[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E36-E37]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a very important 
piece of legislation, the ``United States Weather Research Program Act 
of 2003.'' The human toll and dollar loss from severe weather events is 
staggering. Each year this nation experiences more than 1,500 weather-
related fatalities and more than 15 billion dollars in damage to 
property.
  The Weather Research Program is a partnership among academic and 
commercial communities and several government agencies--the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), 
the U.S.

[[Page E37]]

Navy and many others. Led by NOAA, the program supports government and 
university-based research to improve severe weather forecasts and 
better utilization by emergency managers as well as the public.
  This legislation authorizes $46.5 million over three years and 
emphasizes research on hurricanes and heavy precipitation events 
through better observations and modeling. Another important goal for 
the program will be to improve the communication between weather 
forecasters and the public and emergency managers when it is needed 
most. The bill also provides for the development of centers where 
research can be tested in real life environments to more quickly move 
research and new technology into operation--and save lives in the 
process.
  I look forward to working with the agencies involved in this program, 
the research community, and my colleagues to pass this important 
legislation.

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