Climate Change

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, climate change is not a distant threat; it is reality. In the Pacific Northwest, our families and communities are facing acidic oceans; unhealthy, smoky air; decreased snowpack; droughts; and extreme weather patterns.

Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. Global Change Research Program make clear: human activity is contributing to climate change. The science supporting these reports is convincing and alarming, but there is hope. We have the opportunity and, in fact, the imperative to take action that will protect our planet and grow our economy.

I am honored to serve on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, and I will work with my colleagues to reduce emissions, to transition to 100 percent clean energy, to create good-paying jobs, rebuild our Nation's infrastructure in a sustainable and resilient manner, invest in clean and efficient transportation systems, and support frontline communities, particularly communities of color and low-income communities, that have often faced a disproportionate share of the burden of our past inaction.

The future of our planet and the health of our communities depend on the actions we take today. For our children, our grandchildren, and future generations to come, let's not wait.

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