[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING RESEARCH AND ESTIMATES OF CHANGES IN PRECIPITATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MIKIE SHERRILL

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2022

  Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1437, the 
Providing Research on Estimates of Changes in Precipitation, or PRECIP 
Act.
  Earlier this month on the Science, Space and Technology Committee, we 
heard from our government's representative to the Intergovernmental 
Panel on Climate Change that we should expect three to eight times as 
much rain in the coming years as we have seen historically.
  That future is here already in the cities and towns of New Jersey's 
11th District. From Denville to Pequannock, and in Lincoln Park, 
Montville, Hanover Township, Morristown, Montclair, Verona and others, 
we are already seeing record-breaking instances of heavy precipitation 
wreaking havoc upon homes and businesses.
  Last September, we experienced horrendous flooding in the wake of 
Tropical Storm Ida and tragically lost 27 lives across New Jersey. In 
Woodland Park in my district, a woman was swept away by the flooding--
brave residents at the scene tried to rescue her, but the current was 
too strong and they themselves had to be rescued.
  According to CDC estimates, over 35 percent of deaths related to 
Hurricane Ida were in New Jersey--the largest share of deaths in any 
state. The storm also shut down Newark International Airport, with 
nearly 400 flights canceled and an entire terminal closed, suspended 
almost all NJ Transit rail service, and caused significant delays for 
buses and drivers stranded by rising water across the state as they 
encountered roads closed by flooding and downed trees.
  The devastation was widespread and continues to affect my 
constituents long after the waters receded. In Little Falls, New 
Jersey, I met with Mayor Damiano and spoke with families about the 
heartbreaking losses they faced; their lives and homes upended, with 
many still trying to recover from the personal and financial upheaval 
months later.
  I remember one woman who told us how she was about to have her son's 
wedding that upcoming weekend and her whole house was flooded and 
nearly destroyed to the point that the power had to be shut off in 
order to keep them safe. She told me she just didn't know how she was 
going to make it all work. This wasn't the first time her home had 
flooded and her life uprooted, and in that moment, her fears were not 
just around recovering from the damage of Ida, but that even if she 
could recover, this still might happen again in the next storm or the 
one after that.
  I heard from another mother in my district who, along with her young 
children, had to be rescued from her home at night during Hurricane 
Ida. She said that she had been told at 5 p.m. that the storm would 
pass to the west. The precise location of extreme weather and 
precipitation can make a life-or-death difference, and so we must 
constantly be working to improve NOAA's forecasting ability.
  Sadly, this loss of life and of property is no longer limited to 
major storms and hurricanes or to limited regions. We are seeing very 
high volumes of precipitation that exceed the frequency and patterns we 
have seen in the past. These extreme precipitation events are happening 
in my district and those of my colleagues with alarming regularity.
  Therefore, it is critical that decision makers such as flood plain 
managers, dam safety officials, civil engineers, local elected 
officials, first responders and others have the most accurate and up to 
date information to plan for these events. However, there is a gap in 
the information necessary to make these decisions.
  This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, or NOAA, to update precipitation frequency estimates. 
This includes regular updates to Probable Maximum Precipitation, or 
PMP, estimates. These estimates are required to be updated at least 
every 10 years to provide up-to-date information for decision makers, 
but we encourage the agency to update these, and other precipitation 
frequency estimates, as frequently as practicable.
  This bill also requires NOAA to develop a National Guidance Document 
for precipitation methodologies. Additionally, the bill authorizes the 
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a 
consensus study on best practices for precipitation estimation.
  Given the critical need to update PMPs, and develop the National 
Guidance Document, Congress urges NOAA to include the findings of the 
Academies study when practicable and not to delay these time-sensitive 
updates.
  This bipartisan bill is the result of significant stakeholder 
engagement, and outreach across the aisle. I want to particularly thank 
the Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member, Ms. Bice for her work, as 
well as the Full Committee Ranking Member, Mr. Lucas.
  I thank my colleagues for their support on this bill.

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