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Quigley Statement on Unanswered Debate Invite to EPA Administrator Pruitt

June 6, 2017

CHICAGO--Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), released the following statement after his third invitation to debate EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on the science of climate change went unanswered. Since Mr. Pruitt did not attend last night's discussion, Rep. Quigley held a Q&A session with concerned Chicagoans instead.

"Administrator Pruitt leads an agency legally obligated to regulate the harmful pollution that causes debilitating health impacts and leads to the accumulation of climate-warming gasses in our atmosphere that threaten the sustainability of our environment and our economy. Instead of leading the charge to address what many have rightly called the most pressing environmental, social, and economic challenge of our time, Mr. Pruitt has devoted his time to casting aspersions on settled climate science and advocating for the shameful and misguided withdrawal of the United States from the historic Paris Agreement.

"Last night, after repeated invitations went unanswered, I went ahead and hosted a debate with the hopes that Mr. Pruitt would attend. Unfortunately, he once again ignored the request to discuss the science of climate change and the need to act to address its causes and consequences. While his absence was disappointing, I was pleased to instead be joined by dozens of concerned Chicagoans who are fighting for the future of our planet. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss what we can do to promote clean air, clean water, and a clean-energy economy in the face of this new Administration. I will continue to fight along side them and others around the world in our shared international effort to make our world safer and more secure for future generations."

You can watch the Q&A session here.

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Read Rep. Quigley's statement on President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement here.