Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. National Defense

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Defense Department's National Defense Strategy has consistently included climate change as one of the most critical enduring threats. The 2022 National Defense Strategy is no exception.

In fact, Secretary Austin, just 8 months ago, called climate change an existential threat and has said: ``No nation can find lasting security without addressing the climate crisis.''

Intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that climate change leads to food and water shortages, ecological degradation, and extreme weather patterns, conditions that reduce our military readiness, enable mass population displacement, terrorist activity, and other forms of violence and conflicts between nations.

In fact, U.S. national security experts have dubbed climate change disaster response the military's new forever war, and a 2021 Pentagon report detailed how recent extreme weather has already cost billions of dollars in damages to U.S. military installations like Florida's Tyndall Air Force Base, Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base, and other military installations as well.

It interrupts our training and our other operations. It is also projected to undermine bases vulnerable to rising seas, such as Guam and the Marshall Islands.

This legislation does not necessitate any additional funds, despite the billions of dollars it costs to our military. It simply requires the Department of State to establish climate change officer positions at major U.S. Embassy hubs across the world.

The U.S. State Department already hosts energy and science officers, but these climate change officers would have environmental issues front of mind and be responsible for supporting U.S. global efforts to combat climate change and advance climate solutions.

Currently, there is no individual at these embassies who focuses on climate change priorities, and I believe that the training provided to energy or science technology attaches really doesn't equip them with the tools they need to prioritize and tackle environmental issues.

The imminent, complex, and destructive threat posed by climate change demands our primary attention. This bill would ensure that our diplomatic delegations designate personnel whose sole focus is to work with international partners to combat this common challenge to our global security.

This is one of DOD's highest priorities, and it is a challenge that our country can't face alone. Using our existing embassies with their existing global footprint is an efficient way to plus-up our ability to tackle this challenge with our international partners.

This amendment is a vital, long-overdue step toward advancing global geopolitical stability, human and environmental health, and U.S. national security.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Each year we gather and get information from our top security officials. There are three issues that are existential that are at the top of the list: nuclear war, pandemics, and climate change. Those are the big three.

The gentleman from Pennsylvania might have his own opinions, but I dare say he is far out of step with the priorities of all of our defense leaders and our top security officials.

In terms of being efficient, this couldn't be more efficient. Instead of creating new bureaucracies within the Department of Defense, we are taking an existing framework that is there globally by using our embassies. We are being more efficient, reducing more expense, and reducing more bureaucracies in a way to deal with this most important issue.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that has been reinforced by this administration, the past administration, the administration before it. With all due respect to a lot of other people in uniform, in combat positions and in leadership positions, it has been a consistent strain of continuous concern.

If you are worried about diverting DOD, this approach shares that responsibility. In fact, this amendment alone places it all with the Department of State, in that respect.

Again, some of the arguments you gave really are arguments that I have, and I think some of the arguments you gave clearly reinforce the fact that this is an important amendment and should pass.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source