USA

Obama Calls on US to Fight Climate Change

President Obama in White House video Jun 22, 2013.

U.S. President Barack Obama is calling on Americans to support his national Climate Action Plan, which he says will cut carbon pollution and protect the nation from the impacts of climate change.

Obama reiterated in his weekly address Saturday that last year was the warmest in American history, and that the cost of more extreme weather has has been measured in "lost lives and livelihoods."

He said his new plan directs the nation's Environmental Protection Agency to work with states and businesses to set new standards that will reduce carbon pollution. He encouraged Americans to take the lead in the fight against climate change in the 21st century.

In the weekly Republican address, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas questioned the upcoming effects on the Affordable Care Act that was passed in 2010, saying "health care as you know it will change."

Roberts warned that there are still "bumps" and "glitches" in the law with less than 100 days until the October 1 deadline for Americans to purchase health insurance. He called the law a "train wreck" and called on the government to "get America out of the way."