Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

I've got more congressional coverage coming up for @CourthouseNews today - the House Oversight Committee is now hearing testimony from former Secy of State John Kerry & former Secy of Defense Chuck Hagel on national security, national leadership and climate change. Stay tuned.

From Kerry's remarks: "In examining the facts regarding this issue you don’t have to just accept my or Secretary Hagel’s word. The designation of climate change as a security issue wasn’t settled by President Obama’s NSC, my State Department, or Secretary Hagel’s Pentagon..."

"No. It was settled 28 years ago by a Republican President and a team that included Jim Baker, Dick Cheney, Brent Scowcroft, Colin Powell, and Bob Gates. In 1991, the Bush administration assessed in its National Security Strategy that threats like climate change...

"...which respect no international boundaries were already contributing to political conflict.” Each of his successors included climate change in their National Security Strategies..."

"Even after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush admin made room in the '02 Nat Sec strategy to warn of “dangerous human interference with the global climate.”
Kerry's full remarks:
documentcloud.org/documents/5805…

Chuck Hagel, in his remarks, urges understanding of the damage to U.S. military bases caused by climate change: "Hurricane Michael leveled Tyndall Air Force Base on Florida’s Panhandle, causing damage to 17 F-22 stealth fighters and major structural damage throughout the base."

"Last month, floods in my home state of Nebraska severely damaged the runway
and infrastructure at Offutt Air Force Base, home of U.S. Strategic Command. "
documentcloud.org/documents/5805…

Today's hearing is the second such hearing in as many weeks on the intersection between national security and climate change. Here's my coverage from last week's hearing on this subject. The hearing was hosted by the House Foreign Affairs committee: courthousenews.com/climate-change…

Much of the same themes will be discussed today, but the weight of Kerry and Hagel's testimony elevates the conversation and gives a different committee a chance to discuss the subject.

I'm not mad about it. The discussion doesn't get enough press - it is a subject that impacts every American, regardless of political views or personally held beliefs about the science behind climate change impact. And with other headlines topping this one often, bring it on!