just the scale of a in New Jersey. You know how hard understanding about the climate. storm that, on average, we see every 10 New York and New Jersey in particular Climate is long-term patterns over years—flood levels from that storm were hit by Sandy. You have our sym- large swaths of land or ocean. The would be worse than any flooding that pathies, because we had some Sandy weather is you get to check it on your has ever been seen in Atlantic City, damage in Rhode Island but we just iPhone app tomorrow morning. That is even worse than those from caught a glancing blow. The full thrust the weather. It is not the climate. It Superstorm Sandy. of that hit was on New York and New may or may not be hot or cold tomor- The temperature issues in New Jer- Jersey, and you guys paid the price. row. That doesn’t tell you a thing sey are the same as well. In New Jer- In the recovery, FEMA and other about what is happening to climate sey, the statewide average temperature Federal agencies and your State agen- change. And to the extent someone in 2012 was the highest in 118 years of cies are starting to look at this in a wants to pick off a day and say: Look, recording it. Nine of the ten warmest whole new way. They are saying: We it is 32 degrees in Seattle and, there- calendar years on record in New Jersey can’t build back the same. The same fore, climate change is not real, I don’t as an objective measurement have oc- didn’t work last time. And by the way, think anybody actually believes that curred since 1990, and the five warmest with that sea level rising, the same is argument. But it is important the years have occurred since 1998. Sci- probably going to not only not be American public realizes how specious entists predict that by 2050 summer enough for the last time, it is going to that claim is. temperatures in New Jersey will regu- be way less than is necessary for next Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Climate science larly surpass the current hottest tem- time. So the very way in which the doesn’t tell you that every day is going peratures on record, making the State U.S. Government, the State of New to get a tiny little bit warmer. Climate begin to have more such as that of Ala- York government, the State of New science tells you that putting that bama. I know Senator SESSIONS and Jersey government, the city of New extra energy into the system will make Senator SHELBY can tell me a lot about York government are taking a look at the weather extremes worse, both those temperatures, but that is not the how they respond to Sandy and how warmer and colder. So the fact there New Jersey we know. they recover and how they rebuild for have been cold snaps is actually per- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. We are seeing the the future is a perfect living example fectly consistent with climate science. same thing in Rhode Island. Indeed, of the point my colleague is making. Not only does that argument ignore Newport, RI, is known for being a sum- For that purpose, it doesn’t matter the difference between weather and cli- mer destination. The first summer visi- whether this is manmade. The fact mate, it also takes advantage of people tors to Newport, RI, the first people that it is happening, the fact you can who haven’t drilled into the climate who made it the summer capital of the predict it means it would be reckless science. Because if you knew the least United States were traders from the and foolish not to take that into ac- little bit about the underlying science, Carolinas, who sailed up the coast with count as you rebuild. you would know the point made no their families to get away from the Mr. BOOKER. Right. So that is sort sense because that is exactly what the baking fetid heat of the Carolinas and of the frustrating thing for me. We see people who predict global warming pre- enjoy the cool shores of Narragansett these challenges mounting up all dicted would happen. If anything, it Bay. around us and we still do nothing. It confirms the argument that people are Well, what is happening is that due reminds me of this crazy story my trying to rebut. So it really, really is a to climate change and the warming cli- brother told me when I was a young dishonest argument. mate, that very climate those Carolina guy. I think originally it was a story Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, may I traders sailed up to Newport, RI, to get from Lou Holtz. You will appreciate ask a question of the Senator from away from is inching its way up the this, because if you are in it, doing Rhode Island. coast and will soon be the climate in nothing is not an option. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Newport, RI. This is a story of a very wealthy man ator from New Jersey is recognized. Mr. BOOKER. So I guess my question who had no heirs to leave his money to. Mr. BOOKER. There are a number of is—first of all, there is no denying So he lined up a whole bunch of young issues here and the first is: Are tem- what is happening. The bait we often strapping guys in front of his big old peratures going up? And for me, the air get pulled into, by using a ridiculous Olympic-sized pool with a cover over it temperature is increasing. We have ob- paucity of a study, as compared to the and said: OK, anybody who can swim jective measurements on that. Ocean grand total of the other studies, is across this pool gets my inheritance. temperatures are increasing. We have what is causing this. Is it manmade or You are the ones. So all these young objective measurements on that. The is this some regular fluctuation? But men got ready to jump across the pool,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.113 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1443 and he pushed the button, the pool where is the bipartisan work on what is and conserving, to people who stormed cover opened, and there in the water factually happening—warming seas, beaches in Normandy. I know for the were snakes and alligators and pira- rising sea levels and the obvious stuff civil rights movement we came to- nhas, and a very mean, vicious-looking knowing these challenges are there? gether as a Nation and overcame those duck. Why aren’t we doing more as a Nation people who were trying to deny equal Basically he waited there, and all the to wake folks up and invest in what we rights and equal opportunity in this men now backed off and didn’t do any- know will make us a better, stronger, country. It is those past victories thing. He finally had enough of it and and safer Nation? which fuel my hopes about the present. said: Aw, shucks, and turned around. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. The bipartisan We as a Nation have already set lim- But just as he walked away, thinking work I think is mostly being done at its for arsenic, mercury, lead, and none of those young men were going to the local level—at the level of Gov- other types of pollution. We have al- be up to the challenge, he hears this ernors and mayors, at the level of local ready done that and said if a private big splash. He turns around and he sees city councils. company is going to spew this filth navigating across the pool the young- One example which comes to mind is into our climate, they are going to est of all the men—a guy the age of the City of Miami. Miami is really have to face limitations and take re- Senator SCHATZ—navigating through ground zero for climate change. On sponsibility for those actions. In other this water and battling alligators, high-tide days, their streets already words, they are going to have to inter- pushing back the poisonous snakes, flood with water which is pushing up nalize the costs and not externalize kicking back piranhas, dodging that vi- through what should be ways for water them, not put the burden on people. cious-looking duck, working his way to flow off the streets but comes up Again, I have seen this in countless cit- over, and heaving himself onto the into the streets—saltwater. The fresh- ies across America where, when we other end of the pool. He is now blood- water supply is already being inun- didn’t do that, people were still paying ied and tired and breathing hard, and dated by saltwater as it pushes through the price in the money we spent here in the man runs over and says: I can’t be- the porous limestone the Miami area is the Federal Government for brownfield lieve it, boy. You did it. I can’t believe built on. They realize they have a real remediation and public tax dollars pay- it. You did it. Anything you want, it is problem. So four county governments ing for the cleanup of land often in yours. Anything you want, it is yours. came together to deal with this. The urban spaces which other people dirtied The young man looks up at the guy four counties are led two by Democrats up. So it is just common sense not to and says: Well, all I want is to know and two by Republicans. allow polluters to release unlimited who pushed me. I mentioned earlier we used to have amounts of pollutants in the air. I asked my brother, after he told me bipartisanship on this issue until Citi- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. It is a win. The the story, what is the moral of the zens United was decided by the Su- only thing I would distinguish a little story? He said: CORY, the moral of the preme Courts, until all the big money bit is the example of the boy who went story is: If you are in it, you don’t do came in, until all the dark money came into the pool filled with piranhas and nothing. If you have challenges up to in, until people on the Republican side alligators and snakes. your neck, you don’t do nothing. You who were willing to speak up about cli- Mr. BOOKER. Don’t forget about the keep moving across those challenges. mate change were punished and threat- duck. So my colleague’s point is excellent, ened so badly they could no longer do Mr. WHITEHOUSE. And the particu- that we are at a point in America it. The Citizens United effect hasn’t larly vicious looking duck. The solu- where we see clearly the challenges we worked its way down to Governors and tion on climate is not the equivalent of are facing, but right now, because of a counties, so they still see the real ac- piranhas, alligators, snakes, and a vi- deadlocked legislature, we are not tion. cious duck. The solution on climate is doing that much. The cost of inaction I think the Senator as a mayor will actually a triple win. we can actually calculate by watching also remember there were reality-based The Senator mentioned the earlier countries around us begin to advance problems to be dealt with—not every limits on pollutants. We found over and the ball down the field in innovation day but 10 times a day or 15 times a over that despite the regular claims by and new technologies that can help re- day. the industry that this was going to be duce the dependency on carbon fuels. Abraham Lincoln in the movie ‘‘Lin- the end of civilization as we know it We see vulnerabilities being created coln’’ said: I like to get my public opin- and an economic catastrophe would from Hawaii to New Jersey, up and ion bath by having real people in. The ensue, when we actually look back, down the east coast and the west coast Senator got a reality bath every day as people saved money because of the that we are not doing anything about. mayor, and every mayor out there is harm they were spared. I think the Lacking the investments and that kind getting a reality bath every day. Here, Clean Air Act is $30 saved for every $1 of resiliency will cost us more in the we don’t deal with that. Here, it is dif- we had to invest in cleaning up. So the long run. ferent. We don’t have to live in the limits actually saved money. The point I am trying to make is, same real world. We live in a more po- In this case, we will add—as the Sen- when we hear from the military that litical world. So people can say things ator mentioned before—the growth in we need to do work and they are start- which are, frankly, irresponsible, un- new industries, the $6 trillion clean-en- ing to do things to learn how to run true, and get away with it longer. The ergy industry we want to be in rather their planes on biofuels and learn how intimidation factor of big money is than trailing behind and buying from to better secure property, when we worse here. China. Finally, if we believe in market hear from people in industries who say So where is the bipartisanship? It theory, if we believe markets are the we have to be ahead of the curve on in- will be back here. It is inevitable. But most efficient way to make choices, novation, ahead of the curve on these we know there can be bipartisanship then we have to set up a market which new technologies other countries are here by looking at bipartisanship live is a fair one. This business the Senator challenging us on, when we hear even and healthy and in action on climate mentioned of a business being able to on the issue of job creation and govern- at the municipal, State, and county externalize its costs by saying, ‘‘That ment responsibility in terms of saving level. is not my responsibility. I don’t have taxpayer dollars, retrofitting buildings, Mr. BOOKER. I share the Senator’s to pay for that. I am just going to lowering energy costs, helping people sense of hope about our ability to come dump it.’’ This is no more fair than a save more money and keep it there—all together as a country, crises after cri- New Jersey neighbor or a Hawaii of these things should be enough alone ses, generation after generation, and neighbor or a Connecticut neighbor or to compel us to act before we even get we come here to do the right thing. I a Rhode Island neighbor, instead of to the debate about what is causing know this from the history my parents cleaning up their lawn, just shoveling this. and grandparents have talked to me their leaves over to the next guy’s So what I am asking is, under- about—whether it was against an ex- wall. We don’t get to do that. We are standing that debate, having been in ternal threat of fascism, and how folks responsible for cleaning up our own the Senate only for about 4 months, pulled together, from victory gardens lawn when the leaves fall, in the same

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We manding it, standing up for it, letting allowing them for other industries, and have markets which work correctly, their politicians know: I don’t care if the industries of the future that would limits which save money for people in you are a Republican or a Democrat; if help us to have a more blended all-of- the long run, and the proper invest- you don’t get on board with this, you the-above strategy. ment in green industries which are are going to pay for it at the polls. I know you have a lot of insight into going to grow. So if that is alligators, What gives me hope is it is such com- this, which to me flies in the face of snakes, and piranhas, I think it is the mon sense that folks are going to start conservative ideology. It flies in the exact opposite. It is abundance and op- putting pressure on this body—just face of progressive ideology. The only portunity and innovation. like I have seen on some other issues ideology that seems to make sense is Mr. BOOKER. Again, the Senator which have come around of recent— money interests that want to corrupt a said it. On the local level, dealing with pressure on folks to say: Hey, you have free market, corrupt common sense, the urgencies of the moment, we don’t got to get on board because this is and corrupt what we think should be a have time to philosophize and don’t common stuff which is going to benefit unifying force toward moving as a na- have time for politics. We have to solve my neighbor, my community, my tion toward a more sound energy pol- problems. The Senator’s point is some- school, my kids, my country. icy. thing I experienced as a mayor on mul- I am hoping those numbers you were Mr. WHITEHOUSE. If you have two tiple occasions. We got teenagers and revealing show some of that energy. I factories working side-by-side and one trained them in solar panel installa- wonder if that is your view. factory is paying attention to making tion. What happened to the buildings? Mr. WHITEHOUSE. The energy is its products and doing the best it can It reduced the costs. People saved definitely out there. There is no doubt and being as efficient as it can and money. Our surrounding environment about it. Poll after poll shows how making a great product and going out actually improved, burning less fossil strongly Americans feel about climate and selling it, and then the factory fuels, putting less carbon in the air. change. next to it has figured out a way to take Every time we attended to our envi- My favorite one, because it involves a big chunk of its costs and push them ronment, we were able to find win- Republicans, is a poll taken of self- off on to other people—let’s say one wins. We looked at that and said: Let’s identified Republican voters under the factory has to clean up its effluent, and create multiple farms and create more age of 35—young voters, the future of the other one just dumps it in the locally-grown food. We found a way to the party, the future of the country, river; let’s say one factory has to pay address crime issues in our city. the future demographic they need to for cleanup of its trash and disposal By the way, there are studies which reach out to. When asked what they and the other just shovels it in the show cities with more trees and plant feel about climate denial, 53 percent of neighbor’s yard at night; no matter life and what have you often see some young Republican voters described cli- how that second factory is cheating by correlations with crime. We did it in a mate denial with three words: Igno- offloading costs onto other people in- different way. We created greenfields, rant, out of touch or crazy. stead of putting them in, you do not planting food, locally-grown produce, So there are lots of reasons to have have a fair market between those two able to source it to restaurants over in confidence. But one reason to have con- factories. You have one that is playing New York across the Hudson River. But fidence is young people in this party by the rules, playing by market theory, what excited me is we created a re- view the climate denial strategy which and you have one it cannot compete entry program for men and women we heard here earlier this evening from with because the other one is cheating. coming home from prison. the one Republican who came—they When fossil fuels dump carbon into So this is the creativity we see in in- view that theory as ignorant, out of our atmosphere and we now know the dustry and local communities, people touch or crazy. If this is what the harm it causes, and it comes home to realizing that this is not an either-or young people in their own party think folks at Roy Carpenter’s Beach in choice, the economy or the environ- about it, that is not a position they can Rhode Island, and people’s homes are ment. No. That is a false choice. hold. Up against the common sense and falling into the water; when it comes So people who see this as incredibly the reality, up against the force of pub- to storms that smash on the shorefront threatening haven’t looked at the facts lic opinion, and up against the effort of of New Jersey; when it comes to the that we can create wins on multiple this evening which Senator SCHATZ has wildfires and droughts that we heard of levels for the United States of Amer- done so much to make happen, there tearing through New Mexico and Colo- ica. So we can get the win on the econ- shows a new spirit of stirring in the rado; when it comes to ocean acidifica- omy. We can get the win on the envi- Senate. Then I think we win. I think tion, those are real costs to real people, ronment. We can get the win on the the American people win, more to the and they have been pushed onto the costs being spent. We can get the win point. rest of us by those polluters, and it from being less dependent upon nations Mr. BOOKER. I will ask one more simply isn’t fair. It is a violation of who have helped destabilize our planet. question and then invite Senator basic market theory. So, if as the Re- Then the biggest patriotic win of them SCHATZ—who has been the catalytic publican party so often says, ‘‘We want all is an America that can lead again in agent in pulling this all together—to to be the free market party,’’ fine, be this area, that can show the world the address this idea of a level playing field the free market party, but have it be a way to go. Frankly, we can show other and free markets, the subsidy that is fair market. It cannot be a racket of a countries that are saying: Why should I given to oil and coal, and the predict- market. It has to be a free and fair do anything on this issue, we can show able subsidies that have been given to market in which the costs of a product a way forward which isn’t about self- oil and coal which have helped fuel the are in the price of a product. Otherwise interest. It is about enlightened self-in- industry, compared to the unpredict- it is just picking winners and losers. terest, if you go the way we are going. able subsidies that are given to alter- Mr. BOOKER. For us then to take the We heard one of the other Senators native energy sources such as wind, innovators that are trying to invest talk tonight about what China is al- which has led to more disjointed ad- the money and the resources to keep ready seeing in terms of their pollut- vancements in those areas. America on the cutting edge of alter- ants and environment and how the pub- Again, I think of arguments about native fuels to be denied any kind of lic is reacting to that. That is one area picking winners and losers. I heard a flexibility, and for the Senator illus- I might question one more time—the lot about this when I came to Wash- trating earlier what is happening at a hope that somehow bipartisanship will ington. ‘‘Why is Obama picking win- local level as the money interests from come here. The feeling I have is the ners and losers?’’ fossil fuel firms that get involved in statistics the Senator was reading It seems to me this is anti-philos- legislatures that are trying to do about the number of people on the Web ophy of allowing the free market to things to create a level playing field, site is such an important thing for me. work, because we seem to be favoring— to me that should be something we

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.115 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1445 should all say no to. It should stop Hawaii’s energy future and our ability One of the key policy tools aiding completely. to reduce carbon pollution. I strongly compliance with the State’s RPS, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Here are two believe that despite Hawaii’s unique especially the efficiency standards, is families. Here are two families who characteristics, opportunities exist for the decoupling of the electric utility’s paid a price. That wasn’t built into the other States and regions to replicate income from fluctuations in sales and price of fossil fuels, but they sure as the successes we have had. Already en- revenue. This is crucial in a place such heck paid it and they just didn’t pay it ergy regulators and policymakers from as Hawaii where distributed generation in the wrecked front of a building and other parts of the country and the is playing an important role in meeting entirely ruined their little house there. world are coming to Hawaii to learn our goals. This way we can ensure that They paid it also in the loss of all the what we are doing. I say that with the utility receives financial incentives memories of all the summers where great appreciation for the enormous for increasing renewable production they grew up back when this was their work others are doing to transition to from independent power producers and summer home. That is a real price. a clean energy future. I do not claim decreasing total energy use. Hawaii’s People paid a lot when this happened. Hawaii has all the answers, but I do decoupling policy began in 2011 and al- And to write that off as if it is nothing, think we have discovered some of lowed the State utility to be com- and have the polluters just keep going them. pensated through revenue-balancing at it—no, that is not right. Let’s start with a brief overview of rate adjustments approved by the PUC. I yield the floor. the energy sector. We are the most geo- Like many other States, Hawaii sup- Senator SCHATZ, I know you have graphically isolated major population plements Federal tax incentives to de- some remarks you would like to make, center in the world and we are also in- ploy greater technology such as wind, and let me take another opportunity to ternally separated, with seven different solar, and geothermal. Our incentives thank you again for your leadership in populated islands. We are the most oil- create tax incentives for producers at bringing us together. dependent State in the Nation. every level for commercial and resi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- In 2010, 75 percent of the State’s elec- dent. ator from Hawaii. tricity came from foreign petroleum. In June of last year Hawaii passed Mr. SCHATZ. I thank the Senator This reliance leads to both high and legislation to establish a green infra- from Rhode Island and the Senator volatile energy costs. Hawaii’s elec- structure financing program. The from New Jersey for engaging in such tricity rates are the highest in the Na- Green Energy Market Securitization an energetic dialogue about these tion at around 37 to 40 cents per kilo- Program, which we call GEM, creates issues. watt hour. This is three times the na- an integrative financing model that Allow me to brag about Hawaii a lit- will help low-to-moderate-income tle bit. I would like to speak about the tional average and twice as high as Alaska’s rate, the country’s second households, including renters, to take incredible work Hawaii has done in en- advantage of clean energy improve- highest. Hawaii’s multiple islands ergy transformation. We have taken a ments and energy efficiency. It aims to mean multiple grids that all must be problem—high energy prices, no in- address the financial barriers of invest- managed independently. state fossil fuel resources—and turned ing in and installing energy cost-sav- it into an opportunity to transition the Looking forward, the State is consid- ering an undersea transmission cable ings products. State to clean energy. Hawaii, like The heart of the program is an on- as one of the key possibilities for shar- Alaska and the territories, is geo- bill financing structure backed by ing renewable energy and reducing graphically isolated from the rest of state issue rate reduction bonds that rates throughout the islands. A major the country. This relative isolation allow customers to overcome the high consequence of our geography is that presents unique challenges. upfront costs of clean energy products. the best clean energy resources are not Hawaii has some of the highest en- What does that mean? It does this by ergy costs in the country. Our energy located in the same places as our de- allowing customers to pay for clean en- mix is heavily reliant on oil and our mand center. ergy investments over time via sur- Oahu is by far the most populated is- multiple islands mean we have mul- charge on their electricity bill. In land with the highest electricity de- tiple electric grids. This challenging other words, you can simply sign up for mand, with Waikiki and the Pacific picture also presents unparalleled op- clean energy. Some of the savings go to Command, and yet technical analysis portunity because the high cost of en- the company that is providing you the has shown that Oahu may only be able ergy makes renewables not only com- clean energy, and some of the savings to realistically generate 30 percent of petitive but often the low-cost option. go to you, and all of it gets taken care We have abundant natural resources in its own energy. Hawaii has been unable of by the electric utility on your bill. solar, wind, geothermal, and ocean en- to take advantage of the mainland’s On-bill financing is a wave of the fu- ergy. But that doesn’t make a transi- natural gas, while our State continues ture whether it is in electricity genera- tion to clean energy easy. Current poli- to pursue its clean energy goals. Var- tion or in energy efficiency. This pro- cies, entrenched modes of thinking, ious groups have begun to explore gram will begin by targeting distrib- longstanding business models, along bringing low-cost LNG to Oahu to fur- uted solar, but will quickly expand to with high upfront costs for capital for ther transition away from our depend- other technologies. clean energy mean we need to aggres- ence of low sulphur fuel oil for elec- HCEI also works to promote Hawaii sively encourage market trans- tricity. as an attractive place to invest in com- formation using a variety of policy So back up to 2008 with high energy mercial production of clean energy tools. Thankfully, farsighted and com- costs and the desire for greater energy technologies and serve as a test bed for mitted policymakers have helped Ha- security and the pressing need to get demonstrating and proving out cut- waii to develop and implement some of serious about reducing carbon solu- ting-edge ideas and energy manage- the most aggressive clean energy and tions. It was clear we needed to do ment practices. Outside groups have efficiency goals in the country. something. HCEI was founded on a looked at Hawaii, especially when it This effort began in earnest in 2008 memorandum of understanding signed comes to smart grid development. with a unique partnership between Ha- between the State of Hawaii and the In May of 2011, Japan-based New En- waii and the U.S. Department of En- U.S. DOE in 2008. This partnership re- ergy and Industrial Technology Devel- ergy that became the Hawaii Clean En- sulted in an ambitious plan to reduce opment Organization, NEITDO, con- ergy Initiative. Hawaii Clean Energy energy consumption by 30 percent and tributed $37 million as a partner to our Initiative, or HCEI, is a partnership be- increase electrical generation from re- Maui smart grid project. This is a dem- tween the state, the Federal Govern- newables to 40 percent of the total mix onstration project to reduce peak loads ment, the not-for-profit and the private by the end of 2030. These renewable and through demand response to integrate sectors. It helped to lay out a roadmap efficiency goals are now law. But such intermittent energy sources, to incor- for Hawaii to achieve our aggressive goals, even enshrined in law, need a porate grid scale battery storage tech- clean energy goals. suite of policy tools to help implement nology. Our job is far from done, but as a re- them, and they need the political will What does that mean? It means on sult of this effort I am optimistic about to relentlessly see them through. the island of Maui we have lots and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.117 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1446 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 lots of wind energy and yet we are clean energy economy has helped to designed to be a collaborative effort be- lacking in the ability to actually uti- create many of the State’s 14,000-plus tween all citizens of Hawaii to leverage lize all of that energy at the same green jobs. Hawaii ranked third in their respective strength in achieving a time. So we are looking at using dis- clean energy job growth nationally. clean energy future. Without the par- tributed electric vehicles to take that The implementation of HCEI goals ticipation and cooperation of all of the energy off of the grid and be stored in has not come without challenges. One key players involved and the support of electric vehicles. Hitachi Corporation, of the biggest challenges has been inte- the general public, HCEI would not NEITDO, the U.S. DOE, our Natural grating intermittent renewable energy succeed. Energy Lab, they are all very inter- sources into our various grids—grids I also can’t stress enough the impor- ested in trying to figure out how to that are often quite small in scale. tance of the partnership we have with make our grid more intelligent and Making things even more chal- the U.S. DOE. DOE offers a unique abil- more efficient. Hawaii’s high levels of lenging, much of our renewable energy ity to act as convener, facilitator, and renewable energy penetration, espe- is distributed, which means that our an active, long-term partner in HCEI. cially on our neighbor islands, make it utility companies don’t even know DOE continues to serve as a conduit an excellent place for utilities on the whether they are coming or going. between Hawaii and other entities, mainland to come and observe grid op- They have no visibility into what is such as the national labs, Federal pro- erators manage the grid under demand- happening with rooftop solar. They are grams, R&D groups, other Federal ing circumstances. What we are hear- trying to develop technologies to un- agencies, and national organizations ing from grid operators across the con- derstand what is happening with the that support the strategic planning tinental United States is they come to grid. For example, wind farms on Maui process and contribute to the execution Hawaii to understand the kinds of pres- were recently forced to spill about 28 of core activities. DOE provides assist- sures their grid is going to be under in percent of their energy production due ance to the State for producing tech- 3 to 5 to 7 to 10 years depending on to lack of demand on the island. In nical and economic tools and analysis where they are from. other words, 28 percent of our wind en- necessary to realize the goals of initia- Public investment and early-stage ergy was actually wasted. tives as well as the implementation of technology companies continue to play Here is a real success story of learn- pilot projects. If the States are truly a key role. In September of 2013, the ing by doing. This fall the Maui Elec- the laboratories of democracy, then we Office of Naval Research provided $30 tric Company announced recent oper- in Congress should provide them with million to support an energy accel- ational changes to bring that number the tools they need to experiment and erator startup program. This program down to 9 percent. That is a huge innovate. has already invested in projects that achievement. We didn’t have to install The United States faces the same en- are attracting private investment in- any additional wind turbines, but we ergy and environmental challenges as cluding from the local utility. So far it are now able to use more clean energy the State of Hawaii. A majority of en- has helped 17 energy companies bring on the grid because of technological ergy assets in this country are ready their product to market. These prod- improvements. for retirement or replacement, and de- ucts have subsequently been able to In Hawaii we are particularly con- cisions made today will have lasting raise over $38 million in follow-on fund- cerned with ensuring that every citizen impacts. The energy sector faces a ing. Let’s take a quick look at how Ha- can participate in the clean energy wave of new technology, new regula- waii’s energy sector has fared in the economy and benefit from the competi- tions, and rapidly evolving market and years since HCEI began. tive cost of renewables. I am confident business conditions. These uncertain- In 2012 Hawaii reached an important that the State’s GEMS Program will be ties will impact investment decisions, new milestone by generating almost 14 a groundbreaking State-level policy policy formulations, and ultimately percent of its electricity from renew- that will make clean energy and effi- economic growth. able resources. We are close to our ciency investments available to all. We must meet the challenge of cli- stated goal of 15 percent by 2015, which Finally, we need to keep the momen- mate change head-on. We have more means we are on track to reach our in- tum going in the face of a changing frequent and intense extreme weather terim target of 25 percent by the year State legislature, State administra- events, and we need to reduce localized 2020. tion, and evolving Federal policies— pollutants and address the increasing In terms of distributed generation— the latter of which is perhaps the big- number of cyber and physical attacks primarily rooftop solar—2012 saw in- gest challenge. The recent expiration on our energy infrastructure. These stallations more than double from over of the production tax credit and a host challenges are not physically con- 5,000 in 2011 to more than 12,000 in 2012. of energy efficiency and biofuel incen- strained by State boundaries, jurisdic- At the end of 2012 the cumulative num- tives have had a profound effect on eco- tions, or even our international bor- ber of systems sold statewide totaled nomics of clean energy technologies. ders. Recent blackouts and regional 22,000, with a total capacity of 138 These incentives must be renewed, and fuel shortages have highlighted the megawatts. Congress must and should act to ensure interconnected nature of U.S. energy In energy efficiency, Hawaii had re- continued growth of the clean energy systems, with energy disruptions start- duced consumption by 14.5 percent as sector. ing in one State and extending to of 2012. One of the questions people ask I am particularly grateful to the neighboring States and regions. This when you make good progress in en- chairman of the Finance Committee fundamental property of U.S. energy ergy efficiency is whether it is simply for joining the task force tonight in systems means that preparing for un- tracking the economy. In other words, calling for action on climate change certainty and threats in a robust and generally speaking, when the economy and greatly appreciate his leadership effective manner will require regional goes down, so does energy consump- on these issues. and national strategies and plans if we tion. But our energy efficiency gains Many, if not most, States and terri- are going to successfully address the have been made whether or not our tories are doing excellent work to en- challenges we face in the coming years. economy has been growing or shrink- courage clean energy, and I am sure I yield the floor. ing. They have been extraordinarily Hawaii has a lot to learn from those The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. strong over the last 5 years because we States. But the HCEI model can be an WHITEHOUSE). I welcome and recognize have a great and aggressive energy effective tool for States, the Federal the Senator from Connecticut. conservation program that is really Government, and for other countries. Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I would groundbreaking. Rapidly improving en- It is profoundly difficult to get all or like to offer my grateful thanks to the ergy efficiency efforts, along with in- even some of the interests in the en- Presiding Officer and Senator SCHATZ creased renewables, have contributed ergy sector to agree. HCEI, especially and Senator BOXER, who I know was to decreasing energy costs in Hawaii. at the beginning, provided a forum for down here earlier. All of you are true From 2008 to 2012 electricity use has Hawaii’s different groups to come to- heroes, as well as some of our other declined while the State GDP grew by gether and find common ground and colleagues who have manned the quiet 9 percent. Hawaii’s transformation to a then move forward. At its core, HCEI is hours of the overnight. I know Senator

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.118 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1447 HEINRICH and Senator BOOKER spent did not happen. In fact, in Connecticut Mississippi and Alabama to commemo- long hours on the floor arguing with the historic high tide and the worst of rate what is this year the 49th anniver- great voracity and passion about the the surge did not actually hit at the sary of the Selma march that resulted cause that brings us here today. I am same moment as predicted. Lives were in Bloody Sunday, that eventually in- humbled to pick up where many of my spared, and the economic costs were spired LBJ to introduce the 1965 Civil friends have left off and thankful for only in the hundreds of millions of dol- Rights Act, what many people see as a the bringing of all of us here today. lars rather than in the tens of billions fulcrum point in the civil rights move- In thinking about this event and of dollars. ment. thinking about how to frame this de- But for Rabbi Ratner and thousands Of course, the idea that had been per- bate, I asked some of my friends in of others in Connecticut, this was the petuated upon African Americans in Connecticut how they were thinking last straw. This was another once-in-a- the South was an idea that, one, it is about this issue of climate change. I re- lifetime storm happening once again not that bad. Yes, you have to go to ceived a number of different re- and putting their families, their com- separate facilities, and, yes, your sponses—one that maybe didn’t actu- munities, and our economy at risk. schools are not the same as our ally stand out but was emblematic What Rabbi Ratner talks about is this schools, but we treat you really nice, about the way my State of Connecticut sense of paralysis he felt that night. and we still allow you to drink from thinks about climate change—a State There is a sense of powerlessness as the water fountain, just not our water that has most of its population right you are huddled and holding your chil- fountain. We still allow you to go to along the shoreline. dren in your home wondering if the schools, just not the same schools as All of our economic assets essentially walls will still stand up to yet another we do. And there is the sense of power- buffer the State from the rising coastal historic storm as a consequence of lessness, that you really cannot do levels. Our State has now gone changing climate. And what the rabbi anything about it. through—as the Presiding Officer’s figured out is that he actually was not As we recreated this march across has—four record and once-in-a-lifetime powerless. That night all he could do the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Con- storms in a period of a handful of was really hunker down and hope they gressman LEWIS, I got the chance to years. This is a State that has been would survive, but the next morning he march next to one of the foot soldiers called to action. could go out and do something about in the civil rights movement. Searese A rabbi in the greater New Haven it. Crawford was not a figure that made area wrote me a very simple note. He The problem is that moment is fleet- any headlines, and Searese is not any- became an activist on the issue of cli- ing. There are only so many hours left body that you will find if you Google mate change after Superstorm Sandy. before the trendlines that have devel- her name in the civil rights movement. Senator BOOKER was down here, and oped—shown so well by Senator WHITE- But Searese has a story to tell. She clearly his State was hit with the HOUSE in chart after chart—are very was there in Birmingham when the worst of it, but Connecticut was hit hard to turn around. If I have some hoses mowed down hundreds of pro- hard too. We were hit hard in a phys- time later on, I will talk about some of testers and the dogs were let out to ical sense and economic sense, but we the most insidious trendlines that chew up the ankles and knees and legs were also hit hard in a psychological come not from carbon dioxide emis- of those who dared to confront the sense. A lot of people who believed in sions but from what we call fast-acting white power structure. She went to jail climate change in Connecticut decided pollutants, such as methane, HFCs, and at 18 years old for 5 days, which has to to stand up and do something about it black carbon. Once they get into the be a harrowing affair, and then she when Sandy hit. air, it is very hard to turn back around. marched on Washington at 19 years old, Rabbi Ratner remembers that night You are kind of reminded about the traveling all the way up here to be a when Sandy hit. He said: The winds parable of the boiling frog. If you put a part of that moment. I asked her, I said: Searese, why did were so ferocious that my family frog into a pot of boiling water, he will you do it? feared our house would be torn apart jump right out, but if you put him into She kind of looked at me with a by the trees on our property. My wife a pot of cold water and you just gradu- funny look on her face as if it was a and I grabbed our three little children ally turn up the temperature, he will silly question. She said: Well, who else and we brought them into our room for die because he won’t recognize over the was going to do it? safety. Throughout that long night we course of those minutes that the water I said: So all of your friends did it? huddled together, blocking the win- is heating up to an intensity that he She said: No, none of my other dows and praying that we would make can’t survive. friends did it. it through. The experience and the There are only a handful of moments I said: Did you tell your parents? sense of paralysis and powerlessness re- when that frog can choose to jump out She said: No, I didn’t tell my parents. verberated with me and my family for before the die is cast because his future I just did it because I knew it was the a long time. As a parent, it is not is written and his death is guaranteed. right thing to do. something I am content to let happen That is the moment we are in. We can She knew that the situation was not again and again. sort of sit back and say: Well, it does OK. She knew that she was not power- This rabbi has become an activist on not seem half bad today. Now we have less, that she could do something about the issue of climate. For him, it comes these storms that are bigger, and crops it. That is why I feel inspired tonight from this experience of that evening in are vanishing, and species seem to be to be down here with all of the other Connecticut. migrating, but, you know, the water Senators—not because I am trying to I don’t live in the extreme coastal around us is not boiling yet. We only equate this small act of civil disobe- parts of Connecticut, but I remember have a matter of minutes for the frog dience with those of the civil rights that after the lights had gone out that to jump out before it is too late. We are movement, but because this is an at- night, the only connection I still had in that period of time in which if we do tempt, as the presiding officer has said to what was happening along the coast- not make some decisions, pollutants over and over in his soliloquies on the line, as the worst of that storm came will be so locked into the atmosphere, Senate floor, to wake up to this issue in—predicted to be at the level of his- and the trend lines will be heading so and to the idea that what is happening toric tidal high tides along the Con- clearly in one way, that there is no today is real, that it is almost irrevers- necticut shoreline—was my way to turn around. ible, and that we are not powerless to smartphone. I was trying to keep up But this is the moment, as Rabbi do something about it. via Twitter as to what was happening Ratner shows, where we have power to So I want to talk for just a little in places such as Greenwich, Bridge- do something. I do not want to over- while this morning about my State of port, and Norwalk. What I started to state this analogy because there is no Connecticut, which as I mentioned is see in the moments before I finally lost reason to equate anyone with the her- particularly impacted by climate battery power was what appeared to be oism of people like JOHN LEWIS and EL- change. I want to talk a little bit about a coming apocalypse. Thanks to lucky EANOR HOLMES NORTON. But I went that dual discussion, about how we rec- coincidence, the worst-case scenario with them this past weekend down to ognize that this is a real problem, not

