President Donald Trump is directing the administration to investigate whether steel imports are jeopardizing U.S. national security.

In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump signed a memo ordering the investigation while surrounded by executives from U.S. steel-makers.

A 1960s trade law gives the president authority to restrict imports if they are determined to be harmful to U.S. security interests.

The law requires that the investigation be concluded within 270 days.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the timeline will be expedited.

U.S. prominence in the steel industry has been slipping for decades.

According to the Belgium-based World Steel Association, American-made steel once accounted for roughly 20 percent of global production, but had slipped to less than 5 percent by 2015.

China made up less than 3 percent of U.S. steel imports.

Washington - April 20, 2017

1. President Donald Trump seated in Oval Office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President

"We're going to fight for American workers and American made steel, and that's beginning immediately. For decades America has lost our jobs and our factories to unfair foreign trade. And one steel mill after another has been shut down, abandoned and closed and we're going to reverse that. Other countries have made a living taking advantage of the United States in so many ways, as you know, and I've been talking about that for a long time."

3. Trump seated in Oval Office

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President

"Today I'm directing that the Department of Commerce to immediately prioritize the investigation that began yesterday and really long before that, because Wilbur and I have been working on that for a long time, into foreign steel arriving into our markets. And to submit a reports on these effects into the foreign steel products on the national security of the United States. It's not just a price thing, it's not just employment, it also has to do with the national security of our country."

5. Trump seated in Oval Office

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President

"This investigation will look at how steel imports are impacting United States national security, taking into account foreign practices such as steel dumping, dumping is a tremendous problem in this country. They're dumping vast amounts of steel in our country and they're really hurting not only our country but our companies."

7. Trump seated in Oval Office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President

"From now on we're going to stand up for American jobs, workers, their security and for American steel companies, and companies generally. Today's action is the next vital step in making America strong and prosperous once again."

9. Applause

10. Trump signing memo

President Donald Trump is directing the administration to investigate whether steel imports are jeopardizing U.S. national security.

In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump signed a memo ordering the investigation while surrounded by executives from U.S. steel-makers.

A 1960s trade law gives the president authority to restrict imports if they are determined to be harmful to U.S. security interests. The law requires that the investigation be concluded within 270 days. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the timeline will be expedited.

U.S. prominence in the steel industry has been slipping for decades.

According to the Belgium-based World Steel Association, American-made steel once accounted for roughly 20 percent of global production, but had slipped to less than 5 percent by 2015.

China made up less than 3 percent of U.S. steel imports.

Washington - April 20, 2017

1. President Donald Trump seated in Oval Office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"We're going to fight for American workers and American made steel, and that's beginning immediately. For decades America has lost our jobs and our factories to unfair foreign trade. And one steel mill after another has been shut down, abandoned and closed and we're going to reverse that. Other countries have made a living taking advantage of the United States in so many ways, as you know, and I've been talking about that for a long time."

3. Trump seated in Oval Office

4. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Today I'm directing that the Department of Commerce to immediately prioritize the investigation that began yesterday and really long before that, because Wilbur and I have been working on that for a long time, into foreign steel arriving into our markets. And to submit a reports on these effects into the foreign steel products on the national security of the United States. It's not just a price thing, it's not just employment, it also has to do with the national security of our country."

5. Trump seated in Oval Office

6. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"This investigation will look at how steel imports are impacting United States national security, taking into account foreign practices such as steel dumping, dumping is a tremendous problem in this country. They're dumping vast amounts of steel in our country and they're really hurting not only our country but our companies."

7. Trump seated in Oval Office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"From now on we're going to stand up for American jobs, workers, their security and for American steel companies, and companies generally. Today's action is the next vital step in making America strong and prosperous once again."

9. Applause

10. Trump signing memo

President Donald Trump is directing the administration to investigate whether steel imports are jeopardizing U.S. national security.

In the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump signed a memo ordering the investigation while surrounded by executives from U.S. steel-makers.

A 1960s trade law gives the president authority to restrict imports if they are determined to be harmful to U.S. security interests. The law requires that the investigation be concluded within 270 days. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the timeline will be expedited.

