June 25, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 107 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGECIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 107
(Extensions of Remarks - June 25, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E835-E836] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGECIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2020 ______ speech of HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of texas in the house of representatives Wednesday, June 19, 2019 The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3055) making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes: Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I wish to comment in support of the amendment to H.R. 3055 offered by Representative Lizzie Fletcher, Chair of the Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This amendment would require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to undertake an inaugural decadal study of the U.S. weather enterprise. Most Americans utilize weather forecasts on a daily basis. Increasingly, businesses across the country are relying on specialized weather forecasts to make business decisions. With climate change causing severe weather events to become more frequent and intense, like the hurricanes that impact my state, accurate and timely weather forecasts can be the difference between whether or not people need to evacuate their homes. However, while the U.S. is a global leader in atmospheric and weather research, the nation is falling behind in weather modeling and forecast accuracy. These forecasts are essential for the protection of human lives and property. There is a need to understand how the members of the U.S. weather enterprise, which is comprised of public, private, and academic partners, can better define their roles to increase the overall efficiency of the enterprise, leverage and prioritize investments, and improve weather models and forecast accuracy. A decadal survey would provide policymakers with the relevant information to prioritize investments in weather forecasting, modeling, and data assimilation over the next ten years; assess the current U.S. weather enterprise; and evaluate future potential federal investments in research, weather satellites, radars, and other observation technologies to ensure that all domestic users of weather information receive it in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The decadal survey would also evaluate the implementation of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 by NOAA, which is the most recent and comprehensive federal mandate aimed at improving weather forecasts. The National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have previously conducted a number of important decadal surveys for various areas of science, including space and Earth sciences, which have been widely viewed as providing successful roadmaps for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and NOAA in prioritizing future research, observations, and missions. Similarly, a weather decadal survey would create a shared vision for the next generation of the U.S. weather enterprise. The need for a terrestrial weather decadal survey was a topic of discussion at the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Environment Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. weather enterprise in May. Momentum and support for a weather decadal survey have been growing over the last couple of years, and I include in the Record a letter from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in support of this amendment. UCAR represents over 100 of the leading U.S. colleges and universities providing training in atmospheric sciences. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office of the President, June 20, 2019. Hon. Jose Serrano, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Robert Aderholt, Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Serrano and Ranking Member Aderholt: As president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and on behalf of our 117 member universities, I am writing to express our support for Representative Fletcher's Amendment #110 for H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which would create an inaugural decadal survey of the U.S. weather enterprise. A decadal survey for the U.S. weather enterprise would help policymakers and relevant agencies prioritize investments and coordinate efforts more effectively in the near- and long- term, as well as help industry and academia understand how to best assist agencies in working towards common goals. This decadal survey will assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in achieving its initiatives outlined in the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, which include developing a formal plan for weather research, developing an annual report on the state of its weather models, improving its watch-and-warning system based on recommendations from social and behavioral scientists, and other provisions. Between 1989 and 2000, the nation invested an estimated $4.5 billion to modernize and restructure the National Weather Service (NWS), and to improve severe weather warning times and forecast accuracy. While the NWS has made significant strides since that time and further bolstered its supercomputing assets and modeling capabilities, it stands at a critical juncture. It must decide how to replace numerous weather satellite and groundbased radar stations, which are rapidly aging and becoming obsolete, with new technologies and capabilities. Advancements in digital radar technologies from academia and other federal agencies, as well as numerous industry and non-federally provided surface, boundary layer, and satellite observations, need to be integrated into an overall strategy, an effort whose value extends beyond its direct benefit to the NWS. The National Academies Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) has already announced plans to ``outline a vision for the U.S. weather enterprise over the next 10-25 years'' but need funding to execute the study. The study would aim to identify a community vision and framework for coordination as well as critical investments, institutions, and mechanisms needed to achieve them. Over the past year and a half, BASC has worked to garner support from the U.S. weather enterprise's three primary sectors: the federal government, academia, and industry. The study would address many of the challenges the weather community has grappled with over the last decade, including the appropriate balance and coordination of efforts between the three sectors. The current study proposal describes the weather enterprise as having entered ``a time of rapid change,'' with technological advances in artificial intelligence, computing, and sensors bringing new challenges and opportunities. It also notes the community is ``on the brink of unprecedented improvements'' in areas such as hyper-local, subseasonal-to- seasonal, and impact-based weather forecasting. Meanwhile, the growing and evolving role of the private sector continues to generate opportunities for exciting innovations, but also could create a more complicated landscape for the weather enterprise. A decadal survey would create a process for regular assessment of the weather enterprise, ensuring the latest innovation, technology, and information are used to design and operationalize weather data and forecast systems. The boundaries of the weather enterprise operations have been driven by the science into new forecast areas, and the weather, water and climate enterprise needs to consider doing what we have done in the area of earth observations, and start planning over ten year periods. Given the implications of water and weather, I urge this Committee to strongly consider supporting Amendment #110 of H.R. 3055 for the weather community. There is widespread recognition that with limited resources our community must present Congress and the Administration with priorities. A decadal process will allow us to prioritize what has to be done and do so in recognition of the current fiscal realities. Sincerely, Antonio J. Busalacchi, President, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. [[Page E836]] ____________________