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TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS HISTORIC
MILESTONE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE FOR HIS
COURTESY AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, ON NEXT TUESDAY
THE NATION'S LARGEST EXPORTER
AND EMPLOYER OF 159,000
AMERICANS WILL BE APPEARING
BEFORE AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE
IN SEATTLE TO DEFEND ITSELF
AGAINST A CLAIM BROUGHT BY THE
ACTING GENERAL KOUPB SEFLT
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD -- COUNSEL OF THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.
THAT CLAIM IS THAT A CORPORATE
DECISION TO EXPAND PRODUCTION OF
ITS NEXT GENERATION AIRLINER IN
SOUTH CAROLINA, A RIGHT TO WORK
STATE, IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL
LABOR LAW.
SINCE 1947 THE FEDERAL LAW
AFFIRMED THE RIGHT OF STATES TO
ENACT WHAT WE CALL RIGHT TO WORK
LAWS WHICH PREVENT UNIONS AND
EMPLOYERS FROM REQUIRING
EMPLOYEES TO JOIN A UNION AS
WELL AS PAY DUES OR FEES IN
ORDER TO KEEP THEIR JOBS.
IN TENNESSEE, FOR EXAMPLE,
MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS NISSAN AND
NOW VOLKSWAGEN AND GENERAL
MOTORS HAVE BUILT FACTORIES AND
INCREASED THEIR PRODUCTION OF
CARS MADE AND SOLD IN THE UNITED
STATES IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE
ENVIRONMENT CREATED BY
TENNESSEE'S RIGHT TO WORK LAW.
THE PRESIDENT RECENTLY WENT TO
THE MIDWEST TO SAY IN EFFECT
THAT THE AUTO BAILOUT HELPED
RESTORE THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY.
I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.
I THINK WHAT HAS RESTORED THE
AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY HAS
BEEN THE RIGHT TO WORK LAWS IN
22 STATES WHICH HAVE CREATED A
MORE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT IN
THOSE 22 STATES AND IN THE
MIDWEST AND OTHER STATES WHERE
THE LAWS DON'T EXIST, WHICH
PERMITS MANUFACTURERS TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE IN THE UNITED STATES
CARS AND TRUCKS THAT THEY SELL
IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
MR. PRESIDENT, AMERICAN
COMPANIES IN OUR 22 RIGHT TO
WORK STATES ARE UNDER ASSAULT
FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT'S
DRIVEN BY ANTIBUSINESS,
AGENDA.
ANTIGROWTH AND AN ANTIJOBS
THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
BATTLE OVER LABOR LAWS IN THE
UNITED STATES TODAY.
THAT'S WHY SENATOR GRAHAM AND
DeMINT AND I -- ACTUALLY WE
HAVE 35 SENATORS SKPOERG THIS
BILL -- COSPONSORING THIS BILL,
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO
PRESERVE THE LAW'S PROTECTION OF
THE RIGHT TO WORK AND PREVENT
THE NLRB FROM MOVING FORWARD IN
THEIR CASE AGAINST THE BOEING
COMPANY AND OTHERS.
THE JOB PROTECTION ACT, AS WE
CALL IT, WILL PREVENT THE NLRB
FROM ORDERING A COMPANY TO
RELOCATE JOBS, WILL GUARANTEE
EMPLOYER RIGHTS TO DECIDE WHERE
TO DO BUSINESS, AND PROTECT
EMPLOYER-FREE SPEECH ASSOCIATED
WITH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF A
UNIONIZED WORKFORCE.
THE COMPANY THAT WILL BE TRIED
ON TUESDAY IS BOEING, A SOLID,
STORY.
UPSTANDING AMERICAN SUCCESS
OVER THE LAST CENTURY BOEING HAS
BUILT THE PASSENGER PLANES THAT
ALLOW AMERICANS TO TRAVEL THE
WORLD, HAS BUILT THE WARPLANES
AND WEAPONRY THAT ENABLE OUR
SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES AND
AIRMEN TO DEFEND FREEDOM, HAS
BUILT THE SPACECRAFTS THAT SEND
OUR ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT AND TO
THE MOON, HAS BUILT SATELLITES
THAT DELIVER COMMUNICATIONS
AROUND THE GLOBE.
BOEING'S NEWEST COMMERCIAL
PASSENGER AIRLINER IS THE 787
DREAM LINER.