U.S. prominence in the steel industry has been slipping for decades.

According to the Belgium-based World Steel Association, American-made steel once accounted for roughly 20 percent of global production, but had slipped to less than 5 percent by 2015.

China made up less than 3 percent of U.S. steel imports.

Washington - April 20, 2017

1. President Donald Trump seated in Oval Office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"We're going to fight for American workers and American made steel, and that's beginning immediately. For decades America has lost our jobs and our factories to unfair foreign trade. And one steel mill after another has been shut down, abandoned and closed and we're going to reverse that. Other countries have made a living taking advantage of the United States in so many ways, as you know, and I've been talking about that for a long time."

3. Trump seated in Oval Office

4. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Today I'm directing that the Department of Commerce to immediately prioritize the investigation that began yesterday and really long before that, because Wilbur and I have been working on that for a long time, into foreign steel arriving into our markets. And to submit a reports on these effects into the foreign steel products on the national security of the United States. It's not just a price thing, it's not just employment, it also has to do with the national security of our country."

5. Trump seated in Oval Office

6. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"This investigation will look at how steel imports are impacting United States national security, taking into account foreign practices such as steel dumping, dumping is a tremendous problem in this country. They're dumping vast amounts of steel in our country and they're really hurting not only our country but our companies."

7. Trump seated in Oval Office

8. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"From now on we're going to stand up for American jobs, workers, their security and for American steel companies, and companies generally. Today's action is the next vital step in making America strong and prosperous once again."

9. Applause

10. Trump signing memo

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Tuesday bluntly challenged members of Congress critical of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement: He said they should change the laws or "shut up."

The tough-talking retired Marine general said in a speech at George Washington University that Homeland Security employees, from immigration agents to airport security officers, are unjustifiably maligned by critics as they enforce laws intended to keep America safe.

Kelly described Homeland Security staff as "political pawns."

"They have been asked to do more with less, and less, and less," Kelly said.

"They are often ridiculed and insulted by public officials, and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and spokespersons."

Kelly said the public and public officials should err on the side of assuming that DHS employees are in the right and acting within the law. And for members of Congress who don't like the laws, Kelly said they "should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines."

Critics have argued that the agency is too heavy-handed in enforcement operations, including arresting immigrants in the U.S. illegally whose only offence in being in the country without permission.

More than 21,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been arrested since President Donald Trump took office in January, compared to about 16,000 people during the same time last year.

About a quarter of those arrests were immigrants who had no criminal history, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Washington - April 18, 2017

1. Wide of John Kelly walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"While some members of Congress or state and local politicians or members of advocacy groups read or listen to partial or often times inaccurate media reporting on some alleged incident at an airport, in a courthouse or at a border crossing, and assume the men and women of DHS are intentionally abusing individuals while they break or ignore that is to say while my people are breaking and ignoring U.S. law, they make the assumption that my people are doing it wrong, as opposed to making the assumption that my people are doing it right, working within the law, based on their training — just who they are as Americans."

3. Wide of John Kelly

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

++SOUNDBITE CONTAINS AUDIO HIT FROM SOURCE++

"For too long, the men and women of my department have been political pawns. They've been asked to do more with less and less and less. In many ways similar to the treatment suffered by our law enforcement over the past few years, they are often ridiculed and insulted by the public officials and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and street spokespersons. If lawmakers do not like the laws that we enforce, that we are charged to enforce, that we are sworn to enforce, then they should have the courage and the skill to change those laws, otherwise they should shut up (audio hit) and support the men and women on the front lines. My people ... (applause)."

5. Wide of John Kelly

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"My people have been discouraged from doing their jobs for nearly a decade. Disabled by pointless bureaucracy and political meddling, and suffered disrespect and contempt by public officials who have no idea what it means to serve. During my confirmation process and in hearings, members of Congress, the press and other public officials frequently ask me about the morale problems the department has experienced over the past few years. My response has simply been: when you discourage, when you disable, when you unjustly criticise and default believing the initial reports as opposed to defaulting to believing the stories told by my professionals — when you do all of those things, you show disrespect to the individual who is risking his or her life to defend the country. When you do those things, what do you expect?"