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So with record- panies and by the Koch brothers and ery and equipment and training re- breaking heat waves hitting my State everyone else who would try to perpet- sources right on Long Island Sound, every single summer, Connecticut’s uate this mythology across this coun- the loss of 100 feet of coastline jeopard- maple syrup industry may not survive try that we do not have to pay atten- izes the ability to make submarines. at all. tion to the issue of climate change, not With sea levels rising at 4 millime- In Connecticut, that is a big deal. unlike the white power structure in the ters a year, it is not long before the en- That is an industry that employs a lot South perpetuated the mythology that tirety of our submarine building indus- of people. I just personally would panic African Americans really did not have try is compromised by rising sea levels. if I did not have my Connecticut maple to worry about the way in which they Every day, Electric Boat, a for-profit syrup. But what we have seen is that were being treated. Then I also wish to private company that protects this Na- the hotter temperatures are moving in- talk a little bit about the path forward tion, is thinking about ways to try to dustries further north. Senator KING and how hopeful it is. force the water back out of their facil- maybe told this story earlier tonight if I thought the presiding officer’s com- ity so that they can continue to make he was on the floor. I have heard him ments were spot-on—in response to a boats that protect this country. tell it before. He talks about the tem- very apt parable and story from Sen- I know the presiding officer has porary benefit that Maine has received ator BOOKER—in which the presiding talked already about the effect on local because our Nation’s lobsters are mov- officer sort of challenged this idea that agriculture. People do not think about ing. there is really any danger in lurching Connecticut as an ag State, but we are. As the temperature of the water on into all of the things necessary to fix We have already seen the impact of the Atlantic coastline grows hotter and the problem of climate change. these changing climates on Con- hotter, the lobsters are pretty quickly In fact, there is enormous oppor- necticut. I will just give one example. figuring that out. They are not as tunity, not just moral opportunity be- Cranberry Hill Farm is a specialty crop dumb as you may think. They are re- cause we are doing the right thing. producer in Ashford, CT. They produce treating north. So for the time being, That is, of course, probably our first heirloom vegetables. They produce her- Maine is having a bounty because they charge as Members of the most power- itage breeds of chickens. They produce have all of Connecticut’s lobsters. ful legislative body in the world, but a lot of firewood for the community, That, however, has been disastrous for also there is enormous economic poten- and they produce maple syrup. States like ours. In places like Con- tial in the ability for this country to The owner of Cranberry Hill Farm is necticut and Rhode Island, we have capture literally millions of jobs that adapting to managing a farm in a wild- seen the wholesale evisceration of the some nation across the world is going ly unpredictable climate. In April of fishing industry, especially those to have as we try to combat climate 2012, Connecticut faced a 90-degree heat lobstermen in Connecticut who were change. wave for a week. We are used to heat once a defining feature of our land- So let me first tell you about what waves in the Northeast, but we are cer- scape and of our economy. climate change means to us in Con- tainly not used to the number of ex- They had to move or just shut down necticut. Here is an example of what it tended periods of high-level tempera- operations because the temperature of means to the Nation as well through tures that we are having today as a re- the water, in part, is forcing the lob- the lens of one company in Con- sult of climate change. So this heat sters to move to a different place. So necticut, and that is Electric Boat. wave caused the strawberry crop at whether it is maple syrup or straw- berries or lobsters, Connecticut’s mari- Electric Boat is a company that em- Cranberry Hill to bloom early. Then, time industry and our agricultural sec- ploys a lot of folks in both the pre- when the temperatures dropped back tor have already been fundamentally siding officer’s State and my State. down to average-April levels, the transformed. For those of you who do not know what strawberry crop did not survive. Straw- Let’s talk about two other things Electric Boat does, they make sub- berry crops cannot survive a 90-degree that really matter to us in Con- marines. They, along with a company heat wave in April. They are not built necticut. I heard the presiding officer in Virginia, make every single sub- for that. So Cranberry Hill Farm lost reference one of these subjects a little marine that goes out across this world the entirety of their strawberry crop bit earlier. We have a pretty big tourist in order to protect the people of this for that season. industry in Connecticut. One of the I wish that was the exception to the country. There is maybe no more im- reasons for that is that over the course portant defense asset to the United rule. But that story can be repeated of the fall, we get hundreds of thou- States today than the submarines over and over across Connecticut. sands of people, certainly at least tens which provide a multisystemic plat- Farmers, especially small farmers in of thousands of people, who drive form with which to protect this coun- Connecticut, that is what we have. We through the beautiful stretches of try. We do reconnaissance and surveil- have a lot of farmers. We have a grow- northwestern Connecticut and eastern lance off of them. We use them in ing number of farms, frankly. We have Connecticut in which the fall foliage times of war to launch attacks to de- more and more people going into farm- just lights up New England like a fend our homeland, for charting the ing. But they farm pretty small plots Christmas tree. maneuvers and operation of other na- of land, and they cannot be, with small Those tourists bring with them to vies across the world. acreage, terribly diversified. So when a Connecticut their wallets, their pock- The reality is that you cannot make farm like Cranberry Hill loses a straw- etbooks, and they deposit a little bit of submarines inland. It probably goes berry crop, that jeopardizes their whole money with us in what we colloquially without saying, but you have to make operation. There just is not the resil- will call leaf-peeping season. It is a big submarines right next to the water be- iency in New England farming because deal to our State. cause these suckers are big. When you of the small size and limited scope that Climate change is having today and finish making them, you have to de- you may not have in other places. will continue to have an effect on fall liver them right into the water. So we But at least when it comes to some- foliage. For a lot of people that sounds make them in Groton, CT. Since the thing like strawberries or other spe- like maybe a small, minor con- inception the submarine building pro- cialty crops, they can hope that they sequence, that leaves in Connecticut gram in Groton, we have lost 100 feet of are going to be able to do better next will look a different color, but in Con- coastline in Groton at Electric Boat. year. But for their maple syrup oper- necticut it is a big part of our fall in- Now, 100 feet of coastline, that is a ations, which is a big deal in Con- dustry. lot of coastline anywhere. But maybe necticut and across the Northeast, the Climate change is making our sum- you can manage that if you are in a prospects are pretty seriously dire. As mers much hotter, making there be residential area or in an area of marsh- Connecticut summers get hotter and more 90-degree days and this, in turn, land; maybe you can figure out ways to they got longer, what we are seeing is will affect these brilliant fall colors on adjust. But when you have a multibil- a receding sugar bush tree line. The the trees. Many of those trees will mi- lion dollar presence sitting right on the sugar bush is a temperate tree and the grate north or die out, and the timing

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.121 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1449 of that transition from summer to fall coastline. If we take a little kayak the Hammonasset Beach State Park. I fundamentally changes in a lot of down across the Long Island Sound— can’t tell the number of license plates ways. Many of these tree species which which I will do virtually every sum- we see from Canada, Quebec, and On- present the most vibrant colors may mer—there are long stretches of that tario, that are coming down to spend completely be gone. kayak ride in which we can see the their summers on the Connecticut Skiing is another industry that mat- Amtrak line lying literally on top of beaches. They rent a little house or ters to us in Connecticut. We don’t the wetlands that shelter the land from they park their RV or they camp out have the big mountains Vermont and the sea or within just a handful of on the campground surrounding both New Hampshire and Maine have, and I yards. Now whether that was a smart Rocky Neck State Park and know our friends out in the Midwest decision, in retrospect, I can’t tell you. Hammonasset Beach State Park. They don’t even accept what we have to offer But we built up our main rail line, spend thousands of dollars, each fam- in the northeast qualifies as big moun- which provides billions of dollars of ily, over the course of August or the tains, but in New England, of course, economic benefit to the entirety of the several weeks that they come down in skiing is a very big deal and it is a Northeast corridor in Connecticut the local part of the economy. So much major industry. We are having trouble, right on the shoreline. This is a line of that part of the State is built up as we speak, keeping Connecticut that obviously millions of Connecticut over beach tourism that comes into slopes open. consumers use but connects Boston to Hammonasset Beach State Park and to We have had one, I guess it is a hill— New York and to Washington, DC. It is Rocky Neck State Park. not a mountain—that brings in mil- the vital life link between some of the The Department of Energy & Envi- lions of dollars to Connecticut’s econ- biggest economic centers in the entire ronmental Protection tells us that by omy called Powder Ridge not far from world. the end of this century—and it could my home in Cheshire, CT. It has been When Superstorm Sandy hit, it com- come faster if the worst-case scenarios an off-and-on prospect with families pletely obliterated a sand dune near come true—Hammonasset Beach State and operators starting it up, stopping Rocky Neck State Park that essen- Park will be gone. It just won’t exist it, starting it up and stopping it, be- tially took the bullet for a rail bridge any longer. The scope of the tides and cause they are on a year-to-year life- that was just feet behind it. We were the water will be such that our econ- line due to the fact that there is less fortunate at this sort of point of expo- omy-driving, dollar-generating State snow and less people coming onto the sure to have an enormous sand dune park—which is a beautiful place to go slopes. that was standing right next to the rail and which brings joy to thousands of Estimates suggest that over the bridge. All of our ecologists and all of families—will not exist any longer. course of the next half a century, the our disaster experts tell us that if that While I don’t have the estimate for skiing industry is likely to vanish in sand dune wasn’t there, then that Rocky Neck, I know the geography and Connecticut. bridge would have been obliterated. it would suggest to me that if This is a multimillion dollar industry If you lose just a stretch of track, Hammonasset is going to be gone by in places such as Ski Sundown, Mo- you can probably rebuild that in a the end of this century, then Rocky hawk Mountain, and others that are in handful of days or weeks. But if you Neck is probably not far behind. small towns in places such as north- lose a bridge along the Amtrak line, The insurance industry is not located western Connecticut. Those small-town that is a disruption that will likely along our shorelines, but it employs economies will essentially collapse if take you months to recover from. That thousands of people. We are the insur- they don’t have the central organizing is a disruption that will be, as I said, ance State, Hartford, CT. We are the principle of their winters, which are catastrophic to the entire northeastern insurance capital of the world. If our the ski mountain, the ski lodge, and corridor. If you lose the ability to friends on the Republican side of the the thousands of families who come move people by rail from New York to aisle don’t believe the scientists, then from all over Connecticut and all over Boston, that kills thousands, tens of hopefully they may believe the mar- New England to ski there. Our ski in- thousands, of jobs. If you can no longer ket. Our Republican friends tell us that dustry in Connecticut already is in take a train from Rhode Island to they take their cues from the private jeopardy, but it is going to get worse if Washington, DC, that eliminates com- market. The private market is very we don’t do something about it. merce. That kills jobs. quickly having to adjust to the reality Maybe what is scariest, though, is That sand dune is gone. So if there is of climate change because, as storm what is happening with these storms another storm, then all that is left to after storm hits the northeast and as along the coastline. I mentioned this a protect the rest of Connecticut from storms ravage the gulf coast and more little bit in the story of the rabbi who that storm surge is that rail bridge, severe weather—often in the form of sheltered his family, but we are not un- and it is likely to come down. tornados—hits the Midwest, it is the like most other States across the At- We are going to do the hard work of insurance companies that in most lantic in that we were initially, as a rebuilding that sand dune, but that is cases ride to the rescue. They ride to State, a maritime community, so we not the only place along the Con- the rescue with billions of dollars that built up our State along our water- necticut shoreline in which the Am- they have to pay out. The only way ways. To us, that was essentially Long trak line is in harm’s way. As we talk they adjust is by raising premiums on Island Sound and the Connecticut on the floor about the rising sea level all the rest of us. Companies such as River. Today, if you track develop- tides we have, it is just a matter of Travelers and The Hartford, some of ment, it has migrated outside of those time before there is no sand dune that the biggest property casualty insurers corridors. It is still basically central- is big enough to withstand the storm in the world, which are headquartered ized along the Connecticut River, surge that will hit the Amtrak line and in Hartford, CT, will tell us their mod- which now is not coincidental to Inter- knock it out of service potentially for els are fundamentally changing be- state 95 and the Long Island Sound weeks and for months. cause they know climate change to be which is not coincidental to both Inter- Our beaches are part of our economy a reality. state 95 and the Amtrak line. as well. The estimate with respect to They aren’t budgeting premiums in What is most troubling is the fact Hammonasset Beach State Park— the future on the belief that these are that these storms attacking us with in- which is a beautiful beach that tens of just freak temporary occurrences. The creasing ferocity and severity are no thousands of Connecticut residents go biggest insurance companies in the longer a nuisance. They present a cata- to—but people from all across the country—indeed, in the world—are strophic potential for Connecticut’s en- country and all across the world flock making economic decisions based upon tire economy. to every year—frankly, I am lucky their rock-solid belief that the 99 per- I will give us one example of how enough to spend a good part of my cent of climate scientists that are re- close we came during Superstorm summer down on the Connecticut ferred to on the floor are telling the Sandy to an absolutely economy-rav- shoreline. My family has had a little truth. So rates are increasing. The ex- aging disruption of our rail lines. The beach house in Old Lyme that I get to posure for Connecticut’s insurance in- Amtrak line runs down Connecticut’s go to, which is essentially right next to dustry is expanding.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.123 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1450 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 I think about the expansion of flood The other way you deal with mosqui- use a small amount of gas that mixes plain zones. Today, about 11 percent of toes is you spray aerially. After dec- together with elements inside the fuel New York City is in a flood-risk zone. ades of bad history with pesticides and cell to produce what is essentially an Within the next several decades, the es- aerial spraying, we know how careful ultra-clean source of energy. There is timates from the insurance industry you have to be about that. The reality virtually no pollutant coming out of are that 34 percent of New York City is is that you are going to see a mist fuel cells, so there is almost no con- going to be in flood-risk zones. If you floating down on tens of thousands of tribution to global warming from these are in one of these zones, you obviously homes and neighborhoods and kids as fuel cells. They are changing the cli- pay a severe premium when it comes to we try to stamp out the increasing mate, but they are also creating a lot your insurance cost. Now while maybe numbers of mosquitoes that come to of jobs in Connecticut. in some way, shape, or form I am glad places such as Connecticut as climate On December 20, 2013, Connecticut that part of that money will migrate to change guarantees warmer and wetter opened its first utility-scale fuel cell Connecticut’s insurance companies, it climates. farm in Bridgeport, CT. It was manu- gets sucked out of millions of busi- So we lose jobs, we increase costs, we factured and built by a company in nesses all across this country. They are see entire industries evaporate from Connecticut that employs hundreds of having to pay the insurance premiums Connecticut, and we become a more ex- people—the world’s biggest fuel cell because the insurance companies are pensive and a sicker place. But the company, Fuel Cell Energy. It is lo- planning on climate change. folks I got to spend some time with cated on a former brownfield. It is the The insurance companies are plan- this last weekend in places such as first powerplant like this of fuel cells ning on this body doing absolutely Selma and Jackson, and tiny little in North America, and at 15 megawatts nothing about it, resulting in billions towns in the Mississippi Delta, such as it is producing enough power to supply of dollars more in premiums from Money and Ruleville, saw a better day. power to 15,000 homes. It is a serious small companies, big companies, mom- They saw the ability to change their facility, and it is creating hundreds of and-pop stores, and homeowners all circumstances. jobs in places such as Danbury and across this country. On the other side of that fight an Torrington, CT. We are going to become a sicker epic battle that, not unlike the fight The problem, though, is this fuel cell State as well, and that comes with we have here today, combined indi- farm in Bridgeport, CT, is the excep- costs too. Lyme disease—named after a vidual decisions people had to make to tion rather than the rule. Fuel Cell En- particularly beautiful part of the change their lives and the way they ergy is selling most of its products in Asia. It is selling most of its products world, Lyme, CT, and Old Lyme, CT— treated people, small testaments of in Korea. Over the years the Korean absolutely ravages tens of thousands of courage by people such as Sarah C. Government has kind of figured out people in Connecticut. If someone Crawford, but it also involved a fight what the gig is, that its main seller of knows anyone with Lyme disease, they here in the Senate that eventually cul- fuel cells is creating jobs in the United know how insidious a disease it is be- minated in the Civil Rights Act. They States while they are selling product cause it initially presents with systems recognized that the path to justice for into Korea. So Korea has essentially that are a little hard to detect that are African Americans didn’t actually said to Fuel Cell Energy: Your time is masked by other illnesses. It is still come with much pain at all, that the up. We will continue to buy a handful sometimes very troublesome and path to economic and racial justice for tricky to treat. Often antibiotic treat- of these fuel cells from you over the Blacks across this country lifted up ev- coming years, but by the end of this ments will zap Lyme disease within the erybody. decade we want to produce all of those first couple of days or months, but And if you talk to a lot of White Mis- fuel cells in Korea, and we want you to there are people across the State of sissippians or White citizens of Ala- transfer the technology and transfer Connecticut with what we refer to as bama, they will tell you that they felt the jobs to us. chronic Lyme disease and who don’t re- as if there was a psychological and Fuel Cell Energy doesn’t have any spond to antibiotic treatment. It is life mental weight lifted from them, and choice in this matter because if Korea changing. It really is life changing and they saw the economies of their States decides they do not want to buy from it forces many people to be bedridden, improve. them, they will buy from somebody out of the workforce, and living fun- I don’t know all of the history, but else. So they have to essentially do an damentally different lives than they many people suggest that in the years agreement in which they transfer that had planned. following World War II, Birmingham, technology and transfer those jobs. With warmer and wetter conditions AL, was poised to become the economic Those are hundreds of jobs today in in Connecticut, our epidemiologists crossroads of the South, that it could Connecticut but potentially thousands and our disease scientists tell us we are have become an economic powerhouse of jobs in the future as we power up going to see an increase in the deer rivaling cities of today such as Atlanta fuel cells all across the country. tick. We are going to see, as we have in the South, but it didn’t because of The reason they are not selling fuel already, an increase in the diagnosis of the fact that racial injustice held it cells in this country is because we Lyme disease. And the mosquito-borne back. Once they figured out that was don’t have a renewable energy strategy diseases, such as eastern equine en- both a moral stain on that State and to really advantage those sources, cephalitis virus, along with Nile virus, an economic stain, they changed their which, admittedly, today costs a little which impacts people but also live- ways. bit more than purchasing energy from stock—horses—and wild birds, are Again, not to overstate the compari- a grid powered by things such as coal going to become more prevalent as son—it is just in my brain because I and by oil. But when you weigh the well. was there this last weekend—so goes jobs that can be created in the fuel cell As you sort of figure out what the the story for the fight against climate industry against the slightly margin- consequence of this is, the story just change in the sense that the pathway ally higher cost of getting that energy gets worse and worse. So as you have to addressing this issue runs through from a fuel cell rather than getting wetter and warmer conditions, as we the creation of millions of jobs in this that energy from a coal-fired power- have today, and the mosquitoes and country as well as cleaner air to plant or an oil-fired powerplant, there the deer ticks start to infest, especially breathe and cleaner water to drink for is a pretty darn good argument that in our coastal areas, then you have to all of our citizens and kids across the you should invest in fuel cells. engage in mosquito-control measures, country. So if I could, I would like to So, to Connecticut, this is a matter and that historically has involved run through a handful of examples of of jobs, especially in the fuel cell in- draining or ditching wetlands, which how this could matter to my State as dustry. has enormous environmental con- well. Greenskies Renewable Energy is a sequences for those areas. That further Connecticut has built a pretty seri- company in Middletown, CT, and they erodes a lot of our maritime industries ous and I think pretty impressive fuel design and install big solar arrays. that depend in part on those wetlands cell industry. Fuel cells aren’t renew- They do not manufacture the equip- staying healthy and happy. able resources in the sense that they ment, but they design these big solar

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.124 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1451 arrays and they install them. It was and that is going to fundamentally the Republican side. As a member of started in 2008 by a former Peace Corps change the way in which we engage the Energy and Commerce Committee volunteer in Mali. The company with the electric grid. in the House of Representatives, when doesn’t charge customers any upfront We think Apollo Solar is poised to we debated the Waxman-Markey bill, costs for solar power. Instead, they become an industry leader on this we heard over and over that electricity typically sign customers to long-term issue. Today it is only a handful of peo- prices were going to dramatically contracts, and Greenskies purchases ple, but this is one example of thou- spike; and, yes, you are going to have the solar energy they are producing on sands of companies all across Con- the benefit to the environment from re- their buildings. Greenskies has in- necticut and all across this country ducing carbon dioxide, but you are stalled over 70,000 solar panels across that are poised to explode in growth if going to have catastrophic con- the country, and they have offset 15 we do the smart thing and decide we sequences for the economy because ev- are going to create a renewable energy million pounds of CO2. That is the erybody is going to have to pay for it. equivalent of 763,000 gallons of gasoline market here in the United States. I guess I can understand how people being burned. It is important to say that neither would believe that if there wasn’t any In 2012 they got their biggest con- Greenskies nor Apollo Solar is making empirical evidence to test their theory. tract yet. They won a contract to build those solar panels because much of Luckily, New England has just that solar arrays on 27 Walmart stores in that work is being done in other coun- evidence. New England has tested this Massachusetts. That is a $30 million tries—countries that do have domestic idea. Frankly, the whole world has markets for renewable energy, coun- contract. tested this idea because we have re- tries such as Germany and China. So In 2013 they announced plans to build duced ozone-depleting pollutants based despite the successes of companies that a 43-acre solar farm in East Lyme that on a similar protocol. But in New Eng- install these big solar arrays and suc- is going to be 16,000 solar panels. That land we have taken on this issue. cesses of companies such as Apollo solar farm alone in East Lyme will be RGGI has been an unqualified suc- Solar that create the attendant tech- able to power 6,300 homes. That is pret- cess. Our carbon-reducing plan in New nology attached to the solar panels, ty significant in terms of the amount England has prevented the release of there is so much more we could do if of power it is going to be able to put on 2.3 million tons of carbon dioxide into we had that domestic market here. the grid, but it is also significant in The point is that we have an enor- the atmosphere, the equivalent of tak- terms of the number of jobs that will mous opportunity to create millions of ing 435,000 cars off the road for a year. be created. Today Greenskies may be jobs in this country based on this tech- The program will offset 8.5 million employing dozens of people, but they nology. The imperative should be one megawatt hours of electricity genera- are going to be hiring hundreds and surrounding the public health effects of tion and avoid the release of 8 million thousands of people as they install all climate, the imperative should be tons of CO2. The program is going to of these solar arrays in Connecticut around the life-changing catastrophic generate $1.6 billion in net economic and Massachusetts and for clients all consequences of rising sea levels, the benefit regionwide, and it is putting across the Northeast. added cost to our economy that comes $1.1 billion in electricity bill savings Another company playing in the with entire industries such as those in into the pockets of consumers in the solar space is a company called Apollo Connecticut—the maple syrup indus- region over the next decade. That is Solar. It is based in Bethel, CT. It is a try, the fall tourism industry, the ski- maybe the most important number. small company. Today it only employs ing industry, and the lobster industry— In addition to preventing the release about 10 people. But they manufacture evaporating and disappearing before of 2.3 million tons of CO2 pollution, it the electronic equipment that filters our eyes. That should be the impera- is reducing the energy bills for New power from a solar cell and allows it to tive. England consumers by over $1 billion. be stored in a battery. That is really Being a country that has only 5 per- Wow. How does that happen? How do the future, the idea that every indi- cent of the world’s population but 25 you restrict emissions and then reduce vidual home is going to be a small pow- percent of the world’s pollution in car- pollution? We take all the money we erplant where you can put solar panels bon emissions, we more than any other glean in people buying the credits nec- on your roof, then take the power that nation in the world have to play a role essary to pollute and we put it right is being produced by the solar panel, in this global economic and environ- back into energy efficiency. We put it store it in a battery, and then use it at mental imperative. But beyond that, right back into programs which actu- the moment at which prices on the grid there are enormous job gains to come if ally allow consumers to use less elec- are the highest or, if you want, sell it we make the right decision. tricity, to make their homes more effi- back to the grid at the moment at Lastly, before I turn it back over to cient, to transfer over to furnaces which you can get the most return for the Senator from Hawaii for some re- which will use less energy. All of these this little stored amount of energy you marks—and I will stay on the floor be- energy efficiency investments cancel have created by the solar panels on cause I would like to maybe talk a lit- out and override the price to the en- your roof. tle about short-lived climate pollut- ergy producers of having to comply Today, Apollo Solar has become a ants, if I have the time—New England with the new requirements. significant supplier for cell phone tow- is an example of a place that has fig- It is pretty simple calculus, but it ers in the developing world, especially ured out how to do this the right way. works for us in New England. We have in Africa. Countries in Africa just don’t The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initia- taken the equivalent of two coal-fired have the electric grids we have, so if tive—we call it RGGI—is the first mar- powerplants offline, and we have re- they want cell towers to be able to pro- ket-based regulatory program in the turned $1 billion in savings to rate pay- vide lifesaving cell coverage to their United States to reduce greenhouse gas ers. We have done something about the residents, then they have to essentially emissions. It is a cooperative effort scourge of climate change that people power these cell towers on an indi- amongst Northeastern States to cap have been talking about overnight and vidual tower-by-tower basis. And if you and reduce carbon dioxide emissions we have saved people a whole boat load don’t do it with solar arrays, then you from the power sector. It is essentially of money. have to do it with diesel generators, just a miniversion of legislation which I guess this is why the Presiding Offi- which produce enormous amounts of we have debated here in Congress. We cer and Senator SCHATZ decided to en- black carbon. That makes the air very essentially set a cap for how much car- gage in this exceptional exercise, to difficult to breathe, and it is also much bon we are going to produce in the come down to the floor of the Senate more expensive. northeast. We allow emitters of pollu- tonight because we just don’t under- Apollo Solar has produced this tech- tion to trade credits and decide for stand how people don’t see this. nology for cell towers. Right now it is themselves what cost point-source pol- If this were really a fight as some being used in places such as Africa, but luters are willing to pay for the ability people make it, between the quality of eventually this technology can be used to send carbon dioxide into the air. our air and the quality of our economy, in millions of homes all across Con- We have heard over and over the hor- then let’s have at it. Let’s come down necticut and all across the country, ror stories coming from our friends on and have that debate. But it is not, and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.126 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1452 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 we have proved that in Connecticut. many parts of the world already it is time, is so global in its reach, and is This isn’t just guesswork. This isn’t es- day. digitally connected at all moments. timation. This isn’t conjecture. In Con- If we think globally, we realize the There is a tendency to move forward necticut we have proved we can make planet truly never sleeps. It is awake and forget about what is fundamental significant gains to reduce climate pol- for the night here. Someplace in the and important, and that is climate dis- lutants, create jobs, and save people world there is daylight. Hopefully, dur- ruption. money. ing this debate we have shed light at a To break this culture of indifference This is a triple whammy. We get a time of darkness on a debate which is toward pollution and climate disrup- cleaner environment, become a global so critical to the future of our Nation. tion, we must reverse the practices and leader, create a whole bunch of jobs We are only a few Members of the policies which accelerate this dramatic and save a whole bunch of people Senate here, but I cannot help recall- and destructive trend in our world. money. Why on earth wouldn’t you do ing what the famous scientist and con- In Connecticut we have already seen that? Unless this debate has been hi- servationist Margaret Mead said about firsthand the effects of climate disrup- jacked by the very small number of this cause and the importance of people tion. Severe weather events used to people today who make money off the in this cause: Never doubt that a small occur once in a generation. They are status quo. I don’t have the exact group of thoughtful, committed citi- now becoming the new norm. These quote. I should have brought it down zens can change the world; indeed, it is monstrous storms—whatever they are here. We probably shouldn’t look to the only thing that ever has. called, Irene or Sandy—they are the new norm. In just the time I began Machiavelli for political advice. He, be- Around the world where it is daylight serving in the Senate, since January fore anybody else, painted for us a pic- or still dark, there are groups of com- 2011, Connecticut has experienced four ture of the challenge presented to the mitted people willing to put their lives major storms claiming lives and cost- reformer. The reformer’s job, he said, is and their voices on the line to save this ing millions of dollars in damage, cul- the toughest job in the world, because planet from climate disruption. We are not talking about climate change. We minating in the unprecedented those who will benefit from the new Superstorm Sandy. Now we can call are talking about disruption—planet order have trouble seeing it today, but Sandy a hurricane or superstorm or disruption. We are not talking about those who will be harmed by the new whatever you will. We can call these small consequences which may alter order, those who exist in the status weather events inevitable or sur- the quality of life a bit here and there. quo, see the peril in the most acute prising, but they are becoming the new We are talking about horrendous, gar- sense and fight the hardest to preserve normal because of climate disruption. gantuan changes because they are in- it. In February 2011 a snowstorm cost the So, yes, there are people who face a cremental and they accumulate one by State $20 million, and the leadership of perilous future, but they are a very one, bit by bit, until they alter our our Governor was exemplary, but rem- small number of people, and they are shoreline in Connecticut, our vegeta- edying the effects of the storm does not people who run the old-line energy tion, our produce, our recreation indus- prevent them, and even preparing for businesses which are clinging to the try, all of what makes Connecticut the them does not forestall them, because status quo today, who are flooding this great State it is in its scenic and nat- the weather is bigger than any action debate with millions of dollars to try ural beauty, and all of what makes of man, and man can control it only by to affect it. But as even they will find, America the great country it is—not fundamental changes in the way he or there are even bigger, brighter oppor- only in its beauty but in its economic she lives. The snowfall in February 2011 tunities on the other side. I imagine strength and its vision for the future. was followed by tropical storm Irene even the Koch brothers are industrious I thank Senators WHITEHOUSE, that wreaked $546 million in damages. enough and innovative enough to fig- BOXER, and SCHATZ for bringing us to- The people of Connecticut had barely ure out how to make a whole mess of gether, all of my colleagues for joining any time to recover before a freak Oc- money off of the renewable energy in this debate, and all who worked tober snowstorm brought an additional economy. I argue they will make even through the night—whether it is the $614 million of devastation to the more money. guards or the pages or all who tire- State. So I thank Senator SCHATZ, Senator lessly gave us the opportunity to really Hurricane Sandy struck a year later, make the case, much as we would in BOXER, and the Presiding Officer for causing record-breaking damage and court—whether it is a closing argu- leading this effort. I will stick around devastation to Connecticut as well as ment or an opening statement—for the on the floor to engage in discussion, the states of New Jersey, New York, but this is a triple win: Combat climate need that all of us unite in this critical and Rhode Island when the storm change, create jobs, and save people cause. cleared. When all this destruction was The gravity of climate disruption money. It is time for the Senate and tallied, Connecticut found itself facing time for the Congress to wake up. cannot be denied. There are people who damage of $770 million as well as incal- I yield the floor. deny it. No question that there are culable harm to houses, beaches, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- deniers. But the science is irrefutable. other places along the coast. I toured ior Senator from Connecticut. The facts are there. And as Ronald the coast. I saw the damage. The feroc- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I Reagan said, facts are a stubborn ity and fury of that storm could be am honored to follow my colleague and thing. We can’t change them by rhet- comprehended only by seeing that very good friend, the Senator from oric in this body, and we can’t make damage or being in the midst of it, Connecticut, and to join him, the Pre- them go away in storytelling. We can which I was for a short period at the siding Officer, the Senator from Rhode read our children’s books, Dr. Seuss or very start when I went to tour the en- Island; the Senator from Hawaii, Sen- others, about the wonderful things ergy operations center in places such ator SCHATZ; and Senator BOXER, the which happen in fantasy or nightmares as Norwalk and Greenwich, along the Senator from California, in this really which may occur to people also in their coast where preparation was beginning very inspiring and exciting occasion. dreams. for that storm. Driving back on I–95 as I was driving to the Capitol early But in the real world, the science is the storm gathered in its ferocity and this morning and I saw in the black well established. The science tells us fury, I was frightened in a way that all sky the beautiful dome which words climate disruption is happening as we of us should now share as we see the can barely capture in its beauty. Many speak, relentlessly and tirelessly. This prospect of that fury and ferocity of have tried. But I felt so fortunate to be is why we are here today. nature, destructively impacting our en- here as a spokesperson and an advocate The compassion that we as legisla- tire planet, our world, and our chil- for this cause which truly is about the tors demonstrate indicates we care dren’s world. rest of this century, the rest of this about the people who occupy this plan- We must heed Hurricane Sandy’s planet’s life, our children and their et now, but also about the many others warning as well as the alarms sounded children, and to be part of a debate who will follow us. We are here to by other storms and take steps to stop which has reached through the night. break the culture of indifference in a climate destruction and global warm- But in fact it is night only here. In busy world which is awake all the ing. The evidence beyond the anecdotal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.127 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1453 facts that we all see is irrefutable sci- ple, who want to take their families to the sticky dog days of Washington, DC or entific evidence. Climate disruption the shore and see it as they knew it perhaps, Savannah. impacts our ocean and atmosphere, dis- when they were children. A warmer summer could seem rather pleas- rupting actual temperature cycles and ant on its face if Connecticut were to have a Every generation in this Nation summer more like those in the south, but variations in climate, leading to an in- makes a covenant. Every generation the changes come with greater volatility. creasing number of severe weather has an obligation to leave this Nation ‘‘As the climate gets warmer, you put events, snowstorms as well as hurri- better than when we found it. We are in more moisture into the atmosphere, and it canes, cold and rain, as well as heat danger of leaving a lesser America in just gets a little more violent,’’ said Richard and drought across the country. so many ways, most important in what Houghton, president of the Woods Hole Re- Severe storms and other things such matters to everyday life, our climate, search Center in Falmouth, MA, a nonprofit as floods and tornadoes and drought our weather, our soil and trees, what research organization that focuses on envi- are happening at a rate four times ronmental sciences. we see when we wake in the morning ‘‘There’s a lot more energy around. . . . greater than the average 30 years ago. and before we go to bed, the natural that comes out in unexpected ways, gen- These storms are costing us. They are world that is essential to our survival, erally not to the betterment of gardens and costing our families, local commu- not to mention our thriving. forests and so on,’’ Houghton said. nities, and taxpayers more and more of In my home State of Connecticut the The changes have been studied and mon- their hard-earned dollars, and Con- people are not waiting for answers itored by universities, state and federal necticut families and our people are from Washington. We have waited long agencies and others who have combed for decades of data on everything from changes impacted severely. So Washington has enough in Connecticut, because Con- an obligation and opportunity to act. in trees’ growth rings to lobster habitat in gress has not fully awakened. Indeed, it Long Island Sound. Extensive collections of This body must face the responsibility is still asleep. As my colleague Senator scientific data have been the source of docu- at hand and act in the interests of the WHITEHOUSE has said time after time, ments for metaanalyses saying, in effect, American people. Climate change is a just a few feet from me, America and that big changes are underway disrupting a real and present and urgent danger. the world must wake up. The failure to mostly climatological period of thousands of The threat is now. We should face this do so, waiting and watching as disaster years. with a sense of immediacy just as we Perhaps more worrisome is the likelihood develops, could spell devastation for of severe weather events such as floods. would a house burning or a storm com- America and for our climate. That is Quoting here: ing, much as we did the coming of why Connecticut is taking steps to ad- Sandy when the brave first responders, dress climate change effects like rising ‘‘Even if you had the same amount of rain, it is going to be delivered in these more our firemen and police, braved the sea levels and storms. State officials storm but did the right thing knowing punctuated, very intense rain events, which are researching areas especially along are more likely to wash out bridges, roads, they must act to protect our people. our coast and along our waterways cause damage to people’s basements, flood- The sense of urgency this issue re- that are vulnerable to storm surges ing, things like that that cost more,’’ said quires and, indeed, demands is lacking and inland flooding, and figuring out Brenda Ekwurzel, senior climate scientist today, which is why we are here, to how best to protect infrastructure that with the Union of Concerned Scientists, an break the culture of indifference and is at risk. organization started in Massachusetts Insti- despair. Outside the insularity of I know the citizens of Senator tute of Technology in 1969, and which is now an alliance of more than 400,000 citizens and Washington, outside of repeated recal- SCHATZ’s State of Hawaii are doing the citrance and political stagnation—dys- scientists. same, taking an issue and imple- ‘‘We haven’t designed our infrastructure, function I think is the word most often menting policy to rein in solutions, especially the aging infrastructure of the used—which has paralyzed our politics, taking steps on their own, voting with Northeast to handle these times of drainage the American public is understanding. their feet, not just their voices but needs.’’ The American public gets it. They un- their actions. And that is what the In 2007, the Northeast Climate Impacts As- derstand that climate disruption is citizens of Rhode Island are doing as sessment was conducted by scientists at happening. It is happening in their ev- more than a dozen universities, including well, seeking to do whatever they can Harvard and Princeton, in addition to ex- eryday lives. It is affecting their homes as individuals. They are a small group near rivers and oceans, affecting their perts at the U.S. Geological Survey, the Na- of intelligent and dedicated people, but tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- drinking water supplies and the crops they are seeking to change the world tion and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. we need for food. They understand that for the better, because a small group In 2009, several Federal agencies that are if nothing is done this problem will seeking to do so is the only thing that part of the U.S. Global Research Program re- only get worse. Communities in the ever has, as Margaret Meade has said. leased another large report with specifics Midwest know why they are experi- about what will change and what will happen The citizens and states from California, to the northeast and Connecticut as a result encing some of the worst drought in in the Northwest and all the way to decades. Families in California know of climate change. New England, are joining in this effort. Here are some highlights of the two re- why their water supply is dwindling This citizens’ movement to save the ports: The northeast could see 20 to 30 per- dangerously lower and lower. planet from climate disruption eventu- cent more winter precipitation and more of Lobstermen in Connecticut, Long Is- ally will prevail. Eventually there will that could be rain rather than snow, assum- land Sound, dwindling in number, un- be action. But will it be in time? ing a greater level of heat-trapping emis- derstand why lobster numbers are I want to read an article in the Hart- sions from human activities. shrinking. Surviving lobster popu- ford Courant on January 27, 2014, just a The higher emission scenario as- lations are moving farther north. The few weeks ago. It captures how people sumes a continued heavy reliance on lobsters are our modern-day canary in of Connecticut are paying attention to fossil fuels while a lower emission sce- the coal mine. From Montana to Ari- the growing threat upon them and how nario assumes a shift to cleaner energy zona to New Mexico people see why they are taking steps to address it. I by the middle of the century. Heavy clearly the wildfire season is starting am quoting: downpours of rain have increased earlier in the year and lasting later The changing climate is expected to make across the Northeast in recent decades into the fall. We have seen the pictures Connecticut a different place with more ex- causing intense spring flooding in 2006, here on the floor of some of those treme weather, hotter summers and more 2007, and 2010. wildfires that have devastated our for- precipitation, disrupting the natural world Cities that experienced only a few ests. The American people understand around us and testing our ability to respond 100-degree days each summer might av- why our forests are burning, and the and adapt. erage 20 such days per summer while American people get it, but Congress Some changes will be volatile and abrupt others, including Hartford, would aver- still does not. while others will be more nuanced. age nearly 30 days at 100 degrees or We have reached the time where we For example, maple syrup production could decline while grape growing improves which hotter. must do the job we were elected to do. would bode well for Connecticut’s wine in- Large portions of the Northeast It is time to fight for a remedy, fight dustry. could be unsuitable for growing pop- for relief, to firefighters, to farmers, to At the end of the century Connecticut ular varieties of apples, blueberries, lobstermen, to ordinary American peo- summer heat is expected to feel more like and cranberries in a higher emission