IT'S A SHINING EXAMPLE OF
AMERICAN INNOVATION AND AMERICAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
IT'S BEEN DESIGNED WITH THE
PARAMOUNT FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY
AND PEFORMANCE TO ALLOW A
MID-SIZED AIRCRAFT TO TRAVEL AS
FAR AS A JUMBO JET WHILE USING
20% LESS FUEL AND PRODUCING 20%
LESS EMISSIONS THAN TODAY'S
SIMILARLY SIZED AIRCRAFT.
AND TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY THE
SAME SPEEDS AS THE 747 OR 777.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN A TREMENDOUS
COMMERCIAL SUCCESS DESPITE THESE
DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES.
SINCE 2004, 56 CUSTOMERS
SPANNING SIX CONTINENTS HAVE
PLACED ORDERS FOR 835
DREAMLINERS VALUED AT $162
BILLION.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS RECOGNIZED
THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COMPANY.
HE'S NAMED THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF THE COMPANY,
MR. MCINERNY, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
NATION'S EXPORT KOUPB SEUFPLT
AND MORE REECE -- EXPORT
COUNSEL.
AND MORE RECENTLY MR. BRYSON HAS
BEEN NOMINATED TO BE THE
NATION'S COMMERCE SECRETARY.
THE BOEING SUCCESS PROMPTED THE
COMPANY TO DECIDE IN 2009, TWO
YEARS AGO, TO ESTABLISH A SECOND
ASSEMBLY LINE FOR THE AIRLINER
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ITS
CURRENT ASSEMBLY LINE IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
SOUTH CAROLINA IS A
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE.
WASHINGTON STATE IS NOT.
ON TUESDAY, NEXT TUESDAY, THE
NLRB ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL WILL
ASK AN ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE IN
SEATTLE TO STOP BOEING FROM
EXPANDING ITS PRODUCTION IN
SOUTH CAROLINA, ARGUING THAT THE
DECISION WAS MADE IN RETALIATION
FOR PAST STRIKES BY UNION
EMPLOYEES IN WASHINGTON.
THAT CLAIM IGNORES THESE FACTS.
HERE.
NO UNION JOBS ARE BEING LOST
NOBODY IS BEING DEMOTED.
NO PERSONNEL ARE BEING MOVED.
NO BENEFITS, SALARIES OR WORK
HOURS ARE BEING CUT BACK AS A
RESULT OF THIS EXPANSION.
IT IGNORES THE FACT THAT
BOEING'S DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED,
AS I SAID, NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO.
THAT MEANS THAT DOWN IN SOUTH
CAROLINA, THERE HAVE BEEN 9,000
INSTRUCTION JOBS -- CONSTRUCTION
JOBS.
THEY HIRED 1,000 NEW WORKERS TO
WORK AT THIS PLANT AND THE PLANT
IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN NEXT MONTH,
IN JULY.
AT THE SAME TIME BOEING IS
ACTUALLY ADDED 2,000 NEW JOBS IN
WASHINGTON STATE SINCE ITS
ANNOUNCED EXPANSION IN SOUTH
CAROLINA.
THAT'S 2,000 NEW UNION JOBS IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
SOUTH CAROLINA, OF COURSE, IS A
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE WHERE
EMPLOYEES MAY CHOOSE TO JOIN THE
UNION OR NOT JOIN THE UNION.
SUSPENDING ITS EXPANSION TO
SOUTH CAROLINA WILL RESULT IN
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF LOST
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN JOBS TO
THAT STATE.
BUT THE NLRB'S ACTING GENERAL
COUNSEL DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE
ABOUT THESE FACTS OR THE IMPACT
OF THIS CASE ON THOSE JOBS.
RECENTLY SEVERAL OF BOEING'S
EMPLOYEES IN SOUTH CAROLINA
WHOSE JOBS ARE HANGING IN THE
BALANCE ASKED TO INTERVENE IN
THE CASE.
THE ACT BE GENERAL COUNSEL
OPPOSED THAT STATING THAT --
QUOTE -- "THESE BOEING EMPLOYEES
IN SOUTH SCAR HAVE NO COGNIZABLE
INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING IN THE
PROCEEDING SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY
THEIR INTERVENTION."
MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S HARD TO
IMAGINE ANYONE WITH A MORE
DIRECT INTEREST THAN THE BOEING
WORKERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT
FACTS LIKE THESE DON'T SEEM TO
MATTER WHEN YOU HAVE AN AGENDA.
