[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6093 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6093
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and
prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of
weather data, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 26, 2023
Mr. Lucas (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Weber of
Texas, Mr. Babin, Mr. Baird, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mrs. Bice,
Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms. Tenney, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Collins,
and Mr. Kean of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and
prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of
weather data, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research
and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023'' or the
``Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING
INNOVATION ACT OF 2017
Sec. 101. Public safety priority.
Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes
Experiment (VORTEX).
Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.
Sec. 105. Tsunami warning, education, and research.
Sec. 106. Observing system planning.
Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.
Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization.
Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center.
Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning.
Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities.
Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
Sec. 113. Ocean observations.
Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports.
TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION
Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation.
Sec. 202. Next generation radar.
Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States.
Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.
Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement
program.
Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation.
Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program.
Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system.
TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.
Sec. 305. Clerical amendment.
TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.
Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.
Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement.
Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization.
Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments.
Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert
dissemination for hazardous weather or
water events.
Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection.
TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER
MANAGEMENT
Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water
management.
Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System.
Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program.
Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Sec. 505. National water center.
Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) In General.--In this Act, the terms ``seasonal'', ``State'',
``subseasonal'', ``Under Secretary'', ``weather enterprise'', ``weather
data'', and ``weather industry'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
(b) Weather Data Defined.--Section 2 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph:
``(5) Weather data.--The term `weather data' means
information used to track and predict weather conditions and
patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative
products from such information.''.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING
INNOVATION ACT OF 2017
SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.
Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended by adding at the end the following
new sentence: ``The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate
and timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and
enhance the national economy by disseminating to the public and core
partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather
information and impact-based decision support services.''.
SEC. 102. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING.
Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry
out this title the following:
``(1) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
``(A) $90,000,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $30,000,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $15,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(2) $156,550,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
``(A) $90,900,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $30,300,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $20,200,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $15,150,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(3) $158,116,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
``(A) $91,809,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $30,603,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $20,402,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $15,302,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(4) $159,697,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
``(A) $92,727,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $30,909,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $20,606,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $15,455,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(5) $161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
``(A) $93,654,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $31,218,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $20,812,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $15,609,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
8512(b)(4) of this title.
``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out
this title or the amendments made by this title.''.
SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES
EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).
(a) In General.--Section 103 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read
as follows:
``SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES
EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a
program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and
warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and
information integration from new sources.
``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be
to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to
tornadoes, with a focus on the following:
``(1) Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
``(2) Optimizing lead time and providing actionable
information beyond one hour in advance.
``(3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-
forecast.
``(c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall ensure
the program under subsection (a) periodically examines, tests, and
evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as
novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts,
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
``(d) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for
research, including relating to the following:
``(1) Implementing key goals and achieving program
milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2019 report,
`Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan'.
``(2) In coordination with the National Science and
Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences
Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk,
communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities,
risk communication, and delivery of information critical for
reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes.
``(3) Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling,
and tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of
tornadoes on the built and natural environment, and the
interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes.
``(e) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section
406, shall--
``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research
necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast
guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather
phenomena;
``(2) incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as
appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and
economic sciences;
``(3) enhance workforce training on radar interpretation
and use of tornado warning systems; and
``(4) expand computational resources to support higher-
resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-
forecast.
``(f) Tornado Rating System.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration
with local communities and emergency managers, shall--
``(1) evaluate the system used as of the date of the
enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;
``(2) determine whether updates to such system are required
to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of
tornados; and
``(3) if determined necessary, update such system.
``(g) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended
by amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows:
``Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes
Experiment (VORTEX).''.
SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a
program to improve hurricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings.
``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be
to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to
hurricanes, with a focus on the following:
``(1) Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid
intensification and projected path of hurricanes, including
probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.
``(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based communication
of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges from
hurricanes, in coordination with the program established under
section 205.
``(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk,
communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform response
to prevent the loss of life or property, such as evacuation or
shelter in place.
``(4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate,
innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies,
observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and
hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and
satellites.
``(c) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for
research, including relating to the following:
``(1) Implementing key strategies and following priorities
and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's 2019 report `Hurricane Forecast Improvement
Program'.
``(2) In coordination with the National Science and
Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences
Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees,
improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, and
economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk
communication, and delivery of information critical for
reducing the loss of life or property related to hurricanes.
``(3) Improving the physical sciences, operational
modeling, and tools related to hurricane formation, the impacts
of wind and water-based hurricane hazards on the built and
natural environment, and the interaction of hurricanes and
tornadoes.
``(d) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section
406, shall--
``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research
necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast
guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather
phenomena;
``(2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting,
as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and
economic sciences research; and
``(3) expand computational resources to support and improve
higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and
related weather phenomena.
``(e) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.
SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH.
The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (5) of section 804(d) (33 U.S.C.
3203(d))--
(A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(F) align the analytic techniques and
methodologies of the existing tsunami warning centers
supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure
seamless continuity of operations and mitigate risk of
operational failure by prioritizing investments that
include--
``(i) replacing end of life equipment;
``(ii) ensuring product consistency;
``(iii) enabling consistent operational
process for backup capabilities;
``(iv) mitigating existing operational
security risks; and
``(v) meeting information security
requirements specified in chapter 35 of title
44, United States Code.''; and
(2) by amending section 809 (33 U.S.C. 3207) to read as
follows:
``SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``From funds authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this title $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024
through 2028.''.
SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING.
Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``Federal'' before ``observing
capabilities''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by inserting ``, including private sector
partnerships or commercial acquisition,'' after
``options''; and
(B) by striking the period and inserting a
semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(5) compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit
analysis, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to
fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and
gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and
``(6) not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress a report that
provides an analysis of the technical, schedule, cost, and cost
benefit analyses to place an operational polar-orbiting
environmental satellite capability in the early morning orbit
to support the weather enterprise and the Administration's
mission.''.
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.
Section 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``providing data''
and inserting ``comparison to current or experimental
commercial system capabilities that provide data'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``, including polar-
orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,'';
(3) by striking subsection (d); and
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION.
Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C)
and all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the
following new subsections:
``(b) Computing Research Initiative.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration
with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out an initiative,
which may leverage Department of Energy high performance
computers, cloud computing, or expertise, to run advanced
coupled models in order to conduct proof of concept scenarios
in comparison with current issued forecasts and models. The
Under Secretary and Secretary of Energy shall carry out the
initiative through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and
consider applications from Federal agencies, National
Laboratories, institutions of higher education (as such term is
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)), nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate
entities (or a consortia thereof).
