Chairman Schiff, Ranking Member Nunes and members of the committee – good morning. I’d like to begin by thanking the Chairman and Committee for agreeing to postpone this hearing for a week. This provided sufficient time to allow the Executive Branch to successfully complete its consultations regarding how to accommodate the committee’s request.

Thank you, Chairman Schiff, Ranking Member Nunes, and Members of the Committee, for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss diversity across the Intelligence Community (IC). I am pleased to be joined by the Honorable Kari A. Bingen, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. I am pleased to appear on behalf of the Honorable Daniel R. Coats, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI), the Honorable Susan M. Gordon.

Chairman Schiff, Ranking Member Nunes, and distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Intelligence Community's (IC) assessment of the national seciruty implications of climate change.

Chairman Burr, Vice-Chairman Warner, and Members of the Committee... I am here today, along with leaders of the Intelligence Community, to provide you an overview of the national security threats facing our nation. But before I do, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the men and women that make up the Intelligence Community.

Chairman Burr, Vice Chairman Warner, Members of the Committee, thank you for the invitation to offer the United States Intelligence Community’s 2019 assessment of threats to US national security.