Committee. He has spent 15 years as an environmental attorney and was elected to the San Diego City Council for he became the citys First City Council president. Congressman peters the completion of a number of infrastructure product projects. Welcome and thank you for being here today. Thank you so much for having me, jessica. We have about half an hour and i will read the questions as they come in. I want to start with the big news of the day which is the passage of the inflation reduction act. In addition to that, you were one of the cosponsors of the adaptation and resilience strategy act which is a bipartisan bill designed to do a number of things, including streamlined the federal response to climate hazards that threaten human health, safety, and critical infrastructure. What can you tell us about all of these different moving parts and pieces, why they are important and what we should know about them . I should maybe start by saying where you stand depends on where you sit. I am sitting in california. It is a lovely day. Climate change, wildfires, it happens much faster than we anticipated. Right here in san diego, have the best i have two of them in particular. San diego will be really vulnerable to Sea Level Rise and it is not something the idea behind the effort which we introduced with two other senators is that we need a strategy for the nation. Not really just a military effort but we are the only government that doesnt have a focus on this. This would require adaptation and it would ensure the response to climate hazards while the chiefs aliens officer in the white house and would encourage that we can get support. Its something i think everyone can support. Why is it so important that we have that National Strategy . We have the little glass ball where we have all the agency plans, but really what i understand about the bill that is being proposed is that it was all of that together to provide a National Picture of resilience is that correct . I think you have been around long enough to know the mission can be adversely affected when different parts of the government are working on it separately and maybe not all pointing in the same direction. It is important because, you can see the impact through the budget. I think my first year in congress we spent 20 million or so on severe with response. This year is going to be 145 maya dollars. If it doesnt get better we need a response. I think this will provide the approach. By the way the military has been leading on this already, recognizing and doing more. The military, i am very proud to say has been a leader in research, and nextgeneration energy and they have since they went from sales to call. The military played a quarter storm corners down cornerstone role. Where some of the additional authorities he would like to see to promote Climate Resilience . There is another bill on defense of 2022 that would provide more Security Assistance authority. We had requests to have resources to deal with this. Obviously we determined over time that is our National Interest for to the effective so we need to provide the military as well. They did identify Climate Change as potentially decreasing future commissions. Emissions. We need to make sure we support the military. I first came across this my first two terms but if you are in san diego we will continue to be involved. Absolutely. Two of the Navy Installations that you mentioned in your district they were also flagged as honorable for Climate Change. Can we talk a little bit about your tenure both as a congressman and in environmental attorney have using seen the conversation change . So, what i love about the military and you will come to appreciate this, they are kind of defined by a mission. There is not a lot of firm for them to pretend that something is happening that is not happening. Or that something is not happening in this case. I remember i first meeting with the commandant i first came in as a junior member, they said the commandant wants to meet with me. I said great. Low and behold here i am. The commandant felt a bunch of other breast up generals, they didnt know what to talk to me about. Whats it going to be . He system and set congressman i want to talk to you about solar energy. I said ok, its your meeting but what is this all about . The reason he was interested about solar energy is one of the most Dangerous Things we do is move things across the desert. So he decided he was going to set conditions and you solar panels. There were solar panels on backpacks to fire up smaller appliances and it turns out it was as much as the batteries they use out there. We dont have the capability yet. These are all innovations that were mission driven. We launched a ship out of coronado he said dont give me a hard time. The navy were tree hackers because this was a better way to serve the nation. The effect that the military to launch hybrid chips. We were talking about that as well. The price spikes we just saw again after everyone is confident. The country is starting to get on board with a way that is consistent. That was something they couldnt really back away from. By the way, republicans have come to the table more. They are not so much denying as they are movie taking their time. But my friend john curtis from utah now leads the conference conservative. They acknowledge Climate Change is happening. Lets get stuff done. It is profound that they made that move. That is a big change. One of things is evangelicals who have taken this up as a cause, saving gods creation. That is such an important part of the republican base. I think they see people from florida see what streets in miami on sunny days, everyone is going to be in this conversation. I think it is a good start. I think the conversations are getting better. Thats great to hear. Im going to tailor this question from the audience just a little bit. How do you think the military should be approaching Climate Change . We obviously have impact directly on our installations from flooding to increased heat index but is there a concern from you or other members in congress about the pseudomilitary innovation of Climate Change . I dont know what that is. I have never heard of it. The military should be completely focused on facts, completely focused on what it means for the mission. Of course, im concerned about people who deny Climate Change. But people who fantasize about how quickly we can make the transition. With democrats, youre going to have to tell mike youre going to have to get views and republicans are going to have to talk about resilience late overtime. What i think the militarys strength is is the mission focus. This is what it means for the mission. So stay on the facts, be straight with us. And i think that will get the best response from congress. Absolutely. And what are your biggest concerns about resiliency . What do you think we need to be moving faster on to achieve a certain level of resiliency . We are pretty much i think its going to come on us pretty quickly. Here in san diego, i think we havent appreciated much. My main concern is we will not be quick enough. You know, we also have to appreciate we have limited resources. Right now we have to be figuring out what to do for action. What are the biggest vulnerabilities in terms of cost and address it now and again. I trust the generals we have. We have to ask those questions. We have to get honest pretty quick. Obsolete. Im going to turn to a question from the audience, do you see the environmental policy act for the California Environmental quality act as legal mechanisms that could be used at a more strategic or problematic