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.129 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1454 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 scenario. Heat stress could reduce milk Connecticut has a wide-ranging cli- 2002 and 2007, asthma costs grew 6 per- production in dairy cows. However, the mate strategy that ranges from buying cent, from $53 billion to $56 billion. longer growing period could be better energy that produces less carbon which NOAA, the National Climate Data for gardeners and farmers so long as causes further warming and a less pre- Center, estimates that the extreme they can adapt to the likelihood of dictable climate to better preparation weather events that occurred across summer droughts and flooding rains in for greater extremes. In terms of pre- the country in 2012 alone, which in- the spring. paring for higher sea levels and inland cluded tornadoes in the Plains States Hotter weather is expected to shift flooding from harsh rain, there are and the South, the wildfires in the growth range for maple, beech, and three priorities, according to Jessica West, and the Midwest drought and birch forests to the north, disrupting Stratton. Hurricane Sandy, cost the American the maple sugar industry and shifting First, Connecticut is researching economy $1 billion in rebuilding and the food sources for animals that rely areas vulnerable to rising sea levels lost economic productivity. That esti- on those forests, such as migratory and storm surges and inland flooding. mate is no doubt low and conservative. song birds, such as the Baltimore ori- Second, the State is looking to critical ole. Long-lived trees might endure, but infrastructure, facilities, and property A rocket scientist is not needed to they would be vulnerable to stresses of at risk in those high-hazard areas. understand the effects that rising sea competition, bugs, and disease. Some Third, the State, and other parties, levels will have on our coastal commu- parts of northern Connecticut will re- will work to develop best practices to nities, which include many of Amer- tain those hardwoods. protect infrastructure and habitat and ica’s large cities and population cen- Sea levels are expected to rise 10 to mitigate or reduce risk to the great- ters. America’s cities will be under- inches to 2 feet by the end of the cen- est extent possible. The last measure water, and we will have to rebuild their tury, and those projections do not ac- will involve assisting residents, State, defenses at great cost. count for recent observed melting of and local government. There is another side of this situa- the world’s major ice sheets, which In 2010 a committee of scientists, en- tion. There is a different side of this means the estimates could be too con- gineers, farmers, policymakers, public coin of climate disruption. Yes, cli- servative. health officials, and business owners mate disruption can be devastating to What is now considered a once-in-a- published a 195-page document called our economy; indeed, it has already century coastal flooding in New Lon- ‘‘The Impacts of Climate Change on begun to be so, but it also offers the don and Groton along the Thames Connecticut Agriculture, Infrastruc- hope and opportunity of spurring new River could occur as frequently as ture, Natural Resources and Public technology, reducing our dependence every 17 years. Several experts agree Health.’’ on oil, and thus driving down green- that modeling sea-level rise is more ‘‘We think it is highly probable that house gas emissions in a way that will difficult than predicting other effects we are going to experience these kinds empower and drive economic growth. of climate change because there are so of events more frequently,’’ Stratton many variables related to the ocean. In The U.S. Economic and Statistics said of recent storms and flooding. Administration reports that the coun- any scenario, the seas are expected to She continued: rise. try’s 2010 trade deficit in petroleum-re- And because of that, I don’t want to sit lated products was $265 billion or ap- Houghton, the head of the Woods here and just say, ‘‘OK. We’ll take it. We’ll Hole Research Center, said that what pick up the pieces afterward.’’ Let us do proximately $855 per American citizen. happens to the climate depends on a what we can to lessen the negative impacts, The EPA and the DOT—the Environ- multitude of factors around the globe— and those are human, those are property, mental Protection Agency and the De- from deforestation in tropical areas to those are business losses. There are a whole partment of Transportation—estimate the burning of fossil fuels for energy. bunch of things. So, let us take whatever that the corporate average fuel econ- One important distinction is that steps we can to enable our society as it cur- omy standards that require vehicles to rently is to function as well as it can and to weather and climate are different. Cli- be more fuel efficient and emit less CO2 get back to normal as quickly as it can. mate future does not predict when and by 2025 save $8,000 per vehicle over each where it will rain. Instead, it predicts I have quoted so extensively from car’s lifetime. Upgrading and retro- patterns, such as overall warmer tem- this article in the Courant because it fitting buildings to be more energy ef- peratures or the greater likelihood for summarizes many of the facts that ficient and creating jobs by creating violent floods, such as tornadoes or cannot be denied. Those facts are stub- new technologies and training workers floods. For climate change, it is more born. Those facts presage a disaster to develop skills to execute the retrofit about general trends and extreme that we have the power to ignore, but and to work in burgeoning alternative changes as a result of global warming. we also have the power to act and to energy industries will generate tre- As more erratic and extreme weather deal with it and to take advantage of mendous return for our economy. the immense opportunity that lies becomes more likely, property owners, The bipartisan Shaheen-Portman En- ahead. This is an opportunity that town governments, cities, States, and ergy Savings and Industrial Competi- could actually create jobs and eco- the Federal Government will be put to tive Act, which I was proud to sponsor, nomic growth, and that is the key new tests of their responses and adapt- is waiting in the wings for congres- point. ability. sional action. It would create over Dr. Ekwurzel said that maybe 30 The problem of climate disruption is 190,000 jobs and save $16 billion a year years down the road we will have got- also a tremendous opportunity. It is an for consumers by 2030. We must make ten better at dealing with those ex- opportunity not only to change the Shaheen-Portman bill law. It is treme events because they are going to mindsets and culture—the culture of only one example of what the Senate become the new normal. I would say in indifference—it is an opportunity to can and must do to help stop climate the next decade—15 or 20 years—we are change the way we live, create jobs, a disruption. It is a small measure—mod- going to have some hard lessons as to new lifestyle, and economic growth. est in its impact—but it is a start. If how to deal with this. The real and serious health impact of The work of responding and adapting climate change impacting millions of we do nothing else as a result of this is already underway and has been for Americans should be enough to force debate tonight, let it lead us to bring years, though there is renewed concern Congress to act, but if that is not back the Shaheen-Portman bill. after power outages and widespread enough evidence, let us look to the eco- So even if—unlike the overwhelming property damage during Tropical nomic impact of inaction. Take the majority of scientists—you have Storm Irene and the October storm of asthma rates—just one example of cli- doubts about the science of climate 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. mate change impact on health costs. change, remember that the economic ‘‘They were clearly wake-up calls,’’ According to the American Academy benefits of addressing it, even if you said Jessica Stratton, director of pol- of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, think it is a dream, a nightmare or icy in charge of climate issues at the the United States spends approxi- some fantasy supporting renewable en- State Department of Energy and Envi- mately $3,300 per person with asthma ergy, promoting greater efficiency in ronmental Protection. per year. In the 5-year period between motor vehicles and buildings will save

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.131 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1455 money, add jobs, make for stronger enough to get out of bed and participate in think the leadership of some in this buildings and better vehicles. Most im- society while being productive. There are body, their leadership by example and portant, it will save wasteful energy days the pains are so bad that my eyes blur countless others across the Nation, use. That argument ought to be enough and I cannot move. The past season has who take stands, stand up, speak out made it increasingly difficult for me to even to convince anyone that these invest- motivate myself enough to get out of bed. I against climate disruption, against the ments are smart for America. have many family and relatives who have emissions that threaten the very exist- So whatever your reasons may be, been affected by climate change. Some have ence of our planet, provide those young whether you are motivated by the need passed on or moved to another State. A few people with leadership by example. I to ensure a livable climate for future have decided to stay here in the northeast would like to think they are learning generations, whether you are moved to and stick it out. from some of us and the stories we tell action by Americans suffering by mil- Countless Connecticut residents, in them and read to them from Dr. Seuss lions from health problems, exacer- other words, countless members of our or others. bated by a more polluted environment, communities across our State have The story from Dr. Seuss is not about whether you understand the threat to written to me with their positions and games, about fantasies. It may seem the U.S. economy that is created by concerns. Like these three writers like a fantasy and it may be spoken as not only the more intense weather whose letters I shared with you, many a story, but it carries a message that events but a more efficient energy Connecticut citizens fear that climate the trees are what everyone needs; we landscape—whatever your motivation, change will disproportionately affect need to plant them. Fresh air is what whether it is fear or anxiety, apprehen- the most vulnerable among our popu- everyone needs, and we must preserve sion about the future or simply a desire lation: the elderly, the ill, and people it. We need to protect this planet from to save money from wasteful use of en- without financial resources. People un- the axes that will hack at them, as cli- ergy, the intense weather events are derstand that climate change will have mate change most assuredly will do. becoming more intense and they are consequences, not only for their per- Climate disruption—call it climate becoming the new normal. Inefficiency sonal lives but for our food and water, change, global warming, whatever you in energy is becoming a norm as more our way of life. People are already will—is a threat that we have the op- people around the globe use energy, bearing the burden of climate change portunity and obligation to counter. and we can lead by example in the and disruption every day. They know We are taking baby steps. We need United States. The Nation must wake that if nothing is done, it will only get great strides. America must wake up up. Congress must awaken, and now is worse for them and for future genera- and so must the world. the time to act. tions. Again, the time for action is I yield the floor. I wish to close by reading some let- now. America must wake up. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MUR- ters from the people of Connecticut be- Let me close by reading a small part PHY). The Senator from Rhode Island. cause I think they speak eloquently to of a book that was quoted earlier in Mr. WHITEHOUSE. May I inquire the reason we are here and the reason this debate by my colleague from the through the Presiding Officer if the the people of Connecticut are taking State of Oregon, Senator MERKLEY, Senator from Connecticut would be this kind of action. who cited the ‘‘Lorax’’ book by Dr. willing to engage in a brief colloquy. If They are letters to me from constitu- Seuss. It says in part: the answer to that is yes, I would pro- ents in all walks of life expressing their Now I’ll tell you, he says, with his teeth pound the following question: personal feelings about this issue. Pa- sounding gray, how the Lorax got lifted and I know the senior Senator from Con- tricia Wallace of New Haven wrote: taken away. It all started way back, such a necticut to be a very deeply believing As the director of elderly services for the long time back, way back in the days when patriot. He spoke in his remarks about City of New Haven last year when we had 34 the grass was still green and the pond was how each American generation takes inches of snow, I heard from seniors who still wet and the clouds were still clean. upon itself a covenant. I also know the could not get out of their front or back doors It goes on to describe the degradation senior Senator from Connecticut serves and had no way to move that much snow, and the tree cutting and the disregard on the Armed Services Committee and who could not get fuel delivered, who could for that environment. I know Senator has to consider, as part of his respon- not get food. I have a husband who uses a MERKLEY has quoted it at length so I sibilities in the Senate, the power that wheelchair to get to work. It was nearly im- possible for us to move the snow that city will not do so. But it closes with a very America projects around the world, plows pushed up on the side of the street so poignant and dramatic observation which is sometimes military power, that he could get on the lift of the van to get that maybe others, maybe many in this but also sometimes the soft power that to work. body have read to their children. comes from our role. A few years back, many senior housing I worried about it with all of my heart, but I know also, as a student of history, complexes lost power during Sandy and had now says the Once-ler, now that you are Senator BLUMENTHAL knows that no generators. When they were built, we did here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly President Lincoln described the United not face the frequent severe weather that is clear. Unless someone like you cares a whole States of America as the ‘‘last best now routine. Two non-profit nursing homes awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s have generators, but they are not built for hope of earth’’ and that Thomas Jeffer- not. So Catch! Calls the Once-ler. He lets son, in his first inaugural, described the length of time we have had to operate something fall. It’s a Truffula Seed. It’s the during these severe weather storms. last one of all. You’re in charge of the last of this American government as the Another Connecticut resident named the Truffula Seeds. And Trufulla Trees are ‘‘world’s best hope.’’ Diane Taber-Markiewicz told me: what everyone needs. Plant a new Trufulla. Finally, I heard the Senator say that The global warming of our planet is now Treat it with care. Give it clean water. And climate change will have consequences. creating a push back from the environment feed it fresh air. Grow a forest. Protect it I wonder if he would care to comment that is causing millions of people around the from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all on what a failure to address climate world to lose their way of life. This affects us of his friends may come back. change by the United States of Amer- all and results in a loss of people and other In a certain sense, the stories we read ica, knowing the information we know, valuable resources needed to sustain and our children have a message they un- would mean in terms of the kind of progress our species. Personally, we deal derstand. Our children understand in hope America is to the world, in terms with severe weather events regularly; power many ways better than we do, because of the kind of credibility America outages that cause us to lose work and cost they understand what it means to play us in wasted food that spoils during outages. needs to project its soft power. Is there Our local, regional, national infrastructure in the snow or have sunny skies or a a consequence the Senator could fore- is dangerous in its deteriorated state and our day that is not filled with superstorms. see in our foreign policy and in our na- tax dollars go to assisting the very compa- They understand what it means to act tional security from fumbling and nies and politicians who support our demise. individually, to take care of the envi- dropping this ball at this time? Lenore Lewis-Foreman of Bridgeport ronment and our planet. I would like to Mr. BLUMENTHAL. If I may respond wrote me to say: think it is because we have read them to the Senator, my colleague and I have a nerve disorder. Because of this, the stories of environmental heroes friend from Rhode Island, with a ques- the weather plays a significant part of my who championed the right causes, who tion that summarizes one of the key day-to-day activities. Some days I am okay cared enough to act. I would like to reasons we are here today. I see we

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.132 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1456 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 have been joined by the senior Senator The regional cooperation Con- we saw as our summer ideal, beautiful from Rhode Island who is senior to me necticut has helped to lead in the Con- places, have literally been lost. Homes on the Armed Services Committee and necticut Energy Finance and Invest- have been upended by storms. Areas so knows better than I probably some ment Authority, the RGGI program. that were frequently places for summer of the answers that can be made to the That kind of initiative is, in a micro- relaxation are now gone because of ris- question posed by the Senator from cosm, what America can do for the ing seas and because of changing cli- Rhode Island. But let me say at the world. mates around oceans, bays, and our es- outset, the military understands, in So the question posed by the Senator tuaries. This is only one example. I some ways better than America, the from Rhode Island, who has helped to could go on and on. This evidence is so crisis of energy waste and climate dis- lead this debate, goes to the heart of clear-cut, so condemning, and so con- ruption this Nation and the world what we are as Americans, as leaders vincing that we have to take steps faces. Indeed, the military has taken in providing the world an example of now. steps to be greener in its energy use, to energy savings, respect for our planet, Across the globe, these issues are use fuel cells and other renewable addressing the problem that exists for also increasingly important. It is not sources of power, because it knows the us now, and denying the deniers their simply a localized issue. This is an cost of excessive energy consumption, sway in this debate. issue which is impacting every person particularly oil dependence and energy I have heard from others on the floor across every part of the globe. We see reliance on powers that will do us no about how it is all a product of our temperatures increasing, seasons shift- good and mean us harm. imagination, but, as Ronald Reagan ing, sea levels rising, extreme water Energy dependence cannot be good said, facts are stubborn things, and the events becoming more frequent, and for America’s strategic interest or facts show, regrettably and tragically, heat-related illnesses and diseases on American defense. That is one of the that climate disruption is destructive, the rise. reasons why our military is seeking to implacable, relentless, and only we can As I said before, these changes are lead by example. I thank them for stop it. being felt everywhere—they are being doing so. The Secretary of the Navy, I yield the floor. felt in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ha- for example, has spoken to me at great The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. waii, and all across this country. Cali- length, Secretary Mabus, about the use BLUMENTHAL). The Senator from Rhode fornia has been enduring a crippling of new sources and renewable sources Island. drought, and in other parts of the of power on the ships that take the Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise this world we have seen unusually large navy to the farthest corners of the morning to join my colleagues in call- rains. All of these weather patterns globe. So the American military is ing for action to address climate suggest that there is a changing dy- leading by example. But America can change. This is a global challenge that namic that has consequences. We have lead by example. Thomas Jefferson and has far-reaching consequences for our our Founders thought America would to deal with these consequences. economy, our public health, and our There are some who would argue that be the best hope for the world in its ex- national security. we should take no action to mitigate ample of leadership. Thomas Jefferson I begin by thanking my colleague these impacts because there is a cost of said, ‘‘The world belongs to the living.’’ Senator SCHATZ, who is with us; Sen- addressing these issues, a cost to our Let us resolve that the living have a ator WHITEHOUSE, my colleague from world that is worthy of that covenant economy. In fact, there have been pro- Rhode Island; Senator BOXER; and we make as Americans to leave this posals introduced in Congress that members of the Senate Climate Action Nation better and stronger than it was would greatly restrict the U.S. EPA, Task Force for their leadership and for when we took over. for example. Their position is: See no Let’s not have failed on our watch. bringing so many of our colleagues to evil. Hear no evil. Do nothing. America can be a shining example in the floor last evening and through the That approach is only going to make what it does, inspiring the world by early hours of this morning to call at- this problem worse. That approach is that example, not by its mandates or tention to the critical issue of climate going to make the cost for us but also, its military, but by its peaceful use of change. more profoundly, for our children and energy in a way that preserves the This issue is daunting and difficult. the next generation of Americans, planet. We can use renewables. In fact, One reason it is so daunting and dif- much more severe. We have to act in Connecticut, we make fuel cells that ficult is that it is a slow-moving crisis. wisely now. We have to move forward can power the world in a much more We are often faulted for not responding wisely now. energy-efficient and environmentally to critical issues before us, but we are I think we have to do so with the no- friendly world. Fuel cells are our fu- certainly faulted for not responding to tion—which I think is quite obvious ture. They are made in Danbury and those that have evolved over many and true—that sound environmental Torrington and the Hartford area by months and many years—the nature of protection is not in contradiction to companies that are growing, another our political process, the nature of our economic growth. In fact, they work example of jobs creation and economic attention span, and the fact that other together hand in hand. We have to have boom that can result from addressing issues crowd out these longer term the long-term combination of sound en- the opportunities as well as the obliga- issues. But what we have seen as we vironmental policy to encourage sus- tion of climate change. look back is a clear path of evidence tainable, economic growth. A healthy I have spoken on the floor about suggesting that our climate is chang- environment is essential for our econ- those companies, as well as about the ing. Our climate is changing in ways omy and for our quality of life. Indeed, Connecticut climate action plan that are going to disadvantage us—dis- the strength of the economy depends launched in 2005, the main goal of advantage us in terms of our economic on the health and resilience of our peo- which is to substantially cut the productivity, our national security, ple, our critical infrastructure, and our amount of greenhouse gases being pro- and it is going to disadvantage us in natural resources. The cost of inaction, duced within our State. In Con- terms of things that we take for grant- as I have suggested, is substantial, and necticut, we are moving ahead, just as ed. it will be paid. the Nation must move ahead with Senator BLUMENTHAL, Senator MUR- We talked today about rising seas, these kinds of initiatives. PHY, Senator WHITEHOUSE, and I grew and as we look at most of our major The Connecticut Sea Grant College up along the New England coast. I am cities, many of them are clustered on Program, another example, under- a little older than my colleagues, but the ocean. They started there. They stands the opportunity and the obliga- in the 1950s and 1960s those coasts had were ports. They were points of entry tion of this time in our history. We can wide beaches and homes built along into the United States. They are the translate climate disruption into a those beaches for middle-class workers. economic engines that drove this coun- positive through these kinds of meas- All of that has literally eroded over the try from its founding until today. ures we use to show the world that last several years—particularly these But as our seas rise, critical infra- there are profoundly important gains superstorms that have come up our structure is jeopardized. There have at hand. coast. Now we are seeing that places been discussions in New York City, for

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.134 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1457 example, of building walls in certain 2012 the second costliest year for disas- characteristics, it touches on interests low-lying areas of Manhattan. That ters. of national security, which my col- whole process is likely a multimillion- Let’s stop and think. These disas- league the Presiding Officer from Con- dollar process, and it might well have ters—that is $110 billion or so for necticut spoke about. to be taken—certainly, if we do noth- Superstorm Sandy and some of the Rising waters—and they are rising ing—because the rise of these tides other incidents that took place in for a very simple reason: As the water seems inevitable. But if we act now, it 2012—if they were avoided or mitigated, temperature increases, water expands. might be mitigated or lessened or, could allow public resources to be used That is just simple thermodynamics. It through different techniques, avoided. for other things. That is one of the is science. Simple thermodynamics is But it takes action now. That is why facts we have to face. This is not free all I remember from West Point. As the my colleagues have tried to galvanize to us. water expands, sea levels rise, and that us into this session to underscore the If this prolonged drought in the West is going to keep happening. need to act and the need to act prompt- produces more forest fires—and there is If we mention the temperatures in ly. a rough correlation between those the waters around New England over According to the U.S. Global Change two—we will pay for that. We will have the past 20 or 30 years, they have gone Research Program, economic losses to fight those fires. That is a huge up. And the water levels have also gone from weather-related events, including amount of Federal spending before $1 up. There is no sinister force out there. floods, droughts, and storms, have been goes to an Indian health care center or There is no whirling machine that is significant and have been increasing. $1 goes to a Federal program to support driving the water. There is no high- That is sort of the dynamic we are see- higher education. Before $1 goes any- level combination of winds coming to- ing. Not only are we seeing an increase where, we have to respond to those fire gether. That might happen; that is the in these weather incidents, but we are crises. That is only one example that is nature of a storm. But water keeps ris- seeing them in a larger scale and it coming from the conditions established ing because molecules keep getting far- seems to be an accelerating process— by a drought. ther and farther apart as they heat up. more and larger weather incidents cre- When we look at the coastal storms That water rise is significant to us in ating more damage. that are bearing down on us, we have Rhode Island, but it is catastrophic to We in Rhode Island and our sister to fix the infrastructure, we have to fix other places. Bangladesh is a country States, Connecticut and Massachu- the shattered roads that line the coast- that is essentially on the water, and setts, saw significant damage from lines, and we have to fix the sewer sys- many parts of it are close to being un- Sandy, but we did not receive the brunt tems that have been shattered by these derwater. If the sea waters rise there of the storm. However, that was a fac- storms. It is not avoidable. So these you have a situation of a relatively tor that could have altered, indeed, costs keep accumulating. poor country that has had problems hours before the storm hit. We were Then there is another cost; that is, with its neighbors, and just to seek concerned it would come straight, the opportunity cost of not being able shelter people will be forced to move in pouring down on Rhode Island with to invest more in schools, invest more and to put pressure on the boundaries. catastrophic effects. in other infrastructure, invest more in It could cause tremendous problems. Fortunately we missed the worst of lowering the cost of energy—all of That is just one example. it, but that was not the fortune of New these things. We have to recognize In Pakistan, we have invested a huge Jersey and New York. They suffered that. As I said before, my State has amount of money to work with the billions of dollars in damage. They are been impacted, along with every other government of Pakistan to provide as- still trying to restore communities, State, by these different weather phe- sistance as they battle the Taliban, to and they are still trying to restore nomenon. The Sandy storm—mer- provide assistance as we move supplies services. We have had some effects, cifully we missed the brunt, but we through there to our forces in Afghani- too, that we are dealing with. still sustained significant damages. stan. The floods, the seasonal droughts, But what we have seen is these Our coastline is increasingly vulner- the chaotic weather they have seen storms coming repeatedly. My sort of able. That is the other factor. These there weakens an already weak govern- vague history of hurricanes in Rhode storms weaken our coastlines and our ment. This is repeated time and time Island—it was the 1938 hurricane that barrier beaches. So when the next again around the globe. came roaring through. I was not there, storm comes, the damage is even more So this is, again, not just an issue but that was a devastating event. Then severe, and when the next storm about whether we are going to preserve there was the 1954 hurricane, Hurricane comes, it is worse. This cumulative ef- our beaches, preserve our coasts or Carol, and that was a devastating fect is accelerating so rapidly that save money here in the United States event. But there was, it seemed to me these damages are making us more and to devote to more meaningful reasons. at least—and this is anecdotal more more vulnerable to storms. It could pose a serious national secu- than analytical—a decade or more, 15 In fact, it goes back to the frequency rity threat as people are forced to- years, almost 20 years between storms. and the intensity of these storms. gether with political issues already and In the interim the storms were the old- There used to be—at least now are under the threat of environ- fashioned nor’easters. They would anecdotally—a period of time where mental catastrophe. They are changing come and go, and there would be a lit- literally the coast could recover. There borders, migrating, moving in conflict, tle damage but nothing significant. was a decade or so where, instead of se- and creating huge problems, under- But that pattern and intensity of vere storms every summer or fall, we mining the weak governments that al- storms seem to have increased in their had a period of accumulation of beach ready exist in these areas of the world repetitiveness and their nearness of sand, of the ocean depositing sand, not and providing further pressure on these time. What we are seeing is a barrage, ripping it away in a storm. That governments. The result is chaotic sit- really, of economic events—huge envi- doesn’t seem to be happening. We have uations which are the breeding ground ronmental events—that have huge eco- to recognize that. for much of the terror and much of the nomic costs. We also have to recognize that we carnage we see across the globe. This is According to data from the National have a Federal perspective, but the related and we have to recognize that. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- States are also spending a huge There is another part of this, too, tion, since 1980 the United States has amount of money on responding to the that is often neglected. It is a chal- sustained 151 weather-related disasters effects of the storm, and that also di- lenge, yes, and a serious challenge, but where overall damages reached or ex- verts their efforts from education, from also it is an opportunity. It is an op- ceeded $1 billion. The total cost of health care, and from all of the things portunity to create jobs to deal with these events tops $1 trillion. In 2012 States have to do. this evolving problem. Frankly, in the Superstorm Sandy, the prolonged Mid- This is not only a national issue. American spirit, one of our greatest west drought, and the nine other This is not only a regional issue. This characteristics is when we have seen a weather-related disasters led to dam- is, as everyone has said on this floor, a challenge, we also saw opportunity. ages in excess of $110 billion, making global issue. Because of the global Other nations just saw a challenge.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.135 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1458 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 They didn’t roll up their sleeves and ficient in terms of delivering gas, but it ago when the Navy announced the Arc- deal with some of the issues as we did, leaks methane, which is not a very tic Ocean would be able to be commer- as our predecessors did, as our parents good environmental component to re- cially transited during certain parts of did. Now it is our turn. Will we roll up lease. the year. Again, growing up in the our sleeves, look at this as a real seri- So we have these challenges before 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, if someone had ous challenge, and not ignore it but us, and we want to go ahead and deal told me the Arctic Ocean was going to deal with it? with these challenges. We see around be a commercial highway for ships, I If we do that, we can create good the globe increases in precipitation, in- would have said that is preposterous. It jobs. We can create jobs that will re- creases in sea level rise, storm surges is frozen. It is always frozen. It will al- ward people and contribute to an im- becoming greater, and all of these are ways be frozen. Well, that is not the proved environment. Weatherization, putting to the test every system we case. Last year, Arctic sea ice reached for example, supports thousands of have. an all-time low, and as climate change highly skilled workers and additional Our road systems—I haven’t seen the accelerates, the melting of sea ice will jobs in related businesses, materials roads as poor in the Northeast in my invariably make that a source of navi- suppliers, vendors, manufacturers, et life. Highways—I–95, there are potholes gation. cetera. This is a very straightforward everywhere. Why? We have had so It will create new opportunities, such way to deal with the issue of climate many storms over the last 2 years, so as shipping routes, but also new chal- change. When we make homes more much plowing, and so little dollars to lenges. Who will patrol those seas? Will weather tight and better insulated, do the repairs. The roads now leave you we have to create not only a Pacific when we don’t waste energy, when we bouncing along on the highway like fleet but an Arctic fleet? That costs don’t have to use as much, when we cut you are not in the United States of money. Who owns the rights? Who has down demand and don’t have to gen- America but in some second or Third access to that area? erate as much and put as much pollu- World country. That is a consequence— So we are looking at huge problems tion into the atmosphere, and we do indirect, but a consequence—of the that even 10 years ago we thought were these things on a widespread basis, we weather and our inability to marshal fanciful. put a lot of people to work. These are the resources to deal with the weather. That underscores the final point I the types of jobs that many people Not just clearing the snow, but then want to make. We see this climate have the skills to do and that are re- going in and repaving the roads. We see process, this climate change coming, warding. They can do them, and we that everywhere. But we have to do and it doesn’t seem to be affecting us save ourselves energy. We save the pol- more. minute by minute, so there is this lution, we save the warming that This is a threat to our fisheries. It is tendency to be rather cavalier about it. comes from just spewing excess emis- a threat to our drinking water. It is a Beyond the people who out-and-out sions into the environment, and we put threat to our quality of life. Again, deny it, which I think ignores the facts people to work. growing up in Rhode Island, we took of science, even people who do tend to This is a low-cost, effective way to for granted in the 1950s and 1960s that recognize it think, yes, well, we have deal with employment and with en- short ride to a beautiful beach—a big, time. But what we are seeing is not ergy. We have to do more of these broad, beautiful beach—swimming in just the intensity of these incidents; things. It is not, as they say, rocket the water and not worrying about the we are seeing them accelerating, and science. This is no fabulous, new, high- beach being closed because of environ- the consequences of accelerating with tech application that we need to de- mental conditions, toxic conditions in such rapidity is that what we thought velop. This is giving people and com- the water. Some of that has changed, might be a huge problem 2 or 3 years munities the resources and the support and we have to go back and reestablish from now might occur in half that to go out there and to put better insu- that quality, that lifestyle. It is not time. So we have to act. lation in buildings, to try to use more just all about dollars and cents. It is I want to conclude by thanking my alternate energy sources, to put better also about the quality of our lives. colleagues, Senator BOXER, Senator windows in and better doors to hold the As I said before, and let me conclude, WHITEHOUSE, and Senator SCHATZ be- heat. This is just straightforward but this is not just an issue of domestic cause they have called us to come for- very powerful. It can help curb energy policy, localized issues. This touches ward and to recognize this issue—to consumption. Particularly for low-in- upon our national security. Ironically, seize the challenge but also to seize the come people, it can reduce the cost of we debate budgets of billions and bil- opportunity. In doing so, they have energy. lions of dollars about platforms, about done remarkable work for the Senate One of the problems, again and I see what kinds of systems we will have in and for this country. my New England colleagues around the air, on the sea, under the sea; what With that, Mr. President, I yield the that we face in New England is our en- types and sizes of units we will have on floor. ergy costs are much higher than the the ground and what their training is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- rest of the country. One is because we like. But ironically, one of the things ator from Rhode Island. have a poor distribution system; and that is likely to trigger the engage- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, two, we have a system also where we ment of our forces is this growing envi- before I yield the floor to Senator are paying for some of the pollution in ronmental crisis throughout the world. UDALL of New Mexico, this may be my the Midwest that comes out of stacks Someone, I think it was one of the last chance to speak before the all- and is taken at high altitudes and then defense ministers in Nigeria, said one night session comes to its end, because it descends into New England and the of the greatest problems the east faces, I am about to relieve the Presiding Of- Northeast. So we have to compensate with the rise of these bands of ficer. In fact, I am overdue for that. not only for our pollution but also for radicalized young people, is the fact But I did want to take this moment other areas of the country. So all these that because of desiccation of parts of to say a few thank-yous. As one of the factors come together. his country, traditional farming, tradi- instigators of this episode, I thank my My point is we can do a lot collec- tional aspects of economic growth and staff in particular for all the work that tively across the country. It is not just jobs and livelihood have been taken went into this. I thank the parliamen- a challenge, it is a huge opportunity, away, and so young people can get a tarians and the Senate clerk staff, who and that means getting our public poli- gun and that is their new job. I think had a long night with us, and I appre- cies here in Washington right. That we have to be very serious about the ciate it very, very much. There is only means investing in better energy, in- national security consequences. So as one page I see on the floor remaining— vesting in better distribution systems, we are moving forward, I hope we will no, there is another one. I want to investing in improving those systems recognize that these environmental thank all the pages. Many of them that exist. challenges are also national security stayed here through the night, and it One of our problems in terms of the challenges. was a very long night for them, and I natural gas distribution in New Eng- There is one thing that was very re- appreciate very much their effort. land is not only that it is old and inef- vealing to me, and that was a few years Then throughout the building, because

