Durbin: Climate Action Cannot Wait
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of the climate change provisions in the House-passed Build Back Better Act, which would create economic prosperity and growth through innovations like electric vehicles and renewable energy. Durbin went on to call out his Republican colleagues for their lack of urgency—and frequent denial of science—in addressing climate change.
“How many times in the past year have members of the Senate come to the floor to respond to a once in a century heat wave or once in a century storm that has hit their home state?” Durbin said. “Each of these deadly and disastrous weather events are related to the next, and it’s fair warning to all of us that what is happening to the climate in the United States is happening around the world.”
Durbin continued, “When we talk about Build Back Better, the reconciliation bill, and that part of the bill that is focused on environmental resilience—being ready to protect ourselves and to bounce back if necessary when extreme weather hits—it’s the topic in this morning’s newspaper and it will be in tomorrow’s as well. We ought to be coming together and finally put aside our political differences and realize that climate change is a threat to us now and even greater threat to our children and grandchildren.”
During his speech, Durbin also shared a letter he received from Dr. Dane Glueck, a small business owner who develops and installs solar energy systems throughout the Midwest. In his letter, Dr. Glueck expressed support for the Build Back Better package’s tax incentives for renewable energy systems, and argued that these investments will enable him to hire more workers in Illinois and expand his company’s operations.
“Let’s give [Dr. Glueck] the incentive that he needs,” said Durbin. “It’s time to transform our environmental crisis into an economic catalyst.”
Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.
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