Congressman Eric Sorensen Introduces New Legislation to Investigate Major Weather Disasters

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) introduced the National Weather Safety Board Act, legislation that establishes an independent review board to investigate major weather-related disasters to determine what went wrong, what worked, and how the nation can better protect lives and property in the future.

Modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Weather Safety Board would conduct independent investigations after major disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and extreme winter storms.

"As the only Meteorologist serving in Congress, I've spent my career watching how seconds and decisions can mean the difference between life and death," said Congressman Sorensen. "After a major disaster, we owe families more than thoughts and prayers - we owe them answers, accountability, and real solutions. Weather will always be difficult to predict, but our response to it doesn't have to be."

"I am encouraged by congressional support for independent, science-based reviews of weather disasters that would identify the needs, capabilities, and resources required to save more lives and minimize impacts to communities. Such reviews have great potential to accelerate innovation, improve coordination, and ensure mission success across government, industry, and academic sectors," said Douglas Hilderbrand, Executive Director, American Weather Enterprise Association.

The board would examine preparedness, forecasting, warnings, and emergency response across federal agencies. After that process, the board would issue public recommendations to prevent future tragedies.

Under the legislation, the NWSB would be composed of experts in meteorology, hydrology, emergency management, communications, social science, and academia. Following qualifying major disasters, the Board would vote on whether to launch an investigation, subpoena records if necessary, and issue both preliminary and final reports with actionable recommendations to agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the FCC.

The National Weather Safety Board would operate independently, publish its findings publicly, and track whether agencies implement its safety recommendations.

Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois' 17th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than 20 years. His district includes Illinois' Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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