ACTION PLAN ABOUT NEWS COMMITTEE ACTIVITY CONTACT You are here Home»Committee Activity»Hearings TRIBAL VOICES, TRIBAL WISDOM: STRATEGIES FOR THE CLIMATE CRISIS Date: Thursday, November 18, 2021 - 9:30am Location: 210 Cannon & Zoom Video Conference (Hybrid) The hearing will honor Native American Heritage Month and focus on tribal perspectives on climate change, the transition to a clean energy economy, and adaptation to climate impacts. Video of Tribal Voices, Tribal Wisdom: Strategies for the Climate Crisis "As we work on solving the climate crisis, Congress has a responsibility to respect Tribal sovereignty, to help Tribal Nations build resilience to climate impacts, and to support their leadership in transitioning to a clean energy economy" - U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor READ REP. CASTOR'S OPENING STATEMENT The committee will receive testimony from: Hon. Fawn Sharp, President, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI); Vice President, Quinault Indian Nation. Sharp serves as the Vice President of the Quinault Indian Nation, a community of 2,500 in Taholah, Washington. She is also the 23rd President of the NCAI, the oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native tribal government organization in the country. Read Sharp's Testimony. Hon. Melvin J. Baker, Chairman, Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Born and raised on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Baker was elected as Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in 2020. He previously served on the Southern Ute Tribal Council, the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, and the Southern Ute Indian Housing Authority. Read Baker's Testimony. Dr. Casey Thornbrugh, Climate Change Program Manager, Office of Environmental Resource Management, United South and Eastern Tribes Inc.; Tribal Climate Science Liaison, DOI Northeast and Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Centers. A citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Thornbrugh works with Tribal Nations to identify climate research needs and priorities. He is also an expert in climate adaptation planning, climate teleconnections, and North American precipitation. Read Thornbrugh's Testimony. Pilar Thomas, Partner, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group, Quarles & Brady LLP. Thomas is an expert in tribal renewable energy project development and finance, tribal economic development, federal Indian Law, and natural resource development. She previously served as the Deputy Director for the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs at the US Department of Energy. Read Thomas' Testimony. Documents Hearing Notice 117th Congress Related Issues Climate Science Natural Solutions Resilience COMMITTEE ACTIVITY All Activity Hearings Business Meetings Other Activities Watch Live In June of 2020, the Select Committee Democrats released the Climate Crisis Action Plan, which would save more than 60,000 American lives every year by 2050 thanks to reduced air pollution, as well as nearly $8 trillion saved through 2050 thanks to health and climate benefits. LEARN MORE SIGN UP FOR UPDATES U.S. House of Representatives H2-359 Ford House Office Building Washington D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-1106 House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Minority Website Accessibility Copyright Privacy Tools