{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/as-super-el-nino-looms-amo-leads-41-lawmakers-calling-for-noaa-to-prepare", "As Super El Ni\u00f1o Looms, Amo Leads 41 Lawmakers Calling for NOAA to Prepare", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Gabe Amo", "A000380", "amo.house.gov", "amo", "https://amo.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 TODAY, Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) led 41 lawmakers in calling on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Neil Jacobs to detail how the agency is preparing for a potentially historic Super El Ni\u00f1o and ensuring Americans have the forecasts, warnings, and data they need to stay safe.\n\nNOAA\u2019s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Ni\u00f1o this fall and winter, with a 75% chance the event exceeds the strength of every El Ni\u00f1o recorded since 1950.\n\nA Super El Ni\u00f1o could bring significant disruptions to weather patterns, agriculture, food security, commerce, and communities around the world. Recent reporting has highlighted risks to food security in Central America, while NOAA notes that stronger El Ni\u00f1o events increase the likelihood of impacts consistent with the phenomenon.\n\nThe lawmakers are raising these concerns as NOAA and the National Weather Service face workforce and data-collection challenges. The National Weather Service\u2019s core mission includes providing forecasts, warnings, and weather data to protect lives and property and support the national economy.\n\nIn their letter to NOAA the lawmakers write:\n\nThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is warning of a potentially historic Super El Ni\u00f1o, with a \u201cgreater than 90% chance of a very strong\u201d event and a 75% chance it exceeds the strength of every El Ni\u00f1o recorded since 1950. The consequences of this Super El Ni\u00f1o could be severe: extreme weather, crop failures, flooding and drought, worsening global hunger, and significant economic losses that cost trillions.\n\nThe United States cannot afford to be caught flat-footed. The destruction caused by a Super El Ni\u00f1o could cascade to negatively impact U.S. interests, security, and commerce. In 2015, an El Ni\u00f1o left up to 100 million people food insecure. The World Food Program estimates this Super El Ni\u00f1o could push at least 49 million people into acute food insecurity by the end of 2027.\n\nThis warning comes as President Trump has weakened the very agency responsible for forecasting and preparing Americans for these threats.\n\nNOAA must take these concerns seriously. NOAA must have the personnel, data, research, and resources necessary to warn Americans and help communities prepare before disaster strikes. Preparation for potentially historic weather events must remain a high priority\n\nThe full letter can be found here.\n\nThe letter was signed by Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Donald Beyer (D-VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN-07), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), John Larson (D-CT-01), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Christian Menefee (D-TX-18), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Luz Rivas (D-CA-29), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), George Whitesides (D-CA-27), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).\n\nBackground\n\nCongressman Amo serves as the Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Environment on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which administers the National Weather Service.\n\nIn July 2026, Ranking Member Amo led 33 Members of Congress in calling on the Trump administration to restore the twice-a-day weather balloon launch schedule, as extreme weather and high heat hit across the country.\n\nIn Summer 2025, Amo led the charge to reverse Trump\u2019s damaging Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to the National Weather Service staff. After months of public pressure, the National Weather Service announced plans to hire 450 new staff.\n\nFollowing the tragic Texas floods in July 2025, Congressman Amo highlighted the impact of Trump\u2019s cuts to NOAA and the NWS on America\u2019s disaster readiness.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://amo.house.gov/press-release/as-super-el-nino-looms-amo-leads-41-lawmakers-calling-for-noaa-to-prepare"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4468510635197163, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}