[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E985-E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE WEATHER SAFETY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, the Weather Safety Act is 
legislation to help the many towns across America that face recurring 
threats from severe weather. Whether it is tornados, hurricanes, 
droughts, or floods, the threats to life and property require a 
response. Farmers in my home state of Oklahoma have suffered years of 
severe drought. The federal government must help these farmers and 
communities assess their vulnerability to the losses that often 
accompany severe weather, and develop plans to improve their resilience 
to such events and reduce the economic impacts.
  While current federal research on global climate change focuses on 
long-term trends, we must also develop understanding and strategies 
that can be put to immediate use in dealing with severe weather. 
Creating an Office of Vulnerability and Resilience Research to 
coordinate and advance short-term climatic research will put us on 
track toward this goal. A unique ``Vulnerability Scorecard'' system 
will permit systematic evaluation of regional vulnerabilities, as well 
as providing a benchmark against which future improvements can be 
measured.
  Call this a ``no-regrets'' strategy. It is a climate policy that can 
be enacted right now, in the absence of scientific agreement on the 
magnitude and extent of the impact of increasing atmospheric carbon 
dioxide on climate.

[[Page E986]]

And it is a strategy that recognizes that many things can contribute to 
a community's vulnerability, including changing demographics and shifts 
in the nation's wealth distribution.
  As a result of this program, I foresee a stronger partnership between 
scientists at the cutting edge of climate research and city planners 
who are on the front lines of the battle with nature's violent side. I 
challenge our best scientists to turn some of their attention to 
shorter-term climate and weather variations and produce the kind of 
assessments and resiliency research that can help all of our citizens, 
from elected officials and first-responders to farmers and families. 
Strengthening our communities makes America stronger, and that is what 
this bill is all about.

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