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.137 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1459 the Senate had to be kept open, there her very kind words. She is the chair- chart 2 and look at the snowpack in were people who were kept here—the man of the committee which deals with the northern New Mexico and southern Capitol police and others—and it is climate change legislation and has Colorado watersheds. They only range much appreciated. been ever present in terms of trying to from one-half to three-quarters of what One of the things about the Senate is see if we can come up with a bipartisan normally would be there. when we are in session, the light on the solution and get legislation. I was very This is a winter picture. Normally in top of the Capitol stays on. So all night proud to serve on her committee when northern New Mexico at this time of last night, people across the city could the Obama administration came in and year we would see a massive snowpack. look and see that the light on the Cap- the Senate sat down to work and was Why is that important? Because in the itol stayed on. I hope that wasn’t the trying to do something about climate summer when we start using the water, only light that was shed last night, but change. Unfortunately, we ran out of we start irrigating, the farmers start at least it is an example, and I just ex- time. doing things, they recharge the aqui- press my appreciation to all of the peo- But as we can see by the number of fer. So if we don’t have a snowpack, we ple who we have inconvenienced in Senators who have spoken—we are up don’t have that kind of recharge and order to make this point. to 30 now—we still have incredible pas- we don’t have the storage levels of Mrs. BOXER. Will the Senator yield sion about this issue. We know it is a drinking water. before we hear from my good friend. serious problem, the American people Just to pick one of our communities, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- know it is a serious problem, and we Santa Fe, NM, gets 40 percent of its ator from California. want something done. water from the ground and it gets an- Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I thank What have we learned? I have other big chunk of the water from res- also everyone who made this evening watched my colleagues over the night. ervoirs. Those reservoirs are fed when possible, and I want to say to my co- I am No. 30 and I have watched what we have a snowpack and when the chair of the Climate Action Task they have been talking about. The tra- ground gets recharged and it flows off Force, Senator WHITEHOUSE, what a dition here in the Senate is normally if and flows into those reservoirs, so this privilege it is to work with him, as his we are talking like this and our col- is something which makes a huge im- passion on this runs deep; to Senator leagues on the Republican side of the pact when we don’t have a snowpack SCHATZ, who, from Hawaii, is wit- aisle want to come down and exchange and when we have a decreasing amount nessing climate change in real time, with us, they can do that. That is our of precipitation. We are going to see just as so many of us are who are from tradition, to say we speak and then more and more of this as we move coastal States. down the road, when we look at the I am so looking forward to hearing they speak. What we have ended up seeing is one Republican Senator show modeling which has been done by the Senator TOM UDALL, and I am not going to quote him but I hope he will up in this 12-plus-hour period is my un- experts who are working on this issue. This next slide is particularly dis- say what he said in front of the envi- derstanding. I think I am right. This is turbing in terms of water. I remember ronment committee when he was a new what was reported on NPR this morn- it being roughly at this place on the Member. He called attention to what is ing. To me, this is tremendously sad, Rio Grande just last year in the middle happening in the West, and all one has because in the glory days of the Senate of the summer. This photo is showing a to do is read the papers to see the suf- in the 1960s and 1970s major environ- very meager amount of water. When I fering that is going on. mental legislation, major conservation So I also want to say, because time is organization legislation—remember was there last summer, there was no wasting here, that this was something the Wilderness Act, the Clean Water water. It was completely dry. So here, that I think has caught on, that has Act, Clean Air, Endangered Species— the river which flows the whole length caught the attention of people. I can was passed with significant bipartisan of the State of New Mexico down to tell you that well over 100,000 people— support. We don’t see that effort today. southern New Mexico—El Paso, TX, re- well over that—have signed various pe- It makes me very sad. We are here all lies on it; Mexico, our neighbor to the titions calling on Congress to wake up. night trying to engage and say: This is south, relies on it—there was no water I am under no illusions that our col- something the American people believe to be seen. Once again, it dramatically leagues on the Republican side watched is serious, and we need to engage on shows the impacts of climate change us. So let’s be clear. Senator INHOFE this issue. and the impacts as we see this move said before he left: You are talking to Today I am going to talk a little bit down the road. yourselves, and I took great offense at about New Mexico, and how New Mex- One experience with ranchers and that because the vast majority of the ico and the Southwest are at the bull’s- farmers I think really brings this home American people understand climate eye when it comes to climate change. in terms of water. There was a flood change is real. There is no doubt about What do I mean by that? If New Mex- control project in Tucumcari, NM, cre- it, no more doubt than people have ico is at one temperature and we com- ated in the middle of the Great Depres- that cigarettes don’t cause cancer. We pare it with the rest of the country— sion. Everybody in the community in- know this is a fact. And for us to close let’s say in the rest of the country we vested in it. The Federal Government our eyes to this fact is closing our eyes have a 1-percent rise—New Mexico is invested in it. These projects have a to the people we represent and about going to be 2 percent, so there is a dou- dual purpose. One is, if there is a big whom we care. bling effect in the Southwest. This is a flood, to try to control the flood. The Again, my deepest thanks to all the map of New Mexico, but we are talking second thing is to hold the water, so staff in the entire building. To all my the Southwest. when we get to the irrigation season colleagues, Senator WHITEHOUSE in- First let me talk a little bit about we can have irrigated farmland. They formed me we are about to hear from the drought we have had. Here we are did this in the 1930s. I think about 600 the 30th Senator. That is incredible. from June 2011 to the present, a or 700 farmers and ranchers rely on this Thirty percent of the Senate is partici- drought of epic proportions. The U.S. project and have been relying on this pating. drought monitor shows more than 90 project since the 1930s. I yield back my time, again, with my percent of New Mexico is in extreme I visited this community recently deepest thanks. There is more to come drought. Northern and western New and learned from the people who run from the Climate Action Task Force. Mexico got some precipitation last the project and from the farmers and We are just getting started. We will year, but several other areas of the ranchers, in the last couple of years, have lots more. The next time we do State remain mostly dry. We can see zero water. No water at all. They had something, we will engage a lot of this is extreme; the other is moderate. never seen this since the 1930s, even other folks as well. Added together, it is a significant im- though when we went through very se- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. pact. These are the kinds of challenges rious conditions in the 1950s it was WHITEHOUSE). The Senator from New we are going to face with climate thought to be one of the biggest Mexico. change. droughts and no water. The last 10 or 12 Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. To talk a little bit more about these years, this particular project, the same President, I thank Senator BOXER for impacts, I would now like to go to thing: very, very little water.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.139 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1460 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 What ends up happening as a result? power industry. This slide shows solar I thank the Presiding Officer, who Farmers and ranchers cannot plant. power to beat coal prices in New Mex- was a key person in terms of orga- Ranchers sell off their herds. Just to ico. Right now, the solar installations nizing this, Senator WHITEHOUSE from show how dramatic it is, in New Mex- going up are very competitive in terms Rhode Island, and I yield for my good ico we saw 50 percent of our cattle of coal. friend from Massachusetts. herds sold off this last year. People are Wind power. Once again, in New Mex- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- hurting so badly in terms of this ico we have installed wind capacity of ior Senator from Massachusetts. drought, they are unable to keep their 778 megawatts. New Mexico ranks 19th Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, I thank livestock on the land and they end up for the total megawatts installed. So Senator UDALL. having to pull the livestock off. This all over New Mexico, up on our mesas, I am proud to join with my col- has a devastating impact to people who as we can see here, we have wind tur- leagues in speaking on climate change. live closest to the ground. bines collecting the energy from the Senators have been speaking on this I have been out on the land in New wind. The number of wind turbines: 575. issue since yesterday, all through the Mexico with conservationists and sci- New Mexico ranks 17th for the number night, to add their voices to the mil- entists and talked to them about cli- of utility-scale wind turbines. Current lions of voices around the country who mate change. One of the things I try to wind generation in New Mexico is 6.1 are committed to fighting climate describe in what I have learned—and I percent. change. The level of commitment we have think this is what Chairman BOXER is Just a few years ago when we put in talking about—when I made a presen- place a renewable electricity standard, seen from these Senators is extraor- dinary, and we will need an extraor- tation in one of the committees, is if we had a lower level and we have been dinary commitment here in Congress, we take the modeling which has been pushing that up. This is one of the around the country, and around the done on climate change in the South- things we need to do at the national world to address this issue. We will west, and particularly focusing on New level. My cousin and I worked in the need that commitment because we are Mexico, what we do with that modeling House of Representatives before we on the cusp of climate crisis, a point of is ask ourselves: Where are we going to were in the Senate to get a national re- no return, which will threaten our be 50 years down the line? newable electricity standard. This is health, our economy, and our world. We just had a study at Los Alamos something we have to do which is a so- We are also on the cusp of innovation National Laboratory which says by lution. As I laid out all of the things earlier, in clean energy and energy efficiency 2050—in less than 50 years—we are not which has the possibility of trans- going to have any forests in New Mex- the devastating impacts, one of the things we should realize is there are so- forming energy production and con- ico. So much of this area of northern lutions; they are here today; the tech- sumption. In other words, we are at a New Mexico and down here, the forests nology is perfected; and we are able to moment of great danger and great op- throughout this area, they are saying put those into place. portunity, a moment where we must it looks like no forests and much less The final area of renewable energy I make choices about whether we will go water, as I have just talked about. If wish to talk about and we have huge boldly into the future, investing in in- we don’t get snowpack, we can’t charge potential here in the Southwest is novation, establishing serious and the system back. called advanced biofuels. I have been to smart regulations, and committing to The most dramatic description to me this facility and seen the experimen- address the climate crisis or whether is what happens here 50 years from tation they are doing. They have taken we will continue to subsidize fossil now. These are conservative numbers. land and are farming algae. What even- fuels of the past and ignore the risks to These aren’t the ones many of the sci- tually happens with this algae is it is our future. It is up to us. entists nowadays are saying we have. refined and the algae becomes a very Doing something new is hard, be- We are taking conservative numbers, good fuel. So this is something which cause when it comes to environmental and many scientists are saying it is is, once again, a solution to this prob- and energy issues in this country, pow- happening quicker, it is moving faster. lem. erful, entrenched, deep-pocketed cor- What they tell us is—imagine on a We shouldn’t despair when we look at porations are lined up to fight any computer screen how we can drag the impact of climate change and when change from the status quo. These pow- things. New Mexico is over 300 miles. If we look in the future as to what people erful corporations defend policies we click on New Mexico and drag it 300 are going to predict, because we know which poison our air and foul our water miles to the south—so we are moving we have the ability to cultivate solu- with little regard for the well-being of the top of New Mexico down 300 miles tions. future generations. These powerful in- to the south—what do we get? We are I am very proud of my State and how terests work hard to tilt the playing in the middle of the Chihuahuan desert we have really worked to cultivate field so energy entrepreneurs and in Mexico. So what was a dramatic for- these sources of renewable energy, and innovators have a hard time getting a ested area, what was an area which was we are moving it up with our renewable foothold in the market. These powerful very acceptable to farming and ranch- electricity standard higher and higher interests too often have a stranglehold ing: Devastating impacts. every year. I am very proud to have on our political system, blocking not So those are the kinds of things. I been a part of this effort, the 30th Sen- only bold change, but even conserv- could go on and on here. But the thing ator to stand and speak about this. I ative, market-based reforms. about the impacts—and we could talk guess we have been going about 13 When it comes to environmental and about how one of our reservoirs at Ele- hours, 14 hours. energy policy, the system is rigged—it phant Butte has the lowest level in 40 Once again, I can’t close without is rigged against our families and it is years. This is a great recreational lake mentioning I wish we had our friends rigged against our future. Let me give which people used. This is a picture of and colleagues on the Republican side one example. the reservoir in June of 1994. Here is of the aisle down here to engage us. I In 2012, the five biggest oil compa- the picture today—dramatically dif- don’t know what to conclude but that nies—ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, ferent. either they don’t care about this or and ConocoPhillips—made combined I wish to highlight as I close here— don’t want to engage with us. We only profits of $118 billion. At the same because I know we are trying to wrap had one Republican Senator in this 14- time, they sucked down billions of dol- up after we have been going for many hour period show up. This sure isn’t lars in tax subsidies from the American hours—New Mexico has been focusing like the glory days of the Senate when people. Over 10 years, oil and gas com- on solutions. One of the solutions sit- so many Republicans participated with panies will receive $40 billion in tax- ting right in front of us is renewable Democrats to tackle the big problems payer subsidies. And if the Republicans energy. We know we are going to have which faced our country. This is a have their way, these companies will to deal with this problem one way or problem which faces the entire world, get even bigger breaks in their taxes. another. It is much better to deal with so we need the U.S. Senate and the en- Think about what $40 billion could it earlier. In New Mexico we are doing tire world working together in a coop- mean for our future: a serious invest- everything we can to foster the solar erative way to solve this. ment in research to figure out the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.140 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1461 problem of energy storage and to de- and the starfish on the west coast of Amer- gether, and we have noticed, in particular, velop better incentives for wind and ica don’t lie. We have no idea . . . how much how our bay, and the ocean it connects to solar installation; certainty and pre- buffering capacity is left (or not). If we keep seems to be warmer every year. The ocean dictability for investors and entre- this up we will have a well carbonated, acid- water over at Nauset Bay is so warm in the ic—and quite dead—ocean. summer that we can boogie board indefi- preneurs who have a big idea in green [That’s] [n]ot something I can bear leaving nitely without getting cold. What we have energy or energy efficiency and want for my children and grandchildren. (And I been reading about hurricanes is that the to build a new business. And here is the am a registered Republican—[a] conserva- warmer the water is, the more energy that is point to underline: We can invest in re- tionist in the real sense.) available to the storm and the stronger it be- search and develop new markets with- A letter from Nilan M. MacDonald of comes. out spending any new money, if we just Scituate, MA: Kay and Tom were very scared by the pic- shift our priorities from old fossil fuel tures of Superstorm Sandy they saw on TV I live in Scituate, MA, on Boston’s South and were worried that a storm like that, or energy to new clean energy. Shore. We are about two miles from the worse, might hit us here in South Orleans. A tax policy which protects these coast. In 25 years we could be flooded out. As for me, I think it is just a matter of time, powerful interests of the past is a tax Also, storms are worsening, and we have but I don’t tell them that. They live in Bos- policy which is rigged against the en- been left without power for days at a time, ton and have visions of a great wall of water trepreneurs, small businesses, and which has endangered our health ([and] we roaring into Boston Harbor, knocking down are seniors). all the buildings in the waterfront and surg- innovators of the future. It is rigged In 25 years, populations who live at sea ing up into the neighborhood where they live against families who want their chil- level will become climate refugees as sea lev- dren to live in a world where they can in Roslindale. els rise. This will affect people worldwide. From what I have been learning, we have drink the water and breathe the air. Crops will be threatened by droughts and already pumped so much extra carbon into In preparation for the speech I am floods. Diseases now in check will become the air, that these much more extreme giving this morning, I asked Americans rampant as the planet warms. Mosquitos are storms are likely to occur no matter what to write in and talk about how their the deadliest animal vector for human dis- we do. If we redouble our effort to switch to lives will be affected if we do not get eases—and their numbers and range will clean energy—solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geo- greatly increase with climate change. serious about climate change. My ques- thermal, and biofuels—the way they are tion was a simple one: If we don’t do Dorothy Bagley of Hudson, MA doing now in Europe, and even in countries anything at all to stop climate change, writes: such as China and India, then 25 years from If folks think that this has been a bad win- now Tom and Kay will know that a sustain- what do you think the world will look able lifestyle is possible and their children like 25 years from now? ter in New England and weird all over the world, [consider] how much worse it will be can look forward to a much safer and more I would like to read some of the re- in 25 years. Areas of concern to me [are]: secure second half of the 20th century. sponses for the record. These are just a weather changes affecting crops, water sup- From Ken Marien of Westminster, few of the more than 5,000 letters I re- plies, flooding, etc. Our whole style of life is MA: ceived on this issue. It is obvious to me in danger . . . [I expect to see] [m]ore severe weather pat- the people of Massachusetts and the I am a retired Chemistry Teacher and I terns, colder colds, warmer warms, dryer people of our great Nation are worried know what the effect of temperature is on days, wetter floods, bigger storms, higher about this problem. So let me read chemical reactions. Our World is one big winds, more dust, more mud, loss of mar- chemistry experiment . . . with so many ginal growth plant and animal life. from some of their letters. variables which compound the problems. Blake Cady of Brookline, MA, writes: We can take steps, however small they I have many more letters. As I said, I served on a US Navy icebreaker in the may seem, like lessening pollution due to I received more than 5,000 letters from Arctic from 1959–1961 and saw th[at] rel- carbon-containing fuels, lower speed limits, people in Massachusetts and across the atively pristine region with intact perma- increase[d] use of alternative fuels, country. I wish I could read every one frost and heavy sea ice well into the summer chang[ing] the Nation’s attitude about recy- of them. I don’t kid myself. We are up off Baffin Island and further north. Now, cling . . . chang[ing] our transportation by against an army of lobbyists, and we much of the Arctic Ocean ice cover is dis- . . . mak[ing} our cars more efficient, etc. appearing and is predicted to be entirely Education and focus are the keys. People will not win all the fights ahead. But gone by the end of the 2030 summer season. need to know that they can effect a change here in the Senate we have leaders who ... both positively and negatively. Unless citi- will fight as hard as we can to protect Currently there is open water across the zens’ attitudes change toward any of the our environmental future. Northwest Passage in the summer, and ship- above, nothing will help to minimize what The Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. ping has become routine, [which is] a pro- will be in 25 years. WHITEHOUSE, has shown dedication to found change already. There will be untold A letter from Mon Cochran of Orle- addressing climate change and his alterations—from the warming Arctic Ocean ans, MA, who writes: commitment to ocean issues and the to accompany the rapidly melting Greenland coastline has been visionary. ice cap—which have the potential to change Dear Elizabeth, global currents and further escalate global I am 72 years old and living on Cape Cod, My colleague from Massachusetts, warming trends. where I grew up. When I was a kid back in Senator MARKEY, has committed his There is still a narrow time window to ad- the 1940s my parents and other very old peo- long career to protecting and pre- dress this looming climate disaster, but ac- ple used to tell scary stories about the Hurri- serving the environment. cane of 1938, and how it knocked down all the tion must be forceful and rapid to escape its Senator BOXER, from California, who worst aspects. I fear for my children’s and trees and blew the roofs off houses. We saw chairs the Environment and Public grandchildren’s future. pictures of boats smashed on the shore or carried up into the streets by the flood tides. Works Committee in the Senate has A letter from Susan Timberlake of As I grew up in Orleans, we experienced a been a force to fight to protect our en- Florence, MA: series of hurricanes, starting with Carol in vironment. Senator SCHATZ, from Ha- I used to be a clinical chemist. We made up 1954 and then Diana the next year. Each time waii, organized Senators to speak ‘‘buffers’’ as part of our tools that kept a so- our parents remember 1938—and each time I through the night on this issue and is lution at the pH [that is, relative acidity] remember being very, very scared as the quickly distinguishing himself as a that you desired even as you added things storms barreled across the bay like furious leader in the fight against climate freight trains while we cowered in the base- that would upset the pH. change. Really good buffers have really good capac- ment. In 1960 Donna came through, and even In a few minutes, Senator CARDIN ity. CO2 dissolved in water as a bicarbonate though I was 18 years old by then the fear has pretty good buffering capability. Once that the house would be destroyed brought will come forward and continue this all the buffering capacity is used up the pH nightmares. important discussion. change is precipitous. The pH shifts radically Now I am a grandfather, and know much I am proud to stand shoulder to and directly as anything else is added to the more about what causes hurricanes and why shoulder with such dedicated public solution. You lose any control you had over they can be so destructive than my parents servants and with all of the Senators the chemical reaction(s). did back then. For the past twenty years or who have held the floor for so many so we have been lucky on the Cape—most of hours to draw attention to our urgent And here is where she makes the con- the really bad storms have been confined to nection. the Caribbean or turned inland before reach- need for climate change. The oceans are where much of our excess ing us. We are on the cusp of a climate cri- CO2 is going. . . . So far the oceans have been My grandchildren Tom and Kay and I have sis, a point of no return. We can con- absorbing the CO2. . . . But the coral reefs been learning about global warming to- tinue to subsidize polluters and ignore

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.142 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1462 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 the warnings all around us or we can predicted by the Maryland Climate Blackwater is at risk. It is important invest in a future that can create jobs, Change Commission that we will see a for tourism, and it is important for our a future that can strengthen our na- 1.4-foot increase in the sea level by 2050 environment. It is also the land in tional security and, most of all, a fu- and 3.7 feet by the end of this century. which Harriet Tubman conducted the ture that can save our planet. That is going to have a dramatic im- underground railroad, so it has a lot of This is our moment in history. We pact on many Marylanders who live in significance. Yet, between 1938 and can act, we must act, and we will act. the coastal area. 2006, we lost 5,000 acres of marshland to I yield the floor. I can give another example. Ocean open water, and that is accelerating. It The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. City, MD, is a popular place for Mary- is not slowing down. If we don’t reverse UDALL of New Mexico). The Senator landers and people from outside our the impacts of climate change, we are from Maryland. State to enjoy the beautiful beaches. I going to see a more dramatic impact Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, first, I must say that I am very proud that on those types of treasures in Mary- wish to compliment and thank Senator this Congress has appropriated millions land and nationally. WARREN for her comments. Senator of dollars for beach renourishment. I will also mention the fact that, of WARREN has brought up a lot of issues Those dollars have returned multiple course, this is a Federal legislature, that I can relate to because our States times because they prevent the full and we should be concerned about the share the Atlantic Ocean. We talk force of these nor’easter storms that Federal facilities as well. In Maryland about climate refugees around the are more frequent and more severe in we have Pax River, which does incred- world, and we are starting to see those Maryland and along the Maryland ibly important work for our Navy so in our own States. As sea levels are ris- coast. There is a limit as to what we they can do their research and flight ing, we see dead zones in the oceans can do if we don’t take action to deal testing on the coast of our State, and and in our bays. We need to take action with the sources of climate change. We that is at risk by the rising sea-level. in order to protect our people. want to protect our property owners, I serve on the Board of Visitors at In my State of Maryland, you can see and the best way to protect our prop- the Naval Academy, and I can tell you firsthand the effects of the rising sea- erty owners is to do something about I have visited the Naval Academy when level. One example is Smith Island. the causes of climate change. it has been flooded because of storms. Smith Island is a habitable island in We saw the impact of Sandy along It is a little below sea level at some of the Chesapeake Bay that is home to the east coast of the United States. I its locations. The rising sea level jeop- many of our watermen who have been know that the most severe impact was ardizes that iconic institution that is practicing their professions for many in New Jersey and New York, but in so important to our national defense. years. They are at risk. Maryland we saw in Crisfield, MD, the The Aberdeen Proving Grounds is You need a boat to get from one of full effect of Sandy. The people there also located on our coast and does crit- the towns to the other. Smith Island know they are at risk because of the ical work in national security. All of only has a couple of hundred remaining severe storms that are becoming more these facilities are being jeopardized residents, but they are losing their frequent and more severe. because of the climate change that is land daily as they fight to counter the The Chesapeake Bay itself is at risk. occurring in our community. rising sea level change—I think that is I have talked on the floor many times I will talk a little bit about some a very visible sign of what we are up about the importance of the Chesa- good news. We can reverse what has against—and the urgency of dealing peake Bay, and how it is a national happened. We can slow down the ef- with climate change. treasure. It is important just by the fects. We can change the course that I am so proud to be identified with fact that it is the largest estuary in we are on. We have already done a sig- the Climate Action Task force. Many our hemisphere. It is important be- nificant amount. I congratulate Presi- of the leaders have been mentioned, cause of its coastline and its impact. It dent Obama and his policies because he and I thank Senator SCHATZ and Sen- is also important because of its impact has taken on the major areas that deal ator WHITEHOUSE for organizing this on our economy. The blue crabs and with climate change. opportunity for us to put a spotlight on oysters are critically important to The United States has to lead inter- climate change and the need for urgent Maryland. Yet they are at risk. nationally, but it starts with action action. I thank Senator BOXER, the The blue crab is a little complicated, right here in the United States. We chair of the Environment and Public but we know one of the factors that is have to lead by example. Other coun- Works Committee, for her extraor- affecting the blue crabs is the ability tries are far ahead of us. We have to dinary leadership. of juvenile crabs to be able to survive join with other countries to produce a Throughout last night and into this in seagrasses. Yet the seagrass popu- strategy that works because our envi- morning, we have highlighted the lation is declining because of tempera- ronment does not end at our borders. science, which is indisputable, as to the ture rise in the Chesapeake Bay. That We have to work internationally, but fact that over millions of years we is just one example of the challenges first we have to work at home. have seen catastrophic changes on our we have because of climate change. It What has President Obama done? He own planet. Because of our activities is affecting the economy of my State, has taken on the transportation sector, and what we are doing on Earth, within and it is affecting the economy of our which is one of the greatest uses of car- a very short period of time—just hun- country. bon fuels, with our CAFE standards— dreds of years, and less than that now— The Port of Baltimore is the largest our efficiency of our automobiles. We we are causing a catastrophic impact single economic factor creating jobs in now have standards that would lead to on our climate. It is urgent. We have our community, and the Port of Balti- having an automobile get 541⁄2 miles per seen firsthand the impacts of climate more depends upon a stable coastal cli- gallon by 2025. That is ambitious. They change. mate. said we couldn’t do it before, but we I was in Beijing, China, last year. I The tourism industry is directly af- did it. We met those standards, and we was there 3 days. There wasn’t a cloud fected by climate change. People love will meet these standards. We will sig- in the sky, but I never saw the Sun be- to come to our State to hunt and fish. nificantly reduce the amount of fuels cause of the pollution that was in the One of the most valuable assets we that we need to fuel our transportation air—their carbon emissions. We have have along the bay is the Blackwater in this country. seen the costs of climate change in National Wildlife Refuge. We are investing in transit facilities, lives and in dollars we spend to try to The Presiding Officer has heard me and that reduces our carbon footprint. adapt to the new realities of extreme talk about that frequently in the Envi- High-speed rail reduces our carbon weather conditions. ronment and Public Works Committee. footprint. We are committed to those I will use the few moments I have to The bald eagles have returned to types of solutions that are common talk about the issues that are closer to Blackwater. It is an incredible sight. sense to help our environment. home in my own State of Maryland. People go there just to see the beauty The Obama administration is moving Seventy percent of Maryland’s popu- of nature and to visit our wildlife and ahead on the regulation of carbon pol- lation lives in coastal zones. It is now our waterfowl. lution under the Clean Air Act. They

