Ranking Member Lofgren's Opening Statement for Hearing on U.S. Competitiveness in Weather Forecasting & Modeling
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Environment is holding a hearing titled, Winning in Weather: U.S. Competitiveness in Forecasting and Modeling.
Ranking Member Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below.
Good morning. Thank you to Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Ross for holding today’s hearing on weather and climate modeling and forecasting. Today’s hearing features experts with relevant expertise in a range of issues that we will explore today surrounding the U.S. Weather Enterprise’s efforts to improve the nation’s weather and climate forecasting and modeling capabilities.
A topic that I continue to be focused on in these weather hearings is the need for improvement in the subseasonal to seasonal, or S2S, forecasts and products. S2S predictions are critical to communities and to industry, including agriculture, for informing adequate decision making and planning related to water management, infrastructure development, and electricity market demands. Advancements in S2S prediction will require further research and development in a number of areas, including in coupled numerical weather-climate systems. I look forward to hearing the expert panel’s recommendations for improving subseasonal to seasonal modeling.
While improving modeling is important, there needs to be just as much focus on improving the end products and delivery of services. As Dr. Petty mentions in his testimony, when weighing our success in forecasting, there need to be other meaningful metrics that are more aligned to NOAA’s mission to protect lives and property. It is essential to understand who the audience is, what information the end user finds most useful, and how that information should be delivered in the most effective way.
In reaching this goal of improving meteorological services, there needs to be effective collaboration between federal agencies that have relevant expertise, and among the broader U.S. Weather Enterprise. When different agencies are competing for limited funding, they become even more protective of what they have. At a time of constrained resources, what more can Congress do to encourage inter-agency collaboration? How can the private sector and academia engage in these efforts and support advancement of meteorological services?
These questions need to be answered to ensure that we are leveraging the nation’s full expertise to further the development of weather and climate research, forecasting, and communication.
On the topic of funding, later today, we will be voting on the fiscal year 2024 appropriation agreement that includes funding for NOAA. I am pleased to see the reversal of the previous stance by the majority to cut NOAA’s budget by as much as 22%. The budget now would keep NOAA’s spending essentially flat. While the reversal is welcome, I remain concerned about how NOAA will be able to achieve its goal to improve models and forecasts rapidly.
The Weather Act Reauthorization bill that I cosponsored with Chairman Lucas aims to improve NOAA’s forecasting and modeling abilities by expanding existing and creating new programs. While I do hope this bill makes it to the President’s desk this year, the stagnant funding level provided to NOAA will undoubtedly slow advancement.
Thank you to the expert panel for being here this morning. I look forward to your testimony and the discussion. I yield back.
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