WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee at a press conference to urge some in Congress to stop debating whether climate change is real and instead work together to fight global warming. The press conference was held in advance of a hearing that will be chaired by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) this afternoon. Cruz has stacked the panel with academics who doubt the impact of global warming.
Cruz's hearing is timed to happen as the United Nations climate talks (COP21) continue. Udall attended COP21 last weekend, and discussed the importance of U.S. action on global warming, including critical climate change research being done at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories in New Mexico.
"New Mexico is really at the center of the storm when it comes to climate change impacts. We've seen devastating wildfires, drought and floods. And Los Alamos and Sandia national labs are doing critical research on the impact of global warming and ways to fight it," Udall said. "We need to stop debating whether climate change is real. The science is settled, and Senator Cruz is out of touch. The American people want action. Most of Congress wants action. We need to work together and lead the world in reducing carbon pollution and fighting global warming."
"I was impressed by the excitement that people from all over the world feel about the efforts at COP21," Udall continued. "One hundred eighty-four countries are stepping forward with specific targets and specific plans to deal with climate change. Twenty-eight of the world's billionaires have stepped forward to invest billions of dollars in innovation. They're working together to find solutions, mobilizing governments around the world to do renewable energy research and spur innovation."
Joining Udall at the press conference were Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
Udall will attend the hearing chaired by Cruz in the Senate Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness, titled "Data or Dogma? Promoting Open Inquiry in the Debate over the Magnitude of Human Impact on Earth's Climate," at 3 p.m. ET/1 p.m. MT today. It will be streamed online at www.commerce.senate.gov.