``(2) Components.--In carrying out the initiative under
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prevent duplication
and coordinate research efforts in artificial intelligence,
high performance computing, cloud computing, quantum computing,
modeling and simulation, machine learning, data assimilation,
large scale data analytics, and predictive analysis across the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and may--
``(A) conduct comparative research between National
Weather Service issued forecasts and operational models
to predictions and models developed to run on high
performance computers or with cloud computing
resources;
``(B) share relevant modeling system and
applications innovations developed through such
initiative, including Unified Forecast System-based
applications, through community-based activities;
``(C) leverage coordinating activities managed by
the National Science and Technology Council, the
Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological
Services, and other relevant interagency entities;
``(D) provide sufficient capacity for long-term
archive and access of model output to support research
and long-term study;
``(E) determine computing decisions based on an
agile requirements framework; and
``(F) support the training, recruitment, and
retention of the next generation weather, water, and
climate computing workforce through incentives and
pathways for career development and employment
opportunities.
``(3) Research security.--The activities authorized under
this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with
subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development,
Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of
Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
``(4) Termination.--The authority under this subsection
shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of
this subsection.
``(c) Artificial Intelligence Investments.--The Under Secretary
shall leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning
technologies to facilitate, optimize, and further leverage advanced
computing to accomplish critical missions of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming high-
performance and cloud computing infrastructure or systems.
``(d) Centers of Excellence.--The Under Secretary may establish
centers of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artificial
intelligence and machine learning enabled advanced computing
capabilities. Each such center may carry out activities that include
the following:
``(1) Leveraging robust public-private partnership models
to provide access to training, experience, and long-term
development of workforce and infrastructure.
``(2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries,
algorithms, data structures, and other supporting software
necessary for specific applications on high performance
computing systems.
``(3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep
machine-learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to
address current and future mission challenges.
``(4) To the maximum extent practicable, explore quantum
computing and related application partnerships with public,
private, and academic entities to improve the accuracy and
resolution of weather predictions.
``(e) Multi-Year Contracts.--The Under Secretary may enter into
multi-year contracts in accordance with section 3903 of title 41,
United States Code, and shall ensure compliance with all clauses
provided in such section to support operational research and
development related to high performance and cloud computing
infrastructure or systems.
``(f) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this subsection, the Under Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate a report evaluating the following:
``(1) The effectiveness of the initiative required under
subsection (b), including applied research discoveries and
advanced modeling improvements achieved.
``(2) A best estimate of the overall value of high-
resolution probabilistic forecast guidance for hazardous
weather or water events (as such term is defined in section
406) using a next-generation weather forecast and warning
framework.
``(3) The needs for cloud computing, quantum computing, or
high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination
collaboration between the Department of Energy and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(4) A timeline and guidance for implementation of the
following:
``(A) High-resolution numerical weather prediction
models.
``(B) Methods for meeting the cloud computing,
quantum computing, or high-performance computing,
visualization, and dissemination needs identified under
paragraph (3).''.
SEC. 109. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER.
Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(2) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the
following new subparagraphs:
``(E) developing community weather research
modeling systems that--
``(i) are accessible by the public in
accordance with section 10601 of the James M.
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and
available for archive and long-term study;
``(ii) meet basic end-user requirements for
running on public computers and networks
located outside of secure National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration information and
technology systems;
``(iii) utilize, whenever appropriate and
cost-effective, innovative strategies and
methods, including cloud-based computing
capabilities, for hosting and management of
part or all of the system described in this
subparagraph;
``(iv) utilize modeling systems that allow
for interoperability with new model components,
modules, and next-generation software and
coding languages;
``(v) allow for open testing and
integration of promising operational model
improvements from the broader community;
``(vi) access as close to a real-time basis
as possible operational data and metadata,
including commercially purchased data for use
in Earth Prediction Innovation Center research
and development testing grounds pursuant to
redistribution restrictions, licensing
agreements, and applicable existing laws and
regulations; and
``(vii) provide supported and portable
versions of the unified forecast system,
including applications for hurricane, space
weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, and
coastal models, that can reproduce current
operational global and regional model
prediction; and
``(F) establishing a National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be maintained
by the Administration, a commercial partner, or non-
profit entity, that consolidates and maintains a
publicly available and continuously updated collection
of data and metadata used in numerical weather
prediction for use in the Earth Prediction Innovation
Center's model testing, pursuant to redistribution
restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable
existing laws and regulations.''.
SEC. 110. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING.
Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and
redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1),
(2), and (3), respectively;
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
``(b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite
Systems and Data.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a
fleet of Administration space-based observation platforms that
provide critical operations-focused data and information to
support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
mission to monitor the global environment in order to protect
lives and property from extreme weather and other natural
phenomena.
``(2) Collaboration.--The Under Secretary shall implement
recommendations from the NOAA Observing Systems Council to
ensure an appropriate mix of government, academic, commercial
sector, and international partnerships in the provision of data
and information, including a broadened effort on data
acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under section
302 when cost effective and beneficial to the Administration.
``(3) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that
Administration platforms maintained under paragraph (1)
prioritize the development of products and services that are
tailored to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's mission.
``(4) National centers for environmental information.--The
Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers for
Environmental Information to provide a long-term archive and
access to the Administration's national and global data and
metadata.''; and
(3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``2023'' and
inserting ``2030''.
SEC. 111. IMPROVING UNCREWED ACTIVITIES.
Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended by
striking ``, including commercial observing systems'' and inserting ``,
including stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such as
uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide observations of the
atmosphere and ocean, and other observations, in cooperation with the
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations''.
SEC. 112. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCING METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES.
(a) In General.--Section 402 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8542) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``Advancing Weather Services'' and
inserting ``Advancing Meteorological Services (in this
section referred to as the `Interagency Council')'';
and
(B) by striking ``Committee'' each place it appears
and inserting ``Council'';
(2) by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
``(b) Co-Chairs.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-chairs of
the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal
Coordinator for Meteorology.
``(c) Further Coordination.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are necessary to
coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with stakeholders
in the United States weather industry, academic partners, State
governments, and emergency managers, including by implementing
mechanisms to encourage and enable the participation of non-Federal
employees in the functions of the Interagency Council.'';
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(d) Functions.--The Interagency Council shall be the formal
mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and agencies
coordinate implementation of policy and practices to ensure United
States global leadership in meteorological services. In doing so, the
Interagency Council shall review programs and support relevant weather
research and forecast innovation activities, as well as other related
implementation activities, related to Federal meteorological services,
including by carrying out the following:
``(1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological
research and service delivery needs, including relating to
observations, operational systems, communications, and
infrastructure.
``(2) Providing recommendations to streamline or
consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies in
cross-agency activities.
``(3) Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other
relevant Federal departments and agencies, including research
outcomes related to the relevant recommended key science and
applications questions and priorities in the National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2018 report `Thriving
on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth
Observation from Space', to understand and predict high-impact
weather phenomena.
``(4) Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of
partnerships with private sector entities to advance
meteorological research, communications, and computing in
collaboration with the Earth system science, service, and
stakeholder communities.
``(5) Sharing information regarding meteorological research
improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant
Federal departments and agencies.
``(6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal departments
and agencies regarding potential collaborations and expected
level of resources needed to maintain and operate the
Interagency Council.
``(7) Enhancing communication and coordination and
promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments and
agencies and across the Interagency Council.
``(8) Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional
and diverse workforce for meteorological research and services.
``(e) Data Inventory.--The Interagency Council, in coordination and
avoidance of duplication with the United States Group on Earth
Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and archive
activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, and reusability
by maintaining a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not
less frequently than annually for a period of five years beginning on
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council
shall solicit updated information from private sector entities
identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such data
shall be made available to member departments and agencies under
subsection (a).
``(f) Coordination Office.--The Interagency Meteorological
Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council such
administrative and logistical support as the Interagency Council may
require, as determined by the co-chairs.
``(g) Cost Share.--Member departments and agencies of the
Interagency Council under subsection (a) may provide reimbursable
financial support to the Interagency Meteorological Coordinating Office
to enhance cost-sharing and collaboration related to weather research
and forecast innovation activities.
``(h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Interagency
Council shall publish a report which identifies among member agencies
the following:
``(1) Federal programs that use meteorological
observations, data sources, and capabilities.
``(2) Federal programs that acquire such data from private
sector entities.
``(3) Advancements in meteorological data collection,
assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal
programmatic operational capabilities.
``(4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations,
data sources, and capabilities that could be used to better
meet Federal programmatic needs.''.
(b) References.--Any reference to the Interagency Committee for
Advancing Weather Services in any law, rule, regulation, paper, record,
map, or other such document of the United States shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological
Services.
SEC. 113. OCEAN OBSERVATIONS.
Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) Ships of opportunity pilot program.--
``(A) In general.--The Administrator, in
coordination with the heads of relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall, subject to relevant
regulations and certifications, establish a pilot
program to contract with research or commercial ship
operators for data collection and assess the potential
costs, benefits, and viability of a global network of
ocean and atmospheric observing instruments operating
on research or commercial ocean vessels, including in
the Arctic, in order to supplement the Integrated
Coastal and Ocean Observation System in improving
understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their
relationships to human activities.
``(B) Standards and specifications.--The
Administrator shall ensure that data acquired through
the pilot program established pursuant to subparagraph
(A) meets the most recent standards and specifications
required for observation services and data as published
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 302 of the
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017.
``(C) Report.--Not later than five years after the
date of the enactment of this paragraph, the
Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of
Transportation, shall submit to Congress a report on
the requirements for a global network of ocean and
atmospheric instruments operating on research or
commercial ocean vessels for measurement and data
transmission.
``(D) Sunset.--This paragraph shall terminate on
the earlier of--
``(i) September 30, 2029; or
``(ii) one year after the date on which the
report required under subparagraph (B) is
submitted by the Administrator.''.
SEC. 114. CONSOLIDATION OF REPORTS.
(a) Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.--
(1) In general.--The Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2017 is amended--
(A) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)--
(i) in subsection (a), by inserting ``the''
after ``Director of''; and
(ii) by striking subsection (d); and
(B) by striking sections 408 through 411 and
section 414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as
sections 408 and 409, respectively.
(2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 408
through 414 and inserting the following new items:
``Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.
``Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.''.
(b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization
Act of 1992.--Section 106 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567; 106 Stat.
4274) is amended by striking subsection (c) (15 U.S.C. 1537).
TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION
SEC. 201. WEATHER INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation Program (in this section referred to
as the ``Program'') to ensure the continued performance of weather
radar capabilities, including systems currently being developed, with
obstructions in the line of sight of such radar.
(b) Requirements.--In carrying out the Program, the Under
Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing
Meteorological Services, shall--
(1) partner with the private sector, academia, Federal,
State, and local government entities, and any other entity the
Under Secretary considers appropriate;
(2) identify, evaluate, and test existing or near-
commercial technologies and solutions that improve radar
coverage and performance, including by mitigating the potential
impact of obstructions on weather radar;
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, research additional
solutions that could mitigate the effects of obstructions on
weather radar, such as--
(A) signal processing algorithms;
(B) short-term forecasting algorithms to replace
contaminated data;
(C) the use of dual polarization characteristics in
mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather
radar; and
(D) gap filling radars to provide supplemental or
replacement observations in impacted areas; and
(4) develop, support, or partner with developers to provide
commercially viable technical mitigation solutions for
obstructions to weather radar capabilities that are compatible
with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.
(c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary
shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based
mitigation solutions:
(1) Phased array weather radar systems.
(2) Supplementing or replacing contaminated data with
commercial radar data.
(3) The utilization of data from private sector associated
meteorological towers or similar capabilities.
(4) The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm
boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.
(5) The installation and provision of access to rain
gauges.
(6) Any other technology-based mitigation solution the
Under Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by
overcoming obstructions, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.
(d) Report; Recommendation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this section and annually thereafter until the
Program terminates pursuant to subsection (e), the Under
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
implementation of the Program, including an evaluation of each
technology-based mitigation solution identified for priority
consideration pursuant to subsection (c), and a recommendation
regarding additional identification and testing of new
technologies based on such consideration.
(2) Final recommendation.--Not later than five years after
the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary
shall provide to Congress a recommendation on whether
additional research, testing, and development through the
Program established under subsection (a) is needed, and a
determination of whether a cessation of field research,
testing, development and evaluation is appropriate.
(e) Termination.--The authority of the Under Secretary to carry out
the Program shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) September 30, 2029; or
(2) one year after the date on which the final
recommendation required under subsection (d)(2) is submitted by
the Under Secretary.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Beam blockage.--The term ``beam blockage'' means a
signal that is partially or fully blocked due to an
obstruction.
(2) Ghost echo.--The term ``ghost echo'' means radar signal
reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the
proximity of an obstruction.
(3) Obstruction.--The term ``obstruction'' includes the
following:
(A) a wind turbine that could limit the
effectiveness of a weather radar system;
(B) any building that disrupts or limits the
effectiveness of a weather radar system; or
(C) any other natural or human built structure that
affects a weather radar system.
