Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R) is pressuring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to make more use of private weather firms when it comes to forecasting severe weather in the U.S.
He chaired the Environment Subcommittee hearing of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology this week stating that the government should take advantage of the severe weather assistance private firms can offer. Bridenstine was critical of NOAA for failing to outline adequate guidance to expand the agency’s use of commercial data, which he says could bolster our nation’s faltering weather foreasting capabilities.
“As a representative of Oklahoma, a state hit regularly with severe weather, it is my responsibility to my constituents to promote policies that improve our forecasting abilities in order to save lives and property,” said Rep. Bridenstine. “My constituents, and the American people, deserve nothing less.”
He told Kathryn Sullivan, Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere of the Department of Commerce and Administrator of NOAA that private sector companies could improve the nation’s forecasting capabilities while also reducing the risk of a gap in satellite data.
“That’s issue that has loomed over the Agency’s head for years,” said the Congressman.
Listen to Rep. Bridenstine’s opening statement.