National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008

Floor Speech

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2008

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Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Madam Chairman, I am in strong support of my amendment that will help improve our ability to forecast deadly tornadoes. I regret my absence today to speak and vote in favor of this amendment. However, I have had to return to Iowa due to major flooding in my district. I would like to thank Chairman Gordon for offering this amendment today in my absence.

In the last three weeks, 12 people have lost their lives in Iowa due to tornadoes. On May 25, parts of my district in northeastern Iowa were hit by an EF-5 tornado with winds of up to 205 miles per hour. Eight people died, and over 70 people were injured due to this tornado, which was the strongest to hit Iowa in 32 years. Just yesterday, a tornado ripped through a Boy Scout camp in Harrison County killing 4 Boy Scouts and injuring 48 people. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Boy Scouts, their family members, friends and all those affected by this devastating tornado in western Iowa. I hope that all of those injured in the western Iowa tornado make a speedy recovery so that they can continue on with their lives.

It is clear that the destruction caused by this tornado would have resulted in more injuries and lives lost had it not been for the warning sirens that went off before the tornado hit. Those warning sirens gave most people the time needed to evacuate and take shelter. However, this warning was, unfortunately, not enough to ensure the safety of every person in the path of these deadly storms.

I'm offering this amendment today to ensure that NASA is actively pursuing research opportunities to accurately predict and forecast tornadoes. My amendment would require NASA to cooperatively work with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, on tornado research. NOAA is actively involved in tornado research at

its Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and coordination between these agencies could prove very beneficial. At the Prediction Center, NOAA is studying ways to improve the prediction and location of tornadoes.

I believe that NASA has a lot of valuable technology and input to offer on the study of tornadoes. However, it seems that NASA has done very little work with NOAA on this important life saving research. My amendment will give NASA and NOAA the opportunity to find ways to work cooperatively on tornado research which will help us accurately predict these deadly storms.

My amendment would also require NASA to make any existing cooperatives with NOAA on tornado research a high priority. In the past, NASA has proven that they have a lot to offer with tornado research. Their past work with NOAA on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite has shown us that sudden increases in lightning in strong super-cell thunderstorms can increase the chances of a tornado touchdown. NASA must commit more resources to this program and other programs dealing with tornado research. Committing more resources to already existing programs will help us accurately forecast tornado touchdown locations.

I urge the House to adopt this amendment to give NASA a better opportunity to offer its technology and expertise in the area of tornado research, and to improve and provide additional resources to its already existing tornado research programs.

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