Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions - S. 2711

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. NELSON of Florida:

S. 2711. A bill to establish a National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today in support of a bill I introduced today to set up a national program to reduce the loss of life and property due to windstorms.

This bill recently passed the House of Representatives and it will be addressed and hopefully passed during the Senate Commerce Committee markup tomorrow.

We all know the catastrophic damage that windstorms can cause. In fact, the highest level of material damage and loss of life in this country has been attributed to hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes and thunderstorms.

My State of Florida, as a coastal State, has been especially affected.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused losses in excess of $26.5 billion.

And annually the average financial loss due to tornadoes, thunderstorms and hurricanes is $6.3 billion. So increasing our understanding of windstorms, assessing the performance of our buildings, structures and infrastructures during windstorms, reducing the impact of wind hazards through retrofitting buildings and changing construction practices and transferring this knowledge to the pubic and building professionals is desperately needed.

And this bill accomplishes all of those things.

It is a coordinated plan to reduce material losses and human suffering.

An interagency working group consisting of representatives of the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be responsible for planning and managing this program.

The program will have three goals: Improved understanding of windstorms, windstorm impact assessment, and windstorm impact reduction.

How do we achieve this? Data collection and analysis, outreach, technology transfer, and research and development.

As a result of this program, we will translate existing and future information and research findings into cost-effective and affordable practices for design and construction professionals, and State and local officials.

And this interagency group will provide biennial updates of their progress to Congress so we know what progress has been made and what more needs to be done.

We'll also get a broad cross-section of interests involved through an advisory committee-so that real-life issues are addressed and onsite expertise is utilized.

And my hope is that the devastation of Hurricane Andrew will never be experienced again in my State of Florda or in any other State.

This bill and help us achieve that and I urge my collegues' support.