Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation Act

Floor Speech

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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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