BUT THIS CASE IS ABOUT MORE THAN
AIRPLANES, MORE THAN BOEING AND
MORE THAN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THIS IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR
ECONOMY AND OUR COMPETITIVENESS
AS A NATION.
IT'S JUST THE LATEST ATTEMPT BY
THIS ADMINISTRATION TO CHIP AWAY
AT RIGHT-TO-WORK LAWS, TO CHANGE
THE RULES AND GIVE UNIONS MORE
LEVERAGE OVER EMPLOYERS AND HAVE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN
WASHINGTON DETERMINE THE MEANS
OF PRODUCTION FOR PRIVATE
INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF THE ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL'S
REQUEST IS AFFIRMED FOLLOWING
NEXT WEEK'S HEARING, IT WILL BE
PRIMA FACIE ILLEGAL FOR A
COUNTRY THAT HAS FACED REPEATED
STRIKES TO MOVE PRODUCTION TO A
STATE WITH A RIGHT TO WORK LAW.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BOEING,
MR. PRESIDENT, HAS POINTED OUT
THAT THIS WILL NOT ONLY HURT THE
22 RIGHT-TO-WORK STATES, IT'S
ALSO NOT GOOD FOR THE STATES
THAT DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO WORK
LAW.
THOSE NONRIGHT-TO-WORK STATES
WILL SUFFER BECAUSE A COMPANY
THAT OPERATES IN THEIR STATE
THAT IS UNIONIZED WILL
EFFECTIVELY BE PREVENTED FROM
GROWING OR EXPANDING TO A
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE, THEREFORE,
HINDERING THE ABILITY OF ANY
STATE TO ATTRACT NEW
MANUFACTURERS AND CREATE NEW
JOBS.
SO INSTEAD OF MAKING IT EASIER
AND CHEAPER TO CREATE JOBS IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
MANUFACTURERS WILL BE FURTHER
INCENTIVIZED TO EXPAND OR OPEN
NEW FACILITIES IN MEXICO, IN
CHINA, OR INDIA TO MEET THEIR
GROWING NEEDS.
BOEING AND ITS 787 DREAMLINER
ARE SHINING EXAMPLES OF WHAT IS
RIGHT IN AMERICA AND WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO REBUILD AND GROW
OUR COUNTRY'S ECONOMY.
THE NEW PRODUCTION PLANT IN
SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE FIRST NEW
ASSEMBLY LINE FOR LARGE
AIRPLANES IN 40 YEARS IN OUR
COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT BOEING
SELLS AIRPLANES EVERYWHERE IN
THE WORLD AND THAT IT CAN MAKE
AIRPLANES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR BOEING AND
OTHER MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE IN
THE UNITED STATES WHAT THEY SELL
IN THE UNITED STATES SO THE JOBS
CAN BE IN THIS COUNTRY INSTEAD
OF OVERSEAS.
AS THIS ADMINISTRATION'S
COMMERCE SECRETARY, GARY LOCKE,
CORRECTLY OBSERVED -- QUOTE --
"MANUFACTURING IS ESSENTIAL TO
AMERICA'S ECONOMIC
COMPETITIVENESS.
IT'S A VITAL SOURCE OF GOOD,
MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS.
IT'S A KEY DRIVER OF INNOVATION,
"SAID MR. LOCKE.
WITH 9.1% UNEMPLOYMENT WITH A
SOFT ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT AND
WASHINGTON NEED TO ALLOW
MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS BOEING TO
PROSPER, INNOVATE AND CREATE
JOBS.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER AND
CHEAPER FOR THOSE MANUFACTURERS
TO MAKE IN THE UNITED STATES
WHAT THEY SELL IN THE UNITED
STATES.
EXPANDING NEW PRODUCTION LINES
IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS A BUSINESS
DECISION MADE BY BOEING'S
EXECUTIVES AND BOARD MEMBERS ON
BEHALF OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS WHO
BELIEVED IT WAS IN THE COUNTRY'S
BEST INTERESTS.
AS I MENTIONED, THOSE BOARD
MEMBERS, THOSE CHIEF EXECUTIVES
OF THAT COMPANY ARE WELL
RESPECTED, INCLUDING BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
WHO HAS INVITED THEM TO BE A
PART OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.
