Representatives Scott Franklin (R-FL) and Gabe Amo (D-RI) have teamed up to introduce a bipartisan bill to improve how the federal government uses hazard risk assessment tools purchased from the private sector.
For instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has the National Risk Index for Natural Hazards, a digital dataset that provides detailed analyses of the natural hazards a given area is most at risk of, including expected annual losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Rep. Franklin's Advancing Consistent and Credible Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Evaluation (ACCURATE) Act creates a federal commission, under the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, to review whether similar systems purchased from the private sector are consistent, credible, and transparent by establishing standards for methodology and procurement.
The ACCURATE Act is built upon Florida's own Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology, which is recognized nationwide for its accuracy and transparency.
"Federal agencies are making significant decisions about disaster response, infrastructure, and insurance using private-sector risk tools, but too often there is no consistent standard for how those tools are evaluated," the Florida congressman said in a press release. "The ACCURATE Act brings greater transparency and accountability to the process by establishing clear guidelines for how these tools are reviewed and used. This is about making sure federal decisions are based on sound, reliable data and taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely."
Rep. Amo added that "from Superstorm Sandy to this year's Blizzard of '26, Rhode Islanders are no strangers to the dangers of extreme weather."
"The ACCURATE Act ensures federal agencies rely on sound, reliable data to assess risk," Rep. Amo continued. "Thanks to Chair Franklin, our commonsense, bipartisan bill brings together government and industry to better protect lives, property, and livelihoods."
In December, Franklin applauded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into its weather forecasting systems, calling it "meaningful progress in modernizing forecasting capabilities."
