December 7, 2006

“I am very pleased that the Senate passed the bill I introduced earlier this year,” Hall said.  “While we cannot stop nature, we can do a better job predicting, monitoring, and mitigating this devastating problem.” 

As a senior member of the Science Committee, Hall is interested in building an integrated system that enables local, state, and national leaders to be more proactive in their approach to droughts.  “This bill will coordinate drought efforts and provide decision makers with the best tools to manage our natural resources,” Hall explained.

            The bill designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead agency to devise this integrated system.  It directs NOAA to build a national drought monitoring and forecasting system, create a drought early warning system, provide an interactive drought information delivery system, and designate mechanisms for improved interaction with the public.  “This bill will hopefully improve our analysis of conditions, provide us with more accurate seasonal forecasts, and equip us with a better understanding of the climate interactions that produce droughts,” Hall remarked.

            Hall’s drought legislation is his latest initiative on this important topic.  He also has worked to provide immediate short-term relief to farmers affected by the drought.  “Unfortunately appropriators did not reach agreement on drought relief in the 109th Congress.  However, I will continue to push to bring relief to farmers, and this will be a top priority in the 110th Congress,” Hall stressed. 

            “Farmers need immediate relief, but it is also important to plan for the long term.  Droughts, like other weather extremes such as floods and tornadoes, have devastating effects on our economy and society,” Hall said.  “With droughts causing between $6 and $8 billion a year in estimated losses to the economy, we cannot continue to deal with this problem in an ad hoc way.  We need a comprehensive short-term and long-term drought policy, and I am pleased that Members of Congress advanced this drought information initiative.” 

###