WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Democrats are working to revive a valuable resource for climate and weather disaster tracking. They are pushing for a new bill to reinstate and update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) database.
The NOAA database had been tracking disasters in the United States that resulted in more than $1 billion in damages since 1980. However, earlier this year, the Trump administration retired the database as part of a broader effort to reduce climate science research in government agencies.
The proposed legislation would not only restore the database but also ensure it is updated at least twice a year. This move is seen as crucial for lawmakers who rely on the data to make informed disaster funding decisions.
Additionally, the database served as an educational tool for the public, helping to illustrate the financial impacts of natural disasters. The restoration of this database is seen as a step towards strengthening climate science research and public awareness.