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.143 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1463 recognize that the energy sector can acidification is an economic issue and That ocean acidification has in- help reduce our carbon footprint sub- it affects so many different people in creased 30 percent over the last 200 stantially. our economy in the Pacific Northwest. years. Oceans are on track to be 150 Senator WARREN was absolutely cor- It affects our shellfish growers, which percent more acidic by the end of the rect when she said that we don’t have is a major industry. We have three and century. The current rate of acidifica- a level playing field today. We sub- four generations of shellfish growers tion is 10 times faster than anything sidize the fossil fuels, but we don’t with who are threatened now by the impact Earth has experienced in the last 50 the renewable fuels. We can expand our of carbon in our oceans and the warm- million years. renewable energy sources. ing of our oceans. So when you talk As you can see, this increase of car- Quite frankly, we are showing inno- about climate and you talk about bon and an increase of the acidity level vation among all of our stakeholders. acidification of our oceans, you are in water, an increase in acidification, Buildings use a lot of energy and gen- talking about an industry that is key is what is causing this problem for us. erate a lot of carbon. The Federal Gov- to the Northwest that is being affected Again, my colleagues on the other side ernment is leading in the LEED certifi- today. of the aisle who think this is just cation, as is the private sector, in Also, our crab fishermen are being af- something that we do not have to deal doing things that are much more en- fected today, which is an important with are ignoring the real science and ergy efficient in the building sector. part of our fishing industry all the way the state of our oceans. Therefore, we have seen progress in to the Bering Sea. A lot of people do What does that acidification cause? I transportation and buildings and the not realize that the Alaska crab fisher- guess if there was another chart here I generation of electricity. We have been men are based in Alaska and in Wash- would make this chart also the star of reducing our carbon footprint, which ington State. They very much depend the show, because this is not a science will help the people on Smith Island by on making sure we deal with this issue experiment, this is the current state of reducing the sea level changes. in the future if we want to protect oyster larvae. Last night I was at a res- The Presiding Officer and I saw first- these jobs and the important industry taurant here in town and they offered hand the impact of the glacier melts that is there. Washington oysters, shellfish on the Sea levels are rising and forcing com- when we were in Greenland. I thank menu. That is great to see. munities to deal with this issue. We But this is a picture of actual larvae, Senator BOXER for arranging that op- want to help ticket these jobs, even portunity. We saw very visually the the beginning stages of these shellfish jobs for the salmon fisherman. A lot of glacier melts and how much has oc- that are being impacted. You can see people watch ‘‘Deadliest Catch’’ and curred in a very short period of time. here that this is what acidification is understand the seafood industry, but We can reverse that by showing leader- doing to that larvae. It is not able to they may not understand that even ship in transportation and the way we form. We saw in 2005 when shellfish salmon depend on a food source that is production plummeted on the West use our buildings and the way we gen- affected by ocean acidification, that it Coast, it seemed like a freak accident, erate electricity. We can work together is not just killing oysters and shellfish, but then it happened again in 2006 and with the international community. but it is also killing these pteropod The good news is that the solutions in 2007. Then in 2008, more than 80 per- that the salmon industry depends on cent of the oysters at Whiskey Creek for dealing with climate change will too. Shellfish Hatchery died before they help our national security by con- You can see I am here to talk in rela- could be planted into the shellfish suming less fossil fuels. We want to get tion to jobs because commercial fish- farm. In total, billions of shellfish died to zero as far as our need for imported ing in Washington State is a $30 billion because of that acidification. These im- energy in this country. coastal economy with 42,000 jobs and ages from Oregon State University We can get that. We now know the contributes about $1.7 billion to our show ocean acidification, what it does threats that are made from Russia to gross economic product. So for us this to the larvae because that acidification Ukraine to the Middle East. We can is the impact of climate that is being erodes and becomes corrosive and actu- eliminate that threat to our national felt today, not in the future. It is being ally kills the oysters. security. We can create more jobs. felt today. It threatens a key industry. As I said, these are third- and fourth- Green energy will give us more jobs in Not only is that industry important to generation jobs in my State. It is very the fossil fuel industry. We need good- Washington State, it is also important important that we protect them. They paying jobs. We can leave our children to the Nation. It contributes $70 billion have been a big driving part of our and grandchildren a cleaner planet and to the U.S. economy and supports over economy. But when corrosive sea water a better future. That is what is at 1 million fishing jobs. So our inaction increases and then you have a 60-per- stake. That is why we have taken this in Congress, deciding not to do some- cent decrease in production, you are time. I am proud to be identified with thing, basically threatens those 1 mil- talking about hundreds of jobs in so many who have spoken on this issue. lion jobs because the climate is im- Washington State that are being im- I yield the floor. pacting our oceans and our oceans are pacted. We need to do something right The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- impacting the food supply these fisher- now to act. ator from Washington. men harvest. It does not just affect the larvae of Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I If we do not do something about this, oysters, acidification destroys other thank my colleague from Maryland. I we are going to have severe problems shellfish. This again is another exam- thank him for all his work on the in the future. Why is this? The key ple of a pteropod, which just happens Chesapeake and so many important point—if we could have just one chart to be the food source for salmon. Some issues as it relates to this issue and for today played over and over, I would of these shellfish are what salmon feed being here up all night with my col- have this chart—is our oceans absorb off of for a protein source. Yet these leagues on this important climate 25 percent of the CO2 emissions. That is same shells are not being able to form. issue. right. All of the CO2 emissions, 25 per- Over 30 percent of the marine life in I thank Senators BOXER and WHITE- cent of them basically sink into the Puget Sound is a calcifier. So these HOUSE and SCHATZ for organizing this ocean. So that means carbon emissions calcifiers basically are species that are endeavor and for everybody partici- from fossil fuels are being absorbed a calcium carbonate shell, just like the pating. Obviously we are here to talk into the ocean. That basically creates a oysters and the shellfish, that needs to about climate change, but like my col- very corrosive environment in our form. That is 30 percent of our marine leagues we know climate change is ac- waters. life, of our food source. tually impacting jobs now because it is So the notion that people think we So if we do not do something about impacting our climate now. So while can continue doing what we are doing ocean acidification, these shells are we are here to talk about what might and not make the change, I guarantee not forming, and we are going to have happen in the future, I am here right you the problems we are causing for an even more serious impact to our now to specifically talk about what is our oceans is a serious threat. This salmon industry in Washington State. happening to our economy and why we graph shows you the kind of acidifica- My constituents know these are big need to take action because ocean tion that is happening in our sea water. issues. In fact, the Seattle Times ran a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.144 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1464 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 groundbreaking series called ‘‘Sea This is the same coral reef years maple sugar producers in New Hamp- Change,’’ the highlighting of the im- later with an unhealthy effect. We are shire tell me they are already seeing an pact of carbon to the oceans because it here this morning to talk about jobs, impact on production. According to a could—as this article details—cause a to talk about climate and its impact on report by the New Hampshire Citizens collapse of that huge Alaska crab fish- our economy today. It is important for a Responsible Energy Policy, ‘‘Cur- ing industry—a collapse. I know my that we address this issue. I have spon- rent modeling forecasts predict that colleagues from the Northeast are here. sored bipartisan legislation with my maple sugar trees eventually will be They understand what a collapse to a colleague on the other side of the aisle completely eliminated as a regionally fishing industry means. They under- called the CLEAR Act. It is just one important species in the northeastern stand it means a lot of people without idea, but the premise of that is that we United States’’—that is, if we fail to jobs, it means a lot of people who de- have to not only reduce greenhouse act on climate change. pend on the fishing industry as ancil- gases now, we have to mitigate the im- New Hampshire’s seacoast is facing lary or related jobs end up without pact and plan for a more diverse energy rising sea levels along our 18 miles of jobs. They understand that a collapse source in the future. shoreline. The coastline is one of the of the fishing industry means a col- That is what we are talking about. most developed parts of the State, and lapse to the economy overall in their We are talking about trying to save flooding could devastate coastal towns region. jobs in the United States of America by and their economies. Ted Diers, who is So if we do not do something to ad- doing a better job of planning on this the administrator of the Watershed dress acidification, we are talking important issue. Management Bureau of the NH Depart- about climate change impacting a key I yield the floor. ment of Environmental Services, re- jobs sector and causing huge job losses. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cently said: That is what this chart shows. Basi- ator from New Hampshire. Sea level has been rising at 6 to 8 inches a cally it shows how the crab harvest in- Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I century. What we’re seeing right now is a dustry is being impacted by ocean wish to agree with Senator CANTWELL, tripling of that. acidification and that it could cause a our colleague from Washington State, Climate change is expected to cause very precipitous decline. because in New Hampshire we are also widespread tree deaths, which could We cannot afford that. I will show seeing the impact of climate change on cause extensive wildfires. We are al- you why we cannot afford that. We just our traditional industries. It is contrib- ready seeing that in the West. There recently—people might have caught it uting to sea level rise, it imperils busi- are large increases in pest and patho- on the west coast. You might think nesses and homes in coastal commu- gen outbreaks and a lag in the estab- what I just showed you is about oysters nities such as Portsmouth. New Hamp- lishment of new forests for several dec- and about the pteropod for a salmon shire’s very popular Hampton Beach is ades. It is also a threat to animals and source, but scallops, we just had I experiencing greater storm surges and their habitats. think 1 week ago a massive die-off, an- beach erosion. The outdoor recreation The moose population in New Hamp- other canary in the coal mine. Basi- community is facing shorter winters, shire is declining due to warming cally it shows that 10 million scallops less snow, and that results in fewer trends in winter and summer. The fact died off the coast of British Colombia. tourism dollars. is that New Hampshire’s moose popu- Acidification was to blame. So acidic Wildlife and public health are becom- lation is down 40 percent this year, and water was blamed for west coast scal- ing increasingly vulnerable to diseases. it is the result of ticks. We have not lop die-off. In New Hampshire, tourism is our had winters that are cold enough to It shut down a processing plant and State’s second largest industry. It ac- cause those ticks to die off, and so we one-third of its workforce. You can see counts for $9.3 billion in the State’s are seeing that across our wildlife pop- these things basically are killing jobs. economy. It provides jobs and eco- ulation. So ocean acidification kills jobs. Us nomic growth throughout the State, What is happening in New Hampshire doing nothing about ocean acidifica- but climate change could put some of is happening around the world. We tion or about CO in the atmosphere is must take action now to slow these 2 New Hampshire’s best attractions in going to cause us economic problems. harmful trends, and we can make jeopardy. The fall foliage in New I urge my colleagues on the other progress. We should be looking at all Hampshire is a main draw for visitors side of the aisle to make sure we sup- kinds of ways to make progress, to ad- from around the world who spend mil- port measures that will allow us to dress what is happening to our environ- lions annually to see our beautiful mitigate now the impact of this and ment. plan for the future because we cannot landscape. As climate change con- I look forward to working with my have what is happening now. tinues, those warmer temperatures are colleagues in the Senate to find smart We have a buoy system that we have causing dulling and browning of cli- and sensible solutions because New deployed all across the United States. mate-stressed unhealthy trees. Hampshire’s economy, the health of That buoy system helps us identify Another driver of tourism in New our citizens, the U.S. economy, the acidification levels and helps the fish- Hampshire is our State’s outdoor recre- world’s economy, and our health all de- ermen come up with alternative strate- ation activities, such as downhill and pend on it. gies about when to do their planting. cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and I yield the floor. Let’s just say it this way: They figure snowmobiling. As temperatures in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- out when is a perfect moment to actu- crease due to climate change, the ski ator from Florida is recognized. ally have the seeding. If you have too industry has to make more snow, and Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I want that increases their expenses. In fact, much CO2 and a warming of the oceans, the 31 colleagues who have been on the then figuring out that very moment the EPA has predicted that by the end floor to know how proud I am. As I where it might not be so acidic or chal- of the century, summers in New Hamp- have watched throughout the evening lenging and then actually doing the shire could be as warm as summers in and this morning, I have seen our col- planting is giving us some problems. North Carolina, which would dras- leagues continue to hold this floor to But these are high-risk tactics. We tically shorten fall foliage without try to bring attention to climate actually have to reduce the level of cooler temperatures starting in Sep- change. I am very proud of them. CO2. We are here this morning to talk tember. We are already seeing it in I have the privilege of being the about how this issue impacts the indus- terms of fewer snow days in New cleanup hitter in this session that has try in my State. But this last chart Hampshire and earlier ice out on our gone on for hours and hours. I want to shows a picture that is irrefutable. lakes. speak from the perspective of the part This is ocean acidification’s effects on Maple sugar production is being af- of the United States that is going to be coral. Here is healthy coral. You can fected. It depends on prolonged cold and is most affected by sea level rise, see it is vibrant, colorful. If you have temperatures with freezing nights and which is a consequence of climate ever been off our coast or walking on warm daytime temperatures to create change; that is, the State of Florida. I the beaches, you can see the shell life the optimal sugar content and sap pro- also want to speak from the perspec- that exists in a healthy coral reef. duction. With warming underway, tive of outer space.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.146 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1465 When someone looks back at the The Intergovernmental Panel on Cli- commissioner, I tried to go to the in- planet through the window of a space- mate Change projects that the globe surance companies to try to start get- craft—which I had the privilege of could warm 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius by ting them interested in protecting the doing 28 years ago in the early part of the end of the century. It also esti- investments they insured, and they the space shuttle program, the space mated that sea levels could rise from 1 kept their heads in the sand. We shuttle Columbia, which was piloted by foot to 3 feet over the same period. couldn’t get it. now-retired Marine Gen. Charlie Bold- Since we are talking about inches, So you can see that 75 percent of the en, who is the head of NASA and has degrees, and hundreds of years, now I State’s population on the coast makes been for the past 5 years—when we want to go from space to my home in up 80 percent of the State’s total in- look back at our home, we see this in- my native State of Florida, which is come. Because we have more beaches credible creation that is so colorful ground zero for the sea level rise. What than any other State, we have more suspended in the midst of nothing. will Florida look like in the year 2100? coastline than any other State, save Space is nothing. Space is an airless Florida has a population closing in on for Alaska, and a warmer climate, we vacuum that goes on and on for billions 20 million people. We are surpassing have a great tourism industry—a tour- of light years, and there is our home New York as the third-largest State. ism industry that attracts 37,000 com- and it is so beautiful, yet it looks so About 14 million of those people live panies to Florida—businesses related fragile from that perspective of miles along the coast, and that number is to the coast, from boating, to fishing, and miles away. What the naked eye going to double by the year 2100. In to lodging, to leisure recreation, all can see from that altitude as we orbit those coastal cities and towns, there told employing a quarter of a million the Earth at 17,500 miles an hour is in- are homes, schools, powerplants, water people. credible in the detail we can see, but treatment plants, roads, and bridges This 1,350 miles of coastline is a mag- some of that detail is quite disturbing. which could be underwater as the sea net for visitors. They come and they For example, coming across the Ama- level rises. This isn’t only hypo- enjoy the beaches. They fish for red zon I could see the color contrast. I thetical; this is real. Florida’s Atlantic snapper in Destin, up here. They look could see the destruction of the rain University, one of our great State uni- for red snapper off of Panama City. forest. Then I could look to the east versities, indicates that Florida has re- Maybe they go for scallops off of Cedar coast of Brazil at the mouth of the corded 5 to 8 inches of sea level rise in Key. Maybe they go to see the spring Amazon. I could see the silt that dis- the last half century. This rate is a training games in Tampa. Maybe they colored the waters of the Atlantic for rate of 1 foot per century, and it is watch the sunsets from the Florida hundreds of miles, the extra silt com- about 8 times the average rate over the Keys. Well, you can see what is hap- ing off the destruction of the trees past 2,500 years. Today at high tide we pening. The most recent data from the upriver. can see for ourselves the flooded roads. State indicates that in 2011 tourists On the other side of the globe, for ex- They are a regular occurrence. We can spent $67 billion in Florida and contrib- ample, coming across Madagascar 28 see the flooded neighborhoods. We can uted $4 billion to our State treasury. years ago when they were cutting down So while a lot of people have their all of their trees for fuel, for fires, and see what happens when the infrastruc- heads in the sand, some local leaders, as a result there was no vegetation, ture is flooded. If we just take a few years further in happily some local elected leaders are and when the rains came, the water ran this century, 2060, we are going to see starting to do something about it. The down the hills, the silt came into the close to 1 to 2 feet of sea level rise. Ac- city of Miami Beach already experi- rivers, and we could see for miles and cording to the National Research Coun- ences flooding and drainage problems miles at the mouths of the rivers from cil, by 2100 that number could be as due to the high tides. They are plan- Madagascar—flying 203 miles above the much as 3 feet. Do you want to see ning to spend $200 million to purchase surface of the Earth, we could see the effects. We could see those kinds of ef- what 3 feet is? Three feet of sea level more pump stations, raise seawalls, fects in the midst of that God-given rise—look at the heavy population of and upgrade stormwater storage. Do beauty, that the Earth is so fragile. southeast Florida. Look at all of these you know whom we are talking to? We could look at the rim of the Earth portions of the Everglades. Look at the Holland, the Netherlands. We are try- and see this thin film. It went into a Florida Keys—gone, under water. Look ing to learn about large-scale dikes and blue band that then went into the at the Fort Myers area, the engineering fixes and how the Dutch blackness of space, and we could see Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Bay, have kept their lands dry. Miami Beach what sustains all of life—the atmos- and look at Tampa Bay. Look where is taking the initiative so that homes phere. As a result, I certainly became our space shuttle launched from pad and businesses will continue to thrive. more of an environmentalist because I 39A, Cape Canaveral—under water. The higher sea levels—get this—also saw in its entirety how fragile this eco- Look at all of the coast of Florida, threaten the water supply. Do you system is. look over here at the tremendous Apa- know why? Because Florida is basically We could see the effects of storms. lachicola oyster estuary—under water, land on top of a vast limestone honey- We were up in January, so we saw a and so forth and so on. That is what comb. Like a sponge, it holds fresh- hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere prominent scientific organizations water deep underground, but when the going clockwise, not counterclockwise have estimated at the end of this cen- sea level rises, the saltwater moves in as in the Northern Hemisphere. For tury: a 3-foot rise in the sea and 14 mil- and replaces the freshwater, so those hundreds of miles, there was this storm lion people—a population that over the aquifers become too salty or brackish. in the Indian Ocean. We could see from course of the next few decades will dou- You can’t drink that. That is hap- that perspective of the window of a ble; 28 million people living on the pening, and it is happening in a little spacecraft the delicacy of this God-cre- coast of Florida—are going to be under town on the southeast coast of Florida ated ecological balance. water. Why aren’t people paying atten- called Hallandale Beach. Their local of- What we have done, as we burn more tion? ficials are spending right now $16 mil- fuel and carbon dioxide goes into the Before I came to the Senate, I had lion to upgrade their stormwater sys- air, instead of what was created where one of the toughest jobs I had ever had tem and move the city’s drinking the Earth’s rays come in and hit the in elected public service. I was the water system to the west side of the surface—where the Sun’s rays come in elected insurance commissioner in city, further away from the coast. through the atmosphere and hit the Florida. The task fell to me in the So local leaders are making the Earth’s surface and reflect back into aftermath of the monster storm Hurri- tough decisions to prepare for the fu- space, suddenly the excess gases in the cane Andrew to resuscitate the insur- ture, and that is one reason I have the atmosphere create a kind of green- ance marketplace back to life. privilege of having the support of Sen- house effect, which then traps the heat. Back then, in the early 1990s, we ator ROCKEFELLER, the chairman of the The heat, as it reflects off of the could see monster storms meant warm- commerce committee, and we are going Earth’s surfaces and bounces as it radi- ing of the climate, warmer ocean tem- to take a commerce committee field ates back into space, can’t get out and peratures, more frequency and ferocity hearing during the April recess down to the Earth continues to heat. of storms. So as the then-insurance South Florida, to Miami Beach, and we

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.148 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1466 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 are going to hear what local govern- As the United States works to meet According to the United Nations ments, businesses, and even reinsur- our national goal of welcoming 100 mil- World Tourism Organization, ‘‘There is ance companies are doing in the wake lion international visitors annually by now a wide recognition of the urgent of the sea level rise. 2021, we must think of how climate need for the tourism industry, national One additional thing. I described change factors into the equation for governments, and international organi- what CO2 does, going into the air and this economic sector as well as how the zations to develop and implement creating the greenhouse effect, which industry itself contributes to climate strategies to face the changing climate stops the radiating of the Sun’s heat change. conditions and to take preventive ac- back out into space. But there is an- Travel and tourism is responsible for tions for future effects, as well as to other thing it does. Because carbon di- about 5 percent of global CO2 emis- mitigate tourism’s environmental im- oxide in the atmosphere is making our sions. Transportation generates three pacts contributing to climate change.’’ oceans more acidic, it threatens the quarters of these emissions with the The U.S. travel and tourism industry coral reefs and all of the creatures in majority coming from air travel. recognizes its impacts and is stepping the ocean, from lobsters to clams. In addition to transportation, the up to the challenge of mitigating its This is a picture of a healthy coral hospitality sector also consumes sig- contribution to climate change. reef. nificant amounts of water for bath- The US Travel Association says that, This is not. rooms, landscaping, laundries, and ‘‘the [U.S.] travel community as a The coral reef system in Florida is kitchens, and consumes sizeable quan- whole and its sectors individually are responsible for bringing in $3.5 billion tities of electricity for lighting, heat- committed to taking actions to reduce in sales and income, and off of the ing and cooling systems and elevator greenhouse gas emissions and explore coast of South Florida it supports and other equipment. mitigation measures needed to address 36,000 jobs. More acidic water means Changes in extreme weather caused climate change impacts.’’ oysters, crabs, and lobsters are threat- by climate change will impact this in- In my home State, Hawaiian Airlines ened. Biologists tell us that when dustry and the experience our visitors is working to reduce its emissions. It shelled organisms are at risk, the en- have while exploring our States and was awarded the first ever aviation- tire food web may also be at risk be- territories by potentially damaging based carbon credit in 2012 for its use of cause the reefs provide the core repro- travel and tourism-related infrastruc- the EcoPower engine wash system, ductive and feeding habitat for the ma- ture, increasing the required invest- which reduces fuel consumption—sav- rine life. ment in emergency preparedness to ing the company money at the same So I come to the end of my com- prepare coastal tourism communities time. ments, Mr. President. Whether you for disasters, increasing operating ex- One of our biotech companies is look at it from the perspective of the penses to do business in challenging working on producing advanced Senator from Florida, whose State is and uncertain conditions; and discour- biofuels for aviation and has signed a severely threatened at this moment, or aging travel to affected areas. deal to produce green fuel for Alaska from the perspective of the window of a As we certainly know here in Wash- Airlines, perhaps as soon as 2018. spacecraft, looking back at this cre- ington, DC, the United States has expe- Hotels have gone far beyond simply ation we call home, planet Earth, we rienced an extreme winter season this asking guests to reuse towels and close are in severe jeopardy, and it is time year, with record cold temperatures lanai doors to save on water and en- for us to get out of our lethargy and and plenty of snow. As extreme weath- ergy. They have invested in technology recognize the problem happening in er events continue to occur, made more to improve lighting efficiency, manage front of our very eyes. frequent by a changing climate, the energy use in unoccupied spaces and I am so proud of my colleagues. Be- travel and tourism industry will con- improve the efficiency of building fore the Senators came in, I said that I tinue to feel the impact. equipment to decrease energy and had been watching on C–SPAN during To put this into real terms, econo- water use while not impacting guest the course of last evening and this mists estimate that the cancellation of services. And they are continuing to morning, and I am so proud of you for one domestic flight for weather-related look for more ways to operate effi- what you have done in bringing atten- reasons costs over $31,000 in passengers’ ciently, including technology such as tion to this issue. lost economic activity or $3.5 billion in seawater air conditioning. HAWAII TRAVEL AND TOURISM 2013. We can solve the problem through re- Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, as you The travel and tourism industry is a ductions in our energy use by improv- have heard here tonight, climate major economic driver in Hawaii. It is ing energy efficiency, increasing the change is real, it is caused by humans, the biggest generator of jobs. More use of renewable energy, changing how it is happening now, it is solvable, and than eight million visitors came to Ha- we conduct business, and adopting poli- it is time for Congress to wake up and waii in 2013 and spent $14.5 billion in cies that promote sustainable tourism. take action. Hawaii. Damage to our visitor industry We need to work together to imple- I want to talk now about an impor- will cost us jobs and threaten our eco- ment policies that support the contin- tant sector of the U.S. economy and nomic prosperity. ued growth of this important sector to how it is specifically impacted by cli- If we don’t act now, climate change support jobs and economic prosperity. mate change. over the next several decades could We need to protect the natural re- I am talking about travel and tour- have a negative impact on Hawaii’s vis- sources that bring visitors from around ism. It is a major economic driver in itor industry. Climate change affects the world to our beautiful country and this country, representing almost 3 the quantity and quality of Hawaii’s to my home state of Hawaii. percent of the gross domestic product. tourism assets, including our beaches, It is time for Congress to act. It generates nearly $1.5 trillion in eco- coral reefs, and tropical ecosystems. ASIA PACIFIC nomic output and supports nearly 8 Extreme weather and natural disas- Mr. President. We have heard from million jobs. ters, like droughts and hurricanes, are many colleagues tonight about the This sector is critical to my home also made worse and more severe by challenges of climate change and the state of Hawai‘i but as chairman of the climate change and impact residents need for urgent action. Left commerce committee’s tourism sub- and visitors alike. unaddressed it has the potential to im- committee, I am also concerned about But it is not enough to just recognize pact the lives and livelihoods of nearly the economic impacts climate change the impacts of climate change on tour- everyone on the planet. could have on this critical industry for ism. One of the themes here tonight is As Secretary of State John Kerry the entire Nation. that climate change is solvable. cautioned recently in a speech in Ja- The U.S. welcomed nearly 70 million We have a responsibility as policy- karta, climate change is akin to many international arrivals in 2012 who spent makers to strike a sensible balance be- other global challenges that ‘‘know no almost $130 billion on hotels, res- tween the positive and negative aspects borders,’’ like terrorism, disease, pov- taurants, airline tickets, shopping, at- of travel and tourism and ensure that erty and nuclear proliferation. tractions, and more. This is signifi- it is conducted in an environmentally ‘‘The reality is that climate change cant. sustainable way. ranks right up there with every single

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.149 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1467 one of them,’’ he said. I could not agree al climate change engagement plan, we mitted to implement aggressive low more. are also countering the naysayers who sulfur fuel and motor vehicle emissions But with every challenge comes an claim that the United States rebalance standards. These standards can pave opportunity. And just as the world has to the Asia Pacific is only about pro- the way toward the adoption of more come together to confront the crises of jecting military power in the region. fuel efficient technologies, and ulti- pandemic disease and the proliferation In fact, promoting climate change mately lower greenhouse gas emis- of weapons of mass destruction, cli- mitigation and adaptation strategies sions. The United States is also work- mate change too holds the potential for as part of our foreign policy toolkit ing with China to combat short-lived collective action. would serve to deescalate military ten- climate pollutants. So I would like to spend some time sions in the region by demonstrating During Indian Prime Minister tonight discussing climate change in a that our realignment to the region is different way—not just as a problem to Singh’s visit to Washington in October more than military power. I would like 2013, the United States and India be solved, but as an opportunity for the to spend the next few minutes detailing U.S. to exercise its leadership in the launched a new large-scale off-grid several avenues for addressing climate clean energy initiative to help bring world; an opportunity for the U.S. to change in the region, with some spe- develop long-lasting and effective part- clean energy to those under-served by cific examples of how we and our part- the electricity grid, as well as an ini- nerships with the international com- ners are already engaging on the issue. munity. tiative to help India deploy advanced First, I will discuss our traditional space cooling technology. Regardless of whether all Americans diplomatic efforts and the importance believe global climate change should be of developing and enhancing bilateral We must also continue to engage in a top priority and an issue worthy of and multilateral agreements and part- the region through multilateral organi- immediate Congressional attention, I nerships. zations like the United Nations, the believe that we all can agree this issue Second, I will highlight how climate Association of Southeast Asian Na- should be a part of our diplomatic and change mitigation has become an inte- tions, ASEAN, and the Asia Pacific development efforts with countries fac- gral part of our development and for- Economic Cooperation, APEC. ASEAN ing the gravest and most immediate eign aid packages. Finally, I will advo- members are also attempting to tackle climate change impacts. cate for a cross-sector approach that climate change issues in the region. Nowhere is this more true than in the brings together private sector invest- Several countries have announced vol- Asia-Pacific region, where America’s ments, non-governmental organiza- untary mitigation targets, including partners and allies face acute and im- tions, and educational and scientific Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, minent risks associated with climate partners. and Singapore. ASEAN has also devel- change, such as sea-level rise, extreme It is important for the United States oped a Socio-Cultural Community weather, flooding, and environmental to collaborate in ways that, first and Blueprint, an innovative strategy to degradation. foremost, promote America’s interests. ‘‘enhance regional and international According to the U.N.’s Environ- However, we must also recognize that cooperation to address the issue of cli- mental Program: we can learn valuable lessons from our mate change and its impacts on socio- Asia-Pacific is one of the most vulnerable partners and allies as well. As a recent economic development, health and the regions to climate change and impacts are progress report on President Obama’s environment in ASEAN Member States likely to become more intense in the future. through implementation of mitigation Rising temperatures and extreme weather Climate Action Plan states: ‘‘Just as events have contributed to loss of crop yield no country is immune from the im- and adaptation measures, based on the in many countries. Crop yields are projected pacts of climate change, no country principles of equity, flexibility, effec- to decline by a further 10 percent by 2020. can meet this challenge alone.’’ tiveness, common but differentiated re- Sea-level rise is likely to result in signifi- In that light, we have much to learn sponsibilities, respective capabilities, cant losses of coastal ecosystems and put from other countries confronting the as well as reflecting on different social nearly a million people along the coasts of crisis of climate change, just as much and economic conditions.’’ South and Southeast Asia at risk. Diarrheal as we have to share about our efforts to disease primarily associated with climatic On the economic and energy front, changes will also put many lives at risk in manage the challenge ourselves. APEC leaders have: South and Southeast Asia. In addition, the In June 2013, President Obama pre- proposed a regional goal to reduce energy in- greenhouse gas emissions of a number of sented his Climate Action Plan, which tensity by at least 45 percent by 2035. To this Asia-Pacific countries are large and will laid out the case for action on climate end, APEC Ministers determined to improve grow significantly in future if actions are change and the steps his administra- energy efficiency and support the use of not taken to curb emissions.’’ tion will take to address it. The Cli- cleaner and more efficient energy tech- The Obama administration’s foreign mate Action Plan includes measures to nologies by setting individual goals and ac- policy rebalance to the Asia Pacific lead international efforts to address tion plans; collaborating with the Inter- has been well-covered in recent global climate change. national Energy Agency to develop energy months. With nearly a third of the It is particularly important that we efficiency indicators; sharing information on Earth’s population and one quarter of expand bilateral cooperation on cli- energy efficiency policies and measures; and global GDP, ‘‘America’s future pros- mate change with the major emerging encouraging APEC economies to contribute perity and security are intertwined economies in the Asia-Pacific region, to and utilize the APEC Energy Standards Information System. Economies are held ac- with the East Asia Pacific region.’’ China and India, and the President’s countable through the APEC Peer Review What America’s rebalance to the re- plan has started to do that. Mechanism on Energy Efficiency. Climate change was a central theme gion will mean for U.S. military en- This peer review is also a vehicle for gagement and U.S. traditional diplo- of the United States-China Strategic economies to share their respective policies, macy in the region has been widely dis- and Economic Dialogue in July 2013. experiences, information and ultimately to cussed. Yet, issues such as the region’s The United States-China Working improve energy efficiency. huge proportion of the planet’s bio- Group on Climate Change launched five diversity vulnerable to climate change focus areas to deepen bilateral efforts United States development assist- have gone largely unnoticed in the dis- to address greenhouse gas emissions: ance is also rising to meet the chal- cussions. reducing heavy-duty vehicle emissions; lenges of climate change in the Asia- To strengthen our existing relation- smart grids; carbon capture, utiliza- Pacific region. Three projects are par- ships and to develop new partnerships, tion, and storage; collecting and man- ticularly noteworthy: we must bring our engagement with aging greenhouse gas data; and energy The United States Agency for Inter- Asia-Pacific countries on global cli- efficiency in buildings and industry. national Development is investing $7.3 mate change issues to the forefront of In December, during Vice President million in the Indonesia Forestry and diplomatic and development efforts. BIDEN’s visit to China, the United Climate Support program, which works This includes promoting efforts to help States and China committed to review- with the Indonesian government, the countries adapt to their most vulner- ing their fossil fuel subsidies under the private sector, and communities to im- able risks. By developing a robust glob- G20 process. In addition, China com- prove forest governance and planning

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.151 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1468 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 at the district level; promote sustain- profit organizations and civil society, It must serve as cornerstone of our able forest management in target land- and philanthropy. The network be- rebalance to the region. Let us seize scapes; and increase sustainable devel- lieves that by working together that opportunity. opment of local economies by engaging through a ‘whole of society’ approach, NATIONAL SECURITY private sector partners who can pro- we can enhance our ability to reduce Mr. President. One of the themes vide financing and technical expertise; risks from disasters and build more re- that we have heard tonight is that cli- The United States Agency for Inter- silient communities and economies in mate change is a challenge that affects national Development is investing $2.9 the Asia-Pacific region. all Americans—from small businesses million in the Asia-Pacific Climate Government and international orga- and local farmers to major corpora- Change Adaptation Support Facility, nization efforts to mitigate climate tions and agricultural communities. known as ADAPT. ADAPT will work change are important, but the public But there is one community that I with governments in the Asia-Pacific sector cannot do it alone. If we are to would like to focus specific attention region to support training on the prep- truly make significant progress, the on because the consequences of climate aration of financeable adaptation APDR3’s cross-sector approach must be change fall on its shoulders in unique projects, and provide assistance for replicated on a much wider scale. Inno- ways: the U.S. military. analysis and financial review of se- vative solutions are being developed in In an interview last year, ADM Sam- lected project proposals. The program think-tanks, universities and other uel J. Locklear III, commander of the will link climate fund managers with non-profit institutions across the United States Pacific Command in my representatives of government adapta- United States. home State of Hawaii, argued that cli- tion projects to identify adaptation in- To cite just one example, Inter- mate change is the greatest long-term vestment opportunities and facilitate national Food Policy Research Insti- security challenge in the Asia-Pacific access to climate funds. A regional tute fellow Mark Rosegrant has pub- region. Upheaval and political insta- knowledge platform will also broadly lished findings that climate change bility from climate change he said ‘‘is disseminate best practices, climate could cause the production of irrigated probably the most likely thing that is fund eligibility requirements, and ap- and rain-fed staple crops—rice and going to happen . . . that will cripple plication procedures; wheat in Asia, and taro, sweet pota- the security environment, probably The United States Agency for Inter- toes, and cassava in the Pacific—to de- more likely than the other scenarios national Development is investing $2 cline by as much as 25 percent by 2050. we all often talk about.’’ million in the Maldives Program to En- According to Rosegrant, ‘‘this will His comments echoed those of 11 re- hance Climate Resiliency and Water have a direct effect on nutrition, in- tired 3-star and 4-star admirals and Security. The United States Agency for creasing the number of malnourished generals who, in 2007, unequivocally International Development will part- children in the area by an additional 9 stated that climate change is a ‘‘sig- ner with the Maldives Ministry of to 11 million.’’ However, Rosegrant nificant national security challenge’’ Housing and Environment, provincial proposes solutions to the worst sce- that can serve as a ‘‘threat multiplier utility service providers, and Island narios. Through ‘‘targeted, aggressive for instability in some of the most Councils and residents on two northern investment in agricultural research, volatile regions of the world.’’ Their islands to assess long-term climate rural roads, and irrigation,’’ Rosegrant comments are not without a sense of vulnerability and develop cost-effective believes we cut the increase in child- urgency. adaptation strategies. The program hood malnutrition due to climate As Admiral Locklear explained last will support innovative solutions to change significantly. This type of in- year, ‘‘I’m into the consequence man- the growing problem of water scarcity, vestment, however, hinges on ‘‘regional agement side of it. I’m not a scientist.’’ which is made worse by climate change cooperation on research’’ and ‘‘non- When he testified before the Senate and sea level rise. The program will as- agricultural investments for clean Armed Services Committee last April, sist the Government’s goal of devel- water and maternal education.’’ Admiral Locklear made his point clear- ‘‘In addition to these increased in- oping the standards and criteria for a er when he explained the urgency for vestments, Rosegrant’s other rec- ‘‘climate resilient island’’ model pro- preventive action. He said: gram that can be replicated through- ommendations include establishing re- gional centers of excellence in the Pa- We are also seeing—if you go to USAID and out the country, and potentially in you ask the numbers for my PACOM AOR other small island developing states. cific countries to link national and how many people died due to natural disas- As a Senator from the island State of international research centers; forming ters from 2008 to 2012, it was about 280,000 Hawaii, I have a particular interest in integrated data management, moni- people died. Now, they weren’t all climate this last project. Hawaii stands in the toring, and evaluation systems for a change or weather-related, but a lot of them center of the Asia-Pacific region. wide range of market and climate in- were due to that. About 800,000 people were The people of Hawaii—including na- formation; opening the global agricul- displaced and there was about $500 billion of tive Hawaiians who have lived on our tural trading regime to share risk and lost productivity. islands for millennia—and Hawai‘i- increase resilience; and revitalizing ex- Admiral Locklear’s comments and based institutions such as the East- tension systems to include local par- those of his former colleagues before West Center provide a unique cultural ticipation and effectively coordinate him are not out of the ordinary. They and geographic perspective on global public, private, and NGO providers.’’ reflect the growing consensus within climate change and stand ready to Many of these ideas would help coun- the Department of Defense and the serve as ambassadors for climate tries in the region mitigate other po- broader national security community change issues in the region. tential effects of climate change as that climate change is real and already In Hawaii, I have been involved with well. It is crucial that governments shaping the global security environ- the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduc- utilize studies and recommendations ment in new and profound ways. tion and Resilience, APDR3, initiative, such as these when developing policies The Department of Defense is focused which was launched at the Asia-Pacific on climate change. on two areas in particular. Economic Cooperation meetings in I close with this reminder: climate First, climate change is shaping the Honolulu in 2011. APDR3 recognizes change is not merely a complicated U.S. military’s strategic operating en- that ‘‘there are steps we can take to problem to be solved; it is an oppor- vironment, forcing the Department of mitigate the impact of natural disas- tunity for the United States to dem- Defense to grapple with new mission ters, but we must work together across onstrate forward-thinking leadership requirements that it generally did not all sectors of society in order to maxi- and positive engagement with the anticipate a decade ago. mize our effectiveness. world community. Climate change di- In its 2010 strategic planning docu- The APDR3 network, hosted by the plomacy, especially in the Asia Pacific, ment, the Quadrennial Defense Review, University of Hawaii Foundation, is a has the potential to transform our re- the Department of Defense for the first collaborative initiative, which works lationship with present and future time concluded that, ‘‘While climate across six sectors of society—academia, partners and strategic allies for years change alone does not cause conflict, it business, government, military, non- to come. may act as an accelerant of instability

