Dem suggests putting climate monument on the National Mall

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) on Wednesday suggested Republicans should build a “do nothing” monument on the National Mall dedicated to climate change.

“I would challenge my colleagues on the other side that, if they want to do nothing, let’s go ahead and build a do nothing climate wall and put it somewhere out on the Washington Mall,” Swalwell said.

{mosads}”And we can put all the names of the people who thought we should do nothing, and in a hundred years, we can let our children and grandchildren go to that wall and see who wanted to do nothing and who wanted to do something,” he added.

Swalwell’s comments came during a hearing where Democrats and Republicans squared off on the administration’s controversial climate rule, which seeks to cut carbon dioxide emissions from the nation’s power plants.

GOP lawmakers drilled White House science adviser John Holdren on the regulation, which the administration touts as huge step toward reigning in emissions and fighting climate change.

Republicans assailed the plan, questioning the administration’s reasoning for regulating carbon dioxide, which they argue does not harm human health.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) pressed Holdren on the impact of carbon dioxide to humans, saying the rule would do little to mitigate climate change or prevent respiratory problems among the public.

“You are here telling us to pass what we consider a draconian regulation; you should tell us the point it becomes harmful to human health,” Rohrabacher said of the EPA’s rule on carbon pollution from existing plants.

Holdren admitted that carbon dioxide is not harmful in its current amount to human health but pushed back on the GOP’s line of questioning as a “red herring.”

“With respect, that is a red herring,” Holdren said. “We are not interested in carbon dioxide concentrations because of their direct effect on human health. We are interested in them because of their effect on the world’s climate, and climate change has a direct effect on human health.”

As President Obama heads to a United Nations climate summit to tout the climate rule and encourage other countries to act, Republicans have put the new standards front and center in their fight against the administration’s agenda of the midterm elections.

On Thursday, the House is scheduled to vote on a package of energy bills that block the EPA’s carbon rules, and push for more oil and gas drilling. The vote is meant to provide ammunition on the campaign trial for the GOP candidates and corner Senate Democrats on issues the upper chamber is unlikely to vote on.