BUT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION,
THE NLRB SEEMS ONLY TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTERESTS
AND AGENDA OF ORGANIZED LABOR,
AN AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN SOUNDLY
REJECTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF
PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS IN BOTH
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATES AND
NONRIGHT-TO-WORK STATES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IN RECENT YEARS.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, ALL EYES WILL
BE ON SEATTLE NEXT TUESDAY WHEN
ONE OF OUR NATION'S GREATEST
ASSETS AND CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR
ECONOMIC FUTURE WILL BE PUT ON
TRIAL FOR INVESTING, CREATING
AND INNOVATING IN OUR COUNTRY AT
A TIME WHERE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF AN ECONOMIC RECESSION.
THIS WILL BE A TRUE TEST OF
WHETHER MANUFACTURERS ARE ABLE
TO MAKE IN THE UNITED STATES
WHAT THEY SELL IN THE UNITED
STATES OR WHETHER THEY WILL BE
ENCOURAGED TO MAKE OVERSEAS WHAT
THEY SELL IN THE UNITED STATES
AND PUT THOSE JOBS THERE INSTEAD
OF HERE.
IT WILL BE A TRUE TEST OF
WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION'S
EXPORT POLICY IS EXPORTING
AIRPLANES OR EXPORTING JOBS.
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
AND I NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
ARE WE IN A
QUORUM CALL?
YES.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I'M HERE THIS
AFTERNOON BECAUSE ON MAY 12,
2011, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES RELEASED A SIGNIFICANT
REPORT.
IT'S ENTITLED AMERICA'S CLIMATE
CHOICES.
IN 2007, CONGRESS DIRECTED THE
ACADEMY TO WRITE THIS REPORT.
THE RESEARCHERS WHO CONTRIBUTED
TO THE REPORT INCLUDE
SCIENTISTS, ECONOMISTS AND
POLICYMAKERS FROM WORLD CLASS
INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE OAK
RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY,
DUPONT, AND M.I.T.
IT -- THE LIST OF THE STATES
FROM WHICH THE COMMITTEE COMES
IS VERY BROAD, CALIFORNIA
SCIENTISTS CAME FROM, NORTH
CAROLINA, MARYLAND, GEORGIA,
VIRGINIA, MICHIGAN, WYOMING,
WASHINGTON STATE, TENNESSEE,
ARIZONA, NORTH CAROLINA,
MISSOURI, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW
TEXAS.
YORK, NEW JERSEY, COLORADO,
THE REPORT WAS PEER REVIEWED.
LET ME ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT AT THE END OF MY REMARKS
THE LIST OF COMMITTEE, WHICH IS
PAGE ROMAN NUMERAL V, 5, OF THE
REPORT BE ADDED AS AN EXHIBIT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
IT WAS PEER
REVIEWED FROM SUCH UNIVERSITIES
AS STANFORD, THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, HARVARD, AND CARNEGIE
MELON.
AND, YET, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
SIGNIFICANT REPORT REQUESTED BY
CONGRESS, DRAFTED BY EXPERTS,
PEER REVIEWED BY SCIENCE, HAS
FALLEN ON REALLY DEAF EARS HERE
IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
WHY IS THIS IS THIS IS IT
BECAUSE THE REPORT ADDRESSES A
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE ALREADY
NO.
SOLVED?
IS IT BECAUSE THE REPORT TELLS
US NOT TO WORRY?
NOPE, IT IS NOT THAT EITHER.
THE REPORT, AMERICA'S CLIMATE
CHOICES, ADDS TO THE BODY OF
CLIMATE SCIENCE EVIDENCE AND
REFLECTS THE CLEAR CONSENSUS OF
THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, WHICH
IS THAT CARBON POLLUTION IS
CREATING DANGERS ACROSS OUR
PLANET AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IF
WE ARE TO AVOID ITS MOST
DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES.
THESE ARE THE FACTS IN THE
REPORT AND I QUOTE -- "CLIMATE
CHANGE IS OCCURRING.
IT IS VERY LIKELY CAUSED BY
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND POSES
SIGNIFICANT RISKS FOR A BROAD
RANGE OF HUMAN AND NATURAL
SYSTEMS."
END QUOTE.
ARE WE PREPARED FOR THESE
SIGNIFICANT RISKS?
NO, WE ARE NOT CONCLUDES THE
REPORT.
I QUOTE AGAIN, "THE UNITED
LACKS AN OVERARCHING
NATIONAL STRATEGY TO RESPOND TO
CLIMATE CHANGE."
