MEDIA RELEASE

U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) have urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to reject proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tsunami program in the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill.

The full text of the letter follows:

March 13, 2012

The Honorable Daniel Inouye – Chairman, Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Thad Cochran – Ranking Member, Appropriations Committee
The Honorable Barbara Mikulski – Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchinson – Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies

Dear Chairmen and Ranking Members:

We write to express our opposition to the proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tsunami program and to urge you to reject these cuts in the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations bill.

Millions of our constituents face a significant threat from tidal surges. These events — which are often triggered by frequent seismic activity along the Ring of Fire — can devastate coastal communities and economies.

For instance, following the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan, a tsunami wave surge caused tens of millions of dollars of damage and resulted in federal disaster declarations in California, Oregon and Hawaii. Washington and Alaska residents are also at high risk of tsunami as following ruptures of the Cascadia and Denali faults.

NOAA early warning systems provide critical information to residents and emergency managers so that evacuations and emergency preparations can begin promptly.

Last March, these early warnings provided first responders with adequate time to reinforce seawalls, sandbag low-lying areas and take other precautionary measures — these measures were effective at minimizing the loss of life and property during this catastrophic event.

A similar system in Japan provided residents with a few moments notice before the inundation, and is credited with saving thousands of lives. Cutting funds for tsunami early warning systems jeopardize the safety and economic stability of communities in our states, so we ask that you maintain funding for NOAA’s tsunami program at Fiscal Year 2012 levels.

We thank you for your consideration of our request and hope that you will keep it in mind as you proceed with the Fiscal Year 2013 appropriations process. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein

Jeff Merkley

Barbara Boxer

Daniel Akaka

Ron Wyden

Maria Cantwell