00:00Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being here today and as we discussed before I'm grateful that you were able to rearrange your schedules.
00:07This was originally scheduled for last week and we had a lot of changes and then a lot of things have happened in the world since then that are going to be germane to our conversation today.
00:14But thanks again for rearranging your calendars and you know given recent events the importance of hearing your perspectives on our nation's weather enterprise cannot be overstated.
00:24This morning's hearing addresses a topic that affects hundreds of millions of Americans daily.
00:28The technological advances that contribute to the enhancement of weather forecasting.
00:32The recent floods in Texas and New Mexico, the tornado outbreaks in March and May, and of course the devastating wildfires in Southern California at the beginning of the year all highlight the need for higher quality weather forecasting.
00:45For years NOAA's mission has been to protect lives and property.
00:49However as the world modernizes this responsibility no longer rests solely on their shoulders.
00:53A robust private sector that embraces and fosters various technologies and techniques is essential for our progress in all areas related to weather.
01:03Today we'll hear from witnesses who utilize this raw weather data to inform the public about imminent storms, what the weather will be like in the days to come, and what conditions we can expect throughout an entire season.
01:13From my conversations with farmers back home in Florida, I know that seasonal weather predictions are vital to American agriculture.
01:21Without accurate forecasts in this sector, decisions about seasonal planting and harvest timing are less efficient, which reduces yields of crops that are the backbone of our economy.
01:31Floridians also recognize that accurate weather forecasts are crucial for their safety and well-being.
01:35Extended hurricane lead time combined with more accurate tracking and intensity predictions over the last decade has saved countless lives and businesses, largely in part to the work put in by NOAA's Hurricane Hunter aircraft based in Lakeland, Florida, my hometown.
01:51In 2024 alone, they flew 67 missions totaling over 520 flight hours.
01:56Representative Frost and I had an opportunity to fly into Hurricane Milton last hurricane season at the peak of its intensity.
02:05It was a strong Cat 4 at the time, one of the strongest storms on record, and that was a great example of how quickly these storms can intensify.
02:12In the new era of artificial intelligence, leveraging advanced modeling will enhance the accuracy and timeliness of our forecasts.
02:20This will give our nation a competitive advantage in industry development and resilience.
02:25Furthermore, it will help counter adversaries like China and Russia, who are already advancing their own AI programs that will ultimately undermine the security and economic prosperity of the United States.
02:36Back in 2017, this committee laid the groundwork for NOAA to engage in extended private-public partnerships.
02:41The Weather Act of 2017, signed by President Trump, directed NOAA to establish a pilot program for purchasing commercial data.
02:48This has proven to be an overwhelming success, and I'm proud to help lead the charge moving forward through its eventual reauthorization.
02:56As we continue to innovate, it is important that the investments we make have the most effective path to commercialization.
03:04Fostering collaboration between NOAA, academic institutions, and the private sector enables the federal government to procure the most cost-effective information, resulting in services that maximize impact.
03:14I am committed to working with committee members to develop a comprehensive legislative approach that addresses the expansion of this critical sector.
03:22I'd like to thank our witnesses again for being here, and I look forward to hearing each of your testimonies.