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.151 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1469 or conflict, placing a burden to respond in need, including fixed- and rotary- Rapid environmental change at the on civilian institutions and militaries wing aircraft that can bring relief sup- top of the world is quickly making the around the world.’’ plies to communities otherwise cutoff Arctic one of the most accessible mari- Simply put, the drivers of instability from the outside world. time domains on the planet. Secretary that fragile States already confront— But we should not be resigned to be Hagel declared last November that, drought, food shortages, water scar- the world’s 911 first responder— ‘‘Climate change is shifting the land- city, and pandemic disease—may be crouched in a reactive posture to re- scape in the Arctic more rapidly than made worse as a consequence of cli- spond to the next climate-related dis- anywhere else in the world.’’ mate change. These stresses could aster. As the Department of Defense What is striking is how quickly the break the backs of weak central gov- has already noted and planned for, region is changing. Chief of Naval Op- ernments and institutions in countries ‘‘Proactive engagement with these erations ADM Anthony Greenert wrote around the world where the United countries can help build their capa- recently in the U.S. Navy’s updated States has enduring interests—places bility to respond to such events.’’ Arctic Roadmap that ‘‘ice conditions in such as Burma and Pakistan, to name And as Admiral Locklear stated, U.S. the Arctic Ocean are changing more a few. Pacific Command can play an impor- rapidly than first anticipated.’’ Last week, the Department of De- tant role in helping our partners and The pace of change in the region fense confirmed its initial conclusions allies build their capacities to respond compelled the Department of Defense when it published its 2014 Quadrennial to natural disasters, building their to develop its first-ever arctic strategy Defense Review, noting that: civil defense forces so that they can to provide for a ‘‘secure and stable Arc- The pressures caused by climate change mobilize ahead of an impending storm. tic,’’ which Secretary Hagel presented will influence resource competition while The U.S. military can work with them last November to an international se- placing additional burdens on economies, so- to professionalize their air forces, curity forum in Halifax, NS. cieties, and governance institutions around training them to be more efficient To achieve the strategic aims that he the world. These effects are threat multi- users of search and rescue aircraft and laid out for the Department, Secretary pliers that will aggravate stressors abroad other capabilities so that they can do Hagel presented eight simple objec- such as poverty, environmental degradation, more with less. political instability, and social tensions— tives, to include ‘‘[evolving] Arctic in- Next month, Hawaii will host the in- frastructure and capabilities at a pace conditions that can enable terrorist activity augural United States-ASEAN Defense and other forms of violence. consistent with changing conditions.’’ Forum in Honolulu, convening 10 of the The more pressing concern for the Simply put, the U.S. military will defense ministers from the Association likely face new mission requirements U.S. military, perhaps, might be with of Southeast Asia Nations to discuss those countries that are most vulner- in the Arctic as a result of climate challenges that our countries face in change, and those requirements might able to extreme weather events and the region. I hope that leaders use this least capable of responding to them. develop sooner than we may expect. forum in part as an opportunity to dis- These new mission requirements did Like drought, food shortages and other cuss the urgency of climate change and environmental grievances, natural dis- not come out of the blue, of course. an opportunity for proactive engage- The U.S. military operated in the Arc- asters can overwhelm weak govern- ment to weather any climate-related tic during the cold war, and there had ments, contributing to the conditions impacts in the future. been growing acceptance that as cli- that lead to instability and violence. Proactive engagement is cost-effec- With each passing day, as we pump tive and can serve as a force multiplier mate change continues to take its toll more carbon dioxide into the atmos- for U.S. military forces in the future on the region it would operate in High phere, we know that we are increasing by helping our partners and allies de- North once again. The Defense Science Board concluded our chances of extreme weather events velop the resources and skills they that carry with them dangerous con- need to help themselves; freeing our in 2011, for example, that ‘‘Climate sequences. soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and change is currently having a major im- The Asia-Pacific region is particu- coastguardsmen to defend our interests pact on the demands of military oper- larly at risk of extreme weather events elsewhere, responding only when abso- ations in the Arctic,’’ and that the that may become more frequent and se- lutely necessary. military would need ‘‘additional capa- vere as a result of climate change. The The simple fact though is that the bilities to meet the demands of the ex- National Intelligence Council cau- U.S. has treaty obligations and agree- panded Arctic mission.’’ tioned last year that, ‘‘Asian cities are ments with many of these vulnerable What sets today’s Arctic apart from vulnerable to the severe weather con- states. But regardless of those commit- yesterday’s is the mission that the U.S. nected to climate change, which ampli- ments, we also have a moral obligation military is likely to confront. During fies storm surges and flooding of low- to help those countries most in need. the cold war, the U.S. Navy largely lying areas.’’ When the next disaster strikes, the stayed under the ice. But many suspect The tragic typhoon that struck the U.S. military will be called on to pro- that with the ice disappearing, the U.S. Philippines last November, while not vide relief. And that will force defense Navy’s surface fleet could play an ever directly attributable to climate planners to make tradeoffs somewhere increasing role in the region. change, is a stark reminder of the else. But if we can reduce the number The need for additional capabilities kinds of natural catastrophes that the of military assets and personnel re- in the Arctic may also require the U.S. U.S. military gets called on to respond quired to support natural disaster re- Navy to think anew about whether its to. lief by making it possible for other tried and tested capabilities are well As Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel countries to help themselves then we calibrated for a changing operating en- noted not long after this awful event: should do that. vironment. Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines is a re- In an increasingly lean budget envi- There is new evidence to suggest, for minder of humanitarian disaster brought on ronment, we owe it to the U.S. mili- example, that climate change could by nature. And climatologists warn us of the tary to make wiser investments where have direct and indirect effects on the increased probability of more destructive possible. Preventive engagement is a Navy’s operating environment, particu- storms to come. smart solution. Such a commitment of larly in the Arctic. The Department of Defense recog- our time and resources would recognize A study by one national security nizes that it has a role to play in sup- an age-old truism that an ounce of pre- think tank found that, ‘‘ice melt will porting humanitarian assistance and vention is worth a pound of cure. change water densities, as an infusion disaster relief missions. And like many Besides the prospect of more frequent of fresh water lowers the density of first responders, the men and women of humanitarian assistance and disaster high-latitude northern waters, while the U.S. Armed Forces have an obliga- relief missions, the Department of De- increased evaporation from a warmer tion to respond when called on because fense is also facing new mission re- atmosphere increases the density of the U.S. military is often the only or- quirements as a result of a new theater tropical waters.’’ ganization with the capability and per- of operations that until recently has The study cites one example when, sonnel necessary to support those most largely been quiet—the Arctic. ‘‘In 1999, the Sturgeon-class nuclear-

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.153 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 powered attack submarine, USS operational resiliency, and develop and their resiliency to natural disasters Hawkbill, noted how changes in water implement plans to adapt as required.’’ and other environmental crises. salinity—attributed to polar ice melt— Although these assessments are on- The Department of Defense has an made it harder for the captain to main- going, the last several years have nev- important role to play in helping the tain neutral buoyancy’’—essentially, ertheless witnessed a groundswell of United States manage the challenges of making it difficult for the submarine support in an effort to better under- climate change. But in many ways it is not to sink or rise. stand the specific mission vulnerabili- other agencies, not the U.S. military, The same study found that: ties that the U.S. military may face as which must lead on our climate en- Water density affects not only submarine a consequence of climate change. gagement abroad. mobility but also sonar . . . Sonar detection These vulnerabilities are not specific, What the Department of Defense’s ef- is especially crucial in arctic regions, where but they can better frame the risks forts to date show is that climate it is necessary for detecting underwater ice that the Department of Defense faces change is no longer solely the purview ridges. Accurate detection will be critical in so that we in Congress can ensure that of conservationists concerned about the coming years, as submarine operators protecting endangered species, or of en- have to contend with the continued break up they have the resources they need to of major ice sheets, which can drive ice plan accordingly. vironmentalists concerned about pre- ridges deeper under water. In the 1999, afore- These risks include the potential for: serving the Earth for future genera- mentioned expedition by the USS Hawkbill, increased occurrence of test/training tions. the crew noted risks associated with detect- limitations due to high heat days; re- Climate change is an urgent national ing ice ridges. duced land carrying capacity for vehi- security challenge. Outside the Arctic, the Department of De- cle maneuvers; increased maintenance Secretary of State John Kerry put it fense must confront other operational chal- cost for roads, utilities, and runways; well when he said recently that among lenges that could result from climate the global challenges that ‘‘know no change. This is the second area of concern limits on low-level rotary wing flight that bears mentioning, and one where the operations; temporary or prolonged borders . . . terrorism, epidemics, pov- Department of Defense has focused consider- disruption of military operations or erty, the proliferation of weapons of able time and resources. test and training activities due to in- mass destruction . . . the reality is The Department of Defense has tense storms and resulting storm dam- that climate change ranks right up warned that climate change is likely to age; inundation of and damage to there with every single one of them.’’ impact the U.S. military’s facilities coastal infrastructure; degradation or Secretary Kerry went on to add that and capabilities. In particular, Amer- loss of coastal areas and infrastruc- the United States cannot confront this ica’s military installations may be par- ture; increased cost of infrastructure challenge alone. That like the chal- ticularly vulnerable to climate change. reinforcement to withstand increased lenge of confronting nuclear weapons According to a 2008 National Intel- storm intensities; and ‘‘coastal instal- proliferation, we must come together ligence Council finding, ‘‘more than 30 lation vulnerability. as a global community and take collec- U.S. military installations were al- These potential vulnerabilities are tive action to confront the challenge ready facing elevated levels of risk particularly worrying in my home together. from rising sea levels.’’ State of Hawaii, where U.S. Navy and The consequences of inaction are too The Department of Defense’s recent Marine Corps installations like Pearl real. For ‘‘in a sense,’’ Secretary Kerry Quadrennial Defense Review acknowl- Harbor Naval Base and Marine Corps said, ‘‘climate change can now be con- edged that the U.S. military’s ‘‘oper- Base Kaneohe Bay are literally on the sidered another weapon of mass de- ational readiness hinges on continued water’s edge. I am glad that the De- struction, perhaps the world’s most access to land, air, and sea training partment of Defense is assessing these fearsome weapon of mass destruction.’’ and test space,’’ which means ensuring risks now and making short- and long- We must attack the challenge with the that climate change does not prevent term plans to adapt where it needs to. same fierceness and urgency that we the military from accessing these crit- Hawaii is America’s anchor for the would nuclear weapons proliferation, ical training and range areas. strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific because the consequences are no less Following the 2010 Quadrennial De- region. A cornerstone of that rebalance real. fense Review, the Department of De- rests on ensuring that America’s mili- Congress can begin by giving climate fense began working in earnest to map tary presence in Hawaii and the region change the rightful attention that it out its vulnerabilities, with offices like can cope with the turbulence of more deserves, rather than ignore its respon- the Strategic Environmental Research frequent and severe weather events, op- sibility of dealing with the hard and Development Program helping in- erate under those conditions, and help choices of managing one of the greatest stallation planners develop the tools America’s partners and allies do the challenges a generation of Americans they need to plan accordingly. same. faces. Last year, the Department of Defense I have focused on the U.S. military ENERGY SECTOR released its climate change adaptation because of the unique ways in which Mr. President, I will discuss the role roadmap which lays out in greater de- the men and women of the Armed of the power sector in the United tail a plan of action for managing the Forces are and will continue to shoul- States. Modern sources of fossil energy short- and long-term consequences of der the burden of managing the chal- have been a tremendous force for good, climate change. Referencing the 2010 lenges of climate change. but they also come with a cost—pollu- findings from the Quadrennial Defense But to say that climate change is a tion—requiring us to quickly and deci- Review, the adaptation roadmap con- challenge that can only be managed by sively transition to cleaner sources of cluded that, ‘‘The military is poten- the U.S. military would be wrong and energy. tially vulnerable to climate change in undermine the serious efforts under- The effects of pollution are both many of the same ways as the rest of way within the broader foreign policy local and global, and as many of my society, and in ways that are unique and national security communities to colleagues have discussed here tonight due to its operations and mission.’’ confront this issue. climate change, caused by the burning There is still much work that the De- The men and women of our diplo- of fossil fuels, is one of the greatest partment of Defense must do to assess matic corps and consul services are in- threats to the future prosperity and its vulnerabilities at the regional and valuable to facilitating cooperation be- health of the human race. installation level, including where to tween our partners and allies, and will As we look for ways to combat cli- best prioritize adaptation efforts at continue to play an important role in mate change, we must redouble our ef- each of the most vulnerable bases. ensuring that we are providing the re- forts to transition away from fossil The Department of Defense com- sources they need to plan for the fu- fuels, reduce energy use, and build an mitted itself in its 2014 Quadrennial ture. Aid workers with the U.S. Agency energy sector based on renewable and Defense Review to ‘‘complete a com- for International Development have low-carbon power. prehensive assessment of all installa- the expertise that is necessary for de- Humanity has been using fossil fuels tions to assess the potential impacts of signing and deploying toolkits that can for centuries. It was not until the in- climate change on our missions and help vulnerable communities improve dustrial revolution of the late 1700s and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.153 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1471 early 1800s that its use really began to tation—is responsible for close to two- story for American jobs. Over 70 per- take off. The first U.S. commercial thirds of global greenhouse gas emis- cent of the content of wind turbines is coal mine opened in Virginia in the sions each year. made right here in the United States. 1740s, and as the industrial revolution The U.S. electricity sector is the Globally, investment in clean energy came to the U.S. in the 1800s, coal was largest user of fossil fuels in the coun- has been strong, hitting an all-time the driving energy source behind try. In 2012 we used coal to generate 37 high of $318 billion in 2011 following the steamships, railroads, and factories. percent of our electricity and natural great recession. But in order to suc- From 1800 to 2000, the world saw total gas to generate almost 30 percent. Nu- cessfully drive down costs and accel- energy use increase 80 to 90 times over. clear power, which emits little to no erate deployment, investment in clean Fossil fuels drove almost all of that greenhouse gases, was almost 20 per- energy must increase, and Congress growth and today account for three cent of the mix, with renewable energy can help. quarters of global energy use. from wind, solar, geothermal, and hy- In order to help the United States do As coal, then oil and natural gas dropower contributing just under 13 its part in avoiding the most extreme grew in availability, humanity found percent of the Nation’s electricity. effects of climate change, Congress new ways to use these new energy re- This overreliance on fossil fuels is ex- must double, triple, or perhaps quad- sources, driving even further develop- actly why I support President Obama’s ruple-down on current policies to drive ment in energy hungry industries. The Climate Action Plan to set carbon pol- down costs of clean energy tech- widespread adoption of fossil fuels dur- lution limits for new and existing nologies and accelerate widespread ing this time contributed to unprece- power plants, and to continue to push adoption. dented global population growth and the transportation industry towards Reauthorizing and extending impor- urbanization. advanced vehicle technologies, ad- tant tax credits for wind, geothermal, There is no doubt this explosion of vanced biofuels, and greater fuel effi- marine and hydrokinetic power, effi- fossil fuels and the multiple opportuni- ciency standards. President Obama’s ciency improvements, and advanced ties it presented for use was a major plan is a good one, but there is only so biofuels should be a number one pri- driver of American and global eco- much he can do. Without decisive legis- ority. There is no excuse for the on- nomic growth. And this had enormous lative action, Congress is choosing to again off-again policies of Congress benefits for humanity. It helped in- hold American innovation and leader- which create false boom-and-bust cy- crease efficiencies in agriculture, im- ship in check. cles for crucial industries. I applaud We must do more to transition en- proved human health, created in- the new Chairman of the Finance Com- ergy to renewables, reduce emissions, creased opportunities for trade, and mittee for making an extension of and improve efficiency. The world has improved standards of living for many these incentives his first order of busi- made tremendous strides in developing people in the world. ness. I say all of this to make it clear that and improving renewable energy tech- Congress must also encourage tech- when I call for a transition away from nologies, and the United States has nologies which help with the transition fossil fuels—it is not because of some benefited. Between 2008 and 2013 total to renewable energy. I am proud to be inherent dislike for them, or some ca- U.S. renewable energy generation, not a cosponsor of a bill that would create pricious judgment of those who make a including hydropower, almost doubled. incentives for energy storage, which living in that industry. But as their use 2014 will likely be the first year genera- can help with grid management, espe- increases, the downside of fossil fuels— tion from hydropower is overtaken by cially as we move towards intermittent pollution, and a dramatically changing generation from other renewable en- resources. climate—is too big an issue to ignore. ergy technologies. Global pollutants—greenhouse gasses Prices, one of the major barriers to The United States and Europe have that contribute to the warming and renewable energy deployment, have done incredible work improving energy changing climate on the entire planet, dropped dramatically. Solar module efficiency over the last several decades. and chemicals that threaten the prices have declined by 99 percent since As recently as the early 1990s, elec- earth’s protective ozone layer—are 1976 and a stunning 80 percent in the tricity sales in the United States were causing global pollution. And global last 6 years. Wind power costs have growing by over 2 percent per year. pollution requires global solutions. No also declined markedly to the point According to a new study by the one country can solve the problem where wind is often the low-cost op- American Council for an Energy Effi- alone—but let me be clear here—any tion. For example, a utility in Michi- cient Economy, growth in electricity solution will require bold leadership by gan decided to lower its customers’ sales has stopped. In fact, retail sales the United States. rates 6.5 percent for 2014, and one of the in 2012 were almost 2 percent lower My colleagues and I have stressed the major factors it cited in the decision than in 2007. This study finds that the following points all evening: Climate is was its ability to provide low-cost wind drop in economic activity due to the real, and it is caused by burning fossil power. great recession cannot fully explain fuels. Analysis of peer-reviewed sci- Solar power is growing by leaps and this decline in electricity demand. entific studies finds that over 99 per- bounds both at the utility and distrib- Rather, energy efficiency in the resi- cent of actively publishing climate sci- uted scales, as homeowners in some dential and commercial sectors plays a entists are firmly convinced that cli- parts of the country are finding that critical role. The last several years mate change is real, that human ac- putting solar panels on their roofs can have been the first in which energy use tivities are a significant cause, and it lower their energy costs. My home and economic growth have moved in will increase if we continue to burn fos- State of Hawaii is a prime example of opposite directions—a highly encour- sil fuels. this. Distributed energy installations aging sign for a leaner and meaner The most recent United Nations have skyrocketed in recent years, with American economy. International Panel on Climate Change the total number of annual installa- I wish to highlight energy efficiency report calls evidence that the earth is tions doubling from 2011 to 2012. At the as an important part of the solution to warming ‘‘unequivocal’’ and plainly end of 2012, Hawaii had a total capacity reducing carbon pollution. By being states many of the changes to the cli- of 138 MW in distributed generation— able to do more with less power, we re- mate we see today are ‘‘unprecedented most of it coming from solar power. duce the need to burn additional fossil over decades to millennia.’’ Wind energy has been an incredible fuels in the short term, and we save And at the risk of repeating myself success story in America. Aided by im- ourselves money by having to build this evening, it is important to note portant tax incentives and State re- less new power generation capacity in the IPCC report shows that the biggest newable energy goals, wind power in the future. driver to the changing climate is ‘‘the 2012 was the number one source of new At the commercial and utility level, increase in the atmospheric concentra- U.S. generation capacity for the first innovative financing mechanisms and tion of CO2 since 1750.’’ This is a key time in history. This represented a $25 business models are driving energy effi- point, because humanity’s use of fossil billion investment in the United ciency. Energy Savings Performance fuels for energy, heat, and transpor- States. Wind energy is also a great Contracts allow building owners to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.152 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 work with efficiency experts that re- Rather, we should use this money to substantial climate related risks to in- duce their clients’ energy bills and get invest in innovative federal financing surers in coming decades. The general paid through a portion of the savings. programs for cutting-edge technologies findings should come as no surprise: As the largest energy user in the and incentives to help deploy more re- the insurance industry has concluded country, the Federal Government con- newable energy systems. that climate change is real, that it is tinues to expand its use of these con- Let me be clear, fossil fuels have happening, and that it will have an tracts—a goal specifically highlighted done a lot for humanity. They have, in enormous effect. by President Obama in his Climate Ac- a very real sense, reshaped our civiliza- Their projections are telling them tion Plan. I have introduced a bipar- tion. But if we continue to rely on the risks are increasing, and so they tisan bill which would offer the govern- them, they will reshape our world once are acting to reduce their exposure to ment even more choice in executing again, and this time not for the better. catastrophic events in reinsurance and these energy savings contracts. It is an We know we cannot switch com- primary insurance coverage along the excellent example of a commonsense pletely to low or zero emissions sources gulf coast and the east coast. small step we can take immediately to of energy overnight—especially in a Part of ‘‘reducing exposure’’ means save money and energy. sector which makes long-term, capital- the outreach and education I just dis- I would be remiss here without men- intensive investments. This will take a tioning the important work done by cussed, but it also means raising insur- sustained commitment from individ- ance premiums in coastal States. Senators SHAHEEN and PORTMAN on uals, States, and the Federal Govern- their pragmatic bipartisan energy effi- Even these pro-active measures may ment. The best thing Congress can do not be enough. According to a Congres- ciency legislation. It is another com- to unleash innovation in the private monsense piece of legislation that de- sional Research Service report, there is sector is to send a clear message to the serious concern both within the insur- serves immediate consideration by the private sector by crafting policies that full Senate. ance industry and among policymakers encourage renewable energy tech- about the ability of the insurance in- I wish to turn now to discuss the in- nologies, reward efficiencies, invest in credible government support enjoyed dustry to pay for extremely large dis- our national infrastructure, and re- by the fossil fuel industry over the dec- asters or multiple catastrophic events move hundred-year-old subsidies for al- ades, and make the argument that re- that happen within a short period of ready mature industries. We need to newable energy technologies deserve a time. give our energy sector the tools to re- similar commitment. The report says that, and I quote: Because of their importance to U.S. shape itself, and we need to do it now. The world will not wait. Insuring increasingly vulnerable residen- and global economic growth, fossil tial private property risks will likely require fuels began to receive government sub- INSURANCE INDUSTRY a substantial increase in risk transfer capac- sidies early in their commercial devel- Mr. President, I wish now to speak ity that is currently beyond the existing opment. From 1916 to 1970, Federal en- about how the insurance industry is property and casualty insurance industry’s ergy tax policy focused exclusively on dealing with climate change today and total claims paying capacity. promoting oil and gas production. In preparing for it in the future. In other words: the increasing inten- addition, government-funded research Insurers are risk experts—it is not sity of many natural disasters means into fossil fuel production helped to their job to care about the environ- increasing risk of catastrophic loss— create the technologies that today ment. Their job is to look at the facts and one day, we may reach the point drive one of the biggest energy booms to calculate value and the odds of where the insurance industry will be the world has ever seen. This sustained loss—and then put a price tag on insur- unable to cover our losses. and ongoing Federal support has pro- ing the value. As hardnosed folks who When disaster strikes, insurers and vided unbelievable certainty for the work from spreadsheets and calcula- reinsurers bear the initial costs of re- fossil fuel industry. tors, they keep their personal politics construction. Those costs get passed on The energy crisis of the 1970s showed out of the equation. And they say the to the public in the form of: increased just how dependent on foreign energy risks are real. insurance rates; reduced coverage; In 2009, Lloyd’s of London issued its the United States is, and spurred an withdrawal of insurers from some high assessment: ‘‘Climate Change and Se- additional focus on efficiency and al- risk locations; and increased demands curity: Risks and Opportunities for ternative sources of transportation on government-run insurance pro- Business.’’ The report recognizes the fuels. After a brief dalliance with re- grams. newable energy incentives in the late uncertainty of the exact timeline for This is already happening because 1970s and early 1980s, Congress enacted climate change, and instead focuses on some extreme weather events are hap- incentives for wind and biomass elec- a simple message—to be successful, pening more frequently, as the reinsur- tricity generation in the early 1990s. businesses must adapt: ance industry has testified before Con- This credit was sparingly used, how- As climate change takes hold, few busi- gress. For the risk experts the facts are ever. It wasn’t until 2005—not even 10 nesses will be able to escape the impact of year ago—Congress finally began to greater competition for resources. As na- clear: the rate of major natural cata- show real commitment to incentives tions become more protective of their assets, strophic events increased both globally for renewable energy and energy effi- and markets become more volatile, it can no and in the U.S. between 1980 and 2012. ciency. longer be business as usual. Frank Nutter, President of the Rein- And in just that short time, with Lloyd’s of London is not alone. Major surance Association, has spoken out to stop and start policies in recent years; players like Allianz, Swiss Re, and Mu- Congress. Last year, Mr. Nutter testi- look at the success of renewable energy nich Re have all published their own fied on climate change before the Sen- in America. We are on the verge of full- reports on climate change to urge busi- ate Environment and Public Works fledged, competitive domestic indus- nesses to start planning now. Committee. In his testimony, he tries in wind, solar, advanced biofuels Their motivation is simple: protect quoted the reinsurance industry giant, and geothermal, but if we stop now and the bottom line. With billions and tril- SwissRe which said: don’t nurture these industries, we may lions of dollars in play, risk experts Today, global warming is a fact. Since the lose them to other countries. We can- like Lloyd’s are making the high beginning of industrialization and the rapid not go backwards. stakes risk projections to protect their growth of world population, man’s activi- Congress should seriously examine, own business models. Those projections ties—along with natural variability—have and consider repealing, tax incentives are telling them the risks are increas- contributed to a change of climate mani- for fossil fuels. The billions of dollars ing, and so outreach to industry is part festing itself as a considerable increase in spent per year to subsidize one of the of their pro-active plan to manage global temperature . . . the financial serv- ices industry can help guide society towards most mature and profitable industries their own risk. an effective response. in the world is not money well spent. To understand other ways insurers However, the industry can only be effective Nor is there sufficient evidence these are adapting to climate change, the in this role if the regulatory and legislative subsidies result in lower fuel prices for Government Accountability Office framework establishes the right incentives Americans. issued a report in 2007 examining the for emissions reduction and adaptation . . .

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.152 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1473 Mr. Nutter’s testimony is not an try founded on agriculture. In 1785, he This future is not far off. A 2013 De- empty pledge. Hartford, one of the old- wrote, ‘‘Cultivators of the earth are partment of Agricultural report found est insurance companies in the U.S., the most valuable citizens. They are that within 40 years, climate change agrees with this analysis and is acting: the most vigorous, the most inde- might have a negative effect on both The Hartford Financial Services Group rec- pendent, the most virtuous, and they farming and ranching in the United ognizes the clear consensus in the scientific are tied to their country and wedded to States. This will have an economic cost community that climate change is of real its liberty and interests by the most for both the private sector and the Fed- and increasing concern. lasting bands.’’ eral Government. A GAO report that As an insurer, investor, employer, property During World War I and World War II studied crop insurance and climate owner and responsible corporate citizen, victory gardens became an effective Hartford is committed to understanding, change found that the three biggest managing and mitigating the risks associ- way to relieve the pressure on the food causes of loss to crops were ‘‘drought, ated with climate change. supply, as well as a symbol of patriot- excess moisture, and hail.’’ It is worth Suiting actions to words, Hartford ism—farming became a civic duty. repeating that scientists agree that cli- Today, amidst incredible changes in has engaged in an effort to promote en- mate change will mean more extremes: global agriculture and an increasingly ergy efficiency and reduce waste and wet places get wetter and dry places scientific and mechanized approach to emissions. By 2012, the company re- get drier, meaning that it is possible farming, a noticeable trend towards or- duced its own greenhouse gas emissions that crop insurance claims—and gov- ganic farming, local agricultural by 42% from their 2007 base year. It has ernment costs—will increase. economies, and crop diversity has rein- also worked with the American Insur- We need to do the big things nec- vigorated the cultural importance of ance Association to advocate for land essary to fight climate change but in farming in the United States. Farmers use planning and building codes that the meantime, we are taking small markets have become an increasingly reflect risk exposure. Raising pre- steps. visible sight, especially in urban areas. I am proud to have supported the 2014 miums is also part of the response, and Agriculture is an extremely impor- farm bill and appreciate the leadership so they have warned that ‘‘proper pric- tant part of the American economy and of the chairwoman of the Agriculture ing will send appropriate risk signals contributes at least $200 billion to the Committee. This bill authorizes almost to the most vulnerable areas.’’ economy each year. U.S. farmers are Hartford is not alone. Allianz is an $900 million in mandatory funding for the most productive in the history of integrated financial services and insur- energy, which includes important pro- the world, and food is more affordable ance company that is over 120 years old grams for advanced biofuels like bio- here than in any other developed coun- and has over 80 million customers diesel. It also supports the Rural En- try. ergy for America Program, which is a worldwide. Here is what it says about Climate change could have an enor- climate change: major source of funding for renewable mous impact on farming worldwide, energy systems in rural America. Im- Human-induced global warming threatens and this could come at a time when the to radically change our climate. This poses a portantly, these programs are available major risk to the global economy, and for a world’s producers must prepare to grow to small businesses and non-profits in global insurance company like Allianz, could even more. Today the world population rural America, not only to farmers. have a severe impact on our business. In rec- stands at 7.2 billion people. By 2050 the The farm bill’s conservation pro- ognition of this, we have been implementing world will be home to more than 9.6 grams also deserve mention. a group-wide strategy covering climate-re- billion people. The World Bank esti- Perhaps the most important achieve- lated risks and opportunities for our busi- mates that agricultural production ment is the linkage between crop in- ness and our clients. must increase by 70 percent during surance assistance and basic conserva- As an integrated financial services pro- that time in order to feed the popu- tion practices, which requires that vider, we are well aware that climate change could result in a range of compound risks lation. farmers take common sense steps to and opportunities that affect our entire busi- One of the myths that climate conserve soil health in return for crop ness. As a result, we are committed to sup- deniers spread is that climate change insurance assistance. porting the development of a low-carbon will mean longer growing seasons and But we can and must do more—both economy, and see this as not just a sustain- more carbon dioxide for plants, which to fight climate change and to adapt to ability priority—it is a viable business and will translate into increased yields and its effects. Farming is a practice that investment case. abundant food resources. That does not knows no political boundaries. Farmers Insurance and re-insurance compa- align with what our scientists say. and ranchers might feel the effects in nies are risk experts. They measure While slightly warmer temperatures red and blue States alike, and if they risk, they are seeing risk all around could bring some benefits, climate don’t have the resources to be able to them from climate change. And they change brings much more than rising adapt, in the long-term their produc- are speaking up and acting to protect temperatures and increased carbon di- tion and income could suffer, which their bottom lines. oxide. Both observation and modeling means that every American might pay As a Congress, we need to support estimate that by midcentury and be- more for fruits, vegetables, bread, and their efforts by establishing incentives yond, any CO2-related benefits to crops milk. for industry to incorporate the risks may be outweighed by the downsides of There is a representative in Congress from climate change into their busi- global temperature increases. For ex- from every single part of the country, ness plans. ample, scientists have projected that As a body that must balance both local AGRICULTURE for each degree Celsius of warming, and national interests, Congress should Mr. President, I want to discuss how yields of corn in the United States and be acutely aware of the need for action climate change potentially hurts our Africa, as well as yields of wheat in on climate change. It may have real farms. Agriculture is profoundly af- India, could drop by 5 to 15 percent. As economic consequences on our farmers fected by climate change, and we must yields fall, farmers must deal with in- and ranchers in the coming years. And take action now to ensure that we are creasing threats. They currently spend those consequences threaten a part of able to protect crop diversity, yields, over $11 billion per year dealing just our culture with deep roots in the his- and food security in coming decades for with weeds. Warming means that crop tory of our Nation. We must act to pre- a growing population. pests, weeds, and plant diseases will ex- serve that culture and come to the aid Farmers and ranchers occupy an im- pand in both geographic range and fre- of those farmers who ‘‘are tied to their portant cultural part of the American quency, potentially affecting crop country and wedded to its liberty and psyche, even if recent decades have yields and increasing the need for pes- interests by the most lasting bands.’’ seen a consolidation of the farming ticides and fungicides. TRANSPORTATION sector. Concepts of ample subsistence, As shortages become more common, Mr. President, I will take some time self-reliance, and the virtues of farm- prices could go up, especially as the now to talk about climate change, ing pepper early-American literature. population grows, and increasing ex- transportation, and infrastructure. More than anyone else, Thomas Jef- treme weather events may further Every day millions of Americans rely ferson articulated the notion of a coun- threaten crops. on cars, trucks, transit, trains, ships,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.154 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1474 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 and planes to get to work, visit rel- Former Transportation Secretary also to disruption of truck and rail atives, and go to the doctor. Transpor- Ray LaHood highlighted the impor- transport to west coast ports. We can’t tation is vital to the continued success tance of building our infrastructure to afford to have our transportation sys- and growth of our economy. But we withstand storms: tem disrupted; we need to invest now know that our transportation system is Hurricane Sandy exposed the risks of rely- in resiliency. a major driver of climate change, and ing solely on a system of century-old tunnels Recent estimates put the minimum if we are to tackle this problem, we for rail access into New York City. We were cost of hardening our infrastructure in will need to reduce this sector’s con- fortunate that these tunnels were not de- the tens of billions of dollars each year. tribution to global greenhouse gas pol- stroyed during the hurricane, and providing For example, annual costs for strength- Amtrak with funds to preserve its ability to lution. ening our bridges alone are estimated Thankfully, we have solutions—solu- build a second tunnel will provide much- needed resiliency to the Northeast Corridor at around $2 billion between now and tions that are creating jobs and im- in case of future disasters. 2090. The full costs—which also include proving the ease and efficiency of mov- I am glad Congress directed emer- rebuilding and restoring services after ing people and goods. We are on the gency funding to be used to harden and extreme events and maintaining and right track, but we need to continue in rebuild our infrastructure. But we need making design changes for the full this direction by making our vehicles to invest much more. range of critical infrastructure—could more efficient, building resilient infra- Continued weather fluctuations will easily rise to hundreds of billions of structure, and making smarter deci- amplify issues we face today. For ex- dollars each year. sions about how we get around. This ample, derailments during extremely Building in resilience is common will take a strong commitment from hot days are safety hazards, and hun- sense management to protect our infra- government, business, and the Amer- dreds of thousands of rail commuters structure investments, but simply ican people. hardening existing infrastructure will Transportation accounts for more are inconvenienced by slower travel not solve our problems because the than 30 percent of greenhouse gas emis- times. Air traffic disruptions due to se- costs of this approach will grow over sions in the United States. In Hawaii, vere weather have already cost airlines time. this is even more pronounced, where and passengers $5.8 billion this year, In order to build true resilience we transportation accounts for approxi- according to a recent study. We also need to plan for the longer need a combination of traditional miti- mately 50 percent of total greenhouse gation measures and forward-looking gas emissions. We all face different term impacts of climate change, which approaches that find resilience in other challenges, but regardless of where we will wear down our infrastructure even ways—from green infrastructure, to are from, we can’t tackle climate faster. Transportation infrastructure is growing our own energy and food inde- change without addressing the emis- expensive and built to be long-lived. pendence. sions generated by getting people and Studies show that climate change im- At the national level, the U.S. De- goods from point A to point B. pacts will shorten that infrastructure In the United States transportation life. Temperature fluctuations con- partment of Transportation is already grew as a contributor to climate tinue to degrade our pavement and working to integrate climate change change through economic and popu- bridges while severe flooding damages impacts and adaptation into future lation growth—our more affluent popu- low-lying infrastructure, imposing sig- planning and operations. But we need lation takes more trips on planes, nificant costs to drain and rebuild. to do much more to help our States trains, and by car. Demand for con- Water temperatures are expected to and cities address the costs of climate sumer goods has increased, and sprawl- affect the volume and rates of water change. This includes smarter, inte- ing development patterns have in- flows throughout our marine highways, grated planning, prioritization, and creased auto travel. We are seeing threatening to reduce shipping access funding. some of these trends across the world. to docks. All this translates into high- We also need to make our transpor- Currently, the transportation sector er maintenance and construction costs tation sector cleaner and more effi- accounts for 15 percent of worldwide for a system that already has signifi- cient. The good news is that the United emissions. But in many countries, this cant needs—the American Society of States can lead by example. We have trend is expected to grow. In China, for Civil Engineers estimates the United already begun implementing a number States will need to invest approxi- of solutions developed by industry with example, energy consumption and CO2 emissions are expected to increase al- mately $2 trillion by 2020 to maintain public sector support that are cutting most fourfold in 2030 compared to 2005. and expand our transportation infra- into transportation-related greenhouse Even as transportation is contrib- structure. gas emissions. New technologies are uting to climate change, severe weath- In Hawaii, we can’t escape the reality being developed for all modes of trans- er is threatening our critical national that climate change is threatening the portation that are cleaner and more ef- infrastructure—our roads, bridges, way we move our people and our goods. ficient. ports, and airports. Severe weather can It affects all aspects of transportation U.S. automobile manufacturers are wipe out our infrastructure connec- infrastructure—our ports, airports, working hard to increase fuel effi- tions quickly and catastrophically. We roads, bridges, and transit systems. On ciency and develop vehicles that run on saw this with the tragic Superstorm Maui, we need a new bus storage facil- alternative energy such as fuel cell, hy- Sandy, which devastated the Northeast ity because the current facility is now brid, and electric vehicles. They have when it made landfall in October 2012, in the flood plain. By 2100, all of our paired with our universities and re- washing away roads and bridges and most critical transportation assets— search institutions to advance biofuel flooding the subway system and two our harbors, airports, and roads—will development and alternatives to oil. major rail tunnels under the Hudson be highly vulnerable to sea level rises, These investments promote research River. storm surges, or high intensity rain- and manufacturing jobs and save These Hudson River tunnels—critical fall. money for consumers at the pump. In access points on the busiest commuter We don’t even yet know how much it turn, they have more in their pockets corridor in the nation—were flooded will cost to protect against climate to spend in the U.S. economy. with more than 3 million gallons of change. As an island State, we are Many of these advances are part of water, halting all Amtrak Northeast more vulnerable to the disruption of the President’s Climate Action Plan. corridor and New Jersey Transit serv- transportation infrastructure than CAFE standards are helping to improve ice into Manhattan for roughly 5 days. most. First, 90 percent of Hawaii’s fuel economy. In 2013, more than 400 Let me repeat that. Commuter and goods are imported into the State, models that achieve 30 miles per gallon subway tunnels in New York City were which means that if severe weather or or better were on our Nation’s high- flooded with more than 3 million gal- environmental change disrupts trans- ways. And we will continue to see im- lons of water. That is not a projection; portation, we lose access to food and provements in fuel efficiency of our that is a fact. This impacted nearly other necessities. light-duty fleet. I applaud President 600,000 daily riders and caused signifi- That makes Hawaii especially vul- Obama’s recent call for new fuel effi- cant economic disruption. nerable to maritime disruptions—but ciency and greenhouse gas emissions

