1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

In the aftermath of the horrific flash flooding that killed so many in Central Texas, I urge you to use your authority as a member of Congress to restore of full funding and staffing for the federal agencies responsible for weather forecasting and climate research. Drastic cuts to NOAA, the National Weather Service, and FEMA have severely undermined our nation's ability to predict extreme weather and safeguard communities from devastating natural disasters. Intern-level hackers at the ersatz Department of Government Efficiency made these cuts under the guise of saving money and making government more efficient. Following this disaster, how much money has truly been saved? How efficient were warnings to those affected? These tragic deaths in the Hill Country did not have to happen. We once had the ability to prevent them. We must regain that ability. My wife and I urge you to do everything in your power as a member of Congress to restore these vital agencies to their former staffing and funding levels to ensure public safety and support science-based emergency preparedness.