SEC. 202. NEXT GENERATION RADAR.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to
replace the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather
Service (``NEXRAD'') system in existence as of the date of the
enactment of this section.
(b) Procurement Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such
actions as may be necessary to ensure the replacement described in
subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2040.
(c) Elements.--The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Estimates of quantifiable improvements in radar
performance and service delivery, including coverage and
accuracy, to be made from replacement of the NEXRAD system
referred to in such subsection.
(2) Development of a digital phased array radar test
article designed to test and determine the specifications and
requirements for such replacement.
(3) Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed
for the following:
(A) Evaluation of commercial radars with the
potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.
(B) Providing technical assistance for commercial
replacement or supplemental radars, including data void
filling radars in regions where geographical topography
prevents full utilization of conventional systems.
(4) Consultation and input solicited from meteorologists,
emergency managers, and public safety officials regarding the
specifications and requirements for the replacement of the
NEXRAD system referred in such subsection.
(d) Radar-as-a-Service.--
(1) In general.--In order to supplement data voids in radar
coverage in existence as of the date of the enactment of this
section and ensure the continued performance of weather radar
capabilities, the Under Secretary may utilize and contract with
third party entities to fill such low-level and wide-area radar
data voids using diverse weather radars and data assimilation
technologies to better detect significant precipitation and
severe weather over a greater area across the population.
(2) Considerations.--In carrying out the activities under
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider--
(A) utilizing and contracting with third-party
entities that have participated in the testbed
established in accordance with subsection (c)(3); and
(B) weather camera systems and services, including
systems and services in consultation with the Federal
Aviation Administration, as viable technologies to
supplement weather forecasting and prediction needs.
(e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall provide to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of
this section.
SEC. 203. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the United
States weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance with
activities implemented through existing regional atmospheric, coastal,
ocean, and Great Lakes observing systems, shall carry out activities to
ensure equitable and comprehensive weather observation coverage and
emergency information sharing in the United States, including relating
to the following:
(1) Reviewing areas in the continental United States and
the territories that are considered under-observed,
underserved, or highly vulnerable for weather phenomenon,
including urban and offshore regions, and identifying
associated challenges to providing such coverage.
(2) Increasing weather observations and developing new
weather observational capabilities, such as urban heat island
mapping campaigns, with respect to under-observed, underserved,
or highly vulnerable regions.
(3) Establishing or supporting testbeds to develop and
integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or
emergency information sharing tools, such as next generational
radars for weather observations, in under-observed,
underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
(4) To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather
and water forecasting and climate modeling capabilities for
under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
(5) Undertaking workforce development efforts for emergency
management officials and meteorologists in under-observed,
underserved, or highly vulnerable areas, including urban
regions, of the United States.
(6) Using data void filling observations to better resolve
extreme rainfall in complex topography.
(7) Contributing to a national integrated heat health
information systems.
(b) Pilot Program.--In carrying out this section, the Under
Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall
establish an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that
accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, water, and
climate data and impact-based communications in infrastructure and
emergency management decisions by Federal, State, and local officials.
(c) Priority.--At least one pilot project under subsection (b)
shall address key science challenges to using mesonet data in local
decision making and development of new tools and training for owners
and operators of critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in
section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), such as
dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power
plants, and transportation networks.
SEC. 204. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish
an atmospheric river forecast improvement program (in this section
referred to as the ``program'').
(b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the
development and extension of accurate, effective, and actionable
forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from atmospheric
rivers, including by--
(1) establishing quantitative atmospheric river forecast
skill metrics that include quantifying the benefits of
dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning
improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall
location, extreme wind and precipitation, and cascading
impacts;
(2) developing an atmospheric river forecast system within
the unified forecast system, and advancing next-generation
coupled modeling systems, with the capability of providing
seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that
include forecast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic
components;
(3) advancing scientific understanding of the roles of
atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and
probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales;
(4) developing tools and improved forecast products to
predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river
landfalls and inland penetration over the western United States
with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related
to perceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmospheric
river forecast improvements; and
(5) enhancing research transition to operations through the
Administration's testbeds, including the evaluation of physical
and social science, technology, and other research to develop
products and services for implementation and use by relevant
stakeholders.
(c) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary
shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates
the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel
sensor technologies, observation networks, soil moisture monitoring
systems, reservoir storage data, observations from crewed or uncrewed
systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and
satellites, and data assimilation tools, with respect to the
improvement of atmospheric river forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(d) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources,
limitations, and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the
program under subsection (b).
(e) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the
plan pursuant to subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.
SEC. 205. COASTAL FLOODING AND STORM SURGE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
Integrated Ocean Observing System, the United States weather industry,
and academic partners, shall establish a coastal flooding and storm
surge forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the
``program'').
(b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the
development and extension of accurate, effective, actionable, and
probable forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from
coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
(c) Priority.--In implementing the program, the Under Secretary
shall prioritize activities that carry out the following:
(1) Improving understanding and capacity for real-time
operational prediction of the ocean's role in coastal flooding,
including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
(2) Improving the capacity to mitigate or prevent the
impacts of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and
storm surge events, including by improving the understanding
and capacity of coastal communities to perceive, comprehend,
and respond to forecast information.
(3) Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors
into models.
(4) Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, including
high tide flooding, and storm surge estimates to complement
worst-case scenario estimates, including for use in long-term
planning and risk management by States, Tribal governments,
localities, and emergency managers in coordination with the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, as appropriate.
(5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inundation
forecasting that quantify the benefits of dynamical modeling,
data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the
probabilistic forecast of coastal flooding, including high tide
flooding, and storm surge risk and impacts.
(6) Improving operational regional storm surge and wave
prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and
messaging.
(d) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary
shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates
the value of incorporating enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or
machine learning based prediction systems, and innovative observations,
such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, crewed or
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts,
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of coastal
flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts,
predictions, and warnings.
(e) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and
timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under
subsection (b).
(f) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the
plan pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.
SEC. 206. AVIATION WEATHER AND DATA INNOVATION.
(a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne
observation program (in this section referred to as the ``program'')
for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of
critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather
enterprise.
(b) Activities.--The program shall include activities that carry
out the following:
(1) Procurement of weather data available from commercial
aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.
(2) Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations
that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the
Under Secretary.
(3) Analysis of procured data when incorporated into the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's unified
forecast system in order to provide improved forecast
information for aircraft.
(c) Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than
annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the
activities described in subsection (b), including and analysis of
activities that can be complemented by National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration aircraft.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available
to the Commercial Data Program under section 302 of the Weather
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, there is authorized to
be appropriated up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through
2028 to carry out the program.
