Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1437) to amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide comprehensive and regularly updated Federal precipitation information, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1437
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Research and Estimates of Changes In Precipitation Act'' or the ``PRECIP Act''. SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2017 RELATING TO IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION ``SEC. 601. STUDY ON PRECIPITATION ESTIMATION.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the PRECIP Act, the Administrator, in consultation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an agreement with the National Academies--
``(1) to conduct a study on the state of practice and research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable maximum precipitation estimation; and
``(2) to submit, not later than 24 months after the date on which such agreement is finalized, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on a website, a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1).
``(b) Study.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
``(1) An examination of the current state of practice for precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for decisionmaker needs, and rationale for further evolution of this field.
``(2) An evaluation of best practices for precipitation estimation that are based on the best-available science, include assumptions of non-stationarity, and can be utilized by the user community.
``(3) A framework for--
``(A) the development of a National Guidance Document for estimating extreme precipitation in future conditions; and
``(B) evaluation of the strengths and challenges of the full spectrum of approaches, including for probable maximum precipitation studies.
``(4) A description of existing research needs in the field of precipitation estimation in order to modernize current methodologies and incorporate assumptions of non- stationarity.
``(5) A description of in-situ, airborne, and space-based observation requirements, that could enhance precipitation estimation and development of models, including an examination of the use of geographic information systems and geospatial technology for integration, analysis, and visualization of precipitation data.
``(6) A recommended plan for a Federal research and development program, including specifications for costs, timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified research needs.
``(7) An analysis of the respective roles in precipitation estimation of various Federal agencies, academia, State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other public and private stakeholders.
``(8) Recommendations for data management to promote long- term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses and data discoverability, interoperability, and reuse.
``(9) Recommendations for how data and services from the entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal Government.
``(10) A description of non-Federal precipitation data, its accessibility by the Federal Government, and ways for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve or expand such datasets.
``(11) Such other topics as the Administrator or National Academies consider appropriate.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized $1,500,000 to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this study. ``SEC. 602. IMPROVING PROBABLE MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the Administrator, in consideration of the report recommendations, shall consult with relevant partners, including users of the data, on the development of a plan to--
``(1) not later than 6 years after the completion of such report and not less than every 10 years thereafter, update probable maximum precipitation estimates for the United States, such that each update includes estimates that incorporate assumptions of non-stationarity;
``(2) coordinate with partners to conduct research in the field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance with the research needs identified in such report;
``(3) make publicly available, in a searchable, interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that the Administrator has the legal right to redistribute and deemed to be at an appropriate state of development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
``(4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation estimate data, products, and supporting documentation and metadata developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are preserved, curated, and served by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as appropriate.
``(b) National Guidance Document for the Development of Probable Maximum Precipitation Estimates.--The Administrator, in collaboration with Federal agencies, State, territorial, Tribal and local governments, academia, and other partners the Administrator deems appropriate, shall develop a National Guidance Document that--
``(1) provides best practices that can be followed by Federal and State regulatory agencies, private meteorological consultants, and other users that perform probable maximum precipitation studies;
``(2) considers the recommendations provided in the National Academies study under section 601;
``(3) facilitates review of probable maximum precipitation studies by regulatory agencies;
``(4) provides confidence in regional and site-specific probable maximum precipitation estimates; and
``(5) includes such other topics as the Administrator deems appropriate.
``(c) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the Administrator shall make publicly available the National Guidance Document under subsection (b) on an internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(d) Updates.--The Administrator shall update the National Guidance Document not less than once every 10 years after the publication of the National Guidance Document under subsection (c) and publish such updates in accordance with such subsection.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section:
``(1) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
``(2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.
``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
``(4) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(5) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(6) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2027. ``SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.
`` In this title:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(2) National academies.--The term `National Academies' means the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
``(3) United states.--The term `United States' means, collectively, each State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or possession of the United States.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 note) is amended in the table of contents by adding at the end the following: ``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION ``Sec. 601. Study on precipitation estimation. ``Sec. 602. Improving probable maximum precipitation estimates. ``Sec. 603. Definitions.''.
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Ms. STEVENS. 1437, the bill now under consideration.
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Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1437, the Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation, or PRECIP Act.
I commend Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Sherrill of the Science Committee on her work to bring the PRECIP Act to the House floor today. This bipartisan bill is the result of significant stakeholder engagement led by Congresswoman Sherrill of New Jersey.
Precipitation data is used by decisionmakers like dam safety officials, flood plain managers, civil engineers, and Federal, State, and local officials, to build resilient infrastructure, something we care a lot about in this body, for communities.
The precipitation data is extremely important for Michiganians. This is a huge reality for us, particularly in southeastern Michigan, after record, record rainfall over the last year.
The Great Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessments organization found that changes in precipitation in the Great Lakes region will lead to more extreme precipitation events in the State of Michigan, otherwise known as flooding, a reality all too probable to the Speaker and myself, both hailing from southeast Michigan.
These extreme precipitation events can cause flooding and can also affect lake levels, which could have severe economic and ecological impacts across my home State of Michigan and certainly across the country.
The PRECIP Act would help to modernize outdated precipitation data across the country, and the bill also directs NOAA to update precipitation data on a regular cadence. This will not only address many precipitation estimates that are currently years, and sometimes decades, out of date, it will also help local responders act when their residents need them to. It will also help local elected officials coordinate with the Federal agencies in responding to extreme precipitation events. It will also ensure consistency in precipitation estimates across the United States; as we know, precipitation events do not respect State or regional boundaries.
As we are also anticipating an increase in frequency and intensity of precipitation events due to the reality of climate change, it is critical that this bill also requires NOAA to consider future climate change while updating these precipitation estimates. This will ensure that this data remains relevant for the future.
I am deeply proud to cosponsor this bill that has both bipartisan and bicameral support. Its passage will positively impact all Americans, and I urge my colleagues in this Chamber on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.
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Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I have seen Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan's 12th District, in her waders, moving around her district, including Dearborn, in flood-ridden neighborhoods. This is a crisis.
It is important to pass the PRECIP Act, as introduced by the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill), co-led by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).
This is a remarkable piece of legislation that will make a huge difference to this country.
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Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, in closing, H.R. 1437, the PRECIP Act, is of great merit. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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