Sen. Bernard Sanders, Vermont independent, said Monday that the planned Democratic talkathon Monday night is to raise awareness among the general public that climate change is an urgent issue.
“I think what we’re trying to do now in terms of tonight is to make the American people aware that the debate about climate change really is over, that the scientific community is virtually unanimous in agreeing that climate change is real, that it is caused by human activities,” he said on MSNBC.
He said he hopes American people will take away the message that they have to do their part to combat climate change.
“You have got to be involved in this process, because if you are not, the planet we’re going to leave to our kid sand grandchildren will be significantly less habitable than the one we have today,” he said.
Twenty-six Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them plan to stay up all night to talk about climate change on the Senate floor. No Republicans are participating in the planned talkathon.
Brendan Buck, press secretary for Speaker John A. Boehner, tweeted Monday morning that he would enjoy spending the night in bed.
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“Can’t wait to sleep tonight while Democratic senators are talking to themselves,” he wrote.
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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