Senate Proceeding on Sep 24th, 2009 :: 7:13:35 to 7:22:00
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7:13:35 to 7:22:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Frank Lautenberg

7:13:36 to 7:13:56( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: quorum call: mr. menendez: madam the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. lautenberg: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. lautenberg: i ask unanimous consent that further calling of the roll be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lautenberg: madam president, i come to the floor because we're looking at an amendment -- we were looking at an armettier today that would -- an amendment earlier today that

7:13:57 to 7:14:18( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: would have stopped the e.p.a. from exercising its obligation to combat 0 global warming pollution. now, there are those here who would choose to defer taking action to deal with this enormous threat that future

7:14:19 to 7:14:41( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: generations' lives and well-being would be at risk. but the time for delay is a luxury tha we don't have. we can't afford to wait longer, and we cannot afford to limit our options. every day that science makes it

7:14:42 to 7:15:02( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: more clear that we are on a dangerous course. in fact, the scientific community has recently had to revise its own estimates because rising temperatures are destabilizing our planet -- far faster than originally expected. it was just two years ago

7:15:03 to 7:15:24( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: scientists warned us that summers in alaska in the arctic would be completely ice-freey 2050. now they're saying the arctic will be completely ice-free in just two years ago they said sea levels would rise less than two

7:15:25 to 7:15:47( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: feet by the end of this century, and now it's being said that sea levels will rise by six feet. the risks of inaction are just too great to take. so we have to look national security risks that we

7:15:48 to 7:16:10( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: face by continuing to do nothing about climate change. according to the c.i.a.'s national intelligence council, if we fail to billioneople may face water and food shortages in the next 15 years. these shortages will set t

7:16:11 to 7:16:33( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: stage for conflict and breed conditions for terrorism. at the same time with 20% of the world's population living in and strong hurricanes could displace more than 150 million people by 2050.

7:16:34 to 7:16:56( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: now when it's expressed in percentages like that and talk about numbers that are almost beyond the imagination, it sometimes loses its impact. but what we're talking about are people seeking higher-level places t take themselves and their families so they're not

7:16:57 to 7:17:17( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: overwhelmed by floods and the water pressures. border pressures created by these mass migrations will increase tensions and lay the groundwork for armed the united states navy has looked at this problem in the

7:17:18 to 7:17:39( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: past and issued a report that at the end of the 21st century, by the end of the 21st century, or rather, in the last half of the 21st century, we could be looking at a different structure for naval engagements with smaller boats, higher speed

7:17:40 to 7:18:00( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: and so forth to keep people from flooding our shores because they're trying to get away fm higher water. nations will look to united states, as a first responder in the aftermath of these major national emergencies

7:18:01 to 7:18:22( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: and humanitarians disasters. retired general anthony zinni put it this way: that if we don't begin reducing carbon emissions now, we will -- aeupbd quote him here -- "pay the price later in militar that will involve human lives." madam president, delay is not a substitute for confronting this

7:18:23 to 7:18:43( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: growing problem. it's no surprise that many of us who want to show -- many of those -- forgive me -- many of those who want to show the clean air act, stop e.p.a. from doing its duty are the same ones who close their eyes to the overwhelming scientific evidence

7:18:44 to 7:19:05( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: that says wake up. hear the alarm. they dismiss the ominous forecasts of life changing for plants, animals and humans. and they call global warming -- and i quote here -- "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the american

7:19:06 to 7:19:26( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: the hoax is a je. that's a bad joke. let's not forget the e.p.a.'s power to curb greenhouse gas emissions under the clean air act was recently affirmed by the supreme court. madam president, the clean air act has been one of the great success stories of our lifetime,

7:19:27 to 7:19:48( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: and it's one of the few tools that we have to overcome climate change. for the last 40 years, this law has led to cleaner skies and healthier children. if it weren't for the clean air act, 225,000 americans would have died prematurely, according

7:19:49 to 7:20:10( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: to an e.p.a. study. we would have lost 225,000 people if it weren't for the clean act. while the gains have been enormous, the cost to polluters has been minimal. in fact, the total benefits to our economy have been identified

7:20:11 to 7:20:31( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: as high as $49 trillion. putting the benefit at 100 times greater than the cost for action. and so, history shows that opponents often dramatically overstate the cost of environmental improvements. the last time we strengthened the clean air act, our

7:20:32 to 7:20:53( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: adversaries rang the alarm that these changes would cost too much and damage the economy. but as it turned out the actual costs were less than one-fifth of what these opponents estimated. today even though e.p.a. has a proven tack record of producing trillions in benefits for our

7:20:54 to 7:21:16( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: economy and the country under the same kinds of warning. it makes no madam president, there's no doubt that our opponents prefer to endorse inaction and will reward failure. that's why stand up to the special interests, stand to the publi interests.

7:21:17 to 7:21:38( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: it's time to say from our hearts that willing to stand firm against those who claim the overstated cost of change outweighs the risk of disappearing species, poor health, and international unrest. with

7:21:39 to 7:21:51( Edit History Discussion )

Frank Lautenberg: i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.