Transcripts For CSPAN2 Key Capitol Hill Hearings 20140304 :

I was 24 years old. While most of my friends spent their summer at the jersey shore, i sat in a shot, steamy courtroom and watched in horror and disbelief as the man who murdered my husband tried to turn the courtroom into a political stage where he could spew his hate and contempt for this country and our justice system. At the moment my husbands bloodstained shirt was displayed by the evidence handler, Mumia Abujamal smirked at me, demonstrating his contempt for Law Enforcement. Thankfully a racially mixed injury found him guilty. The following day they sentenced him to death for the brutal act he had committed. Thats when my second nightmare began. For three decades, my family and i endured appeal after appeal. Each rooted in lies, disportions, and allegations of civil rights violations. And year after year, judge after judge the conviction and sentence were unanimously upheld. Then 30 years after the fact, my family, society and i were denied justice when three Federal District court judges who had found error in every kopetski tal case that has ever come before them, overturned the death sentence. Today as my husband lies 33 years in the grave, his killer has become a wealthy celebrity. He pens books and social commentaries, critical of our country. He regularly uses his nearly unlimited access to the prison telephone to do radio programs, as cable has cable tv in his cell and is permitted to hold his wife, children and grandchildren in his arms when they visit. Old wounds have been ripped open and additional insult is brought upon our Law Enforcement community in this country by president obamas nomination of Debo Adegbile. While publicly demonstrating he doesnt even know my husbands name, mr. Adegbile feigns sympathy and caring for my husband and me. In reality he was a willing accomplice in Mumia Abujamals k34reus. He chose to throw the wait of his Organization Behind Mumia Abujamal and has publicly stated he would get Mumia Abujamal off death row. Mr. Adegbile holds Mumia Abujamal, a row morseless cop killer in high esteem. We know this because attorneys working under supervision have stood before public rallies held in support of my husbands killer and openly professed it was an dream honor toen rep the man who put a hollow based bullet in my husbands brain as he lay on the ground,about wounded, defenseless. While mr. Adegbile and those who support his nomination will undoubtedly argue he did not personally make such statements he did nothing to counter or stop them. In the end like so many toarps before him, mr. Adegbiles allegations of civil rights abuse rang hollow. Mumia abujamals defort death sentence was not overturned because of abuse us but because three judges with a personal dislike for cap tal punishment conveniently decided that the wording in a form may had have con used jurors. Through his words, decisions and action he has clearly demonstrate he is he is not the best person to fill this important position. Certainly there are others with similar qualifications that would be better choices. I would argue that mr. Adegbiles decision to defend a cop killer should preclude him from holding any public position. Your decision means a lot to me personally. The thought that mr. Adegbile would be rewarded in part for the work did he for my husbands killer is revolting. Throughout my long ordeal i have frequently been labeled a racist by many who support my husbands killer simply because he is black and im white. Ive also been asked to throw my name, my voice and support behind political candidates from both parties. In each case i have declined. Ive always believed that my husbands death and my quest for justice transcends politics and race. From my heart, im asking you to do the same thing. Set aside any partisan feelings you have and do the right thing today when you vote on mr. Adegbiles confirmation. Please spare my family and me from further pain. Sincerely, maureen faulkner. Mr. President , as the Justice Departments web site explains the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department quote fulfills a Critical Mission in upholding the civil and Constitutional Rights of all individuals end quote. Clearly this requires that the head of the Civil Rights Division have an absolute commitment to truth and justice. There are many highly qualified americans who can carry out this Critical Mission. Mr. Adegbiles record creates serious doubts that he is among them. For these reasons, mr. President , i urge you and my colleagues to oppose the nomination of mr. Debo adegbile to serve as assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and i note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call a senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from rhode island. Mr. Whitehouse thank you, mr. President. Are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are. Mr. Whitehouse may i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be suspended. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Whitehouse i have to begin with two unanimous consent requests for committees to meet today during todays session of the senate. They have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. I ask unanimous consent that these requests be agreed to and these requests be printed in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Whitehouse thank you, mr. President. Im here now for the 60th time to ask my colleagues to wake up to the threats of Climate Change, to see the damage that is being used by our caused by our shifting climate we need look no further than the Winter Olympics. The most recent Winter Olympics concluded last month. Over 200 countries broadcast the event to an estimated 3. 8 billion people worldwide. In rhode island, we rooted for our very own rarissa castelli who brought broth home a bronze medal in pairs figure skating. But what does the future hold for the Winter Olympics. The presiding officer th the Winter Olympics . Mr. Whitehouse snow pack in traditionally snowy regions is decliepg. A report from the university of waterloo found that february daytime high temperatures during the winter gaiments games have been steadily increasing games have been steadily increasing from the 1920s and 1950s to the 21st century. This forced the International Olympic committee to take drastic measures to ensure adequate conditions, ramping up the use of snowmaking machines and physically transferring large amounts of snow to the site of the games. This is just the beginning of things to come. If our emissions are left unchecked like the republicans and the polluters prefer, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports we will likely see warming between 4. 7 degrees and 8. 