ENVIRONMENT

Climate change is an urgent and existential threat to public safety, our economy, and our national security. We need to act now.

As an engineer and Air Force veteran who helped to assess critical threats to our safety and security, I am acutely aware of the grave threat that climate change poses to our community, country, and planet. Already, we are living with an increase in extreme weather events – flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, and more – that are causing incredible harm.

We need to take decisive and urgent action to stop climate change in its tracks and protect our environment. The data show that in order to save our planet, we need to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. That requires a coordinated and concerted global response, the aggressive deployment of existing technologies to limit carbon emissions, and developing new technologies that can expedite our response.

In Congress, I am using my scientific background to push solutions that will fight climate change and protect our environment by:

  • Helping to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. Among other cost saving measures, this bill directs historic investments in domestic manufacturing of clean energy technology, research and development, and climate resilient infrastructure projects. All of this will help us transition to a cleaner economy and increase our energy independence.

  • Encouraging global cooperation to address climate change. America is only one piece of the puzzle. We need global cooperation to meet this global challenge. That’s why I strengthened the bipartisan Climate Action Now Act with an amendment that requires the U.S. to use diplomatic tools to help other countries meet their climate commitments.

  • Investing in research for the solutions of tomorrow. Existing technologies can only take us so far. We need to aggressively invest in research that will allow us to expedite our transition to a clean economy. That is why I support research into key areas like improving battery storage, more efficient solar cells, and making nuclear energy sufficiently safe and cost-effective.

  • Protecting public lands. Our community is home to many environmental treasures, which we have a responsibility to protect. I am proud to support the Great American Outdoors Act, as well as bills to help with abandoned mine reclamation in Pennsylvania to keep clean the “downstream” waters like the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Rivers that we all enjoy.