SEEC Climate and National Security Task Force Statement on the Final Passage of FY24 NDAA

Washington, D.C. – The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Climate and National Security Task Force, led by Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), released the following statement in response to the final passage of H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24 NDAA). In a May 2023 letter, the Task Force urged the House Armed Services Committee to prioritize energy resilience and independence as part of our nation’s defense strategy.

“Our planet is tipping towards an era of extreme weather destabilization, posing a direct threat to U.S. national security and the livelihoods of everyday Americans. Yet earlier this year, House Republicans hijacked our progress towards a robust national defense strategy by including poison pill riders that destroyed our country’s investments in climate resilience and natural disaster preparedness. Thanks to the tireless work of our members on the Climate and National Security Task Force, we are relieved that this partisan language was largely removed in the final version of the NDAA bill text and further included a Task Force priority for military installation energy resilience.

“Yet, there is much more we can do to ensure our military is prepared to combat the climate crisis. The bill still includes language that hinders the Department of Defense from exercising due diligence and assessing greenhouse gas emissions from its contractors. The bill also does not address comprehensive energy conservation and independence measures that can ensure America remains prepared for disruptions to critical energy supply chains. Looking to Fiscal Year 2025, the SEEC Climate and National Security Task Force will continue to address energy security and resilience threats that our military installations face across the world.”

Background

In May, the Task Force sent a letter to Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) of the House Armed Services Committee in support of a number of key Department of Defense energy resilience and climate programs. That letter can be found here.

The FY24 NDAA included the following provisions that were championed by the Task Force: 

• $573 million for energy-saving projects on military bases through the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program
• Robust authorization for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program
• $186 million for the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund