Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening this hearing.

I think informative hearings, such as this morning's science hearing, are extremely helpful -- indeed, essential -- to the legislative process.

I am glad that we were able to reschedule this hearing, which was canceled due to an ice storm, but remain a bit puzzled why this was not our first hearing.

Instead of starting from the beginning, with the science, we started with a discussion of cap-and-trade proposals.

So I'm glad that we've finally gotten to the horse, rather than the cart. I'd like to call your attention to the graphic on the screen. According to EPA data, water vapor accounts for 95 percent of greenhouse gases, ocean biologic activity, volcanoes, decaying plants, etc. are an additional 4.72 percent, and that last small sliver is the human contribution -- less than 1/3 of 1 percent.

The focus of today's hearing is on that less than 1/3 of one percent, but I wanted to make sure that we do not forget the context in which we are working.

Within the anthropogenic emissions, greenhouse gas emissions come from multiple sources, including livestock, land use changes, and fire suppression systems in addition to electricity plants and tailpipes.

I believe that Dr. Avissar from Duke University will be focusing his testimony on this broader context.

I realize that this is a topic that will be addressed in a future hearing by this Subcommittee, but I think it's important that as we begin to examine the causes of global climate change, we not forget the economic consequences of policy decisions made by this body as we look at climate control legislation.

Regardless of the reason -- global warming or national security, switching to a non-carbon based economy is a good idea. But we must not sacrifice our economy as we make that transition.

And that is an important point to keep in mind. Many in the press, the public, and even in this Committee use the terms "global warming" and "climate change" interchangeably. But they're not synomous, and I look forward to hearing more about this difference from today's witnesses, particularly Dr. Christy, who we welcomed last year in the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, as well as Dr. Avissar.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.