gallego hearing request - effects of climate change on communities of color

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COMMITTEES:

ARMED SERVICES

SUBCOMMITTEES:

TacrrcAl AIR AND LAND FORCES

READINESS

NATURAL BESOURCES

SUBCOMMITTEES:

ENERGY AND l\4INERAL REsouRcES

WATEB, PoWEB, AND OCEANS

OvEBStGHT aND INVESIGATIoNS

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August 18,2015

The Honorable Louie GohmertChairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsHouse Committee on Natural Resources1324 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Gohmert:

I am writing to respectfully request that the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holda hearing on the effects of climate change on various communities of color, with a focus on theparticular challenges faced by Native American communities.

Communities of color are expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the impacts of climatechange, like sea level rise, warmer temperatures, land erosion, and more extreme weather events.

In the American Southwest, Latino and African-American populations are more vulnerable toheat exposure and heat stress due to factors like substandard housing and high utility costs.

Communities of color depend heavily on jobs that are undermined by climate change, such as

agricultwe and tourism. Existing disparities in resources that are critical during conditions ofduress, like income and access to health care, increase lulnerability.

Native American communities face additional unique challJnges. They rely directly on naturalresources for food, medicine, and community, all of which are expected to be affected by climatechange. They are frequently located in areas that have been or are'expected to be impacted earlyand heavily. As Native cultures are founded on Native places and homelands, forced relocationdue to events like flooding causes cultural ties to be lost as individuals struggle to maintain theircommunity and culture. Climate change impacts are likely to be particularly severe due topreexisting social and economic challenges. Affected communities have called for a plan thatincludes community-led and government-supported adaptation programs.

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee can play an important role in addressing these

disparities by exploring the issue in a hearing. I look forward to working with you on

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unravelling the problems and solutions to these climate change issues facing marginalized

communities across the nation.

Sincerely,

Ruben Gallego

Member of Congress

CC: The Honorable Debbie DingellRanking Member, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

House Committee on Natural Resources