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.156 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1475 standards for medium and heavy-duty We need to continue to support crit- help support local economies while pro- trucks by 2016. ical clean energy research and develop- tecting the environment. Focusing on these trucks will get us ment to further these types of ad- I am working hard to find ways to more bang for our buck—20 percent of vances. In addition, we need to act now support these types of commonsense the transportation-related emissions in to extend important tax credits for ad- options at the Federal level. One of this country are from heavy-duty vanced biofuels and advanced vehicle those commonsense solutions I have trucks, even though they make up only technologies. championed is my Military Installa- 4 percent of vehicles on the road. In the same way that we look at in- tions Enhancement Act of 2013, which Across the country our universities creasing fuel economy for our trucks was included in the 2013 defense au- and industry are working together to and planes, we can improve the effi- thorization. Commanders now have develop ideas and solutions to decrease ciency of our transportation systems more authority to make smart, cost- transportation-related greenhouse gas by making smarter choices about how saving choices about how we use space emissions. In my home State of Ha- we build our communities. By pro- on facilities. Using less space is more waii, a number of innovative state and viding American workers and families efficient. private sector initiatives are leading options other than driving to get to It is also about improving quality of the country in the areas of bioenergy where they need to go, we can help to and other alternative fuels and vehi- life on bases, connecting our military reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in- families housing to jobs, the com- cles. For example, Hawaii BioEnergy, a crease mobility, and improve the qual- consortium of three of Hawaii’s largest missary, and the rest of the commu- ity of life for all Americans. landowners as well as partners in the nity. In Hawaii, we recognize that in addi- In Hawaii we are already moving on venture capital community, is plan- tion to making our vehicles more fuel ning to use locally grown feedstocks to this. Honolulu is in the process of efficient, improving reliable transpor- building our rail system, and the mili- produce biofuels. Last year, Hawaii tation options is a critical part of re- BioEnergy announced a deal to supply tary is working with the local transit ducing our impact on climate change. authority to situate two stations next Alaska Air with sustainable biofuel for This is one of the reasons why I have their aircrafts possibly as soon as 2018. to Pearl Harbor-Hickam. been such a staunch supporter of the Pacific Bio-Diesel is producing diesel Though the Department of Defense Honolulu Rail Transit Project. Elec- from recycled cooking oil that is used has been looking at these benefits pri- trically powered rail transit will not in public transit buses and other vehi- marily to promote defense readiness, only ease traffic congestion in Hono- cles. Hawaii is home to a number of they also help address climate change lulu, but it will also advance Hawaii’s demonstration projects, including the by making bases more sustainable over goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030. sustainable hydrogen project at Joint As noted by the National Resources the long term. With destinations closer Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam that dem- Defense Council, ‘‘By investing in tran- together, people who work on or visit onstrated the use of hydrogen produced sit we can give people real transpor- the base can choose to walk, bike, take by solar and wind in aircraft towing ve- tation choices so people aren’t forced transit, or drive. Having these options hicles, trucks, small buses, and cars to burn a gallon of gas every time they means less air pollution and less traffic made by General Motors. General Mo- need to pick up groceries or get to on roads. tors has also deployed fuel cell cars in work. Along with other solutions—like Biking and walking are great ways to Hawaii, and the Department of Energy charging stations for electric cars, take zero emissions trips, but taking has funded a project on Hawaii Island smart traffic technology, or commu- that trip isn’t an option if it means you to demonstrate the use of buses pow- nities where people can walk or bike to risk your life to do it. I recently intro- ered by hydrogen produced with geo- shops, schools and work—transit can duced the Safe Streets Act of 2014 with thermal energy that would otherwise help break our addiction to oil. Laying my colleague, Senator BEGICH. The have been curtailed. The State of Ha- Safe Streets Act would require com- waii used stimulus funds to deploy the the groundwork for a 21st Century transportation system that makes our plete streets policies in all States, Hawaii E V Ready Program—a network meaning that roads would be built to of electric vehicle charging stations to communities more productive and effi- cient will free us from constantly wor- be safe for all of the people who use encourage early adoption of this excit- them, including bikers and walkers. ing technology. The Maui Smart Grid rying about prices at the pump while boosting our economy, safeguarding This is especially important in Hawaii, Project now includes fast chargers as where we have some of the most dan- part of an initiative to demonstrate our environment, and improving our quality of life.’’ gerous roads in the Nation for seniors. the use of electric vehicles as part of AARP highlighted how important an electric grid management project. Major transit investments, like Hon- olulu Rail, have the added benefit of this bill is: ‘‘Safe mobility options are It is important to note that many of . . . essential to the independence and the exciting projects my State is work- attracting development around sta- well-being of mid-life and older Ameri- ing on extend past improving efficiency tions. Transit-oriented development, or cans. Fully one-fifth of persons ages 65 for our trucks and cars. We are com- building neighborhoods with homes and and above does not drive. Yet almost mitted to making travel by sea and sky businesses close together and acces- half of respondents to an AARP survey more efficient and cost-effective. sible to transit, allows residents to Our consumers and businesses don’t choose to make at least some trips of persons age 50 and above said they want the instability of the wild fluc- without a car, reducing emissions. The cannot safely cross the main roads in tuations in the oil market. This is es- market is showing that more and more their neighborhoods . . . AARP sup- pecially important in Hawaii, where we Americans want these options, and for ports Safe Streets legislation because are so dependent on air travel, and I good reason. it would ensure that federal transpor- am proud that Hawaiian Airlines is one Transportation is the second largest tation infrastructure investments pro- of the Nation’s most fuel efficient air- item in the average American house- vide safe travel for all-whether driving, lines. hold budget, and more options can bicycling, walking, or taking public As a nation we are investing billions shorten commutes and save money. transportation. of dollars in Next Generation Air Families can save on gas or forego that These improvements that allow older Transportation System upgrades, second car and the payments that come adults to travel by foot will benefit which will help to make air travel along with it. When communities be- younger road users as well. Your bill more safe, productive, and sustainable. come livable and walkable, property will help ensure that all users are safe, Through improving efficiency and eas- values skyrocket. And when our chil- that scarce transportation dollars are ing congestion in our skies, NextGen dren and seniors can walk and bike to spent wisely, and that Americans have will improve air quality and limit air- school, community centers, and shop- choices in how they move around their craft emissions. The FAA predicts net ping destinations, we see health bene- neighborhood.’’ reductions of the climate impact from fits. Building our communities with Smarter transportation choices im- all aviation emissions over the long housing and transportation near jobs, prove mobility, save money, and reduce term by 2050. schools, stores, and restaurants can emissions. We have an opportunity in

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.156 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1476 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 the next surface transportation author- down to Florida and up the east coast, United States, such as the American ization to ensure that we continue Fed- our cities, farms, and communities are Southwest and California, would be eral support for transit, biking, walk- at risk. particularly susceptible to ing, and smart development. I will begin tonight by stating the megadroughts. All these innovations in the trans- facts. Climate change is real, and it is In California, the snowpack in the Si- portation sector to reduce carbon pol- perhaps most real in its effects on the erra Mountains as of February 2014 lution have benefits beyond climate water patterns of the planet. Countries was, according to the CRS report, change. The research, design, develop- around the world, including the United ‘‘well below normal, and water levels in ment, and production of fuel efficient States, have always been afflicted by multi-year reservoirs were below aver- vehicles and airplanes help to create some degree of variability. Droughts age conditions for that time of year.’’ new high paying jobs. Such innovations have stricken portions of North Amer- This follows 2013, which was Califor- will help America reduce its depend- ica for thousands of years. Floods have nia’s driest year on record. Now I want ence on foreign oil and shield con- been commonplace on our major rivers to be clear: We still cannot connect sumers from the volatility of fluc- and tributaries. But never before has any single weather event or drought di- tuating foreign oil prices. Moreover, this variability been caused by hu- rectly to human-caused climate high-quality public transportation sur- mans. change, but we can use these extreme rounded by mixed-use developments Scientists predict that warmer tem- weather events as examples of what fu- will increase mobility and expand job peratures have three major effects on ture climates might look like. We opportunities for all Americans. Over- the planet’s water: increased evapo- know firsthand the economic con- all, this is a win-win for businesses, ration, increased precipitation, and a sequences of major weather events. consumers, and the environment. rise in sea levels. Looking to examples in our history It is time for Congress to wake up to These in turn may drastically affect will help illuminate the future. Islands the realities of climate change and our water resources. Increased evapo- like Hawaii with small land masses and take action to reduce our consumption ration, caused by higher temperatures, limited water resources also face dif- of fossil fuels, but we can make real heightens our risk for longer and more ficult times ahead if global tempera- and lasting changes to our transpor- severe droughts—what scholars have tures continue to rise due to green- tation sector and infrastructure with- termed ‘‘megadroughts’’—especially in house gases. Recent studies have shown out climate change being our primary our already vulnerable drought-prone that most of the Hawaii islands have motivation. Reducing our dependence areas. Changes in precipitation and experienced a steady decline in rainfall on oil just makes long-term economic runoff patterns leave areas near rivers, over the past 20 years, which has had sense. It is a pragmatic decision that lakes, and streams much more suscep- an enormous effect on our ranching in- will have dramatic impacts to our tible to devastating floods. And sea dustry. economy, our health, and our way of level rise endangers the homes and in- I am pleased that Governor Aber- life. frastructure in our coastal commu- crombie and the Hawaii Department of WATER RESOURCES nities and can taint their drinking Agriculture are working to improve Mr. President, without water, life on water. our State’s irrigation systems and to Earth would not exist. Water sustains When it comes to these water re- develop long-term solutions to help the our ability to grow crops and raise live- source issues, the future is now. The ef- farmers of Hawaii deal with the effects stock. It quenches. It cleans. It pro- fects of climate change on our water of climate change. vides habitat for plants and animals resources are already upon us. To quote Scott Enright of the Hawaii and produces electricity. It is perhaps Drought is among the earliest docu- Department of Agriculture, ‘‘We know the world’s most valuable resource. Yet mented events related to climate and we will experience climate change in many of us in the United States take has been a part of human history much Hawaii and the department has been water for granted on a daily basis when longer. Evidence even exists to suggest putting through legislation to help us we turn on our faucets, flush our toi- that a megadrought in Africa more with that.’’ Such efforts at the State lets, water our plants, cook our food, than 100,000 years ago may have caused level are crucial to helping the agricul- and drink from our cups. Others around the migration of our ancestors out of tural sector adapt. the globe do not have that luxury. The the continent. Like droughts, floods have been a World Bank estimates that 1.6 billion A report by the Congressional Re- scourge to humanity since the begin- people live in countries or regions with search Service notes that precolonial ning of civilization. Climate science ‘‘absolute water scarcity’’ and that North America was subject to ‘‘severe, predicts that severe floods may result number is expected to rise to 2.8 billion long-lasting droughts’’ that ‘‘may have from global warming. people by 2025. been a factor in the disintegration of According to the National Resources Growing up in Hawaii and now rep- Pueblo society in the Southwest during Defense Council, ‘‘Climate change has resenting my State in the Senate, I the 13th century, and in the demise of contributed to a rise in extreme weath- know the value and scarcity of our central and lower Mississippi Valley er events.’’ These events ‘‘will increase planet’s water resources, especially as societies in the 14th through 16th cen- the frequency of heavy rainstorms, we confront the effects of climate-driv- turies.’’ putting many communities at risk for en changes to our environment. More recently, ‘‘droughts in the 1930s devastation from floods. Flooding can As stated by the Center for Island Dust Bowl era and 1950s were particu- cause a range of health impacts and Climate Adaptation and Policy, ‘‘Ha- larly severe and widespread. In 1934, 65 risks, including: death and injury, con- waii water experts have recognized percent of the contiguous United taminated drinking water, hazardous that alterations in rainfall, tempera- States was affected by severe to ex- material spills, increased populations ture, wind, or other climate phe- treme drought, resulting in widespread of disease-carrying insects and rodents, nomena have the potential to dev- economic disruption and displacement moldy houses, and community disrup- astate natural resources and human of populations from the U.S. heart- tion and displacement. As rains become communities’’ on our islands. Our land—many relocating to California’s heavier, streams, rivers, and lakes can freshwater resources are particularly Central Valley—and revealing short- overflow, increasing the risk of water- at risk. comings in agricultural and land use borne pathogens flowing into drinking Water resource issues are by no practices.’’ water sources. Downpours can also means confined to my State. Most of The CRS report states that in the damage critical infrastructure like the other 49 are also facing or may past 50 years, human-induced climate sewer and solid waste systems, trig- soon face water-related problems, such change has caused scientists to ques- gering sewage overflows that can as changes in precipitation and runoff tion whether we are entering a ‘‘new spread into local waters.’’ patterns, drought, flooding, and sea megadrought era’’ akin to the worst I turn now to the issue of sea level level rise, that have the potential to be megadrought periods of the past, which rise, which, as National Geographic has catastrophic. From California, through are believed to have been caused by a noted, can have ‘‘devastating effects on the American Southwest and Midwest, warming climate. Large areas of the coastal habitats. As seawater reaches

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:45 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.156 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1477 farther inland, it can cause destructive Allow me to share with you a few has been said that water seeks its own erosion, flooding of wetlands, contami- words from the Honorable Enele S. level. I see this as true both literally nation of drinking water and agricul- Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, and figuratively. Those who are con- tural soils, and lost habitat for fish, who spoke at the United Nations vinced that climate change is real and birds, and plants.’’ Framework Convention on Climate who also have real solutions are seek- Like drought and floods, sea level Change in 2013: ‘‘Some have suggested ing each other out. And someday, in rise due to climate change is already that the people of Tuvalu can move the not too distant future, I am con- upon us. A recent joint report from the elsewhere. Let me say in direct terms. fident we will reach that critical mass National Academy of Sciences and the We do not want to move. Such sugges- of people who firmly believe that we British Royal Society shows that since tions are offensive to the people of can no longer sit idly by in the face of 1901, global sea level rose by about 8 Tuvalu. Our lives and culture are based climate change and that the time to inches, with a large percentage of that on our continued existence on the is- act is not tomorrow but now. rise coming in the past two decades. lands of Tuvalu. We will survive.’’ It is EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT If greenhouse gases continue to in- our duty as a pacific nation to help the Mr. President. I now will use some crease on their current trajectories, it people of Tuvalu and other island com- time to discuss the impact of climate is projected that sea level may rise by munities do just that—survive. as much as 3 feet by the end of the 21st Let me end on a positive note and de- change on our Nation’s security and re- century. And ‘‘rising sea levels will not scribe some of the additional ways that siliency. stop in 2100; sea levels will be much I have supported protecting our water The effects of climate change will re- higher in the following centuries as the resources through legislation at the quire additional investments in our sea continues to take up heat and gla- national level. communities in order to protect our ciers continue to retreat.’’ As chairman of the Energy and Nat- most critical infrastructure, such as Eight inches of sea level rise might ural Resources Subcommittee on Water our roads, bridges, and powerplants. As not sound like a big deal, but it is. and Power, I have introduced the extreme weather events become more Even very small increases in sea SECURE Water Amendments Act of frequent and severe, there will be a level, such as those seen already, can 2014 to conserve water resources and need for increased disaster assistance have devastating impacts, one of which promote sustainability. and mitigation efforts. is saltwater intrusion into freshwater As part of the SECURE Water These events will have a direct im- sources, which is a fancy way of saying Amendments Act, I am fighting for pact on our economy. One need only that drinking water along some coasts funding for a national water inventory. look at the $1 trillion dollars in dam- will become salty and undrinkable. In its last major report on water use in ‘‘Rising sea levels are causing salt- ages that the United States has accu- the United States in 2005, the U.S. Geo- water to flow into the Ganges, India’s mulated since 1980 due to extreme biggest river, threatening its eco- logical Survey reported that over weather events, which scientists know system and turning vast farmlands bar- 400,000 million gallons of water are are becoming more frequent and se- ren in the country’s east,’’ according to withdrawn every day. However, we also vere. This is one of many reasons why a Reuters article from several years need to know how much water we have Congress must wake up and take ac- ago. In the United States, the Fort and where we have it so that we can tion now to address climate change. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reports that better prepare for the effects of climate We know we cannot attribute any Florida aquifers, which provide much change on our water resources. one event to climate change, but what of the freshwater to communities Finally, I support the National Inte- science is telling us is that with each throughout the State, are in danger of grated Drought Information System passing day, as we pump more carbon oversalinization. Reauthorization Act, which President dioxide into the atmosphere, we are in- More than half of freshwater used in Obama signed into law on March 6. As creasing our chances of extreme weath- Florida is from underground sources the White House noted in its official er events that carry with them dan- like the Biscayne Aquifer. The con- statement, ‘‘This bipartisan legislation gerous consequences. ensures that the federal government sequences of climate change induced Global average temperatures have can continue to provide timely, effec- sea level rise are dire for some low- risen by more than 2 degrees in the last tive drought warning forecasts and lying coastal areas. 50 years. Climate scientists caution vital support to communities that are The combination of sea level rise and that this warming increases the vulnerable to drought. States, cities, a growing population are putting chances of more intense and frequent towns, farmers, and businesses rely on strains on freshwater sources in Flor- droughts and heat waves. Rising tem- tools and data from the National Inte- ida. A local natural resources official peratures in various parts of the coun- grated Drought Information System to noted in the Sun-Sentinel article that try could also increase the severity and make informed decisions about water ‘‘potable water supply is obviously a frequency of wildfires. major concern long-term.’’ One pos- use, crop planting, wildfire response, sible solution proposed by the South- and other critical areas.’’ Precipitation levels have increased east Florida Utility Council is Mr. President, I am joined tonight by by an average of 5 percent and heaviest reengineering stormwater runoff to many of my colleagues, who also un- downpours have increased by 20 percent drain into the aquifers, instead of flow- derstand what is happening to our over the last 50 years. These higher lev- ing back out to sea. This would beat planet and what will continue to hap- els of precipitation can lead to more back the saltwater intrusion and re- pen if we do not address the causes and flood events throughout the country. plenish freshwater. effects of climate change. As I con- A changing climate could cause hur- Saltwater intrusion also poses prob- clude, however, let me speak not just ricanes to become more intense and se- lems in low-lying parts of my State as a Member of Congress but as a fa- vere. And this is particularly worri- and many other Pacific island nations ther. Every parent worries about the some in the Pacific, where hurricanes and U.S. territories with limited fresh- future that their children face, and I have increased in strength since the water supplies. If sea levels continue to am particularly troubled about the 1980s. Moreover, sea levels have risen in rise, these areas could quickly become planet we are leaving for our children. the past 50 years along our coastlines uninhabitable. Several decades from tonight, when and will continue to do so as the Earth The United Nations reports that ris- my son and daughter are the same age warms. As a result, our coastal areas ing sea levels have left and are leaving I am now, will they have adequate are becoming increasingly vulnerable salt deposits in the soil and contami- water resources? And if they have cho- to flooding, erosion, and damage nants in the groundwater supply. Both sen to live in Hawaii or any of the caused by storms. The combination of of these have adverse impacts on agri- other communities in the United Sates sea level rise and increased strength of culture, food, and water security. Many with water resource issues, will there hurricanes amplify the destructive small Pacific nations face the risk of even be any useable water left at all? force of Mother Nature by putting saltwater intrusion of their freshwater Despite my worries, I am hopeful more coastal communities at risk of supplies. that this scenario will not play out. It dangerous storm surge.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.157 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1478 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 My home State of Hawaii is expected social, economic, and environmental leaders in London made the United to experience worsening severe weath- impacts.’’ Kingdom the first country in the world er. Last year, researchers at the Uni- Additional funding will be needed to to adopt legally binding targets that versity of Hawaii found that warming spend on adaptation, which is the proc- required the country to reduce green- temperatures and changing storm pat- ess of adjusting systems to possible cli- house gas emissions and the first coun- terns will lead to fewer but stronger mate risks. This is to ensure that busi- try to require businesses to report tropical cyclones that will track more nesses and communities are protected their carbon emissions. The 2008 Cli- toward Hawaii in the future. against changes in the climate. mate Change Act was a seminal piece Across the country, we are seeing an FEMA has already established an of legislation that has put the United increasing number of disasters. The Agency-wide directive to integrate ad- Kingdom on track to confront its con- number of Presidential disaster dec- aptation planning into its policies and tribution to climate change, with a larations has increased from 65 in 2004 operations. Federal agencies are work- goal of reducing greenhouse gas emis- to 98 in 2011. ing to develop guidelines that incor- sions at least 80 percent from its 1990 During that time, FEMA provided porate climate change into risk-based levels by 2050 below the nation’s pro- more than $80 billion in disaster assist- analysis to ensure that infrastructure jected baseline. ance. As the severity and frequency of is more resilient. In 2012, Mexico followed in the United weather-related disasters continues to Emergency managers will be required Kingdom’s footsteps, becoming only increase, FEMA will need to spend to better coordinate with all levels of the second country in the world to set more to help communities respond to government for better mitigation, legally binding reductions on green- and recover from disasters. For in- preparation, response, and recovery. house gas emissions. The landmark bill stance, disaster assistance for Hurri- Federal emergency managers are try- signed into law that year committed cane Sandy totaled around $60 billion. ing to mitigate the impact of climate Mexico to cutting its greenhouse gas In addition, due to the increasing po- change by raising awareness. But it is emissions 30 percent by 2020 and by 50 tential of flood related events, more important that Congress promote these percent by 2050. funding will be needed for the National policies too. What is most remarkable about the Flood Insurance Program. This pro- We need a unified national approach legally binding targets that the United gram is currently $24 billion in debt to encourage investments in making Kingdom and Mexico enacted and have due to increasing costs and payouts be- our infrastructure more resilient to ex- continued to advance is that it proves cause of extreme weather events. treme weather events brought on by that both developed and developing Last year, the Government Account- climate change. We need to promote countries are both capable of cutting ability Office added managing climate weather-ready planning and ensure carbon pollution. change risks to its high risk list. Ac- that funding is available to emergency While greenhouse gas targets are im- cording to GAO, ‘‘Climate change cre- managers to effectively prepare for portant, that is only one activity that ates significant financial risk for the these types of events. We also need to countries across the world are under- federal government, which . . . pro- equip individuals to be prepared by in- taking to address climate change. vides emergency aid in response to nat- creasing their awareness. Given that climate change is already ural disasters.’’ Overall, the fiscal im- Congress needs to wake up and act happening, many countries are being pact of climate change on the United now. Failure to do so puts our Nation forced to take matters into their own States economy could top more than $1 at risk. hands and adapt to the reality around trillion by the year 2050. Emergency INTERNATIONAL ACTION them. managers at all levels of government Mr. President, the only place where We have heard numerous accounts would have to stretch their budgets people continue to debate whether cli- tonight about how one of the most per- even further to prepare for and respond mate change is real is right here in nicious impacts of climate change is to such devastating events. Congress. But while Congress is para- sea level rise. We know how severe weather-related lyzed by inaction, the rest of the world Sea level is expected to rise nearly events can endanger our communities is acting. one meter by 2100. This seems like a and put lives at risk. But these events People around the world are con- distant challenge. But with each pass- also threaten our critical infrastruc- cerned about what the science is tell- ing year, as the seas inch higher, tides ture. Last month, the Department of ing them. A Pew Research Center poll grow more threatening and storm Homeland Security’s Office of Infra- published last year found that a major- surges more dangerous. Even slight structure Protection testified before ity of publics in many of the countries changes in sea level rise pose serious the Senate Homeland Security Com- surveyed said that global climate dangers to coastal communities, from mittee that ‘‘higher temperatures and change is one the greatest challenges the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati to more intense storms may damage or facing their countries. Concerned com- the mangrove villages along the Bay of disrupt telecommunications and power munities spanned from Latin America Bengal in eastern India. systems, creating challenges for tele- and Europe, to Sub-Saharan Africa and The Netherlands is wasting no time communications infrastructure, emer- the Asian-Pacific. in preparing for sea level rise. The sea- gency communications, and the avail- Not surprisingly, leaders in these wall of the Netherlands is 42 feet high ability of cyber systems.’’ countries are already acting to con- and 50 yards thick at its base. The peo- Many of our roads, bridges, water front climate change with the sense of ple have raised the wall several times systems, and electrical grids are al- urgency it deserves. Some of them have since 1976, when it stood half as tall. ready very old and in need of repair. focused on efforts to mitigate climate Over the next 100 years, the Nether- According to GAO, ‘‘Infrastructure is change by placing caps on their green- lands plans to invest $25 billion in typically designed to withstand and op- house gas emissions; others have fo- strengthening existing sea defenses. erate within historic climate patterns. cused on efforts to adapt to climate With $2.5 trillion worth of existing in- However, according to the National Re- change with targeted investments in frastructure, the seawall is vital to the search Council, as the climate changes coastal defense and other programs Netherlands’s future. and historical patterns—in particular, that will make them more resilient in The Netherlands is just one dramatic those related to extreme weather the face of climate uncertainty in the example of how countries are working events—no longer provide reliable pre- future. to adapt to the challenges of climate dictions of the future, infrastructure The steps that these representatives change. designs may underestimate the cli- have taken to confront climate change In addition to leading the world in mate-related impacts to infrastructure are proof of what is possible when we crafting national greenhouse gas legis- over its design life, which can range as cast aside partisanship and decide to lation, the United Kingdom is working long as 50 to 100 years. These impacts act on the science. to assess its climate vulnerabilities. In can increase the operating and mainte- Just across the Atlantic, our allies in order to better examine the risks that nance costs of infrastructure or de- the United Kingdom have dem- climate change poses to its commu- crease its life span, or both, leading to onstrated what is possible. In 2008, nities, the government has produced its