(e) Aviation Weather and Turbulence Forecasting.--The Director of
the National Weather Service shall include turbulence events, icing
conditions, or other phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the
National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center, and deliver
operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate weather and
turbulence information for the airspace system and the protection of
lives and property.
(f) Coordination.--In carrying out subsection (e), the Director of
the National Weather Service shall give consideration to
recommendations from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration in furtherance of section 44720 of title 49, United
States Code, and improve weather and turbulence forecasting
capabilities by--
(1) designating or establishing within the Federal
Government an interagency working group to determine weather
and environmental data or observation requirements, needs, and
potential solutions related to aviation weather and turbulence
modeling or forecasting;
(2) identifying current and future potential data gaps
related to turbulence events or phenomena that can--
(A) identify or inform route specific flight
planning; and
(B) be supplemented or filled by commercial
aviation tools;
(3) transitioning research initiatives and pilot programs,
including a pilot program of instrumentation for observing
greenhouse gases and other atmospheric factors deployed on
commercial aircraft and supporting the evaluation of a
sustained observing network using such platforms, into
operations that improve the forecasting missions of the
Aviation Weather Center;
(4) developing and deploying improved probabilistic
aviation weather forecast guidance technology; and
(5) updating interagency agreements as appropriate,
including to address reimbursable agreements.
(g) Next Generation Aviation Research.--Paragraph (3) of section
102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
(15 U.S.C. 8512(b)), is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as
subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new
subparagraph:
``(F) aviation weather phenomena, including
atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve
scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for
the airspace system;''.
SEC. 207. NESDIS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP TRANSITION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator of the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, shall administer broad agency announcements and other
transactional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an annual or more
frequent basis, to support a joint venture partnership program that
allows the Service to prioritize engagement with the private sector,
academia, and other Federal departments and agencies.
(b) Transition Program.--To support the development of next-
generation technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and
instrument design, the Assistant Administrator of the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, shall maintain a program to transition selected awards
from research and study phases into demonstration. In selecting
awardees for demonstrations, the Assistant Administrator shall consider
technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design
that--
(1) improve upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's satellite architecture;
(2) have a direct impact on implementing the
recommendations of the Administration's 2018 Satellite
Observing System Architecture Study, ``Building a Plan for
NOAA's 21st Century Satellite Observing System''; and
(3) meet current or future mission requirements.
(c) Operational Planning.--In carrying out the transition program
under subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator of the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall monitor
demonstration phase progress and plan for promising results that meet
mission requirements to be transitioned into National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's operational satellite architecture.
(d) Annual Plan.--The Assistant Administrator of the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall submit to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation an annual plan that outlines the
progress made in the joint venture partnership program under subsection
(a), the transition program for demonstrations under section (b), and
transition to operational architecture planning under subsection (c).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to be
appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and
Information Service, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000
for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section.
SEC. 208. ADVANCED WEATHER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, acting through the Director
of the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition
operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an
operational cloud-based environment in order to enable a more nimble,
flexible, and mobile workforce.
(b) Services.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced
Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based
environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based
decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State,
local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following
services:
(1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, including
meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and
radar data, for National Weather Service field offices and
national centers.
(2) Acquiring and processing observational data from
sensors and local sources.
(3) Providing an interactive communications system,
including the satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant
National Weather Service employees and sites.
(4) Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine,
ecological, climate, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts
in a rapid and highly reliable manner.
(c) Elements.--The transition strategy developed pursuant to
subsection (a) may include the following:
(1) Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects,
and functional testing activities to facilitate remote
evaluation and automated testing.
(2) Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and
non-Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather
Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based
environment referred to in subsection (a).
(3) Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a
quality user experience.
(4) Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network
operations and support backup functions.
(5) Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible
repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).
(6) Development and deployment of virtualized systems to
replace physical hardware at operational sites.
(7) Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including
hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.
(8) Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and
operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent
with the mission and scientific expertise of the
Administration.
(d) Transition Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such
actions as may be necessary to ensure the transition strategy described
in subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2030.
(e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of
this section.
(f) Continued Innovation.--Nothing in this section may be construed
as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities, sub-
systems, or implementing modeling advancements on the operational
computing systems of the Administration.
TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
SEC. 301. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is
amended by striking section 302 (15 U.S.C. 8532) and inserting the
following new section:
``SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Establishment.--The Under Secretary, in coordination
with the heads of appropriate offices of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain a Commercial Data Program to
obtain weather and environmental data and services from private sector
entities for operational use.
``(b) Program Elements.--The Under Secretary shall acquire
satellite, ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote
sensing, or crowd-sourced data and services for operational use
relating to weather and environmental forecasting and modeling. The
Under Secretary shall ensure the Commercial Data Program coordinates,
collaborates, and shares data purchases and data needs across the
Administration, including among the following:
``(1) The National Mesonet Program.
``(2) The Aircraft Based Observation Program.
``(3) The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program,
including existing regional associations.
``(4) The National Integrated Drought Information System,
including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring
Network.
``(5) The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.
``(6) The National Data Buoy Center.
``(7) The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.
``(8) The Ocean Exploration Program.
``(9) Any other program or office the Under Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(c) Standards and Specifications.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this section and on a continuous basis
thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish data, metadata, and
service standards and specifications required for acquired observation
services and data for use, licensing, and attribution to ensure
quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities,
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.
``(d) Prioritization.--The Under Secretary shall prioritize
obtaining surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and
ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use that
participate in the Commercial Data Pilot Program of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(e) Observing Systems Council.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Observing
Systems Council (in this subsection referred to as the
`Council') to provide strategic recommendations, guidance, and
consent regarding the prioritization, design, development,
acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, performance monitoring, and
retiring of major observing systems portfolio components,
including related to the acquisition of commercial weather and
environmental data and services.
``(2) Line office coordination.--All line offices and
programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
engaged in observing systems portfolio design, technology,
development, execution, and operation shall seek guidance and
consent from the Council to ensure coordination and adherence
to uniform policies.
``(3) Data governance committee.--The Under Secretary shall
maintain a Data Governance Committee within the Council. The
Committee shall develop and approve procedural directives,
guides, or handbooks relevant to management of data and
information, including commercial data, and coordinate data
governance and management practices across the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to promote consistent processes.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
$100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to
carry out this section.
``(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Under Secretary should seek to enter into contracts or
other appropriate agreements that enable the expenditure, to
the maximum extent practicable, of amounts authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made available in a fiscal year to
carry out this section.
