[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13387]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCING THE NATIONAL HURRICANE RESEARCH INITIATIVE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2007

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my 
colleague from Florida, Representative Ros-Lehtinen and almost 20 
bipartisan original cosponsors to introduce the National Hurricane 
Research Initiative Act.
  Although the United States possesses the most capable research 
enterprise, the largest economy, and the most sophisticated social 
infrastructure in the world, it remains extremely vulnerable to damage 
and loss of life from natural disasters. Among weather hazards, 
hurricanes account for over half of the total economic damage inflicted 
in the United States.
  Since 2001, hurricane damage has cost our nation an average of $35.8 
billion in economic losses per year. Even more, the past two years, 
hurricanes have caused over 1,450 innocent lives to be lost.
  With less than a month before this year's hurricane season is set to 
begin, now is the time to nationally invest in new research to better 
prepare, respond and mitigate these disasters.
  The National Science Board task force, a 24-member independent 
advisory body to the President and Congress on national science and 
engineering issues, recently released a report on January 12, 2007 
entitled, Hurricane Warning: The Critical Need for a National Hurricane 
Research Initiative. Their report warns that relative to the tremendous 
damage future hurricanes will inflict, the current federal investment 
in hurricane science and engineering is entirely insufficient. More 
than ever before, our nation needs a National Hurricane Research 
Initiative (NHRI) to provide vital hurricane research to adequately 
respond to these threats.
  I come to the floor today to introduce the National Hurricane 
Research Initiative Act, a comprehensive hurricane research bill which 
will improve hurricane research dramatically in the United States. The 
bill authorizes $4.35 billion in critical hurricane research funding to 
help scientists study and better understand how hurricanes form and 
intensify. This bill also provides enhanced information on early 
warning systems, infrastructure durability standards, and hurricane 
tracking and prediction capabilities.
  The National Hurricane Research Initiative Act of 2007 takes the 
general recommendations of the National Science Board and assembles the 
expertise of the nation's science and engineering experts to gain a 
better understanding of hurricane prediction and intensity. Under the 
bill, research is directed to further develop communications emergency 
networks for government agencies and non-government entities to improve 
disaster response and recovery. This bill also establishes a National 
Infrastructure Data Base to develop standards and establish public 
policy to better understand hurricanes and tropical storms.
  Madam Speaker, our nation, and my State of Florida in particular, are 
all too familiar with the immense damage hurricanes can inflict. When 
faced with strong hurricane predictions for this year, it could not be 
more a more appropriate time for Congress to act. We need a forward 
thinking approach that collects and utilizes comprehensive and improved 
hurricane research. My legislation would do just that. By investing in 
scientific research now, before the hurricanes strike, we will be able 
to better plan and mitigate these disasters, saving infrastructure and 
lives.
  I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the House Leadership to 
bring this legislation to the floor for its swift consideration.

                          ____________________