May 25, 2007
Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., yesterday introduced companion legislation in the Senate and House to replace an aging satellite key to tracking hurricanes and tropical storms.

The Improved Hurricane Tracking and Forecasting Act of 2007 authorizes $375 million to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for the design and launch of an improved QuikSCAT satellite, which forecasts hurricanes, coastal winds, storm surges, and other weather-related disasters, such as "El Niño." Sens. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. Ron Klein, D-Fla., co-sponsored the legislation.

"As the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane season approaches, it is crucial that our nation's hurricane-tracking system be first class," Sen. Landrieu said. "With more than 50 percent of our population living within 50 miles of the coast, residents of these communities -- in Louisiana, Florida and across the nation - deserve the best technology available to track impending hurricanes.

"The current satellite is five years past its projected lifespan, making it vulnerable to failure. We need more advanced warning of storms, and can't afford to slide backwards. This requires a long-term solution rather than a short-term band aid is essential."

"On the eve of another hurricane season, people all along the Gulf Coast are preparing once again to face any number of severe storms," Rep. Melancon said. "To help them better plan when to evacuate, we need to apply the latest advances in technology to provide our coastal communities with the most advanced hurricane forecasting and tracking systems available.  Better hurricane forecasting will no doubt save lives, and I am pleased to join Senator Landrieu, Rep. Klein, and other coastal members of Congress in introducing this bipartisan legislation."

"Accurately forecasting hurricanes is essential to saving lives and securing property," said Sen. Nelson.  "There is no one thing that can help more than early warning; and these funds will help ensure we have time to take the proper precautions."

"After the devastation Hurricane Katrina, we said as a nation ‘Never Again,'" Sen. Kerry said. "In order to keep that promise to the survivors and to ourselves, we must ensure access to the best technology, to help us predict dangerous hurricanes before they hit. There is no better way to learn from this tragedy than creating real security from future threats."

"We cannot afford to be taking steps backwards when it comes to tracking and forecasting hurricanes," Rep. Klein said. "Congress must do whatever it can to help get replacement technology in place.  Given that over half of all Americans live within 50 miles of the coast line this is an issue that is important to a majority of the American people."

The new, next-generation satellite would maintain weather forecasting and warning capabilities and improve data capabilities for future weather-related disasters.  The bill also requires that the NOAA provide annual reports on the status of the satellite. 

NASA launched the current QuikSCAT satellite in 1999, and it was expected to remain in service until 2002. It was built in just 12 months because a previous satellite was lost in 1997.   An instrument on the satellite sends pulses of microwave energy through the atmosphere to the ocean surface, and measures the energy that bounces back from the wind-roughened surface.  The energy of the microwave pulses changes depending on wind speed and direction, allowing scientists to monitor wind around the world.  

Bill Proenza, Director of the National Hurricane Center, has said that without QuikSCAT, hurricane forecasting would be 16 percent less accurate 72 hours before hurricane's landfall and 10 percent less accurate 48 hours before hurricane's landfall. 

The Senate bill, S.1509, was referred to the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, on which both Sen. Nelson and Sen. Kerry sit. Sen. Nelson is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Agencies. The House bill, H.R 2531, was referred to the Science and Technology Committee, on which Rep. Melancon sits.

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