Hoyer Floor Remarks on H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act
For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2019
Contact Info:
Annaliese Davis 202-225-4131
WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the Floor today in support of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. Below is a link to the video and excerpts from his remarks:
“Climate change is perhaps one of the greatest threats we face as a nation and as a planet, those who deny it do so at great peril to the health, security, and economic prosperity of our country.”
“H.R. 9 will not solve climate change. The first step in any journey does not get you there, but without it, you get nowhere. House Democrats are laying down a marker today that we are committed to tackling this challenge with the seriousness it deserves. Recognizing that combating climate change must be a global effort, this legislation prohibits the Trump Administration from using any funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.”
“We have been the leader of the free world. Withdrawing from an agreement that was voluntarily entered into by over 170 nations shrugs off the mantle of leadership, moral and intellectual.”
“If the United States withdraws, we will be the only nation in the world not to be part of this historic agreement, which embraces the goals previously set by our country, joined by the contribution of other nations, to reduce car pollution, promote technological innovation, and help avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.”
“If we ignore the challenges of climate change, we will also close ourselves off to opportunities to take the lead in the race to develop and deploy cleaner and more efficient technologies, which would create job, grow businesses, and be a boon to our economy.”
“America, if it is to be great, must not sit on the sidelines and shrug like Atlas in confronting the rest of the world. We must act on climate change.”
“I want to thank my dear friend, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel, for his leadership and his strong voice on behalf of what is an international issue. It is an issue for us, but it is an international issue.”
“I want to thank, as well, my dear friend, Representative Kathy Castor, for her leadership as Chair of the Select Committee on Climate Crisis and for introducing H.R. 9.”
“I also want to thank Chairman Frank Pallone and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership.”
“There have been over 30 hearings on this issue, all concluded we must have a concerted effort to address climate change, and House Democrats will continue to do our part.”
“This ought to be a bipartisan vote. Every citizen – Republican, Democrat, independent, non-affiliated – are going to be affected if we do not deal with climate change, and their children as well.”
“I look forward to bringing to the Floor future legislation from our committees, which seeks to tackle the climate crisis with substantive proposals. But I urge my colleagues: let's take this first step. Let's say we are not going to withdraw from the rest of the world. Let's say we're going to continue to lead on an issue that there is a global consensus on, that we must deal with climate change. Take this step. Assert America’s leadership.”
Click here to watch the full remarks.
“Climate change is perhaps one of the greatest threats we face as a nation and as a planet, those who deny it do so at great peril to the health, security, and economic prosperity of our country.”
“H.R. 9 will not solve climate change. The first step in any journey does not get you there, but without it, you get nowhere. House Democrats are laying down a marker today that we are committed to tackling this challenge with the seriousness it deserves. Recognizing that combating climate change must be a global effort, this legislation prohibits the Trump Administration from using any funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.”
“We have been the leader of the free world. Withdrawing from an agreement that was voluntarily entered into by over 170 nations shrugs off the mantle of leadership, moral and intellectual.”
“If the United States withdraws, we will be the only nation in the world not to be part of this historic agreement, which embraces the goals previously set by our country, joined by the contribution of other nations, to reduce car pollution, promote technological innovation, and help avoid the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.”
“If we ignore the challenges of climate change, we will also close ourselves off to opportunities to take the lead in the race to develop and deploy cleaner and more efficient technologies, which would create job, grow businesses, and be a boon to our economy.”
“America, if it is to be great, must not sit on the sidelines and shrug like Atlas in confronting the rest of the world. We must act on climate change.”
“I want to thank my dear friend, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel, for his leadership and his strong voice on behalf of what is an international issue. It is an issue for us, but it is an international issue.”
“I want to thank, as well, my dear friend, Representative Kathy Castor, for her leadership as Chair of the Select Committee on Climate Crisis and for introducing H.R. 9.”
“I also want to thank Chairman Frank Pallone and the Energy and Commerce Committee for their leadership.”
“There have been over 30 hearings on this issue, all concluded we must have a concerted effort to address climate change, and House Democrats will continue to do our part.”
“This ought to be a bipartisan vote. Every citizen – Republican, Democrat, independent, non-affiliated – are going to be affected if we do not deal with climate change, and their children as well.”
“I look forward to bringing to the Floor future legislation from our committees, which seeks to tackle the climate crisis with substantive proposals. But I urge my colleagues: let's take this first step. Let's say we are not going to withdraw from the rest of the world. Let's say we're going to continue to lead on an issue that there is a global consensus on, that we must deal with climate change. Take this step. Assert America’s leadership.”