``(g) Data and Hosted Payloads.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements
relating to the following:
``(1) The purchase of weather and environmental data and
services through contracts with commercial data and service
providers.
``(2) The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted
Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime,
or ground platforms.
``(h) Ombudsman.--The Under Secretary shall establish or designate
at least one Ombudsman position within the Office of Research,
Transition, and Applications to implement the recommendations of the
Observing System Council under subsection (e) related to commercial
weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. Such an
Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between commercial data and service
providers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with
respect to receiving recommendations and resolving issues related to
engagement, testing, contracting, or other areas related to the
Administration's efforts to acquire commercial weather and
environmental data and services.
``(i) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the activities and
needed authorities related to data governance and management practices,
including acquisition, collection, documentation, quality control,
validation, reprocessing, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-
term preservation activities across all National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.''.
SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is
amended by striking section 303 (15 U.S.C. 8533) and inserting the
following new section:
``SEC. 303. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.
``(a) Program Establishment.--Within the Commercial Data Program
under section 302, there shall be a Commercial Data Pilot Program to
engage with external partners and providers to test and develop shared
standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, and
attribution of observation services and data, and to ensure quality,
impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities,
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting. The Program is
authorized to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation
services, imagery, products, and data from private sector entities,
including new and innovative surface-based, airborne-based, space-
based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and model
components.
``(b) Criteria.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that data
acquired through the Commercial Data Pilot Program described in
subsection (a) meets the most recent standards and specifications
required for observation services and data as published pursuant to
section 302(c).
``(c) Pilot Contracts.--The Under Secretary shall, through an open
competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with private sector
entities capable of providing observation services and data referred to
in subsection (a) that meet the standards and specifications published
pursuant to section 302(c) for so providing such services and data in a
manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such
services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration activities.
``(d) Assessment of Viability.--The Under Secretary shall annually
assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a summary of the pilot
contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (c), the extent to which
such contracts meet the standards and specifications published pursuant
to section 302(c), and any additional information determined necessary
related to the following:
``(1) The viability of assimilating observation services
and data from private sector entities into National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
``(2) The expected value added or improvements from such
services and data so assimilated into National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
``(3) The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity,
reliability, usability, information technology security, and
cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data
from private sector entities.
``(4) Steps to integrate within one year such services and
data into operational use by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration or any associated challenges in
doing so.
``(e) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under subsection (d)
demonstrates the ability of commercial services and data to meet the
standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c), the
Under Secretary shall--
``(1) when cost-effective and feasible, obtain observation
services and data from private sector entities through the
Commercial Data Program under section 302;
``(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for
any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
satellite system, determine whether there is a suitable, cost-
effective, commercial capability available or that will be
available to meet applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system
requirements before completion of the critical design phase of
such planned satellite system;
``(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability
is or will be available as described in paragraph (2),
determine whether and how such capability is in the national
interest if developed as a solely governmental system; and
``(4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report
detailing any determinations made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to
be appropriated pursuant to section 302 to carry out such section, not
less than 15 percent of such amounts each fiscal year are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 303. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.
Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 304. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.
``(a) In General.--Consistent with other Federal agencies that
contract and partner with private sector entities, the Under Secretary
is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter into agreements
that utilize multiyear contract options. In carrying out sections 302
and 303, the Under Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible--
``(1) enter into year-long or multiyear contract options
using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of
datatypes purchased;
``(2) partner and contract with multiple observation
service and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of
data gaps and improve mission robustness; and
``(3) utilize authorities, such as additional forms of
transaction agreements under section 301, that allow for
innovative partnerships with private sector entities.
``(b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this title may be construed as
infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of Federal entities
authorized under title 10, United States Code.
``(c) Unnecessary Duplication.--In meeting the requirements under
this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication
between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other Federal
departments and agencies, and private sector entities, including
relating to corresponding expenditures of funds and employment of
personnel by--
``(1) coordinating existing activities with other civilian
Federal departments and agencies which provide, contract, or
partner with private sector entities to acquire, weather and
environmental observations and data; and
``(2) coordinating and soliciting weather and environmental
observations and data requirements and needs from other
civilian Federal departments and agencies to be acquired by the
Commercial Data Program under section 302.
``(d) Fair Compensation for Interagency Needs.--The Under
Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that Federal
departments and agencies utilizing services and data under sections 302
and 303 fairly compensate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, or the non-Federal entities providing such services or
data, as appropriate, for use.''.
SEC. 304. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.
Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017, as amended by section 303 of this Act, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 305. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.
``(a) Data Standards.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with
the weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent and open
data and metadata standards to support open science, including simple
cloud-optimized data formats and application programming interfaces
that support findability, accessibility, usability, and preservability.
``(b) Data Infrastructure.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation
with the Chief Information Officer and appropriate program
heads, shall consolidate and arrange data infrastructure needs
to ensure efficient and effective data transfer between
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices by
considering the use of commercial cloud technologies, or
similar hybrid structures, to host and transmit data and
metadata.
``(2) Federal partnerships.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of other Federal
departments and agencies, including the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United
States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United
States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United
States Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological
Survey, to collocate data with joint utility and support a
transition to cloud architectures, including commercial cloud
networks.
``(3) Long term data archive.--The Under Secretary shall
ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and stewardship
of archival data and metadata acquired through the Commercial
Data Program under section 302 is conducted within the National
Centers for Environmental Information.
``(c) Data Sharing With the Weather Enterprise.--To the greatest
extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall make accessible to
members of the weather enterprise that are United States persons data
not subject to redistribution contract permissions and purchased
through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 or shared through
international government partners. If purchased data must be
assimilated into numerical weather prediction models or automated
forecast guidance to satisfy redistribution contract permissions, the
Under Secretary shall make accessible without delay to members of the
weather enterprise that are United States persons the numerical weather
prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, as the case may
be.
``(d) Data Assimilation.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in coordination
with the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the
National Centers for Environmental Information, and any other
offices within the Administration, shall establish a program to
test, advance, and implement data assimilation methods, which
may include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data
pre- and post-processing, efficient input and output, and next-
generation algorithms.
``(2) Data assimilation university consortium.--Through the
program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the Under
Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting of
institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001)) to address critical research challenges for data
assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce.
The consortium shall seek to--
``(A) solve critical research issues for data
assimilation through innovative research;
``(B) increase significantly the number of
students, including graduate level and Ph.D.
candidates, in data assimilation;
``(C) utilize modern software and frameworks, such
as the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration,
to conduct data assimilation research and development
and facilitate research to operations efforts;
``(D) identify and prioritize critical research
areas in data assimilation and facilitate operations to
research efforts;
``(E) establish and enable an effective
collaboration infrastructure between National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration facilities, such as
labs, centers, or joint agency institutes, and the
research community, including a mechanism for external
partners to host Administration employees; and
``(F) establish mechanisms to enable all members of
the consortium to archive and access data required to
support the work under this subsection.
