I am 70 years old. I have been in my current home in Spring, TX, for 37 years. My wife and I have been married for more than 48 years. We have two children and three grandchildren. This is a nice area to live in. Spring is a suburb of Houston. We get about 43 inches of rain a year and have very mild winters. It is hot and humid in the summer but I play golf and tennis outside year-round. We have lots of trees—mostly pine and oak. 

 

We have attended the same church for over 44 years. I have been a Presbyterian my whole life and have served in many positions in my church. I attend several Bible and book studies weekly. My church and faith life are important to me.

 

I also volunteer in my community is several ways: I serve on several nonprofit boards, tutor at a local school, make hospital visits, attend and teach classes at a local community college. My wife and I play in several bridge groups. I have been captain on many tennis teams.

 

Prior to my retirement four years ago I worked for several energy companies in financial management. I was an officer at Swift Energy and TransAmerican Natural Gas Corporation. With my background in the energy industry, I am very familiar with both sides of the climate issue. It has been apparent to me for several years that we must take very serious actions to address the climate. The U.S. is not taking proper action, and is falling behind Europe and many other countries. This could completely change the leadership position the U.S. has held in the world for the last five decades. While some countries, such as China, are contributing greatly to the problem, the U.S. is in the dreadful position of having 4 percent of the world’s population but generating about 15 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. We must do better and it must start immediately.