7. Wide of John Kelly

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Tuesday bluntly challenged members of Congress critical of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement: He said they should change the laws or "shut up."

The tough-talking retired Marine general said in a speech at George Washington University that Homeland Security employees, from immigration agents to airport security officers, are unjustifiably maligned by critics as they enforce laws intended to keep America safe.

Kelly described Homeland Security staff as "political pawns."

"They have been asked to do more with less, and less, and less," Kelly said.

"They are often ridiculed and insulted by public officials, and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and spokespersons."

Kelly said the public and public officials should err on the side of assuming that DHS employees are in the right and acting within the law. And for members of Congress who don't like the laws, Kelly said they "should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines."

Critics have argued that the agency is too heavy-handed in enforcement operations, including arresting immigrants in the U.S. illegally whose only offense in being in the country without permission.

More than 21,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been arrested since President Donald Trump took office in January, compared to about 16,000 people during the same time last year.

About a quarter of those arrests were immigrants who had no criminal history, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Washington - April 18, 2017

1. Wide of John Kelly walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"While some members of Congress or state and local politicians or members of advocacy groups read or listen to partial or often times inaccurate media reporting on some alleged incident at an airport, in a courthouse or at a border crossing, and assume the men and women of DHS are intentionally abusing individuals while they break or ignore that is to say while my people are breaking and ignoring U.S. law, they make the assumption that my people are doing it wrong, as opposed to making the assumption that my people are doing it right, working within the law, based on their training -- just who they are as Americans."

3. Wide of John Kelly

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

++SOUNDBITE CONTAINS AUDIO HIT FROM SOURCE++

"For too long, the men and women of my department have been political pawns. They've been asked to do more with less and less and less. In many ways similar to the treatment suffered by our law enforcement over the past few years, they are often ridiculed and insulted by the public officials and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and street spokespersons. If lawmakers do not like the laws that we enforce, that we are charged to enforce, that we are sworn to enforce, then they should have the courage and the skill to change those laws, otherwise they should shut up (audio hit) and support the men and women on the front lines. My people... (applause)."

5. Wide of John Kelly

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"My people have been discouraged from doing their jobs for nearly a decade. Disabled by pointless bureaucracy and political meddling, and suffered disrespect and contempt by public officials who have no idea what it means to serve. During my confirmation process and in hearings, members of Congress, the press and other public officials frequently ask me about the morale problems the department has experienced over the past few years. My response has simply been: when you discourage, when you disable, when you unjustly criticize and default believing the initial reports as opposed to defaulting to believing the stories told by my professionals -- when you do all of those things, you show disrespect to the individual who is risking his or her life to defend the country. When you do those things, what do you expect?"

7. Wide of John Kelly

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly on Tuesday bluntly challenged members of Congress critical of the Trump administration's aggressive approach to immigration enforcement: He said they should change the laws or "shut up."

The tough-talking retired Marine general said in a speech at George Washington University that Homeland Security employees, from immigration agents to airport security officers, are unjustifiably maligned by critics as they enforce laws intended to keep America safe.

Kelly described Homeland Security staff as "political pawns."

"They have been asked to do more with less, and less, and less," Kelly said.

"They are often ridiculed and insulted by public officials, and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and spokespersons."

Kelly said the public and public officials should err on the side of assuming that DHS employees are in the right and acting within the law. And for members of Congress who don't like the laws, Kelly said they "should have the courage and skill to change the laws. Otherwise they should shut up and support the men and women on the front lines."

Critics have argued that the agency is too heavy-handed in enforcement operations, including arresting immigrants in the U.S. illegally whose only offense in being in the country without permission.

More than 21,000 immigrants in the U.S. illegally have been arrested since President Donald Trump took office in January, compared to about 16,000 people during the same time last year.

About a quarter of those arrests were immigrants who had no criminal history, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Washington - April 18, 2017

1. Wide of John Kelly walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"While some members of Congress or state and local politicians or members of advocacy groups read or listen to partial or often times inaccurate media reporting on some alleged incident at an airport, in a courthouse or at a border crossing, and assume the men and women of DHS are intentionally abusing individuals while they break or ignore that is to say while my people are breaking and ignoring U.S. law, they make the assumption that my people are doing it wrong, as opposed to making the assumption that my people are doing it right, working within the law, based on their training -- just who they are as Americans."