``(3) Coordination.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and its associated activities focus
on research to operations and operations to research, including
by coordinating and collaborating with the Joint Center for
Satellite Data Assimilation.
``(e) Study on Data Management.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the data of
the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall seek
to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal entity to conduct
a study on matters concerning data practices and management
needs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In conducting the study, the outside entity shall--
``(A) assess the costs and benefits of current data
management needs for observational and operational
mission requirements;
``(B) develop recommendations regarding how to make
more robust and cost-effective the data portfolio of
the Administration;
``(C) identify data infrastructure technologies and
needs that are essential to the performance of modeling
systems of the Administration;
``(D) assess the sharing needs and practices of the
Administration for both internal and external sharing
dissemination; and
``(E) develop recommendations for methods of data
infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from
the commercial sector.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--From amounts
authorized to be appropriated to the Commercial Data Program
under section 302, there are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out the study under paragraph (1) $1,000,000, to remain
available until expended.''.
SEC. 305. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items
relating to sections 302 and 303 and inserting the following new items:
``Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.
``Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
``Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
``Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.''.
TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC
SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term
``hazardous weather or water events'' has the meaning given
such term in section 406 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131
Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(3) NOAA weather radio.--The term ``NOAA Weather Radio''
means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Weather Radio All Hazards network.
(4) Public cloud.--The term ``public cloud'' means an
information technology model in which service providers make
computing services, including compute and storage and develop-
and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand
to organizations and individuals over the public internet or
other means that allows for the widest dissemination of
information.
(5) Watch; warning.--The terms ``watch'' and ``warning''
have the meanings given such terms in section 406 of the
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public
Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this
Act.
SEC. 402. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.
(a) In General.--Section 406 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 406. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term
`hazardous weather or water events' means weather or water
events that have a high risk of loss of life or property,
including the following:
``(A) Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-
fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic
events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail,
damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.
``(B) Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen
precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and
snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen
precipitation and strong winds.
``(C) Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat
or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and
river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.
``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
``(3) Watch; warning.--
``(A) In general.--The terms `watch' and `warning',
with respect to a hazardous weather or water event,
mean products issued by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by
the general public, to alert the general public to the
potential for or presence of such event and to inform
action to prevent loss of life or property.
``(B) Exception.--The terms `watch' and `warning'
do not include technical or specialized meteorological
or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance
products.
``(b) System Communications.--The Under Secretary shall maintain
and improve the system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration by which the risks of hazardous weather or water events
are communicated to the general public, with the goal of informing
response to prevent loss of life or property.
``(c) Hazard Risk Communication Improvement and Simplification.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out subsection (b), the Under
Secretary shall maintain a social, behavioral, risk,
communication, and economic sciences program (in this section
referred to as the `Program'), for the purpose of simplifying
and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water
events.
``(2) Terminology.--The Program, in coordination with
social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic science
community and user feedback, shall identify, eliminate, or
modify unnecessary, redundant, or confusing terms for
communications regarding hazardous weather or water events and
add new terminology, as appropriate.
``(3) Communications improvement.--The Program shall
improve the form, content, and methods of communications
regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated
risks to more clearly inform response to prevent the loss of
life or property.
``(4) Evaluations.--The Program, in coordination with the
performance and evaluation branches of the National Weather
Service and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, shall develop
metrics for such branches to track and evaluate the degree to
which communications regarding hazardous weather or water
events inform response.
``(5) Support plan.--The Program shall develop a plan for
the purpose of carrying out paragraph (3). Such plan shall be
periodically updated and informed by internal and extramural
research and the results of the evaluation of communications
regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated
risks under paragraph (4).
``(6) Methods.--In carrying out this section, the Program
shall develop and implement recommendations that--
``(A) are based on the best and most recent
understanding from social, behavioral, economic, risk,
and communications science research;
``(B) are validated by social, behavioral, risk,
and communications science, taking into account the
importance of methods that support reproduction and
replication of scientific studies, use of rigorous
statistical analyses, and, as applicable, data analysis
supported by artificial intelligence and machine
learning technologies;
``(C) account for the needs of various
demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic
regions;
``(D) account for the differences between various
types of hazardous weather or water events;
``(E) respond to the needs of Federal, State, and
local government partners and media partners; and
``(F) account for necessary changes in the
infrastructure, technology, and protocols for
developing and disseminating watches and warnings.
``(7) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the
Program shall coordinate with the following:
``(A) Federal partners, including National
Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional
integrated sciences and assessments programs.
``(B) State and local government partners.
``(C) Tribal governments.
``(D) Institutions of higher education or a
consortia thereof.
``(E) Media partners.
``(8) Timeliness and consistency.--The Program shall
develop best practices and guidance for ensuring timely and
consistent communications across public facing platforms that
disseminate information related to hazardous weather or water
events.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item
relating to section 406 to read as follows:
``Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.''.
SEC. 403. HAZARD COMMUNICATION RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT.
Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402
of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(d) Hazard Communication Research and Engagement.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain, as
appropriate, a program to--
``(A) modernize the development and communication
of risk-based, statistically reliable, probabilistic
hazard information, with the goal of informing
appropriate responses to hazardous weather or water
events; and
``(B) improve the fundamental social, behavioral,
economic, risk, and communication science relating to
communications, including by means of collecting
voluntary data, regarding hazardous weather or water
events.
``(2) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and
communicate with States, Tribal governments, localities, and
emergency managers regarding research priorities and results.
``(3) Pilot program for tornado hazard communication
required.--To further research into communications regarding
hazardous weather or water events, the Under Secretary, in
coordination with the VORTEX program under section 103 and in
collaboration with one or more eligible institutions (or a
consortia thereof), shall establish a pilot program for tornado
hazard communication to test the effectiveness of implementing
research into operations with respect to tornadoes.
``(4) Eligible institution defined.--In this subsection,
the term `eligible institution' means any of the following:
``(A) An institution of higher education, nonprofit
organization, or other institution located in a
jurisdiction eligible to participate in the program
under section 113 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
``(B) An institution of higher education, nonprofit
organization, or other institution located in proximity
to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather
Service.''.
SEC. 404. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVEMENT.
