[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING H.R. 1437, THE PRECIP ACT OF 2021 AND H.R. 5324, THE NWR 
                           MODERNIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2022

  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1437, 
the ``Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation'', 
or ``PRECIP Act''. I also rise in support of H.R. 5324, the ``NWR 
Modernization Act of 2021''.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Representative Sherrill's 
bipartisan PRECIP Act. As Chairwoman of the Science Committee's 
Environment Subcommittee, Ms. Sherrill has been a leader in improving 
our understanding how to plan for excess precipitation, which can often 
lead to severe flooding in inland areas. This bipartisan bill is a 
direct result of significant stakeholder engagement to understand the 
needs of local governments, dam safety officials, floodplain managers, 
and more, who use precipitation estimates regularly. Precipitation 
estimates are critical for life-and-death decisions, like whether to 
issue an evacuation order, and also inform flood maps and zoning 
restrictions.
  Current estimates for precipitation frequency, or precipitation 
atlas, and PMPs are outdated, inconsistent across the country, and 
infrequently updated. The PRECIP Act directs NOAA to update 
precipitation estimates on a regular basis, and to ensure these 
estimates consider the effects of future climate change.
  In order to address this knowledge gap, this bill directs the NOAA 
Administrator to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a consensus study on 
best practices for estimating precipitation. These best practices will 
be useful for updating Probable Maximum Precipitation, or PMP, 
estimates.
  This bill also directs NOAA to update precipitation frequency 
estimates, including PMP estimates, no less than every 10 years, but we 
encourage them to consider more frequent updates when feasible. NOAA is 
also required to develop a National Guidance Document for precipitation 
methodologies. While the results of the Academies' study should inform 
the development of this National Guidance Document, we encourage NOAA 
not to delay any updates to PMPs, and the creation of a National 
Guidance Document for the final study, and to undertake these 
activities concurrently upon enactment of this bill.
  Changes in precipitation are already being felt across the country, 
and it is critical for our local decision makers to have the most 
accurate information on hand to protect our communities. The activities 
authorized in the PRECIP Act will take a big step forward in doing 
this. I want to thank Representative Sherrill for her work on this 
thoughtful, bipartisan, legislation and I urge my colleagues to support 
its passage.
  I also rise in support of the bipartisan NWR Modernization Act of 
2021 led by Representatives Bice and Sherrill, the Ranking Member and 
Chairwoman of the Environment Subcommittee on House Science. NOAA 
Weather Radio, or NWR, is a critical lifeline for Americans across the 
country. It provides continuous coverage of weather information and 
broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts. It 
also provides information after natural disasters and other hazardous 
events.
  This important bill will expand NOAA Weather Radio coverage by 
directing NOAA to acquire additional transmitters. It will ensure that 
underserved communities are within range to receive the important 
alerts. The bill will also update telecommunications infrastructure and 
software that are critical to the system. I want to thank 
Representatives Bice and Sherrill for their bipartisan work on this 
bill that will bring the NOAA Weather Radio into the 21st century.
  Both of these bipartisan bills will provide benefits to Americans 
across the country, and are the product of good bipartisan work by 
Members of the Science Committee. I urge my colleagues to support their 
passage.

                          ____________________