Extreme weather threatens our energy and electric grid, federal buildings, transportation infrastructure, access to natural resources, public health, our relationships across the globe, and many other aspects of life.

We have more natural resources - coal, oil, wind - across the board not only to be energy independent but to be a leading exporter.

When elected officials abandon our environment and ruin our natural resources, public health is endangered. I know the importance of providing a clean environment for our children; I have attended more than one funeral for a child who has died from an asthma attack.

As the United States chains itself down with greater debt, China is building relationships across the globe to bolster its trade, its access to natural resources, and its energy consumption. In far too many cases, this means lost opportunities for America and our businesses.

Water is unquestionably one of the most important natural resources and is essential for sustaining life.

The bottom line is that weather events not only threaten private property and family budgets, but they also can decimate public resources and government coffers.