Washington, D.C. – Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement following a speech by President Obama announcing a new $1 billion “Climate Resilience Fund” that will be included in his administration’s budget proposal next month.

Chairman Smith: “In order to push his costly climate change agenda, the President is once again linking extreme weather to climate change - with no scientific support. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that ‘Climate change was not a significant part’ of the recent Texas droughts. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that ‘in some regions droughts have become less frequent, less intense, or shorter, for example, central North America ….’ Drought is a serious problem that should not be used to justify a partisan agenda or a new billion dollar climate change fund.  Over the last five years, the federal government has already spent $77 billion on climate change. And what do we have to show for that money?

“There are better ways to help Americans who have been impacted by drought. This week, the House passed a bipartisan bill to improve a critical drought monitoring program that has helped state and local governments, farmers and ranchers monitor and predict drought conditions. Providing practical information such as data on past droughts, current weather observations and early drought warnings can help local decision-makers prepare for and mitigate drought impacts. I look forward to a day when the weather is no longer used to gain political leverage.”