Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Environment Subcommittee Chair Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairwoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acting Administrator, Dr. Neil Jacobs, requesting information related to NOAA’s involvement in the actions surrounding claims that Hurricane Dorian would impact Alabama. The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has full legislative and oversight jurisdiction over the National Weather Service, in addition to other portions of NOAA.
“You are aware that weather forecasts must be made with the best available science and without political interference,” said the Committee Chairs. “In your Senate confirmation hearing in 2017, you stated that you would support NOAA’s Administrative Order on Scientific Integrity and would do your ‘absolute best to ensure this team of 12,000 professionals have the resources and leadership needed to produce transparent, objective and defendable science, so that decisions based on this weather and climate information can be made with confidence.’ NOAA’s September 6 statement seems inconsistent with the Agency’s scientific integrity policy and your personal commitments to support scientific integrity.”
A copy of the full letter to Dr. Jacobs can be found here.
