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Providing for Congressional Disapproval of A Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency

Floor Speech

By: Judy Chu
By: Judy Chu
Date: Dec. 1, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment

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Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, this week something historic is happening. Leaders from 195 countries are meeting in Paris to discuss a global solution to a global problem: climate change.

There is no denying it anymore. Climate change is real. Human activity is contributing to it. Without action, the results will be catastrophic.

Yet, while the nations of the world gather in agreement and concern, what are the House Republicans doing? They are rejecting science and reversing what progress we have made.

These disapproval resolutions effectively gut EPA's Clean Power Plan and carbon pollution standards for power plants. By attacking the EPA, Republicans are opening the smokestacks to release more of the dangerous emissions we know contribute to global warming. This is reckless.

Not only do these resolutions ignore the warnings of the scientific community by reversing progress, they also block the EPA from issuing any standards in the future that are substantially similar. Republicans must accept that our country is evolving.

In fact, many States are already running on an increasing amount of renewable energy, reducing energy waste, and decreasing carbon pollution. My own State of California has set a goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030, and others are developing their own plans to meet pollution reduction targets.

Each new goal towards a cleaner environment only encourages the investments and innovations that will help get us there. That is a benefit to our economy and our world, which is why two-thirds of Americans support a climate change pact.

It is time we listen to our constituents, to the vast majority of scientists and experts, and to the tens of thousands of world leaders, experts, and advocates who are seeking a path toward a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren.

I oppose these resolutions and these reckless attacks on our environment.

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