Tuesday during a House Oversight Committee hearing titled “The Need for Leadership to Combat Climate Change and Protect National Security,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said the United States would have “blood on our hands” if lawmakers do not address climate change.
Ocasio-Cortez asked, “Do you think that neglecting to address these threats is — could contribute to an American — the loss of American life?”
Another witness, former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said, “Yes.”
Ocasio-Cortez followed up by asking, “And do you think that denial or even delaying in that action could cost us American lives?”
Hagel said “Yes.”
Ocasio-Cortez then asked, “Secretary Kerry do you think that appointing a federal panel that questions 26 years of established climate science be responsible for the loss of American life?”
Former Secretary of State John Kerry replied, “It could be.”
Ocasio-Cortez said, “So I think what we have laid out here is a very clear moral problem and in terms of leadership if we fail to act, or even if we delay in acting, we will have blood on our hands. Um, I don’t know if you’re allowed to agree with that Secretary Kerry or Secretary Hagel, would you agree with that assessment?”
Kerry replied. “As long as we do nothing, congresswoman, we are complicit in our acts of omission and commission of what we’re doing to choose for our energy, etc. and we’re going to contribute to people dying, we’re going to contribute to trillions of dollars of damage to property and we will change the face of life on this planet.”
(h/t Grabien)
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
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