level to help deliver a national Climate Resilience strategy . You know, in terms of the strategy i think that is more legislative we have to decide with the advice of scientists and military, meteorologists, climatologists, what our vulnerabilities are. Look at jackson, mississippi. We have to decide vulnerabilities and make a plan for resources. We would like to have input to make sure we understand resiliency. Both bills are designed to make sure we know the environmental. One we know what needs to be done, cant let those 1970s bills get in the way. My concern is wildfires. We know what to do, lets do it. We have to figure out a way to make this, we have to be able to do this in the age of computers. We have to figure out a way to make this go faster because we know we are out of time. I think both of those bills are wonderful bills and have a great role. We cant let them out of addressing the problem. Absolutely. You sort of touched on this before but the dmv has a climate plan and each of the services has a climate plan as of right now. I think we are still waiting on the air force to drop theres but why do you think it is so important that each of these services continues to include Climate Change in their planning and their Mission Readiness . I love that the air force is fast. From the standpoint of refining the mission, what is climate migration going to do . We look at syria, there are a lot of theories that what happened with respect to drought was climate made. Look at the flooding in the middle east now. And we need each branch to plan for that. What does that mean . We also need a defensive strategy for ourselves. Each facility, that is probably the most vulnerable. We need to understand kind of what we need to do to be ready and by the way if we have to move people or our facilities from one place to another. We have to think about. Have to decide what they are going to do. Its not amenable to the congress this is going to have to be, this is an emergency. We need to step it up. We need these plans to be specific about investments and transitions. That can only come from the services. Absolutely. We have talked about sort of the dangers of climate and the implications there but there are also opportunities there. What opportunities do you see for innovations or additional collaboration and partnerships across government or private industries . What would you like to see happen . Im on the energy and Congress Committee and the republicans ask why should america do this . We are only 10 of emissions. One is, Everyone Wants to be america, Everyone Wants our standard of living. We can show we can have a standard of living that is very high but not so dependent on gas. If we make that example to the rest of the world then, you know, maybe they will decide they dont have to have coal to have americas lifestyle. We want innovation to happen. We want inventions with her is Carbon Capture or build technology, advanced biofuels, we want all that to happen here so we get the economic benefit of it. My district happens to be one of the leaders of housing research. I am cochair of the housing caucus. If you want to call me a politician thats fine with me. That doesnt compete with food that could be used for alternative fuels. I want that to be invented here. The incentives we provide, we can provide more incentives. That is the opportunity here. I think ultimately the government is going to invest a ton of money in Climate Action but its probably joined by the private sector. Giving those incentives and creating the opportunities is something that is important to me. Its the optimism you can get out of this. Thats fair. So what other milestones or what other actions would you like to see taken to help to support this change and transition . This is not up to talk about russians. I think the ability to make that known by quick example is i happen to have the chance to sit with cutter to evacuate people from afghanistan. Visited up and just centers of which is why we had those meetings i said what are you doing to reduce methane . He had just come from stock went there are people who care about this. He knew one congress missed at least was asking about methane control policy which by the way he didnt know the answer. But his minister came up to me after an insured me about it. Believe it or not more than contributors and newspapers on twitter. I think the main thing is a lot of people know its important. Across from the government, we have to be fastpaced. We are too influenced by ideology. I think we really have to be ductile about it. Tactile about it. Thats fair. What, as an individual can we do to help build resiliency in our communities . I think, again, you can do which you can to set an example whether its what you drive or how much you drive. What you do with your waste, you know, your food waste or whatever. I think all of that is good for setting an example. But mobilizing action i guess it starts with that. Each individual can set an example for the neighbors, maybe you get an electric car or you carpool. Change personal habits, but again i think to me, really talking to people even strangers and people you dont really agree with about this is important. One thing i observed is that the biggest problem for the United States right now is not any particular policy issue it is the division in the country. House divided against itself will not stand. We are weakened by this division and i would invite everyone to heal that up. To listen. And again, to be factbased. Not agree more. We have time for i think one more question. This comes from karen talking about the rep business rapid nests and how quickly we can go. Are there any practices you have seen from the military or from communities in san diego that can help influence or inform other sectors and communities . I think it is just some genius. Just so mission focused. They are just not trigger tree huggers. They are transitioning from oil and gas where they can. Thats the best practice. Talk about becoming a neutral organization state or city, you know, on the ideology in favor of facts is really important. I think we should ride that train. I still think talking has had a impact and its really kind of unfathomable the effect it has had so control, factbased and that is the best practice. I can agree with that. Just as a final positive note. Other than getting across the finish line what are you most excited about . What opportunity is presented to us as americans here as we harness innovation and the mission that we need to do as a country to get us more resilient . What are you most excited about . The thing i am working on right now is the wildfire issue. And a new approach to managing our forests. Part of the sequoias, its bipartisan. I am excited about having the conversations. We need to incentivize the private sector for new battery technologies, new engines, stuff to deal with this issue. We dont have a timeline. The federal government is trying to decide what the best incentive is. I think we need that but the level of innovation in the private sector in response to this crisis im not saying we have a crisis. We are certainly going to pay matter what we do. But i am also pretty optimistic that people will start to take this on as a real cause outside the government. X absolutely. Thank you so much for being here with us today. Anybody in our audience im sorry we are just about out of time. You can go to congressmans peters website. Thank you very much, keep in touch. Thank you, youtube you too. Here is what is coming up live on cspan. 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