THE REPORT WARNS FURTHER THAT,
AND I QUOTE -- "WAITING FOR
UNACCEPTABLE IMPACTS TO OCCUR
BEFORE TAKING ACTION IS
IMPRUDENT BECAUSE THE EFFECTS OF
GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSIONS DO
NOT FULLY MANIFEST THEMSELVES
FOR DECADES.
ANDu
-- AND ONCE MANIFESTED WILL
PERSIST FOR HUNDREDS OR EVEN
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
STARKLY, THE REPORT CALLS ON US
ADAPTATION.
NOW TO BEGIN MOBILIZING FOR
THE PRECISE QUOTE, "BEGIN
MOBILIZING NOW FOR ADAPTATION."
SO THE REPORT IS AN URGENT CALL
TO ACTION BY A WIDESPREAD GROUP
OF OUR MOST RESPONSIBLE
MOST RESPONSIBLE UNIVERSITIES.
SCIENTISTS PEER REVIEWED BY OUR
WHY THEN IS IT BEING IGNORED?
I BELIEVE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE
IGNORING THIS REPORT BECAUSE
THEY ARE HOPING THIS PROBLEM OF
CARBON POLLUTION CHANGING THE
ATMOSPHERE AND THE CLIMATE OF
OUR PLANET WILL JUST GO AWAY.
THEY'RE HOPING THAT SOMEHOW IF
WE DON'T DISCUSS IT, INDEED IF
WE DENY IT, CLIMATE CHANGE WILL
NOT HAPPEN.
IF WE IGNORE THE LAWS OF PHYSICS
AND CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY, THOSE
LAWS MAY CEASE TO APPLY TO US.
WELL, WE CAN REPEAL A LOT OF
LAWS HERE IN THIS UNITED STATES
SENATE, BUT WE CANNOT REPEAL THE
LAWS OF NATURE.
AND WE ARE FOOLS TO IGNORE THEM.
SOME EVEN ATTACK THE UNDERLYING
SCIENCE, THAT THIS IS A STRATEGY
THAT IS AS OLD AS INDUSTRY
REACTION TO SCIENCE THAT
INDUSTRY DOES NOT LIKE.
A RECENT BOOK LOOKED AT THE
E.P.A. EFFORTS TO PROTECT US
FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE AT A TIME
WHEN THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY WANTED
UNREGULATED ABILITY TO SMOKE,
DID NOT WANT PEOPLE PROTECTED
FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE, PRETENDED
DANGEROUS.
THAT SECONDHAND SMOKE WAS NOT
THE WRITERS CONCLUDE "MOST OF
THE SCIENCE UPON WHICH THE
E.P.A. RELIED WITH RESPECT TO
SECONDHAND SMOKE WAS
INDEPENDENT, SO ATTACKS ON THE
E.P.A. WOULDN'T WORK ALONE.
THEY'D HAVE TO BE COUPLED WITH
ATTACKS ON THE SCIENCE ITSELF."
A MEMO FROM PHILLIP MORRIS'
COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR, VICTOR
HAHN, SAID THE FOLLOWING:
"WITHOUT A MAJOR CONCENTRATED
EFFORT TO EXPOSE THE SCIENTIFIC
WEAKNESSES OF THE E.P.A. CASE,
WITHOUT AN EFFORT TO BUILD
CONSIDERABLE, REASONABLE DOUBT,
THEN VIRTUALLY ALL OTHER EFFORTS
WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHED
IN EFFECTIVENESS."
IN OTHER WORDS, IN ORDER TO
CREATE DOUBT, THEY HAD TO ATTACK
THE SCIENCE DIRECTLY.
AND THEY HAVE DONE SO, TO THE
POINT WHERE MR. HAHN SAID THAT
E.P.A. WAS AN AGENCY THAT IS AT
LEAST MISGUIDED AND AGGRESSIVE,
AND AT WORST, CORRUPT KRAOPBLD
BY ENVIRONMENTAL -- AND
CONTROLLED BY ENVIRONMENTAL
TERRORISTS.
SO IT'S NOT A NEW STORY FOR
INDUSTRY TO TRY TO DENY THE
SCIENCE THAT SHOWS THE DANGER OF
WHAT AN INDUSTRY IS PROVIDING.
BUT THESE ATTACKS SIMPLY WON'T
STAND.
THE FACTS ARE TOO STRONG AGAINST
THEM.
