Philadelphia, PA – Today, U.S. Senators Robert Casey (D-PA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) toured southeastern Pennsylvania to learn about the effects of climate change on Pennsylvanians’ health, economy, and environment. Pennsylvania is the 15th state Whitehouse has visited in recent years to better understand how a changing climate affects state economies, disrupts local ecosystems, and alters the way of life in American communities. Whitehouse and Casey issued the following statements after the tour:
“The effects of climate change are around every corner. Today, I met mothers and doctors in Philadelphia who care for children with health conditions like asthma that worsen when temperatures and pollution levels are high. In Rhode Island, researchers at Brown University and the Rhode Island Department of Health have found that there are significantly more emergency department visits and deaths happening on hot days and hot days are on the rise due to climate change. I also met with local environmental advocates working hard to adapt to the changes they see in their community and limit the pollution that drives it. Thank you to Senator Casey and the Pennsylvanians who hosted me today, both for welcoming me to your state and stepping up to address climate change,” said Whitehouse.
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Pennsylvanians, today, about the urgent need to act on climate change,” Senator Casey said. “Having Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, who has become a national and international leader on climate change, join me was an opportunity to make clear the impact that climate change is having throughout the nation. We have an abiding obligation to our children to take steps to stop the horrific impacts of climate change from malnutrition to more severe weather to childhood stunting. We can accomplish this while protecting employment and creating a new generation of jobs that pay family sustaining incomes.”
Whitehouse is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Climate Action Task Force. Casey serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
During the trip, Casey hosted Whitehouse for a roundtable discussion in Philadelphia with local residents, faith leaders, health care providers, and public officials about the effects of climate change on human health and the moral imperative for action; visited CertainTeed/St. Gobain North America’s LEED Platinum-certified headquarters in Malvern; toured the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, a 1,000 acre protected area that spans Philadelphia and Delaware counties; and met with officials from the City of Philadelphia who are seeking to make the city more sustainable.
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