[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E182-E183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 10, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of Congress, I rise 
in support of H.R. 4737, the ``Department of Homeland Security Climate 
Change Research Act,'' which requires the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) to evaluate existing federal research regarding 
approaches to mitigate climate change on homeland security, to identify 
areas for further research within the Department, and to research and 
develop approaches to mitigate the consequences of climate change on 
homeland security.
  This legislation directs DHS to assess and potentially expand 
existing federal research projects that examine ways to mitigate the 
effects of climate change on homeland security programs.
  The development in research from DHS will explore the connection, if 
any, between climate change and homeland security, including how the 
resulting competition for resources, economic distress, and social 
discontent can contribute to acts of terrorism.
  Climate change poses a direct threat to U.S. national security 
through its effects on critical infrastructure, the lives of citizens, 
the economy, and energy security.
  The scarcer resources become, the more power is given to those who 
control them, especially in regions where people are particularly 
reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods.
  Terrorist groups will exploit the natural disasters and water and 
food shortages expected to result from climate change and allow them to 
recruit more easily, operate more freely and control civilian 
populations.
  H.R. 4737 will ensure that DHS is adequately structured to meet the 
demands of responding to and recovering from acts of terrorism and 
natural disasters that are aggravated by climate change.
  Climate change is not just a global problem, but also a threat to 
domestic security.
  More than 60 percent of the country has faced moderate to extreme 
drought conditions and massive heat waves which devastated corn crops, 
put pressure on food prices, and caused deaths around the country.
  Climate change poses costly threats to our domestic installations and 
potentially destabilizing threats to our international installations 
that hold strategic importance to the United States.
  The extreme weather events that we have witnessed in the past 5 years 
illustrate the impact of climate change in the U.S. is much more 
complicated than a simple rise in temperatures.
  Each region of this country will be impacted differently; 
understanding these regional consequences is important to policymakers 
because it will allow planning for response and adaptation.
  Studies show that Texas is among a string of ``Deep South'' states 
that will experience the worst effects of climate change.
  For example, Hurricane Harvey was a 1,000 year storm that has to date 
claimed the lives of at least 30 persons.
  Before it was finished, Hurricane Harvey dropped 21 trillion gallons 
of rainfall on Texas and Louisiana, most of it on the Houston 
Metroplex.
  A record 4,323 days, which is nearly 12 years, elapsed since a major 
hurricane (Category 3 or above) made landfall in the United States 
prior to Hurricane Harvey; the last Category 3 hurricane to hit the 
United States was Hurricane Wilma in 2005, the same year Hurricane 
Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans.
  To put in perspective the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, 
the volume of water that fell on Houston and other affected areas of 
Texas and Louisiana could fill more than 24,000 Astrodomes or supply 
the water for the raging Niagara Falls for 15 days.
  In the first three days of the storm, more than 49,000 homes that had 
suffered flood

[[Page E183]]

damage and more than 1,000 homes were completely destroyed in the 
storm.
  Local authorities closed major freeways, airports, and schools.
  In the first three days of the storm, more than 49,000 homes that had 
suffered flood damage and more than 1,000 homes were completely 
destroyed in the storm.
  More than 30,000 persons were forced out of their homes due to the 
storm.
  Presently, Houston experiences about five days each year over 
100 deg. Fahrenheit and by 2100, the city could expect some 70 days 
over 100 deg. Fahrenheit.
  The major weather and climate disasters that Texas experienced each 
produced at least a billion dollars in losses.
  As the climate continues to warm, more multi-year droughts are 
expected with devastating impacts to the state's agriculture sector and 
drinking water.
  As climate change affects food security and the availability of water 
and land, affected people will become more vulnerable not only to 
negative climate impacts but also to recruitment by terrorist groups 
offering alternative livelihoods and economic incentives.
  Climate change will directly affect America's homeland and the 
security of its citizens.
  I ask all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 4737, the 
``Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act.''

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