3. Wide of John Kelly

4. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

++SOUNDBITE CONTAINS AUDIO HIT FROM SOURCE++

"For too long, the men and women of my department have been political pawns. They've been asked to do more with less and less and less. In many ways similar to the treatment suffered by our law enforcement over the past few years, they are often ridiculed and insulted by the public officials and frequently convicted in the court of public opinion on unfounded allegations testified to by street lawyers and street spokespersons. If lawmakers do not like the laws that we enforce, that we are charged to enforce, that we are sworn to enforce, then they should have the courage and the skill to change those laws, otherwise they should shut up (audio hit) and support the men and women on the front lines. My people... (applause)."

5. Wide of John Kelly

6. SOUNDBITE (English) John Kelly, Homeland Security Secretary

"My people have been discouraged from doing their jobs for nearly a decade. Disabled by pointless bureaucracy and political meddling, and suffered disrespect and contempt by public officials who have no idea what it means to serve. During my confirmation process and in hearings, members of Congress, the press and other public officials frequently ask me about the morale problems the department has experienced over the past few years. My response has simply been: when you discourage, when you disable, when you unjustly criticize and default believing the initial reports as opposed to defaulting to believing the stories told by my professionals -- when you do all of those things, you show disrespect to the individual who is risking his or her life to defend the country. When you do those things, what do you expect?"

7. Wide of John Kelly

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined key Democrats to announce legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and keeping the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement, which the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from nearly two years ago.

The bill is H.R. 9, called the Climate Action Now Act, and would recommit the United States to the Paris Agreement standards.

"This is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology," said Pelosi.

"We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now," said Rep. Kathy Castor, the chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

"We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now," she said.

The Climate Action Now Act is a far less ambitious proposal than the Green New Deal championed by Democratic activists in the party. That plan, which calls for the U.S. to shift away from fossil fuels such as oil and coal and replace them with renewable sources such as wind and solar power, was shunned by the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday

"Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris," said Rep. Frank Pallone, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"We want to know what your plan is, and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress," Pallone said.

Washington, DC - 27 March 2019

1. Wide of start of press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

"Today, the House Democratic majority is honoring the will of the people, and taking first strong steps to protect our planet and our future. The bill, this is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology. It's about health. It's about how public health and clean air and clean water for our children. It's about defending our national security. The evidence is clear. The national security experts have spoken. This is a national security issue. And for me and for many of us it's a moral issue."

3. Wide of press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"The Climate Action Now Act keeps the United States in the Paris Climate Accord, renewing our country's pledge to address climate change head on. It's not just smart policy. It's a moral obligation to our children and our grandchildren and generations to come."

5. Cutaway of cameras and reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"America will not cut and run. America will keep its commitments. Climate Action Now (the bill) will unleash American ingenuity and innovation to power the future."

Wide of press conference

7. SOUNDBITE (English) ) Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"We can create millions of good paying clean energy jobs right now. We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now. We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now."

8. Wide of press conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Frank Pallone, (D) New Jersey, Chairman House Energy and Commerce Committee:

"We refuse to accept the notion that this is not something that needs to be addressed. So, Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris. We want to know what your plan is and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress and in the Energy and Commerce Committee to address climate change in various ways."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"We're already seeing the consequences of inaction. Natural disasters, famines, instability, human suffering. So addressing climate change is a critical foreign policy priority. And it's up to Congress to lead."

11. Wide of end of press conference

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined key Democrats to announce legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and keeping the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement, which the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from nearly two years ago.

The bill is H.R. 9, called the Climate Action Now Act, and would recommit the United States to the Paris Agreement standards.

"This is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology," said Pelosi.

"We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now," said Rep. Kathy Castor, the chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

"We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now," she said.

The Climate Action Now Act is a far less ambitious proposal than the Green New Deal championed by Democratic activists in the party.  That plan, which calls for the U.S. to shift away from fossil fuels such as oil and coal and replace them with renewable sources such as wind and solar power, was shunned by the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday

"Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris," said Rep. Frank Pallone, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"We want to know what your plan is, and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress," Pallone said.

