In an effort to combat what they see as an anti-science stance by the previous administration, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined forces with fellow lawmakers to introduce a bill that aims to reinstate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) extreme weather database. According to a statement obtained by Senator Wyden's office, the "Measuring the Cost of Disasters Act" would require NOAA to restore and maintain the Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, a crucial resource for tracking natural disasters costing $1 billion or more.
This database, which had been documenting weather-related disasters since 1980, was summarily discontinued by the Trump Administration in May 2025, much to the frustration of many. Senator Wyden criticized this action, saying, "While Donald Trump forces his anti-science agenda on the American people and kneecaps federal emergency response, I’m all in to help communities better prepare for and respond to natural disasters." The database's termination is seen by many as a setback in understanding the cost and impacts of natural disasters, as families and researchers are left to grapple with the aftermath, helped by Oregon, which experiences frequent wildfires.
The urgency of the database is underscored by the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, with 2024 seeing 27 separate events causing over $1 billion in damages each. According to data shared by Senator Merkley's office, last year's damages totaled an astounding $182.7 billion, ranking as the fourth highest on record. "Having a complete understanding of the cost of natural disasters allows us to make smarter decisions about how to make our infrastructure more resilient to protect our communities," said Merkley, emphasizing the database's critical role in disaster preparedness and resource allocation.
The bipartisan support for the bill reflects a shared commitment to addressing climate-related challenges, with a range of senators, including Democrats and Independents, signing on as co-sponsors. Wyden and Merkley underscore that the previous cancellation of the database not only threatens emergency preparedness but also undercuts vital climate change research and weakens efforts at a national and community level to reduce disaster costs, which have become a regular feature of life for many Americans, as wildfires rage through communities.
Spearheading the legislation is U.S. Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt., joined by a cohort of his colleagues, including Senators Edward J. Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Angela Alsobrooks, Richard Blumenthal, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Michael Bennet, Cory Booker, Tina Smith, Bernie Sanders, and Martin Heinrich. The bill represents a steadfast pushback against the prior administration's anti-climate science agenda and a stride toward equipping the nation with the necessary information to better anticipate and respond to the ravaging effects of extreme weather events.
