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Senator Klobuchar Calls on Administration to Speak the Truth on Climate Change

Klobuchar denounces Administration attempt to redact scientific facts from CDC testimony

October 25, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today joined Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in denouncing the Administration’s editing of crucial testimony on the “Human Health Effects of Global Warming” before the Environment and Public Works Committee.  The Senators underscored the need for truth before Congress and the public regarding global warming, on one of the most important issues facing our nation.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, the Director of the Center for Disease Control, testified earlier this week before the Committee on the health effects of global warming.  However, it was later revealed that much of her testimony was cut by the Bush Administration.  According to the White House, that information was removed from Dr. Gerberding's testimony because it wasn't consistent with scientific findings.   However, much of the redacted testimony is found in recent IPCC reports.

“In America, I believe our scientists and public health officers should be free to offer their honest views without fear or favor, especially when testifying to Congress,” said Klobuchar.  “Director Geberding’s initial draft did present the facts.  But the final testimony she gave fell short of that pledge because the White House eliminated discussion of the threats to public health posed by global warming.  This is just the latest incident in what has been a pattern of this administration attempting to suppress science.”

Klobuchar specifically noted the connection between Dr. Gerberding’s redacted testimony and the severe climate conditions we’ve seen this year, including the drought in the South and the wildfires in the West.

Dr. Gerberding’s original testimony stated: “The west coast of the United States is expected to experience significant strains on water supplies as regional precipitation declines and mountain snowpacks are depleted. Forest fires are expected to increase in frequency, severity, distribution, and duration.”  However, the Bush Administration redacted this text.

“As the wildfires rage out west, the Administration is censoring testimony back east,” said Klobuchar.

Senator Boxer has sent a letter to the President asking that a “full accounting” of the edits to Dr. Gerberding’s testimony be sent to the Environment and Public Works Committee, on which Klobuchar serves, by Monday, October 29.

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