SEEC Participates in Climate Impact Tour of Olympic National Park
Washington, D.C. – This week, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) embarked on a two-day climate impact tour of Olympic National Park led by SEEC Co-Chair Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05) and hosted by SEEC Member Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06). They were joined by four additional SEEC Members — Katie Porter (CA-47), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Annie Kuster (NH-02) — to learn about the significant impacts of climate change on Olympic and all of the Pacific Northwest.
“I have visited nine parks across the United States, from Denali in Alaska to Acadia in Maine, and have seen firsthand how our parks are faring against climate change. Few trips have been more eye opening than this tour of Olympic National Park,” said Congressman Quigley. “Olympic is home to some of our nation’s most captivating glaciers and as a result of rapidly warming temperatures, they are disappearing right before our eyes. As they melt, the ecosystems within them struggle to survive, causing ripple effects across the country. We also witnessed how warming temperatures and rising sea levels are influencing not only marine life, but the native tribes that have called the Olympic Peninsula home for hundreds of years. Congress must continue to address climate change and help ensure Olympic and all of our National Parks continue to thrive amidst this pressing threat. If we don’t act, generations of Americans after us will be left wondering why we failed them and why we failed to protect our national treasures from climate change.”
“A critical part of my job is to elevate the issues important to our region – so it was an honor to host Members of Congress from the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition at Olympic National Park and on the Olympic Peninsula to talk about some of the unique challenges and opportunities facing Northwest Washington,” said Congressman Kilmer, whose district encompasses Olympic National Park. “Our region is seeing firsthand how climate change is impacting public lands and putting local economies at risk. From highlighting tribal communities moving to higher ground because of rising sea levels, to the work being done to protect the environmental health of Olympic National Park, it was valuable to showcase the impacts of climate change on our region to Members of Congress who focus on these issues and serve on key committees back in DC. I’m grateful to my colleagues who took the time to visit our neck of the woods and hear from local community leaders, park officials, tribes, and environmental advocates.”