Dear Friends,
The National Academy of Sciences has published new research suggesting that the storm surge, saltwater creep, and severe flooding that frequently imperil South Florida are just previews of the consequences to come due to climate change. Researchers have not only found that our oceans are rising faster today than they have in over 3,000 years, but predict that our seas will rise between 1.7 and four feet by the year 2100.
Communities across America are already struggling to cope with climate change. In New Jersey, shore towns found themselves flooded by icy waters when a recent snowstorm brought powerful storm surge. In Annapolis, Maryland, the number of coastal flood days recorded each decade grew by twelve times within the past 50 years. Even in Colorado, warmer winters and reduced snowfall has disrupted tourism and the ski industry.
This research must add new urgency to our efforts to reduce carbon pollution and slow the warming of our planet. Unfortunately, the partisanship that has dominated Washington in recent years has made discussions on climate change virtually impossible. It is time for that to change. That is why I recently teamed up with Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) to establish the Climate Solutions Caucus – the first bipartisan task force on climate policy in the House of Representatives.
In the coming weeks, Congressman Curbelo and I will be organizing briefings that bring Republicans and Democrats together to discuss climate change with leaders in local government and the private sector grappling with these challenges.
Together, we hope to arrive at bipartisan, market-driven solutions to reduce carbon pollution, accelerate our transition to clean energy, and pass on a safer climate to the next generation. I look forward to keeping you informed on the work of the Climate Solutions Caucus.
Kind regards,
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