Homeland Security Climate Change Coordination Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3002
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-20T12:58:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Homeland Security Climate Change Coordination Act (H.R. 3002) aims to create a dedicated council within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better coordinate how the department handles the effects of global climate change on its work, such as programs, operations, missions, equipment, and staff. This helps ensure DHS is prepared for climate-related challenges that could impact national security and emergency response.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Council: Adds a new section (890E) to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, creating the "Climate Coordinating Council" within DHS.
- Composition: The council must have at least 20 members, including senior officials from key DHS areas like:
- Office for Strategy, Policy, and Plans.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- U.S. Coast Guard.
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- And others, such as intelligence offices, immigration services, and any additional components the DHS Secretary deems relevant.
- Leadership: The DHS Secretary appoints a senior official from one of these entities to lead the council.
- Duties:
- Identify how climate change affects multiple parts of DHS operations.
- Develop and implement strategies to reduce risks from climate change, including risk-based plans.
- Suggest changes to organization structure or resource allocation to support these strategies.
- Monitor compliance with Executive Order 14008 (which focuses on addressing the climate crisis domestically and internationally) and similar orders.
- Reporting Requirements: DHS must submit a report to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs one year after enactment, and annually for the next 10 years, detailing actions taken.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new entity (the council) to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, specifically in Subtitle H of Title VIII, with no prior equivalent structure for coordinating climate impacts across DHS.
- Adds a clerical update to the Act's table of contents to include the new section.
- Ties DHS actions more directly to executive orders on climate, requiring oversight that wasn't explicitly mandated before.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances DHS's internal coordination, potentially leading to better preparedness for climate-driven events like extreme weather, which could affect border security, disaster response (via FEMA), and coastal operations (via the Coast Guard). This may require reallocating resources but could improve efficiency.
- On Citizens: Indirect benefits through stronger homeland security measures against climate risks, such as faster emergency responses to floods or storms, though no direct public services are added.
- On International Relations: Supports U.S. commitments under Executive Order 14008 for global climate action, potentially aiding international cooperation on issues like migration or security threats exacerbated by climate change, but focuses primarily on domestic DHS operations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- DHS Leadership and Components: The Secretary, senior officials from listed offices (e.g., FEMA, CBP, Coast Guard), and potentially all DHS personnel, as climate strategies could influence daily operations and resource use.
- Congress: Specifically, the House and Senate Homeland Security committees, which receive reports and can oversee implementation.
- Broader Federal Government: Ties into executive branch climate initiatives, affecting coordination with other agencies like those under the Executive Order.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens administrative coordination without creating new regulatory powers; relies on existing DHS authority and executive orders, avoiding conflicts with current law.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to organize executive departments (Article I) and the executive's role in national security, with no apparent infringement on states' rights or individual liberties.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan climate action within a security context (introduced by members from both parties), potentially bridging divides on environmental policy by framing it as a homeland security issue, though it may face debate over resource priorities in a large department like DHS.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology.
- 2025-04-24: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Homeland Security Climate Change Coordination Act — issued 2025-04-24 — PDF (4 pages)