Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I, too, rise in support of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support, or FLOODS Act, that we are considering here today. This legislation establishes and authorizes a number of activities that will improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's forecasting and communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events. These extreme weather events occur across the country and impact millions of Americans each year. According to the National Weather Service, a typical year in the U.S. sees 26,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,300 tornadoes, and 6 Atlantic Basin hurricanes. My home State of Oklahoma is right in the middle of Tornado Alley. We are home to 86,000 farms that feed and clothe our State, Nation, and world. Entire families' livelihoods depend on weather patterns, so it is especially important that severe weather and excessive flooding is accurately predicted and quickly communicated. One of the most important factors in any farmer's operation is precipitation. It is common sense that too little rain results in a drought. But people often overlook that too much rain also presents problems for crop production. Precisely predicting extreme precipitation that can cause flooding-- whether it is over the course of an entire season or from a single extreme weather event--helps farmers determine what crops to plant, where they are planted, and when to harvest.…”