 I'd like everyone's attention for just a few moments. We've been really fortunate today to have multiple members of Congress stopped by the Expo and Policy Forum, and that is continuing during the reception. And it's my pleasure to welcome to the lectern, Representative Earl Blumenauer. Representative, if you'd like to say a few words and address the crowd, I know you have to run for a vote. We'll gather them for sure. Okay, Representative Blumenauer is waiting for everyone to make your way into the foyer. So, what's that? Just that people are interested. So if you're uninterested, if you feign disinterest, you may stay in line at the buffet. Here we go. All right. Jared, how are we doing? Are we, we're working on it. Let's give Representative Blumenauer the attentive audience he deserves for making his way all the way over here to the ninth floor of the Senate building. I actually, I think the last time I heard you spoke, you were on a panel at COP last year that Liz Beardsley with USGBC moderated and really enjoyed listening to your thoughtful remarks about the passage of the IRA and everything. So, really looking forward to what you'll share with us this evening. All right. I'm gonna assume that's everybody or most everybody. So, sir, welcome. Thank you again for joining us. Really, really appreciate it. Well, thank you very much. I had some expectation competing with food, maybe a drink and a long day. That I might just be here kind of filler for some of my colleagues who will come in. But I'm used to that. A House member coming over to the Senate. I really enjoyed reviewing your program. I will tell you, I feel like my life is passing in front of my eyes as I look at the things that we're talking about, putting these pieces together. The Inflation Reduction Act, in some cases, are things that I've been literally working on. Well, the direct payment goes back to the Economic Recovery and the Obama Administration. We've repeatedly moved these things forward. I, for one, am getting really tired of the notion that we're gonna play chicken with expiring provisions every year or two. The extension, are we gonna have them or not? Are we gonna be able to sustain the industry and the momentum? Are we gonna be subject to some quacko? Well, I should, actually, that's kind of mainstream when we talk about quacko these days as you look what's going on. The largest investment in energy and carbon reduction in our history, and the, what is it, 385? We've blown past that. It's over $400 billion now and counting. It is exciting to watch the jobs being created and the changes that's taking place in terms of people recognizing what it is that we did. I mean, nothing explains this better than watching Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was in the forefront of the deniers and the people who were against it, showing up in Georgia for the opening of a project. I mean, this is powerful stuff and even the people who are on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the issue are starting to understand that they can't be on the wrong side of the politics. Now, I'd like to think that what we have seen of late with the hottest temperatures for the July 4th in history, I come from the Pacific Northwest where we have seen some of the worst air quality in the world having vast tracks of forest land and fire happening again now in Canada, the horrific floods in the North. I mean, it is astounding. Everything, the sort of worst case scenario is coming together now. And it would hope, I would hope that that would get people's attention and mobilize them. And I have some sense that that's starting to take the place. People are having greater difficulty being in absolute denial. And each sad chapter that is added builds that momentum. You know, think of the difference in terms of Texas. Texas is experiencing horrific heat, strain to provide electricity. This is the same state that had the collapse a couple years ago, cold snap that some of my Texas friends blamed on renewable energy on wind and solar, not. But isn't it interesting that they've been able to provide the electricity because of the additions to the energy mix that's solar and wind? I mean, these things make a difference. We're hopeful that you're going to be able to help us spread this word. I'm spending all the time I can working with our friends in the administration to figure out, you know, getting the guidance right for Treasury and working with people on the implementation because there's so much involved. Nobody knows it all. It's complex and it's hard. But in every instance, there are opportunities to enhance the utilization of these resources and lack of resources is not a problem for us failing to move forward. It's not everything we need. It's not everything that we're going to get but we're in a very positive position right now. But that's all of us being engaged with the implementation, protecting what we've got from misguided efforts that unwinding it. They're not going to be successful but we don't want to plant any doubt in people's minds to discourage aggressive action to implement this legislation. It's going to take a lot of hard work to be able to build on this success but it's worth it. And I think the infrastructure that we've developed in terms of the citizen infrastructure, the people who are willing to join arms with us and who've been a part of selling the song and story for years now, this is your moment, this is our moment. And it's coming not a moment too soon. So I'm pleased to be here to just kind of mark time till my Senate friends come and impress you with their wisdom and sagacity. I wish I could stay and monitor that but unfortunately I have to go back because some of the wackos are on the floor in the house and we're going to have a series of meaningless votes. Luckily, virtually nothing that they have undertaken to try and unwind this legislation is going to be enacted into law. It's baked in and this administration is going to work with us to be able to protect and enhance and implement. And each of us need to develop our initiatives to build on the momentum, to build the constituency because we're not done yet. This legislation is phenomenal and as I say, I'm excited some of these things I've been working on for over a dozen years. They've come together at just the right time but we've got a lot more work to do in terms of integrating things like land use and transportation, reforming the agricultural system, one of the largest areas of carbon opportunities. And actually with this farm bill, with Senator Stabenow in her swan song, the fact that the Republicans can't pass anything on their own, we've got some leverage to maybe have a farm bill that is more appropriate. Some of you have had to endure my presentations on the farm bill, know that I am absolutely convinced that we need to make people understand that we spend too much for the wrong people to invest the wrong way in the wrong crops at the wrong time. We can do better with this farm bill which will have profound effects on our overall carbon agenda. But there's no insignificant addition to this agenda. So thank you for what you're doing. Thank you for crawling away from the food and the conversation and returning phone calls. I know it's a sacrifice to have one more politician yammering at you. But I appreciate the work you've done and the partnership we have going forward. This is the moment we've been working for. We have another year, 12 months before everything falls apart here and everybody's consumed with the next presidential election. But the next 12 months, we're gonna be able to move on the implementation, fighting a rearguard, supporting the administration and making progress that is long overdue and much appreciated. Thank you. Thank you.