Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following opening statement this morning at the Committee on Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing titled “Preparing for Climate Change: Adaptation Policies and Programs”:

“Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important hearing today.  You are to be commended for the strong record you continue to build as we move toward comprehensive climate change legislation.

“Today’s hearing is of a subject matter that is important.  The funds generated by an auction are already in great demand for all manner of things, some more meritorious than others. As we have already seen in the President’s budget, the funds generated from an auction are being counted on for budget purposes. 

“As the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change noted, “observational evidence from all continents and most oceans shows that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases.”

“In that same report, we are warned that in the lifetime of a child born today, 20 to 30 percent of the world’s plant and animal species will be on the brink of extinction if we don’t take action now.

“The great conservationist and the 26th President of these United States, Theodore Roosevelt, taught us that conservation is a great moral issue – that it is our duty, as it insures the safety and continuance of the nation.

“So, Mr. Chairman, as we move forward, I remain committed to securing a dedicated fund for natural resource adaptation.  I encourage the members of the Subcommittee to look at Subtitle B of the Dingell - Boucher draft which is carefully crafted Natural Resource Adaptation language that was written by my staff and the staff at the Natural Resources Committee and has the support of most if not all in the conservation community. 

“Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing.  I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today.”