1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Fund the full restoration of NOAA and the National Weather Service before this winter's El Niño hits. A super El Niño is already strengthening, forecast to drive historic storms, flooding, landslides, and sea level rises of up to a foot along the West Coast. The agency responsible for warning us is running on fumes. Since January 2025, NOAA has lost more than 2,500 people. There are 10% fewer meteorologists heading into this winter. Weather balloon launches have been delayed, leaving parts of the Great Plains unprepared for tornadoes. More than 1,500 Alaskans were displaced by floods with limited NWS warnings. The Southwest has just experienced widespread flooding and destruction. Meanwhile, the administration has proposed cutting another $1.6 billion from NOAA's budget and pulled back $6 billion in satellite investment that would have improved future forecasting. Congress must restore NOAA's staffing, fund its satellites and ocean monitoring systems, and reverse these cuts. Accurate forecasts and timely warnings are not optional! That is what my tax dollars are for, and it is the bare minimum owed to every community in this country.