Washington, DC - 27 March 2019

1. Wide of start of press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

"Today, the House Democratic majority is honoring the will of the people, and taking first strong steps to protect our planet and our future. The bill, this is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology. It's about health. It's about how public health and clean air and clean water for our children. It's about defending our national security. The evidence is clear. The national security experts have spoken. This is a national security issue. And for me and for many of us it's a moral issue."

3. Wide of press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"The Climate Action Now Act keeps the United States in the Paris Climate Accord, renewing our country's pledge to address climate change head on. It's not just smart policy. It's a moral obligation to our children and our grandchildren and generations to come."

5. Cutaway of cameras and reporters

6.  SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"America will not cut and run. America will keep its commitments. Climate Action Now (the bill) will unleash American ingenuity and innovation to power the future."

Wide of press conference

7. SOUNDBITE (English) ) Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"We can create millions of good paying clean energy jobs right now. We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now. We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now."

8. Wide of press conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Frank Pallone, (D) New Jersey, Chairman House Energy and Commerce Committee:

"We refuse to accept the notion that this is not something that needs to be addressed. So, Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris. We want to know what your plan is and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress and in the Energy and Commerce Committee to address climate change in various ways."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"We're already seeing the consequences of inaction. Natural disasters, famines, instability, human suffering. So addressing climate change is a critical foreign policy priority. And it's up to Congress to lead."

11. Wide of end of press conference

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined key Democrats to announce legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions and keeping the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement, which the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from nearly two years ago.

The bill is H.R. 9, called the Climate Action Now Act, and would recommit the United States to the Paris Agreement standards.

"This is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology," said Pelosi.

"We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now," said Rep. Kathy Castor, the chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

"We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now," she said.

The Climate Action Now Act is a far less ambitious proposal than the Green New Deal championed by Democratic activists in the party. That plan, which calls for the U.S. to shift away from fossil fuels such as oil and coal and replace them with renewable sources such as wind and solar power, was shunned by the Republican-led Senate on Tuesday

"Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris," said Rep. Frank Pallone, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"We want to know what your plan is, and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress," Pallone said.

Washington, DC - 27 March 2019

1. Wide of start of press conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

"Today, the House Democratic majority is honoring the will of the people, and taking first strong steps to protect our planet and our future. The bill, this is about jobs. It's about good paying green jobs. It's about advancing our economy, and our global preeminence in green technology. It's about health. It's about how public health and clean air and clean water for our children. It's about defending our national security. The evidence is clear. The national security experts have spoken. This is a national security issue. And for me and for many of us it's a moral issue."

3. Wide of press conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"The Climate Action Now Act keeps the United States in the Paris Climate Accord, renewing our country's pledge to address climate change head on. It's not just smart policy. It's a moral obligation to our children and our grandchildren and generations to come."

5. Cutaway of cameras and reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English): Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"America will not cut and run. America will keep its commitments. Climate Action Now (the bill) will unleash American ingenuity and innovation to power the future."

Wide of press conference

7. SOUNDBITE (English) ) Rep. Kathy Castor, (D) Florida, Chair, Select Committee on the Climate Crisis:

"We can create millions of good paying clean energy jobs right now. We can save billions of dollars in energy costs for working people and businesses right now. We can finally address decades of environmental injustice right now."

8. Wide of press conference

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Frank Pallone, (D) New Jersey, Chairman House Energy and Commerce Committee:

"We refuse to accept the notion that this is not something that needs to be addressed. So, Mr. President, we're saying to you with this legislation, we're not withdrawing from Paris. We want to know what your plan is and if you don't have one then we're going to move forward on our own and come up with things that we can do here in the Congress and in the Energy and Commerce Committee to address climate change in various ways."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eliot Engel, (D) New York, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee:

"We're already seeing the consequences of inaction. Natural disasters, famines, instability, human suffering. So addressing climate change is a critical foreign policy priority. And it's up to Congress to lead."

11. Wide of end of press conference