Dear Peter,

          Thank you for contacting me about climate change and its effects on our environment and public health. As a former Navy pilot, combat veteran and retired NASA astronaut, it is an honor to continue my service to our country representing Arizona in the United States Senate. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the issues facing our state and our country. Hearing from Arizonans helps me better serve our state, and I hope you will continue to share your perspectives and suggestions.

          Data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shows that the planet’s average surface temperature has increased by more than two degrees and ocean temperatures have warmed by at least one degree in the past century. This has caused ice sheets and glaciers to shrink, sea levels to rise, reduced snowfall, worsened ocean acidification, and resulted in more extreme weather events. In Arizona, this means twice as many days over 100 degrees in Phoenix, which could endanger Arizona’s economy, by the next century. Longer and more severe droughts will hurt Arizona’s access to clean water and pose increased public health risks. I myself saw changes in our planet between my first and fourth flights to space while at NASA. Left unchecked, climate change poses a threat to Arizona’s economy and our way of life, but as one of the nation’s leading producers of renewable energy, this is also an opportunity for Arizona to take a leadership role in addressing climate change that could lead to  economic growth and more good paying jobs.

          I’m committed to finding commonsense, bipartisan solutions to address our changing climate and have introduced several pieces of legislation with my Republican and Democrat colleagues that would address specific aspects of climate change. That’s why I introduced S. 2318, the Demand-Response Management Act of 2021, which would improve the reliability of our electric grid, while reducing emissions, and why I introduced S. 1672, the ROCKS Act, which would foster the use of locally-sourced, climate friendly building materials in infrastructure projects. I also worked closely with my colleague, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) to introduce S. 2150, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act, which would require the federal government to study and make recommendations to improve worsening wildfires, often made more severe by climate change, in the western United States. And, as a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, I helped to shape and introduce S. 914, the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which provides more than $35 billion for water infrastructure projects and will help address drought conditions in Arizona.

          I also worked for months with a bipartisan group of Senators to write and pass the landmark Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act that will put Arizonans to work upgrading our most critical infrastructure. Our bipartisan infrastructure bill will expand Arizona’s transit, fix roads, modernize our ports of entry, improve our aging water infrastructure and bring much-needed high-speed internet to our rural and tribal communities. Most importantly, this bill is going to bring high-paying jobs to our state and ensure that it remains the best place to live, work and grow. It also included the text of the Demand-Response Management Act, the ROCKS Act, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act, and the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act. I also fought to include critical investments to help combat climate change and make future infrastructure more resilient, including securing more than $250 million to help implement the Lower Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, $7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, $7.5 billion for clean and zero-emission school busses, $8.7 billion for the new PROTECT grant program, which funds transportation projects that will reduce carbon emissions and promote resiliency, and more than $47 billion in other efforts, including efforts to promote resiliency to wildfires, floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events. On August 10, 2021, I voted in favor of this bill when the Senate passed it by a bipartisan vote of 69 to 30. And on November 15, 2021, I was proud to be in attendance at the White House, along with both Republican and Democratic senators and local officials from Arizona, while President Biden signed this legislation into law.  

          I’m proud to have delivered these historic investments that respond to the growing threats posed by a changing climate, and I know more must be done. As  a member of both the Senate Committees on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), I will continue to work on legislation that makes investments in clean energy and transportation, and climate change mitigation. As Arizonans, we understand the risks associated with longer and hotter summers, prolonged droughts, and worsening forest fires, and the economic benefits and job growth that renewable energy can bring to our state. As Arizona’s senator, I’m committed to working with my colleagues in the United States Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, to find commonsense solutions to make renewable energy innovations cost-competitive, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect Arizona’s natural treasures for future generations. 

          Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this issue, and I hope you will continue to contact my office with any future comments or questions. I’m committed to being transparent and accountable with all Arizonans, which is why I release my public schedule every week at kelly.senate.gov. There you can also sign up for my newsletter, receive assistance with a federal agency, and learn more about my work as Arizona’s senator.

Sincerely,

Mark Kelly
United States Senator