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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing on Climate Change and National Security

Original title: THE NEED FOR LEADERSHIP TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY

January 1, 2019

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing established a formal congressional record on the link between climate-related environmental damage and the operational readiness of U.S. military installations, such as Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Lejeune.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

U.S. Department of Defense

The department manages military installations like Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Lejeune, which are subject to environmental damage.

House Committee on Oversight and Reform

The committee is responsible for conducting oversight of federal agencies and national security policy.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing on April 9, 2019, to discuss the intersection of climate change and national security. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel provided testimony regarding the risks climate change poses to military readiness and global stability.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on April 9, 2019, in the Rayburn Office Building.
  • The committee reviewed the impact of climate change on national security.
  • Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska experienced flooding with water levels reaching eight feet.
  • Camp Lejeune in North Carolina sustained damage from Hurricane Florence in September 2018.
  • Multiple reports were entered into the record, including documents from the United Nations, the AAAS, and the USGS.
  • A letter to President Trump signed by 57 senior national security officials was submitted for the record.

Why It Matters

This hearing established a formal congressional record on the link between climate-related environmental damage and the operational readiness of U.S. military installations, such as Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Lejeune.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The committee met to examine how climate change affects national security and the readiness of U.S. military installations.
Who testified at the hearing?
Former Secretary of State John F. Kerry and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel provided testimony.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Climate as a Security Issue

The hearing highlights a shift toward framing climate change as a direct threat to military operational readiness rather than solely an environmental issue.

Connected Entities

personJohn F. KerryFormer Secretary of State and witnessMap →
locationOffutt Air Force BaseMilitary base in Nebraska impacted by floodingMap →
locationCamp LejeuneMarine Corps base in North Carolina impacted by Hurricane FlorenceMap →
personElijah E. CummingsChairman of the Committee on Oversight and ReformMap →
personChuck HagelFormer Secretary of Defense and witnessMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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