Warner, Kaine, Scott Celebrate Appointment of Interagency Regional Coordinator for Resilience

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Defense announced the selection of the Hampton Roads region as the first defense community in the Interagency Regional Coordinator for Resilience Pilot Program, which aims to increase federal support for collaboration between federal, state, and local entities to enhance climate resilience in defense communities. U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (Both D-VA) and Representative Bobby Scott (VA-03) have long advocated for additional federal support for climate adaptation in the region, including the creation of a coordinator position in Hampton Roads.

“The Hampton Roads region is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which puts crucial military instillations at risk,” said the lawmakers. “The Interagency Regional Coordinators for Resilience will help ensure that our military readiness is maintained by enacting effective climate adaptation strategies that build on the work of local governments and existing regional efforts. We will keep working together to help make sure Hampton Roads continues to serve as a model for other communities working to build resilience.”

In 2022, the lawmakers secured passage of language to establish the pilot program in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act as an amendment, which Rep. Scott introduced with the support of Senators Warner and Kaine. 

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