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.158 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1479 first Climate Change Risk Assessment defense—natural defense of violence against fly anymore because China is taking and plans to release an updated assess- ocean waves. When the coral reefs die be- action. ment every 5 years, informed by the cause of—after they’re bleached, they break Chinese officials have announced best available science. down, and they allow the waves to hit the that they plan to institute a tax on shore. carbon pollution in 2015 or 2016. Certain Denmark has, in recent years, in- For some time now, our islands are being— creased wind power to generate over 30 have been eroded away, islands actually regions have also started to implement percent of its electricity and aims to be changing shape because of the problem of— pilot cap-and-trade programs and are 100 percent fossil fuel free by 2050. on the one hand, the dying reefs. On the beginning to develop plans to create a While these efforts are in part to help other, you have much more serious, much national carbon market by 2020. the country reduce its greenhouse gas more intense storm events, higher tides, How about current investments? In emissions, its embrace of renewables is very strong tides which have been really 2012 the United States spent about $35 also likely to make it more resilient to eroding our beaches. And the only defense billion on renewable energy, while we’ve been able to do—we have a lot of gran- China spent $64 billion. climate change in the future by diver- ite. We are the oldest oceanic islands be- sifying their energy portfolio. It is no The overwhelming buzz of climate cause we have a lot of granite. And we’ve action that we hear coming from cap- wonder that Denmark is, according to been dumping granite boulders on our sand the Climate Change Performance beaches to prevent them from being swept itals around the world is a stark con- Index, No. 1 in taking actions against away. That’s not exactly the reason tourists trast to the deafening silence here in climate change. come to Seychelles. They come to see beach- Washington. Efforts to confront climate change es with white sand, not beaches strewn with I worry about the message that head on are not unique to developed boulders. Congress’s inaction sends to the rest of the world, that while so many coun- countries either. Mr. President, I want to take a mo- In 2013, Kenya launched its National ment to address opponents of action tries are going to great pains to con- Climate Action Plan, which outlined who say: Well, China is the biggest pol- front climate change, too many Mem- options for low carbon emissions, cli- luter of them all, and they aren’t doing bers of Congress would deny that change exists at all. mate resilient development, and ways anything, so even if the United States Many of these world leaders are look- to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. does act, it wouldn’t mean a thing. By the way, notice how that argu- ing for American leadership. They Like most developing nations, Kenya’s want American leadership. European greenhouse gas emissions are low com- ment implicitly accepts the realities of climate change. It is no longer a sci- Commission President Jose Manuel pared to those of developed nations. Barroso acknowledged this ahead of However, Kenya feels the effects of cli- entific argument; it is a collective ac- tion argument. the 2007 United Nations Climate mate change and is planning for in- Change Conference in Bali when he creased uncertainty in the future. In- Well if that is all that is holding some Americans back from taking ac- said, ‘‘We can succeed only if we have deed, leaders in Nairobi know too well the United States with us.’’ We must that climate change will disproportion- tion, then I have news. China is work- ing to fight pollution and climate meet our partners on this issue. We ately impact the world’s poorest, and risk conceding our credibility on this change. The United States is the lag- they need to be prepared. issue to others who are rising to the gard. Developing countries have long un- occasion. Last week at the opening of China’s derstood the risks of a warming planet, I am grateful that we have a true annual meeting of Parliament, the Chi- even though the world community has champion on climate change in Presi- continued to debate who, precisely, is nese Premier said that China will ‘‘de- dent Obama and Secretary of State responsible. In the 1990s, the govern- clare war on pollution’’ in the coming John Kerry. Despite our neglect here in ment of the African state Seychelles years. China faces the twofold chal- Congress, Secretary Kerry has been prepared its own Environmental Man- lenge of extreme local pollution and America’s ambassador to the world on agement Plan. the effects of climate change and rec- climate change, working hard to pre- The purpose of the plan was to con- ognizes that transitioning to clean serve our leadership position on this form to the United Nations Convention sources of energy is a decision that has crucial issue. on Climate Change. Part of the plan enormous implications for its eco- Secretary Kerry has thoughtfully was dedicated to sustainable develop- nomic and political stability. said before that ‘‘those who deny the ment of the islands, to ensure that In January, the Executive Secretary science or choose excuses over action proper environmental protections were of the United Nations Framework Con- are playing with fire.’’ I have no doubt taking place throughout the country’s vention on Climate Change said that that leaders in these countries know, development. China is ‘‘doing it right’’ as it begins to through their dialogue with him, that Leaders in the Seychelles, which at tackle climate change. She continued he is committed to tackling climate the time had a population of only to say that the Chinese are ‘‘not doing change and, through him, America’s 70,000, took it upon themselves to make this because they want to save the commitment is real. I have no doubt sure they took the necessary steps to planet. They’re doing it because it’s in that despite Congress’s stubbornness, protect their home. Today, Seychelles, their national interest.’’ Regardless of America understands the challenge. comprised of 115 granite and coral is- their motivations, the Chinese are act- Washington might be paralyzed, but lands, is at risk from sea level rise. ing. the rest of the world is not. Once you Seychelles has been dumping granite So what exactly is China doing? Last get outside of Washington, outside the boulders on sand beaches to prevent September, the Chinese State Council grip of special interests, the rest of them from washing away. released its Atmospheric Pollution America is further ahead in con- Ronald Jemeau, Seychelles’ Ambas- Prevention Action Plan, which called fronting climate change. sador to the United Nations and the for a reduction in the construction of Take my home State of Hawaii. United States, offered these sobering new coal-fired powerplants and a goal Besides being on the cutting edge of remarks in 2010 that are worth repeat- of generating 13 percent of its elec- climate science research, policymakers ing at length: tricity from renewable sources by 2017. in Hawaii have shown incredible lead- We’re having the problems of the coral In 2013, China installed 12 to 14 ership in adopting pragmatic and prin- reefs. And coral reefs are central to our econ- gigawatts of solar panels and expects cipled legislation to confront the chal- omy, central to our culture, central to our to do it again this year. Prior to 2013, lenge of climate change. way of life. What many people don’t realize no country has ever added more than 8 In 2007, Hawaii became only the sec- about coral reefs is not—it’s not that they’re gigawatts of solar in a single year. A ond State in the country to adopt bind- just beautiful for diving and, as we call price guarantee for utility-scale solar ing targets for greenhouse gas emis- them, the rainforests of the ocean. But coral projects known as a feed-in-tariff, as sions. The bipartisan Global Warming reefs are where many of the deep sea fishes spawn and grow up. It’s a nursery for small well as low-cost panels, drove this dra- Solutions Act committed Hawaii to an fish. So if coral reefs die, you are affecting matic growth. aggressive goal of reducing its green- fish in the deep seas, which we use for— The argument that the United States house gas emissions to 1990 levels by which we fish. Also, coral reefs are the first shouldn’t act until China acts doesn’t 2020.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.159 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 At the time, skeptics of the legisla- track of ocean chemistry at Station the ocean, the special form of calcium tion thought that the legislation would ALOHA, just north of Hawai‘i where used by shellfish to create their doom Hawaii given the State’s outsized the University of Hawai‘i monitors a shells—known as aragonite—declined. reliance on fossil fuels for electricity. variety of oceanographic conditions in This lack of aragonite prevented the But, in fact, it is working in concert a project known as HOT—the Hawai‘i shellfish larvae from creating their with the aggressive greenhouse gas tar- Ocean Time-series. With continuous protective shells, and so many of them gets that legislators adopted that year observations of ocean waters at Sta- died as a result. with a burgeoning partnership between tion Aloha since October 1988, sci- Fortunately, research on ocean acidi- Hawaii and the Department of Energy entists have learned that the surface fication is not just science for science’s that became the Hawaii Clean Energy ocean grew more acidic at exactly the sake, so when the shellfish industry’s Initiative. rate expected from rising levels of CO2 hatchery problems were definitively The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in the atmosphere. Their research indi- linked to ocean acidification, Federal has been perhaps one of the most suc- cated the need for further inquiry, science agencies like NOAA found ways cessful partnerships between the State, however, because the year-to-year rate for businesses to adapt to increasing Federal Government, nonprofit, and of change varied considerably. CO2 conditions. Together, scientists private sector. It helped lay out a road For marine animals, ocean acidity is from NOAA, academia, and the shell- map for Hawaii to achieve its aggres- similar to humans living with air pol- fish industry formed a strong partner- sive greenhouse gas emissions goals lution: the increased acidity can cause ship to help industry to adapt. with clean energy as the means for health issues—particularly for shellfish Here’s how NOAA described the doing it. Our job is far from done, but and coral. Most species of coral, oys- team’s efforts: as a result of this effort I am opti- ters, clams, and mussels experience Together these researchers determined mistic about Hawaii’s energy future slower shell and skeleton growth as the that acidification was threatening oyster and our ability to reduce carbon pollu- waters become more acidic, which will production and offered an approach to ad- tion. have significant impacts on coastal dress it. They installed carbon chemistry Hawaii is just one example of the communities and their economies. monitoring equipment at shellfish hatch- many efforts under way outside of The stakes from ocean acidification eries. Real-time data from offshore buoys now serves as an early warning system for Washington to confront climate are high. According to NOAA: In 2009, change. All across the country, cities, shellfish hatcheries; these buoys are capable U.S. shellfish accounted for about half counties, and State representatives are of signaling the approach of cold, acidified of the Nation’s estimated annual sea- waking up to the reality of climate seawater 1–2 days before it arrives in the sen- food revenue of $3.9 billion. Coral reefs change, just as international leaders sitive coastal waters where larvae are pro- provide habitat for an estimated 1 mil- duced. The data have enabled hatchery man- already have. agers to schedule production when water The only people who are asleep on lion species, and offer food, income, and coastal protection for about 500 quality is good and avoid wasting valuable this issue are here, right here in Con- energy and other resources when water qual- gress. It is time for them to wake up. million people globally. Unfortunately, the negative impacts ity is poor. OCEAN ACIDIFICATION of OA are not speculative. The shellfish These efforts solved the immediate Mr. President. I will now address an- industry has already started to feel the problem, but the experience set them other impact of rising carbon dioxide: effects of OA along the Pacific North- thinking about long-term environ- ocean acidification, or OA. The ocean west, where failures at oyster hatch- mental risk to their businesses. absorbs CO gas from the atmosphere 2 eries beginning in 2007 have been con- First, they recognized that based on based on its concentration level: the firmed as a result of the growing acid- the best available science, ocean acid- higher the levels of CO2, the more the ity levels can vary greatly—so to find a oceans will absorb. When this happens, ity of coastal waters. To get a sense of the impacts, con- way to insulate themselves from the CO reacts with water to become 2 sider this: NOAA estimates that Wash- changes to the waters in coastal Wash- more acidic. ington, they figured they should look Although acidity levels vary from ington’s seafood industry is estimated to contribute over 42,000 jobs and at to a different State altogether. place to place, NOAA scientists esti- That State wound up being my own mate that since the beginning of the least $1.7 billion to the gross State home: Hawai‘i. It happens that we had Industrial Revolution, the acidity of product through profits and employ- existing infrastructure at the Natural surface ocean waters has risen approxi- ment at businesses such as restaurants, Energy Lab of Hawaii; NELHA, to sup- mately 30 percent. distributors, and retailers. Future predictions indicate that the This is not an abstract, theoretical port shellfish aquaculture in Kona on oceans will continue to absorb carbon problem, so to illustrate, I would like Hawai‘i Island, and so Penn Cove and dioxide and become even more acidic. to highlight the efforts of several firms Coast Seafoods negotiated and moved Estimates of future carbon dioxide lev- that are finding ways to adapt to ad- in at Kona Coast Shellfish, and Taylor els, based on business as usual emission versity brought on by the changing cli- Shellfish followed suit with a separate scenarios, indicate that by the end of mate. hatchery at the same facility. More re- this century the surface waters of the Penn Cove Shellfish, Coast Seafoods, cently, the Goose Point Oyster Com- ocean could be nearly 150 percent more Taylor Shellfish and Goose Point Oys- pany has developed a new hatchery acidic, resulting in acidity levels that ter Company—among the largest shell- known as Hawaiian Shellfish near Hilo. the oceans haven’t experienced for fish farms in America—provide Now, in addition to having more secu- more than 20 million years. sustainably farmed shellfish products rity for their supply chain, the in- Scientists have been studying rising to customers nationally and across the creased production has allowed them all to expand sales to reach new North CO2 levels and ocean acidification for world: as seed mussels, clams, and oys- years, and I am proud to report that ters for other farmers to grow out, and American and Asian markets, and grow Hawai‘i in particular has been at the as fully grown shellfish, ready to eat. their business. forefront. Our Mauna Loa observatory After their hard work to develop Their case is an object lesson on how sits at an elevation of over 11,000 feet their businesses, I can only imagine adaptation can create economic oppor- above sea level on the island of the panic they must have felt when tunity, and I am grateful they chose Hawai‘i, and has been recording CO2 suddenly, some of their mainland shell- Hawai‘i to locate their backup facili- levels since the mid-1950s, making it fish hatcheries started to see produc- ties! But it’s also a stark reminder of the oldest continuous CO2 measure- tion rates declining sharply, and it ap- how changes in ocean chemistry have ment station in the world. As such, it peared that something was affecting already disrupted the ability of shell- is the primary global benchmark site the health of the larvae. fish to live in their native habitats and for monitoring the increase of this gas Working with scientists and re- why there is so much urgency to act that contributes to both global warm- searchers, the problems were diagnosed now. ing and ocean acidification. as being caused by ocean acidification. Hawai‘i is also connected to the In addition to watching CO2 levels at The researchers found that as more and other side of ocean acidification: its ef- Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i has also kept more atmospheric CO2 was absorbed by fects on coral reefs. Unfortunately,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.159 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1481 ocean acidification is not the only rent rate, the combination of warming entists, and the general public have all come pressure on coral reefs. and acidification of ocean waters will together to designate a National Estuarine Warming ocean waters, pollution and reach levels that have not occurred Research Reserve in O‘ahu’s He‘eia estuary ¯ sedimentation from the land, and over- since 55 million years ago. At that in Kane‘ohe Bay, and I am doing all I can to support their efforts. When we succeed, the fishing all reduce coral growth and vi- time, there was a ‘‘coral reef crisis’’ He‘eia site will provide a rich base of infor- tality, making it harder and harder for where environmental conditions caused mation from diverse knowledge bases: Native reefs to survive into the future. Like a dramatic reduction in reef develop- Hawaiian cultural practitioners; The Univer- the impacts on shellfish, the threat to ment, and scientists fear that we will sity of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i Institute of Marine corals from ocean acidification is invis- face a similar situation in our life- Biology, which specializes in coral research, ible—unless you work with them on a times. and is located on a small island in K?ne ohe daily basis, like coral scientists do. The situation is grave, but the con- Bay; and The local community of Ka¯ ne‘ohe. However, considering that coral reefs sensus statement also details the Because the site lies within the foot- provide the habitat for an estimated 1 science-based steps we can take to im- print of Ka¯ ne‘ohe town, we can use it million species, and offer food, income, prove the outlook for our corals. to learn how best to live with coral and coastal protection for about 500 The topline item, however, is one reefs so that we can preserve the econ- million people globally, it is a problem that my colleagues here tonight and I omy and the environment at the same that everyone should care about. have long suspected: that we need a time. Because it’s their daily bread, coral dedicated and consistent effort to re- As legislators in the national Con- scientists at the University of Hawai‘i duce climate change through reduction gress, we have a role to play as well. see vividly how ocean acidification is in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emis- My distinguished colleague from Flor- changing our reefs and they are dou- sions throughout the world. This is ida, BILL NELSON, has developed an im- bling down to refine scientific under- simply the only long-term, comprehen- pressive reauthorization of the Coral standing of corals and to find solu- sive solution to the problems of cli- Reef Conservation Act. In addition to tions. For others, like Dr. Bob Rich- mate change. continuing the strong efforts already mond, it’s about maintaining strength Scientific research shows that we can present in the Federal Government, in science, while reaching out to elect- also make a difference by taking steps this bill would empower local action ed officials, community leaders, and to reduce the damage done by local ac- and mandate the development of an members of the public to share what tions. For example, communities can: international strategy for coral con- researchers have learned. Rebuild fish stocks; Reduce runoff and servation. I am a proud cosponsor of The Honolulu Star Advertiser re- pollutants coming from the land; Re- his bill. cently recognized Dr. Richmond’s ef- build populations of iconic species like We can also continue to support the forts: turtles, whales, seals, and dolphins; Federal Ocean Acidification Research Ocean scientists were urged . . . to go be- Identify and protect the most resilient and Monitoring Act, or FOARAM, yond their own scientific research and inject reefs; and Promote aquaculture with- which provided the science that helped themselves into the political realm to give out increasing pollution and runoff. the shellfish industry. I understand politicians and decision-makers the informa- Unfortunately, these steps alone will that my friend from Washington State, tion they need to make the best policy deci- MARIA CANTWELL, is working hard to sions. not solve the challenge facing coral Robert Richmond, director of the Univer- reefs, but they will empower individ- develop a reauthorization of this bill. sity of Hawai‘i’s Kewalo Marine Laboratory, uals to claim a role in protecting their She is a real ocean champion, and I am used his own research on coral reefs to illus- reefs. grateful for her leadership on this im- trate how it can be done in a speech before Another notable Hawai‘i coral sci- portant issue. I look forward to sup- hundreds of scientists from around the world entist, Dr. Ruth Gates, who is based at porting her efforts. at the 2014 Ocean Sciences Meeting at the the University of Hawai‘i’s Hawai‘i In- Finally, we need to continue to sup- Hawai‘i Convention Center. stitute for Marine Biology, has focused port NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observ- Richmond, president of the International ing System, which provides critical Society for Reef Studies, said there’s a need on a different science-based approach: to teach scientists to be better communica- finding resilient corals that can stand data that coral scientists rely on to un- tors. up to the pressure of global warming derstand how the changing acidity of In discussing his own research, Richmond and ocean acidification. Her work was the ocean impacts our reefs. described talking to chiefs in Palau, commu- featured in the Honolulu Star Adver- I was glad to help organize a bipar- nity members in Guam and Pohnpei and to tiser last week: tisan coalition of 15 colleagues from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in East this Chamber to express support of the Honolulu to accomplish successes in support ‘‘We can confirm that reefs are declining. There’s no disputing that,’’ Gates said on a program to our distinguished col- of coral reefs on the local level. league, Appropriations Chairwoman He urged the scientists to work with local recent morning, a cool breeze blowing off a organizations, elected and traditional lead- cloudy Kaneohe Bay behind her. ‘‘But it’s BARBARA MIKULSKI. ers, and stakeholders to effect change. ‘‘It not all doom and gloom.’’ Friends, the threat of ocean acidifi- requires partnerships. I’ve worked with Using the popular Oahu bay’s turquoise cation is real and imminent, but we groups I never intended to, from economists waters as a laboratory, Gates has spent the can still take action. Thank you for to cultural practitioners.’’ past several years scrambling to find the your time to hear me out on this issue hardiest, strongest coral—the ‘‘professional Dr. Richmond’s approach to bridge athletes’’ of the bunch—that can endure the of great national and global signifi- science and policy led him to work warmer and more acidic seas of the future. cance. with colleagues to develop a Consensus The idea is to then take those corals’ BIG BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS Statement on Climate Change and traits and breed them on a large scale simi- Mr. President, when the financial cri- Coral Reefs, which has been signed by lar to breeding preferred traits in dogs and sis hit, global economic output dropped over 3,000 coral reef scientists from all other animals. 1.3 percent. It was catastrophic. over the world. In Hawai‘i, a State that has become a flash The world now faces the risk of an- The consensus statement expresses point in the debate over the use of geneti- cally modified organisms, the Hawai‘i Insti- other major blow to global GDP—cli- the shared conclusions of the science tute of Marine Biology researcher is quick to mate change. By some estimates, the community about the impacts of green- stress that her concept of selective coral impact could be several times the size house gases on the world’s coral reefs, breeding is something entirely different. of what we saw during the financial along with their best predictions about ‘‘We’re looking for the supercorals that al- crisis. the future. The statement is intended ready exist’’ several feet from a stretch of Climate change could be the biggest to assist people like us—government coral just offshore, Gates explained. The ap- shock to the global economy we have officials—to make decisions with a proach would not introduce foreign DNA into ever seen. coral, as is done in the controversial GMO To put the cost in context, consider firm foundation of objectively process. verifiable science. It’s more than just scientists who are what the United States spent trying to The science presented in the con- working to save reefs in the face of ocean recover from the financial crisis. We sensus statement is clear and sobering: acidification and global warming. Commu- committed almost $500 billion to sta- If CO2 emissions continue at the cur- nity leaders, cultural practitioners, sci- bilize the financial system, and the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:52 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.160 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1482 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 Federal Reserve continues to pump also showed that, by 2030, climate forms to the Securities and Exchange trillions of dollars into the economy to change will cut global economic Commission. stimulate growth. That investment growth by over 3 percent. Recently, Chipotle made headlines will seem tiny in comparison to what it The International Monetary Fund is when its annual financial report dis- will cost to deal with the fall-out from paying close attention to the risk that closed that climate change could have climate change. climate change poses to the world a significant impact on the price or Climate change is not a new chal- economy. In its view, studies that at- availability of its avocadoes. The com- lenge. What is new is that big business tempt to estimate the global economic pany warned that if costs went up too is finally starting to pay attention. damage of climate change tend to be much, it could have to stop serving its Big businesses are vulnerable to underestimates. much beloved guacamole. changes in our climate—and they know That is because these studies are Starbucks also has its eye on how cli- it. based on fairly conservative estimates mate change will impact its bottom- Already, these changes are affecting of changes in global temperatures. And line. The company sources nearly two- their bottom lines by driving up the they have a hard time taking into ac- thirds of its coffee from small-scale price of inputs, disrupting global sup- count the multifaceted and far-reach- producers in Latin America, Africa, ply chains, and introducing uncer- ing impact of climate change. and Indonesia. These regions are vul- tainty into their business plans. As an example, Lord Nicolas Stern, nerable to both droughts and excessive Now that we have the attention of author of the most respected study on rain. Changes in weather patterns are multinational corporations, it is time how climate change will impact the likely to reduce their coffee yields and to harness those powerful economic in- economy said the following: hurt the quality of their beans. Ex- terests to drive solutions to climate ‘‘I got it wrong on climate change— treme weather is also likely to affect change before it is too late. It is time it’s far, far worse.’’ the roads that the company relies on to to get the attention of those in Con- Keep in mind that his initial study move its goods around the world. These gress who would even deny a problem predicted dire economic consequences risks are not far-off or theoretical. exists. for the world. And now, just 6 years They affect the company today.? The impact of climate change on our later, he’s saying those predictions Some deniers accept the science but global economy will be massive. were not dire enough. say we’re better off doing nothing. Climate change is likely to hurt in- Americans are taking action. Former They should start listening to the busi- dustries that are sensitive to changes Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg ness world. in the environment—such as agri- and former Treasury Secretary Hank They say it’s too expensive: regula- culture, fisheries, forestry, and tour- Paulson teamed up with the founder of tions will kill jobs and hurt the econ- ism. a global investment capital firm in a omy, driving up prices on everything The global economy will also be hit nonpartisan effort to conduct an as- from gasoline to bread and milk. by higher costs as we need to do more sessment of the economic risks of cli- We have heard this argument before; to cool our environments. We will mate change to the United States. many times in fact, and it is always spend more to get the water needed for In Mayor Bloomberg’s words, ‘‘If the proven wrong. Over and over again, industry and human consumption, and United States were run like a business, large-scale collective action on envi- to repair the damage caused by ex- its board of directors would fire its fi- ronmental problems has helped to grow treme weather, which will continue to nancial advisers for failing to disclose the economy and improve human disrupt global supply chains. The cost the significant and material risks asso- health. of these disruptions will ripple ciated with unmitigated climate For example, a 2011 peer-reviewed throughout the world economy. change.’’ EPA study found that programs estab- We can also expect to see negative Big business is finally paying atten- lished by the 1990 Clean Air Act amend- impacts on capital flows, investment, tion. ments will yield direct benefits to and savings as a result of lower eco- Unlike Congress, big business has fi- Americans vastly in excess of the nomic output and uncertainty about nally woken up to the reality and ur- costs. In just a couple of decades, the the future. gency of climate change. study estimates that the benefits of The economic impact of climate A recent article in the New York this legislation will exceed the costs by change will not just be felt in our mar- Times ran with the headline ‘‘Industry a margin of 30 to 1—and may even ap- kets. We will face rising healthcare Awakens to Threat of Climate proach 90 to 1. costs as a result of the spread of infec- Change.’’ What kind of benefits am I talking tious diseases and health problems as- According to the article, senior offi- about? The study estimated that in sociated with intense heat waves, cials at Coca-Cola and Nike are joining 2011 alone the cleaner air we now enjoy droughts, and floods. a growing group of American business avoided more than 160,000 premature So what do we know about the actual leaders who see climate change as a deaths from things like heart attacks. cost of climate change? Quite a bit, ac- major challenge to global economic It also avoided millions of cases of tually. growth. acute bronchitis and asthma attacks. Just within America’s borders, we A senior official at Coca-Cola listed These meant 13 million fewer lost have seen how costly extreme weather risks to the company’s bottom-line: in workdays and 3.2 million fewer lost events can be—Hurricane Katrina and his words, those risks include ‘‘in- schools days. Hurricane Sandy, record droughts on creased droughts, more unpredictable National vehicle efficiency stand- the west coast, wildfires and floods in variability, [and] hundred-year floods ards, put in place in 1975—have Colorado, devastating floods in the every two years.’’ These risks are not achieved a major reduction in pollu- Midwest, and record heat waves in the hypothetical—Coca-Cola has already tion and significant economic benefits Northeast. seen the effects in real time. In 2004, to consumers, despite dogged resist- The price tag is not just the cost of Coca-Cola lost a major operating li- ance from opponents. And new stand- rescuing people from harms’ way, re- cense in India because of a serious ards implemented by President Obama pairing the damage, and rebuilding water shortage. are projected to not only reduce our communities. There is also the cost of Likewise, Nike has seen its supply consumption of gasoline but also yield higher food prices, lower tourism rev- chain disrupted by changes in climate significant savings. enue, and the loss of economic produc- and extreme weather. Floods have shut One study finds the following: ‘‘The tivity when people can’t work. down Nike’s factories in Southeast standards will save consumers $140 bil- A recent study was commissioned by Asia. Droughts have lowered produc- lion in 2030. When compared to a typ- 20 governments of countries that are tion of the cotton the company relies ical vehicle on the road today, a new highly vulnerable to climate change. on to make its athletic clothes. Nike, car buyer will save more than 8,000 dol- The study estimated that, in 2010, cli- like many other corporations, now in- lars over the lifetime of a new 2025 ve- mate change cost the world over $1.2 cludes the risks posed by climate hicle, even after paying for the more trillion, or 1.6 percent of global GDP. It change on its financial risk disclosure fuel-efficient technology.’’

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.161 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE March 10, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1483 The Department of Energy efficiency The economic calculus has shifted— solutions. Now we need to do the same standards for appliances are another business as usual will lead to no busi- on climate change. Denying the prob- great example of Federal standards ness at all. lem and trying to muzzle the opposi- that both reduced pollution and saved Businesses have woken up to the tion will not make environmental consumers money. As a result of the risks of climate change, and they are change go away. Owning up, and facing standards under this program, the De- calling out for Congress to act. It is it together will. partment reports that consumers saved time for Congress to wake up. Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise close to $40 billion on their utility ASCENT CONFERENCE MINI-SPEECH to join my colleagues to bring atten- bills, just in 2010 alone. They estimate Mr. President, finally, I wish to re- tion to the important issue of climate that by 2030, total cost savings from port on activities in my home State of change. It is time to wake up and take these standards will be well over 11⁄2 Hawaii that show how our Nation is action—we owe it to our planet, to our trillion dollars—and will reduce carbon making progress toward sustainability country, and to generations to come. I pollution equivalent to the annual and adaptation to climate change. thank the organizers of this event, emissions from 1.4 billion cars. And yet Back at home, we see the effects of cli- Senator BOXER, Senator WHITEHOUSE, still today, members of Congress waste mate change up close and personal. Our and Senator SCHATZ, for their leader- time and effort trying to get rid of effi- coral reefs, our beaches, and the lush ship on this issue. This is a problem ciency standards for things like light vegetation that greens our landscape— that must be addressed, and this call to action is long overdue. bulbs—standards that the lighting in- it’s all imperiled by climate change, Maryland is one of the most vulner- and people are standing to take action. dustry itself has requested. able States to climate change. Our ex- The removal of lead from gasoline They recognize that the rhetoric of pansive coastline is greatly affected by has had enormous positive impacts. In denial will not hold back rising sea lev- rapidly rising sea levels that are erod- the 1960’s, scientists began to establish els. They understand that junk science ing our shoreline and causing flooding. that humans were contributing enough will not save our coral reefs—or bring We are also starting to see the effects back the tradewinds and rain that sup- lead to the environment to have an ef- of more frequent extreme weather plies our water when climate change fect on human health. And scientists events, such as flooding, heavy precipi- has traded it for cycles of hurricane and doctors were showing that lead tation, heat waves, and droughts. This pollution was contributing to IQ defi- and drought. will cause environmental damage to That is why they have come together cits in children, nerve damage, anemia, our shoreline, the Chesapeake Bay, and to host a first-of-its-kind conference in and mental retardation. our water and air quality. It could im- Hawaii on sustainable development and Industry, as you can imagine, re- pact our health by increasing res- climate adaptation. From transpor- sisted strongly. In 1965, the American piratory illnesses. And this will cause tation to energy to community devel- Petroleum Institute responded to re- economic damage by costing our coast- opment, the conference will bring local ports that lead was increasing in the al cities billions of dollars in lost tour- environment with the following quote: and national leaders together to share ism, our farmers heavy losses from These findings ‘‘have no real bearing stories of success, and inspire action droughts and heat waves, and many on the public health aspects of lead for the future. We call it ‘‘Ascent’’ to Marylanders property damage from . . . the mass of evidence proves un- recognize our upward progress, and to flooding. questionably that lead isn’t a signifi- challenge ourselves to aim higher and Maryland is leading the way in re- cant factor in air pollution and rep- higher. sponding to the dire problem of climate resents no public health problem in Our Ascent conference will be held on change. Maryland has developed a Cli- any way.’’ April 15, 2014, when University of mate Change Plan that will reduce It took over 10 years and a major Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020, court decision for the EPA to even University of Hawaii Chancellor Tom contribute $1.6 billion to Maryland’s begin phasing out lead in gasoline, and Apple, and I will hold a 2-day-long con- economy, and create 37,000 jobs. I am that’s due to outright falsehoods such ference and Senate field hearing fea- very proud of my State for setting an as this one. turing world-renowned experts from example and tackling this problem By 1986, studies showed that the across the State and Nation. These ex- head-on. health benefit to cost ratio was 10 to 1. perts will address key underlying The Environmental Protection Agen- Blood levels of lead across the country issues of sustainability, and engage di- cy is also moving forward with its ef- dropped significantly as soon as the rectly with high school and college stu- forts to put forth commonsense rules lead phase-out began. dents who are poised to lead these ef- for curbing greenhouse gas emissions. From 1978 to 1991 they dropped 78 per- forts in the future. This has included standards to promote cent. We will be happy to welcome Mr. a new generation of clean vehicles, If you remember one statistic from Nainoa Thompson, president, Polyne- which are expected to save more than 6 this speech, remember this one. Large- sian Voyaging Society; Mr. Geoffrey billion barrels of oil through 2025 and ly as a result of government regula- Anderson, president, Smart Growth reduce more than 3,100 million metric tions, between 1970 and 2011, total air America; and Mr. Jeff Seabright, vice tons of carbon dioxide emissions. It has pollution dropped 68 percent, while the president, Environment & Water Re- also included an effort to limit emis- U.S. gross domestic product grew 212 sources for The Coca Cola Company, sions from new powerplants, and the percent. among other visionaries at the con- EPA has pledged to hold listening ses- The evidence is overwhelming. Well- ference. They will be partnering with sions as it develops rules for existing designed solutions to environmental State and local experts as well as plants. I support the EPA’s actions— problems aren’t harmful; they con- Hawai‘i’s youth to examine risks and they are offering tailored solutions to a tribute to a healthier and growing propose solutions to energy and water complex problem, and working within economy. A warming planet and chang- resource security, and the complexities the Clean Air Act to protect public ing climate is what will hurt the econ- of climate change. health. omy. That evening, we will also welcome Even though Congress hasn’t been For many multinational companies, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, able to agree on a long-term solution climate change has moved from a cor- who will present a free public lecture to combat climate change, I have porate social responsibility issue to a on sustainability and climate at the worked hard to fund the research that bottom-line issue. They are starting to University of Hawai‘i. informs us about climate change and see the impact of unpredictable and ex- The Ascent conference was created will help us develop solutions. As the treme weather and realize that invest- because we recognize that the only way chairwoman of the Appropriations ing in environmental protection means to solve a problem is to own it, and act. Committee and the Commerce, Justice, investing in the economy. Climate I respect our colleagues from across and Science Appropriations Sub- change affects the supply of key in- the aisle for their work to focus on the committee, I funded over $3 billion for puts, disrupts factories, demolishes in- fiscal issues our Nation faces. Together climate-related research in the Con- frastructure, and drives up prices. we have rolled up our sleeves and found solidated Appropriations Act of 2014.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:49 Mar 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10MR6.161 S10MRPT2 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S1484 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 10, 2014 This includes $226 million for NOAA, We stayed in one of the trail shelters along son ever to walk the entire Appalachian which uses peer-reviewed research ini- the Appalachian Trail—we’d done that many Trail through my area, from Maine to Geor- tiatives and partnerships with univer- times before—with our explorer scout leader, gia, but he made the mistake of getting all sities to study regional climate data Dick Grave, who later was the head of Alcoa the way down to Virginia (he started in in Tennessee, and went to bed that night. At Maine), and he called his father in August and make climate predictions. It in- about 3 a.m., I noticed someone rustling and his father said he had to come home and cludes $1.85 billion for NASA’s Earth around—these trail shelters had an open go to college. So I learned the importance of Science program, which examines the front—fire out front, and then three sides education. Earth on a global scale and develops were closed. I was sleeping down on one end And even in Cub Scouts, we learned lots of data that is used for climate prediction and I noticed some rustling around in the lessons. One of the most vivid was when we models. It also includes $958 million for middle around where our packs were. So, I were playing baseball and knocked the ball climate-related research at the Na- thought it was one of the boys getting up through the upstairs window of the neigh- and I looked over there and there was a bear. bor’s house. And, we all looked at each other tional Science Foundation within the Well, I woke everybody up, which didn’t take wondering what to do until Bill Ernest, I’ll Geosciences Directorate and the Na- long, and we did the only thing you do in a remember this until I die, said, ‘‘What we tional Center for Atmospheric Re- circumstance like that which was, we should do is go tell Mr. Smith (or whoever it search. I commend the employees at climbed up on top of our trail shelter with was) what we did.’’ So, we all trooped up to these outstanding institutions who are our aluminum pans and our cooking utensils, his house and knocked on the door and said, working every day to develop long- and we beat the cooking utensils on the alu- ‘‘Mr. Smith, we just knocked a baseball term solutions for climate change, and minum pans and shouted unprintable things through your upstairs window.’’ at the bear, who took all of our packs, in- For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of I will continue to fight hard for robust cluding what we had for breakfast, down to America have talked about leadership, have funding for these agencies. the spring in front of the Spence Field Shel- taught lessons of community service. There Climate change is an enormous prob- ter. I learned a lesson about not sleeping are 110 million scouts in the world in 185 lem, but it is not enough for us to just with your breakfast bacon on top of the countries, and 2 million Eagles. There are 9 recognize the problem. When it is a Smoky Mountains when the bears are Eagles in the United States Senate. There problem of this magnitude, we must around. are a million adult volunteers in the Boy truly rise to the occasion. The science That’s not the only thing I learned in Boy Scout movement. It is the largest and most Scouts. About the same time, about the is sound, and the reasons to act are nu- prominent youth organization in the world. same age, when the weather was just as hot, Its job is helping to turn boys into men. merous. Let’s move it on climate we went spelunking in Monroe County in Looking back, I realize how much I took change—the time is now. East Tennessee. That means you go down in for granted, all the time that our volunteer f caves. And if you have been down in caves, scout leaders gave to us. I know there are a you know that they’re all about the same lot of volunteers here in the room, but we ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS temperature—I forget, but it’s about 57 de- just thought the world was made that way, grees, something like that, but it was a hun- that Mr. Studley—Joe Studley—and Mr. Mil- dred degrees outside. I decided, which thir- ler, that they just had all this time to give SCOUTING teen-year-old boys will do sometimes, to try to us. And because we grew up at the edge of ∑ Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I something I’d been told I couldn’t do, which the Smoky Mountains, close to the great ask that a copy of my remarks to the was to have a chaw of tobacco. So, I took it American outdoors, just like you do in Mid- Wilson County Friends of Scouting down into the cave with me, got down in dle Tennessee, we were out there all the Luncheon in Lebanon, TN be printed in there, and with a couple of other boys, we time. Almost every weekend or every other tried it. Then, we came back up to the top in weekend, we were hiking or camping or the RECORD. 103 degree weather, which made us as sick as The remarks follow. learning about the great outdoors. They I have been in my entire life. And so ever taught us to love the Great American Out- LESSONS FROM SCOUTING since that day, I’ve never even thought of doors, and as important, they taught us not Thank you very much. In a little book I having a chew of tobacco. I learned that les- to be afraid of the Great American Outdoors. did a few years ago called Lamar Alexander’s son in Boy Scouting as well. Today we have fewer parents who take Little Plaid Book, it has lots of rules in it I learned how to go on a snipe hunt in boy their kids into the Great American Outdoors and one of them is ‘‘If you want a standing scouting. Essentially, you take a bag, and and I don’t think it’s because the boys are ovation, seat a few friends in the front row.’’ you’re told you sit out there all night with afraid of the outdoors. I think it’s because a So, thanks to the front row for that. And, the bag open and you’ll catch a snipe. I lot of the parents never had the chance to be thanks to Rob, my friend, for inviting me learned a lesson there as well. in scouting and to know what to do in the here and all of the others of you who did, and I learned a lesson when my father, when I outdoors. I still remember the Scout Law. I for the terrific job you do as aldermen and was twelve or thirteen, drove me the day imagine most of you can say it: ‘‘trust- for your friendship. Jason Flannery, Peter after Christmas with two other explorer worthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, Williston, Chris Crowell, Bobby Kane, Quin scouts not much older, maybe a year or two kind, obedient, careful, thrifty, brave, plain, Cochran, thank you for your remarks, which older, and just dumped us out on Newfound reverent,’’ I remember that. And I remember will come a little later. Representative Mark Gap at about 5,000 feet in the Smokies with the motto, ‘‘Be Prepared.’’ That’s a good les- Pody is here, and Mayor Hutto and Mayor three feet of snow on the ground and said son in life whether you’re preparing for a Craighead and Mayor Jennings all are here. he’d pick us up in Gatlinburg at the end of piano concert or whether you’re running in a It’s exciting to be in Lebanon and to hear the day. The three of us walked up to the top Republican primary. Over the years I’ve about all of the good things that are hap- of Mount LeConte, and then down, and we tried to apply those rules to whatever I was pening here. got to Gatlinburg. It wasn’t very easy, but doing in life, and I’ve found it hard to im- I had a great friend Alex Haley, the author we learned a lot about the importance of get- prove on the Boy Scout lessons. of Roots, who once heard me make a speech ting to your destination on that day. I’ve put my love of the outdoors to work as and he came up afterwards and said, ‘‘Lamar, I was at Camp Pellissippi, which was our a senator, trying to protect the parks, trying may I make a suggestion?’’ And I said ‘‘Well, scout camp nearby Maryville and Knoxville to keep the air clean, trying to keep enough of course, Alex.’’ And he said ‘‘Well, if when and I learned a little bit about authority. We open space so that our children and grand- you start, instead of making a speech you had a camp director named Kyle Middleton. children can enjoy the outdoors as I did. And would say ‘Let me tell you a story,’ people He must have been 7′10′′ tall, at least he I’ve tried my best to teach my boys and might actually listen to what you have to looked that tall to us, and we would all as- girls, or as Honey likes to say, ‘‘our boys and say.’’ So let me tell you a few stories from semble in the amphitheater at the first day girls,’’ our family about the outdoors and to scouting. of Camp Pellissippi, and Mr. Middleton help teach those grandchildren as well. I was about 13 years old. It was in a hot would stand up in front of us. Actually, we Some people say that it’s naı¨ve in this summer over in East Tennessee. But, when all called him ‘‘Kyle,’’ I don’t know why we tough world that we live in to take the sim- you’re in scouting and you go up in the would do that, he was so familiar, but I ple Boy Scout lessons, like to walk up and Smokies, you learn that it drops about five think it was because he told us to, and this say, ‘‘Mr. Smith, I just knocked a baseball degrees every thousand feet, so by the time is what he’d say. He said, ‘‘Camp is now through your window and I take responsi- you get to the top of Spence Field Mountain open, and we have one thing we need to get bility for it.’’ That’s the right thing to do on the Appalachian Trail, it’s pretty nice. straight. I think I’m in charge. Does anyone but some people say it’s naı¨ve in the sophis- So, our explorer scout group had gone up here think I’m not?’’ And, of course, none of ticated world in which we live. there one August day, and we’d loaded up our us did, and we learned a little bit about the Well, let me close with a story that sug- packs with Bisquick and bacon and all the importance of authority. I joined the order gests it’s not naı¨ve at all. Shortly after I things that you cook for breakfast because of the arrow there. I learned about how to graduated from law school, I had the privi- that’s when all of the blueberries were ripe make a fire with flint and steel. One of my lege of working in the White House for a man on Spence Field and we were going to make friends from Maryville, a couple of years named Bryce Harwell, who had also worked blueberry pancakes the next morning. older than me, would have been the first per- for President Eisenhower. He was President

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