Providing for Consideration of H. Con. Res. Expressing the Sense of Congress That A Carbon Tax Would Be Detrimental to the United States Economy

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule and to the underlying bill. But as my colleague from Massachusetts said, this isn't really a bill. It is a press release. It is a love note to the fossil fuel industry.

We should have an open rule on the floor for this resolution so that we can talk about the real issues around climate change, so that we can talk about the effects of a changing growing season and the effects of extreme weather on our farms and fishing communities, so that we can talk about sea level rise and ocean acidification on our coastal communities, so that we can talk about the impacts of changing climates on health and healthcare costs.

We are seeing these problems in my home State and in the Gulf of Maine, in particular, where the water is warming at a rate 90 percent faster than the rest of the world. We don't know what impact that will have on the lobsters, groundfish, and future fisheries, but the fishermen are worried, and we are already starting to see the changes.

We are putting our heads in the sand if we just do nothing, if we keep supporting fossil fuels, and if we keep preventing even a simple debate on the costs of carbon and possible climate solutions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the rule and oppose this bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source