Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASTRO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose Mr. Perry's amendment.

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Mr. CASTRO. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from Pennsylvania's amendment would undermine the U.S. leadership on climate change and isolate the United States on the world stage on a critical issue for the future of our Nation and the future of the world.

Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues claim that they are deeply alarmed by China. They implore us to counter a threat from the People's Republic of China, yet when a comprehensive bill is in front of them to strengthen the United States' competitiveness on the world stage, including on our diplomacy, all of that urgency goes out the window.

And why? Why aren't Republicans clamoring to vote for America COMPETES Act? This amendment makes clear that it is at least in part because of their climate denialism. Republicans just don't want to address climate in this China bill, even though China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and is outcompeting us at the same time in creating the green energy jobs of the future. The truth is, they don't want the United States to address climate change, period.

Our closest allies were aghast when President Trump pulled us out of the Paris climate agreement, and China took advantage of that in every way that it could, painting the United States as the irresponsible party on the world stage. Now Mr. Perry's amendment would have us make the same mistake again.

If we want to hold China accountable for its coal power plants and its rising emissions, we need to be at the table to pressure it to do better, and we need to lead multilateral efforts to combat climate change and invest in green energy and green projects, because if we don't, China will be more than happy to fill in with its unsustainable Belt and Road Initiative projects and its financing, which always comes with strings attached.

For those reasons and others, I oppose this amendment and ask my colleagues to do the same.

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Mr. CASTRO. Madam Speaker, regarding Mr. Perry's amendment, if the United States does not choose to lead on the issue of climate change, we can't outcompete China or expect the world to join us in countering China's policies.

To compete, we must lead the world forward, and we must face reality and be willing to enact policies that deal with reality. This amendment is about taking America backward, and so I ask my colleagues to oppose it.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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