WASHINGTON (January 16, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the chair of the U.S. Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse, released the following statement after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said 2014 was the hottest year since records were first kept in 1880.

“Even when the harsh reality of climate change made 2014 the hottest year on record, Republicans in Congress are starting off 2015 by trying to pass the oil industry’s pipe dream to build the Keystone XL pipeline that would speed up the warming of the planet.

“We need to turn up the political heat on the science deniers and clean energy opponents who have blocked climate action for too long, since they apparently can’t feel the actual heat rising around the planet.

“We can start by defeating the Keystone oil industry giveaway to Canada, and then move to expand development of American clean energy.

“We have the economic imperative, the moral duty, and the urgent need to tackle climate change, and killing the Keystone bill will prove we are serious about combatting the issue of our time.”

# # #