New Committee Will Tackle Global Warming, Oil Dependence

I am really pleased to have been selected by Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.) to participate in the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Global warming and our dependence on oil are probably two of the most important issues facing the future of our planet. Not only do global warming and our energy dependence risk our economic security, national security and threaten our environment and public health, our children and our children’s children are the ones that are going to have to deal with the repercussions of our consumption and dependence today.

This new Select Committee will continue to the raise the profile of these issues by holding hearings locally, nationally and internationally to gather information needed to protect our national security and the environment. We will recommend policies, strategies and other innovations to Congress to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy and prevent global warming. Through all of this, we are going to target the younger generation, who have the most at stake in this debate, by using cutting edge means of communications.

It is about time that Congress seriously addresses these issues. It has been overlooked for far too long and now is the time for serious solutions and actions and I am proud to be a part.