Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act.

For the past 3 years, the National Landslide Preparedness Act has been providing communities with the tools and resources that they need to reduce the potential devastation of landslides.

Washington State knows this pain too well. A decade ago, the single deadliest landslide in U.S. history destroyed a community between Oso and Darrington and took 43 lives in mere minutes. I knew in the aftermath of that that we have to do more to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies.

The landslide law I championed is doing exactly that. The programs established by the law are increasing preparedness and improving mapping data so communities understand where vulnerabilities exist. We cannot let these programs expire when they are just getting up and running.

The landslide law passed this Chamber without opposition in 2020 because every State in this country has some form of landslide risk. Each year, landslides kill between 20 and 50 people and cause over $3 billion in damage.

With a changing climate and more unpredictable weather, landslide risks are only going to grow more frequent, more dangerous, and more costly. I urge my colleagues to support the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, which includes my legislation that extends these programs.

I also thank Congresswomen Schrier and Gluesenkamp Perez along with Senators Cantwell and Murkowski for their support in reauthorizing the landslide law.

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