[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 81 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4147-H4148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1100
             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S WORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the work being done by 
the Department of Defense regarding the threat of climate change, and 
to reinforce congressional intent on this important issue.
  Last year's National Defense Authorization Act expressed the sense of 
Congress that climate change is a direct threat to national security. 
We have studied a number of readiness factors when it comes to our 
Armed Forces, but for too long, we have not given this major, 
multifaceted threat the attention that it deserves.
  Current and former military leaders and members of the intelligence 
community agree that climate change poses a security challenge that has 
the potential to affect our tactical and strategic readiness.
  Secretary Mattis was correct when he stated: `` . . . the effects of 
a changing climate--such as increased maritime access to the Arctic, 
rising sea levels, desertification, among others--impact our security 
situation.''

[[Page H4148]]

  Naval bases, such as Norfolk or Key West, are already at risk for 
flooding. In fact, Norfolk frequently deals with nuisance flooding, and 
that risk will only increase as storm surges increase in magnitude and 
tides continue to rise. Inland bases will experience other weather 
volatility, such as extreme heat and wildfires, all of which can impact 
their ability to train, and ultimately impacts readiness.
  The displays of dominance in the Arctic will grow, where new sealanes 
will connect continents more directly than ever before. The changing 
global climate, Mr. Speaker, will also lead to greater instability in 
the form of economic migration, increased competition over resources, 
and possibly more failed states, which we know to be breeding grounds 
for extremism and terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that a changing climate will alter our joint 
battle space. So when the U.S. Congress instructs the Department of 
Defense to take these threats seriously and evaluate the risk posed to 
our national security by climate change, we need exactly that. Our 
intent is clear, and there can be no room for misinterpretation.
  Last week, The Washington Post reported that during revision of the 
Department's January 2018 Screening Level Vulnerability Assessment 
Survey report, Department of Defense officials omitted information 
pertinent to how our military installations report their vulnerability 
to sea level rise, how climate change is affecting the operating 
environment in the Arctic, and the potential risk to the Department's 
ability to conduct training and testing activities that have important 
impacts on our readiness.
  While I appreciate the need to update reports when it is appropriate 
and necessary, it is unacceptable to attempt to bend congressional 
intent for political convenience. The Department of Defense must answer 
tough questions as to what motivated these changes, if not a skewed 
political narrative. In fact, the issue of climate change and its 
impact on national security has become more bipartisan over the last 
several years.
  In fact, last year, in the National Defense Authorization Act, 
Congress instructed each service within the Department of Defense to 
assess the top 10 military installations likely to be affected by 
climate change over the next 20 years. We also instructed combatant 
commanders to incorporate the effects of a changing climate into their 
strategic battle plans.
  Forty-six Republicans joined with Democrats to support this language 
on the floor of the House, and I expect that when this report is 
delivered to Congress later this year, it will make candid assessments 
in line with the clear language we supported in that floor vote and 
that was signed into law by the President.
  Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that the Department remains resilient and 
is prepared to address the effects of climate change on threat 
assessments, resources, and readiness, as well as to conduct operations 
both today and in the future. Congressional oversight plays an 
undeniable role in that process.
  Mr. Speaker, the dangers of climate change on our national defense 
are real, and we support the researchers on the front lines of these 
critical threat assessments. Together, we can continue to craft a sane 
and sober strategy to defend the United States from a variety of 
threats, including climate change.
  That is the expressed intent of Congress for the upcoming climate 
report, and is a necessity as we prepare for our Nation's future.

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