OVER THE LAST 800,000 YEARS,
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE HAS CONTAINED
Co2 LEVELS OF 170 TO 300 PARTS
PER MILLION.
THAT IS SOLID SCIENCE.
THAT'S A FACT.
THAT'S NOT A THEORY.
IT IS NOT IN DISPUTE.
THAT IS THE RANGE WITHIN WHICH
CENTURIES.
HUMANKIND HAS LIVED FOR 1,000
AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT CLEAR
THAT 8,000 CENTURIES AGO MANKIND
HAD YET MASTERED THE ART OF
CONTROLLING FIRE.
ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRETY OF
HUMAN HISTORY HAS TAKEN PLACE
WITHIN THAT BAND WITH OF 170 TO
300 PARTS PER MILLION OF CARBON
DIOXIDE IN OUR ATMOSPHERE.
IN 1863, THE IRISH SCIENTIST
JOHN TINDALL DETERMINED CARBON
DIOXIDE IN THE AT MOSS TEAR
ATTRACTS -- ATMOSPHERE TRAPS
HEAT.
THAT IS TEXTBOOK SCIENCE.
GENERATIONS.
IT'S BEEN TEXTBOOK SCIENCE FOR
THAT'S NOT IN DISPUTE EITHER.
SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION,
OUR INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES
HAVE BURNED CARBON FUELS IN
MEASURABLE AMOUNTS, USUALLY
MEASURED AS GIGA TONS OR METRIC
TONS.
A GIGA TON IS A BILLION -- WITH
A "B" -- METRIC TONS.
NOW WE RELEASE, DEPENDING ON THE
YEAR, UP TO 7 OR 8 GIGA TONS, 7
OR 8 BILLION METRIC TONS EACH
YEAR.
THAT'S NOT IN DISPUTE EITHER.
WE NOW MEASURE CARBON
CONCENTRATIONS GOING UP IN THE
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS A MEASUREMENT.
THIS IS NOT A THEORY.
THE PRESENT CONCENTRATION
EXCEEDS 390 PARTS PER MILLION.
REMEMBER, FOR 8,000 CENTURIES
HUMANITY HAS EXISTED IN A BAND
WIDTH OF 170 TO 300 PARTS PER
MILLION, AND WE ARE NOW AT 390
PARTS PER MILLION, WELL OUTSIDE
THE BOUND THAT WE'VE INHABITED
FOR THE LAST 800,000 YEARS.
THAT ALSO IS NOT IN DISPUTE.
THAT'S A FACT.
THIS DOCUMENT, AMERICA'S CLIMATE
CHOICES, DOCUMENTS THE CHANGES
IN CLIMATE THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEEN OBSERVED AND MEASURED IN
THE UNITED STATES.
AGAIN, NOT THEORY.
DOCUMENTED, MEASURED AND
OBSERVED.
THESE ARE ALSO NOT IN DISPUTE.
OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, OUR
UNITED STATES AVERAGE AIR
TEMPERATURE HAS INCREASED BY
MORE THAN TWO DEGREES FARENHEIT.
OUR TOTAL U.S. PRECIP ATION HAS
5%.
INCREASED ON AVERAGE BY ABOUT
SEA LEVELS HAVE RISEN ALONG MOST
OF THE U.S. COAST.
HEAVY DOWN POURS HAVE BECOME
MORE FREQUENT AND MORE INTENSE
IN THE SOUTHEASTERN AND WESTERN
UNITED STATES.
AND THE FREQUENCY OF LARGE
WILDFIRES AND THE LENGTH OF THE
FIRE SEASON HAVE INCREASED
SUBSTANTIALLY IN BOTH THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES AND IN THE
PRESIDING OFFICER'S HOME STATE
OF ALASKA.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE
INCREASE IN CARBON
CONCENTRATIONS IN OUR
ATMOSPHERE, THEY CAN BE PLOTTED.
TODAY IS ONE OF THE LAST DAYS
THAT OUR PAGES ARE WITH US AFTER
MANY, MANY MONTHS, AND THEY HAVE
BEEN HERE IN SCHOOL IN THE VERY
EARLY MORNINGS, AND THEY HAVE
BEEN LEARNING MATHEMATICS.
AND IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF
OUR PAGES WERE ABLE TO TAKE A
SERIES OF POINTS AND PLOT A
TRAJECTORY OFF OF THOSE POINTS.
