Congress
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Integrating Climate Change into the US Global Fragility Strategy: A New “Prologue”
By Erin Sikorsky In early April, the Biden Administration released a “prologue” to the US Global Fragility Strategy, also known as the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. The initial document was developed under the Trump Administration in response to requirements in the Global Fragility Act (GFA). Congress passed the GFA in 2019 with…
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The Need for Sustained COVID-19 Response & Mitigation Funding
By Lillian Parr As COVID-19 cases fall in most parts of the U.S. and a sense of normalcy begins to return, it is tempting to think that the pandemic is no longer a major threat. However, this is not the first time the U.S. has been lulled into a false sense of security. Before the…
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U.S. House Adaptation Hearings Offer Insights for Climate Security Action
By Elsa Barron In early March, the U.S. House of Representatives hosted two hearings on climate adaptation in the United States. Given the current and future risks posed by climate change, including sea-level rise, intensifying natural disasters, and extreme temperatures, creating a plan to respond and adapt to climate change is crucial for ensuring security.…
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HIGHLIGHTS: House Armed Services Committee Talks Climate Strategies and Resiliency
By John Conger On March 16, 2022, the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing to discuss matters dealing with energy, installations, and environment at the Department of Defense. The witnesses were Paul Cramer, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Energy, Installations and Environment); Paul Farnan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the…
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Climate Security Elements of the America COMPETES Act
By Elsa Barron The America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act of 2022, or the America COMPETES Act, passed in the House of Representatives on Friday. The bill is focused on U.S. competition with China and includes several provisions that acknowledge the risks posed by climate change and are designed…
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U.S. House Hearing on the National Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic
By Dr. Marc Kodack On November 20, the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber held a virtual hearing entitled “National Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic.” Witnesses providing written statements and answering questions included retired Admiral Paul Zukunft, Former Commandant of U.S. Coast Guard and an Advisory…
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CSR’s Rod Schoonover Cited in House Oversight Hearing: Climate Disinformation a Security Issue
On October 28, 2021 the House Committee on Oversight and Reform convened a hearing on the alleged role of the fossil fuel industry in promoting climate disinformation. This was the first time that executives from Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron, and Royal Dutch Shell testified under oath on the matter. The main oil lobby, the American…
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The Pentagon Previews Climate Adaptation Plan in Congressional Hearing
By John Conger On July 14, 2021, the Readiness Subcommittee of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee held a virtual hearing on the installations and environment portfolios of the Department of Defense (DoD). The witnesses were: Paul Cramer, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment); Jack Surash, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations, Energy…
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Climate Security: A Tale of Two Defense Hearings
By John Conger Sometimes you want to hear from the very top, and sometimes you want to get into the details. In the last couple of weeks, the U.S. Congress has done both, and each one teaches us something important about the way the Department of Defense (DoD) is planning to deal with climate change…
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U.S. Department of Defense in Focus: Budget Priorities and Questions for New Nominees
By Bill Beaver, Christine Parthemore & Erin Sikorsky On April 9, the Biden administration announced its topline budget priorities for the U.S. government, including for the Department of Defense (DoD). DoD funding will increase by 1.6%, which ends up being a slight decrease when adjusted for inflation. Specifics will be announced in the coming months.…