Veronica Escobar: “Climate change is a major threat to our national security; and military leaders agree. Last year, the Department of…”

“Climate change is a major threat to our national security; and military leaders agree. Last year, the Department of Defense studied 79 mission-critical bases and found that climate change threatened most of them. In the past year alone, three of our military installations suffered significant damage from natural disasters, and they are still not fully recovered. It is clear that the scale of this challenge is great. That is why today I am introducing the Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act to help tackle this challenge. By setting clear goals and ensuring regular dedicated resources, my bill gives military leaders the tools and flexibility to implement policies that work best for their missions. We will also ensure the DOD budgets for resiliency and maintains a focus on cutting-edge technologies like hybrid microgrids and additive manufacturing. As one of the world's largest energy consumers, DOD can offer invaluable leadership toward addressing the global climate challenge, while bolstering U.S. national security; and that starts today. ____________________”