THAT IS NOT A COMPLICATED
SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR.
IF YOU PLOT THE TRAJECTORY OF
OUR CARBON CONCENTRATION, IT
PUTS US AT 688 PARTS PER MILLION
IN THE YEAR 2095 AND 1,097 PARTS
PER MILLION IN THE YEAR 2195.
NOW THAT'S A PRETTY LONG WAY
OFF, BUT WHEN YOU THINK THAT FOR
800,000 YEARS WE'VE INHABITED A
PLANET IN WHICH THE CARBON
CONCENTRATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE
WAS BETWEEN 170 AND 300 PARTS
PER MILLION AND IN A MATTER OF A
CENTURY AND A LITTLE MORE WE
WILL HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THAT
CONCENTRATION, AND ANOTHER
CENTURY HENCE ANOTHER 300 POINTS
UP, THAT'S A VERY, VERY
SIGNIFICANT, INDEED AN EPIC
SHIFT.
THESE CARBON CONCENTRATIONS ARE
OUTSIDE THE BOUND NOT OF THE
LAST 8,000 CENTURIES, BUT OF
MILLIONS OF YEARS OF THIS
PLANET'S HISTORY.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCE'S REPORT WARNS -- WARNS
US THIS AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL
IMPACTS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY, THERE IS A REAL
POSSIBILITY OF IMPACTS THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN ANTICIPATED.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL
IMPACTS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
IDENTIFY, THERE IS A REAL
POSSIBILITY OF IMPACTS THAT HAVE
NOT BEEN ANTICIPATED.
WHEN WE TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF A
RANGE THAT HAS PROTECTED OUR
SPECIES AND OUR PLANET FOR 8,000
CENTURIES, WE CREATE FORCES THAT
ARE HARD TO ANTICIPATE.
AND CONSEQUENTLY, WE CREATE
DANGERS THAT ARE HARD TO
ANTICIPATE.
THIS NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES REPORT DOES NOT JUST
STOP AT CATALOGING THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE, HOWEVER.
AS REQUESTED BY CONGRESS AND AS
INDICATED BY THE REPORT'S TITLE,
"AMERICA'S CLIMATE CHOICES," THE
REPORT LAYS OUT THE CHOICES WE
HAVE MOVING FORWARD, IF ONLY WE
WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACTS OF
THIS PROBLEM AND ACT RESPONSIBLY
THE LAWS OF NATURE, OF COURSE,
ATTENTION.
DO NOT CARE IF WE ARE PAYING
CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING
TANNED POSES GRAVE -- HAPPENING,
AND IT POSES GRAVE RISKS TO US,
AND IT WILL GO FORWARD WHETHER
NOT.
WE CHOOSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR
AS I SAID EARLIER, WE CAN DO A
LOT OF REPEALING OF LAWS IN THE
SENATE BUT WE DON'T GET TO
REPEAL THE LAWS OF NATURE.
THERE ARE REAL RISKS THAT WE ARE
FACING, BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY
POSITIVE REASONS THAT WE SHOULD
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF CARBON
POLLUTION.
DEVELOPING CLEAN AND TRULY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND
WORKING TO RUN OUR AMERICAN
BUSINESSES MORE EFFICIENTLY WILL
HELP US RETAIN OUR ECONOMIC
LEADERSHIP IN THE GLOBAL
MARKETPLACE.
AND THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, MEANS
JOBS FOR AMERICANS.
HERE'S THE REPORT AGAIN.
ON THE POTENTIAL HARM TO OUR
ECONOMY, IF WE DON'T INVEST IN A
CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE.
I QUOTE -- "THE EUROPEAN UNION
HAS ALREADY INCREASED ITS
RELIANCE ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND
PUT A PRICE ON Co2 EMISSIONS
FROM MAJOR SOURCES WITHOUT
DETECTABLE ADVERSE ECONOMIC
EFFECTS.
CHINA HAS PLACED LOW CARBON AND
CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRIES AT THE
HEART OF THE COUNTRY'S STRATEGY
FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH AND IS
INVESTMENTS.
MAKING LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC
FOR INSTANCE, IN SMART GRID
ENERGY TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS TO
SUPPORT THIS GROWTH.
FIRMS OPERATING IN THE UNITED
STATES COULD FIND THEMSELVES
INCREASINGLY OUT OF STEP WITH
THE REST OF THE WORLD AND
WITHOUT THE SAME ROBUST DOMESTIC
MARKETS FOR CLIMATE-FRIENDLY
PRODUCTS.