6 degrees fahrenheit by the end of the century. The waterloo report found only ten of the 19 cities to previously host the Winter Olympics would be cold enough to host the games by the 2080s. There could be no sochi olympics, no vancouver or squaw valley or sarajevo olympics. And thats if were able to stabilize and ultimately reduce our Global Carbon emissions before the year 2100. If Carbon Pollution continues on the current pace, only six of these cities could host the games. Forget about torino and that begano nagano, lake placid and lillehammer. Over 110 athletes signed a letter asking leaders to take action to curb Climate Change. They said and ill quote here as winter olympic athletes, our lives revolve around the winter and if chieng Climate Change continues at this pace, the economies of the towns where we live and train will be ruined. Our sports will be forever changed and the Winter Olympics as we know it will be a thing of the past. Much as we all love the Winter Olympics, we could do without them. We cant very well do without freshwater. Glaciers represent the largest reserves of freshwater on earth. Their freshwater feeds our rivers and streams, waters our farms and ranches, and provides some of our Drinking Water. Glacier loss is happening all over the world including right here in the United States. And just like atmospheric warming, Ocean Acidification and sea level rise, this evidence of Climate Change is not a theoretical projection. It is not a complex scientific model. It is simple observation and measurement. This is grinnell graisher glacier in montanas Glacier National park. On top we see the glacier in 1940. On the bottom is the same spot in 2004. Grinnell glacier has lost 90 of its ice in the last century. The glacier has almost disappeared, or as the United States Geological Survey puts it, effects of Climate Change change sorry, effects of global chieng are strikingly Climate Change are strikingly clear. The the United States Geological Survey further explains and ill quote here, glacier recession is underway and many glaciers have already disappeared. The retreat of these small alpine glaciers reflects changes in recent climate as glaciers respond to altered temperature and precipitation. It has been estimated that there were approximately 150 glaciers present in 1850, and most glaciers were still present in 1910 when the park was established. In 2010 we consider there to be only 25 glaciers larger than 25 acres remaining in Glacier National park. 150 glaciers 100 years ago, 25 now. Here we see a similar change at Lillian Glacier in washingtons Olympic National park. On the top we see a large, healthy glacier in 1905, and this almost unrecognizable view of the same landscape in 2010. And, of course, this is not just happening in the United States. Countries across the world are seeing rapid glacier loss. A 2013 article published in nature found clear evidence that the tibetan glaciers, the worlds Third Largest ice reservoir behind antarctica and greenland, are shrinking. Even at altitudes above 20,000 feet. South americas andean glaciers are retreating at an increasing rate, climatologist from Ohio State University at nassau loaned my office a piece of a plant that had been preserved under the calcaia ice cap in peru for at least 5,200 years. A little bitty piece of plant but under the pressure of the ice and the cold it had been preserved for 52 centuries. Today, due to glacial retreat, it was exposed and i now have that piece of plant in my office. Glaciers are some of the most largest reservoirs of fresh water on edge. According to the United States Geological Survey, glaciers store 69 of the worlds fresh water. Annual spring glacial melt provides a dependable source of water for streams, plants, spawning fish, farming, and now often hydroelectricity. In central asia, hundreds of millions of people rely on the tibetan glaciers to supply Drinking Water. The same goes for the people of peru and bolivia in the andes. This is a crisis we must take seriously. Unfortunately, Congress Remains barricaded behind a blockade of polluter influence. Just last week a republican witness at an environment and Public Works Committee hearing on adapting to Climate Change argued that wed all be better off if the glaciers just went away. If they just melted away. After all, he told the committee, we evolved at the equator in a climate where freezing weather did not exist. It could be said that frost and ice are the enemies of life. He continued, obviously if the glaciers stop melting, there will be no more metawall street from them no more melt water from them, so are you saying that you want the glaciers to stop melting . En this where would the Irrigation Water come from i say, let the glaciers melt. Thats the witness the republicans put up. Let the glaciers melt. I guess he missed the difference between seasonal melting, whose annual rhythms fill our streams and rivers for Drinking Water and fishing and farming and glaciers outright melting away. Now, mr. President , theres another little trick the deniers like to play when its or a little snow falls here in washington or back in their home states, they say, how could there be Global Warming when it is cold out . And, yes, we have had a cold winter. But what scientists and other levelheaded observers understand is the changes occurring in the climate are happening over longer periods than just one winter and across broader regions than just one state or even the United States. Moreover, shortterm temperature anomalies, like a coldsnap, might be worse because of Climate Change from changes in the jetstream, for instance. This chart shows how worldwide winter temperatures every year since 1880 compare with the 20th century average. You think there is a trend visible there . Over 100 years. Yes, winter is still cold, but its not as cold as it used to be. And this change is ravaging Winter Sports and tourism across the United States. The National Resources Natural Resources Defense Council found that between 1999 and 2010, a lack of snowfall cost our ski industry a billion dollars. And up to 27,000 jobs. Before the end of the century, the number of economically viable ski locations in New Hampshire and maine will be cut in half. Skiing in new york will be cut by threequarters. And the report says there will be no ski area in connecticut or massachusetts. Well, if you know your geography, you know if thats true of connecticut and massachusetts, there goes Rhode Islands yagu valley ski slope. The bicameral task force on Climate Change, which i started with representative henry waxman, asked the National Basketball association, major league baseball, the National Hockey league, the National Football league and the United States Olympic Committee to tell us what Climate Change means for their sports. The National Hockey league chemicadeputy commissioner wrot, hockeys relationship with the environment is unique. Our sport was born on frozen ponds, where to this day players of all ages and skill levels learn to skate. For this magnificent tradition to continue, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of maintaining the environment. The Park City Foundation in utah predicts an annual local temperature increase of 6. 8 degrees fahrenheit by 2075. Which could cause a complete loss of snowpack in the lower park city resort area of the rocky mountains. The foundation estimates that this will result in thousands of lost jobs, tens of millions in lost earnings, and hundreds of millions in lost economic growth. Mr. President , while we in congress equivocate and stall, the evidence of Climate Change relentlessly mounts. The damage is being done in our atmosphere and our oceans, and the longer it takes us to wake up, the harder and more expensive it will be to fix it. The sickening part is that everyone else is waking up. 65 of voters support the president taking significant steps to address Climate Change now. Another poll found that 82 of americans believe we should start preparing now for rising sea levels and severe storms from Climate Change. Even in the party that wont speak the words Climate Change any longer not since Citizens United cleared the way fo