MOREOVER, U.S. FIRMS IN
ENERGY-INTENSIVE SECTORS COULD
BE DISADVANTAGED RELATIVE TO
THEIR MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
FOREIGN COMPETITORS IF ENERGY
PRICES RISE IN COMING DECADES.
THAT'S NO IDLE SPECULATION.
WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE UNITED
STATES FALL BEHIND IN CLEAN
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES.
WE INVENTED THE FIRST SOLAR
CELL.
WE NOW RANK FIFTH AMONG THE
COUNTRIES THAT MANUFACTURE SOLAR
COMPONENTS.
FIFTH.
THE U.S. HAS ONLY ONE OF THE TOP
TEN COMPANIES MANUFACTURING
SOLAR ENERGY COMPONENTS AND ONLY
ONE OF THE TOP TEN COMPANIES
MANUFACTURING WIND TURBINES.
HALF OF AMERICA'S INSTALLED WIND
TURBINES WERE MANUFACTURED
OVERSEAS.
PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND,
INSTALLED TWO WIND TURBINES, ONE
COMPANY.
WAS MANUFACTURED BY A DANISH
THE OTHER BY AN AUSTRIAN
COMPANY, ITS COMPONENTS
DELIVERED TO AOPB ISLAND BY A
CANADIAN DISTRIBUTE TOR.
IMAGINE IF WE DROVE DEMAND FOR
MANUFACTURING OF WIND TURBINES,
SOLAR CELLS AND PANELS,
RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
IMAGINE THE PEOPLE WE COULD PUT
BACK TO WORK, THE FACTORIES WE
COULD REOPEN, THE ENERGY THIS
ECONOMY.
GROWTH WOULD INFUSE INTO OUR
THE NEW ENERGY ECONOMY THAT
BECKONS US HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY AS
BIGGER THAN THE TECH REVOLUTION
THAT BROUGHT US OUR LATOPS AND
IPADS AND BLACKBERRY REUS AND
THE INTERNET SERVICE SO
IMPORTANT A PART OF OUR DAILY
HRAOEUFRBGS WHETHER WE
TWITTER -- LIVES, WHETHER WE
TWITTER OR GO ON EBAY OR SHOP
AMAZON OR GO ON FACEBOOK.
IN 15 YEARS THAT INDUSTRY GREW
ECONOMY.
FROM NOTHING TO A $1 TRILLION
A $1 TRILLION ECONOMY.
BY COMPARISON, THE GLOBAL ENERGY
ECONOMY IS $6 TRILLION.
WE DO NOT AS A COUNTRY WANT TO
FOUL OUT OF THE RACE -- WANT TO
FALL OUT OF THE RACE TO CONTROL
THAT NEW ENERGY ECONOMY, AND YET
DOING.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
AMERICA DESIGNED MUCH OF THE
UNDERLYING ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
THAT THE WORLD IS USING, BUT
OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SET SMART
POLICIES AND PROVIDED FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES TO THEIR INDUSTRIES,
AND NOW THEY'RE PULLING AWAY
FROM US AND BRINGING THOSE NEW
TECHNOLOGIES TO MARKET.
A $6 TRILLION MARKET, AND OUR
FOREIGN COMPETITORS ARE PULLING
AWAY FROM US AND BRINGING OUR
OWN TECHNOLOGIES TO THAT MARKET.
OUR COMPETITORS ARE SEIZING THE
ADVANTAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND
DEPLOYMENT OF NEW ENERGY
TECHNOLOGIES, AND WE ARE LETTING
THEM.
BUT WE CAN STILL CHANGE THIS
TRAJECTORY.
WE CAN FACE UP TO THE FACTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE, SEE THE
OPPORTUNITY IN THAT LOOMING
THREAT, STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY
AND CREATE JOBS.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
REPORT IS JUST ONE REMEMBER --
ONE MORE REMINDER OF THIS
HISTORIC CHARGE TO OUR CONGRESS,
AN HISTORIC CHARGE AT WHICH
DUTY.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE FAILING IN OUR
I THANK THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I WOULD NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
I ASK THAT THE CALL OF
THE QUORUM BE TERMINATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK THAT WOTDER OF
COLORADO TO BE THE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF WILDLIFE TO BE SENT