(a) Improvement of NWS Instant Messaging Service.--The Director of
the National Weather Service shall improve the instant messaging
service used by personnel of the National Weather Service by
implementing, not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-
shelf communications solution that replaces the instant messaging
service commonly referred to as ``NWSChat''.
(b) Requirements.--The communications solution implemented under
this section shall--
(1) be hosted on the public cloud; and
(2) satisfy requirements set forth by the Director to
ensure such solution--
(A) best accommodates future growth;
(B) performs successfully with increased numbers of
users;
(C) is easy to use for the majority of users; and
(D) is similar to systems already in commercial
use.
(c) Funding.--From amounts made available for Operations, Research,
and Facilities, the Director of the National Weather Service shall
allocate up to $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to
carry out this section.
SEC. 405. NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its
reliability. In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary
shall--
(1) maintain support for existing systems serving areas not
covered by or having poor quality cellular service;
(2) ensure consistent maintenance and operations
monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site
equipment and antennas;
(3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency
Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and
(4) acquire additional transmitters as required to expand
coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the
National Park System, and National Recreation Areas.
(b) Modernization Initiative.--To the maximum extent practicable,
the Under Secretary shall enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its
capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying
out this section, the Under Secretary shall--
(1) upgrade telecommunications infrastructure to accelerate
the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based
communications over non-copper media;
(2) accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather
Interactive Processing System, or the relevant system
successors, to implement partial county notifications and
alerts;
(3) consult with relevant stakeholders, including the
private sector, to enhance accessibility and usability of NOAA
Weather Radio data and feeds;
(4) develop options, including satellite backup capability
and commercial provider partnerships, for NOAA Weather Radio
continuity in the event of Weather Forecast Office outages;
(5) research and develop alternative options, including
microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals
to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet
protocol capability; and
(6) transition critical applications to the Integrated
Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.
(c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary
shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended
in accordance with the assessment under subsection (d) to maximize
accessibility, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the
United States.
(d) Assessment for Management and Distribution.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary
shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In
conducting such assessment, the Under Secretary shall take into
consideration and provide recommendations regarding the following:
(1) The need for continuous, adequate, and operational
real-time broadcasts of the NOAA Weather Radio in both urban
and rural areas.
(2) Solicited inputs from relevant stakeholders on the
compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data for third party
platforms that provide online services, such as websites and
mobile device applications, or deliver NOAA Weather Radio
access.
(3) Existing or new management systems that promote
consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather
Radio.
(4) The ability of NOAA to aggregate real time broadcast
feeds at one or more central locations.
(5) Effective interagency coordination.
(6) The potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or
geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio.
(7) Any other function the Under Secretary determines
necessary.
SEC. 406. POST-STORM SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall continue to perform one
or more post-storm surveys and assessments following every hazardous
weather or water event determined by the Under Secretary to be of
sufficient societal importance to warrant a post-event survey and
assessment.
(b) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall coordinate with
Federal, State, local and Tribal governments, private entities, and
relevant institutions of higher education (or a consortia thereof) when
conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section to
optimize data collection, sharing, integration, archiving, and access,
as appropriate for research needs.
(c) Data Availability.--The Under Secretary shall make the
appropriate data obtained from each post-storm survey and assessment
conducted under this section available to the public as soon as
practicable after conducting each such survey and assessment.
(d) Improvement.--In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary
shall--
(1) examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems
in data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments
conducted under this section;
(2) identify gaps in and update tactics and procedures to
enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from
post-storm surveys and assessments;
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number
of post-storm community impact studies, including--
(A) surveying-individual responses;
(B) conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk
evaluations;
(C) evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation
activity; and
(D) gathering survivability statistics; and
(4) as appropriate, integrate community-based, social,
behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences elements
into existing post-storm surveys and assessments, including
relating to efficacy of forecast and warning information,
barriers to action, and messaging challenges.
(e) Support for Employees.--The Under Secretary shall provide
training, resources, and access to professional counseling to support
the emotional and mental health and well-being of employees conducting
post-storm surveys and assessments under this section.
(f) Exemption.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United
States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during
the conduct of a survey or assessment authorized under subsection (a).
SEC. 407. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON ALERT
DISSEMINATION FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives a report that examines the information
technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, specifically regarding
the system for timely public notification via alerts and updates
regarding hazardous weather or water events.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An analysis of the information technology
infrastructure of the National Weather Service, including
software and hardware capabilities and limitations, including
an examination of server and data storage methods, broadband,
data management, and data sharing.
(2) An identification of secondary and tertiary fail-safes
for the timely distribution to the public of notifications via
alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.
(3) A process analysis to determine the source and extent
to which public notifications via alerts and updates regarding
hazardous weather or water events have been delayed and an
identification of possible improvements or corrective measures
to address latency in the notification process.
(4) An assessment of whether collaboration with other
Federal offices, States, or private entities could reduce
delays in notifications to the public.
(5) A description of actions being undertaken to better
identify critical steps in public notification via alerts and
updates for hazardous weather or water events that may be
vulnerable to disruption or failure in the event of
communication, technologic, or computational failure.
(6) The geographical differences in availability and
effectiveness of rural systems, including an estimated number
of rural areas affected by unreliable or unavailable accurate
systems and barriers to obtain or upgrade such systems.
SEC. 408. DATA COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION.
(a) Data Collection.--The Under Secretary may collect social,
behavioral, and economic data, including Federal communication and
related public response to hazardous weather or water events. Where
appropriate, the Under Secretary shall encourage use of secondary data,
purchase data, or partner with the private sector.
(b) Data Management.--The Under Secretary shall establish a central
repository system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration for social, behavioral, and economic data related to the
communication of and related public response to hazardous weather or
water events, including data developed or received pursuant to this
title.
(c) Protection of Data.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that all
data collected and managed by the Administration is done within with
all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations and in accordance
with chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code, and the Federal
Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435).
(d) Digital Watermarking.--The Under Secretary shall develop
methods to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with online
public notifications of hazardous weather or water events, such as
developing digital watermarks.
TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER
MANAGEMENT
SEC. 501. WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE AND WATER
MANAGEMENT.
Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is
amended--
(1) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
``(h) Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting Pilot Projects.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall establish
not fewer than two pilot projects, in accordance with paragraph
(2), within the U.S. Weather Research Program of the Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research office of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to support improved subseasonal to
seasonal precipitation forecasts for the following:
``(A) Water management in the western United
States.
``(B) Agriculture in the central United States.
``(2) Objectives.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Under Secretary shall ensure the following:
``(A) A pilot project under subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to
improving forecasts and developing related products for
water management in the western United States,
including the following:
``(i) Improving operational model
resolution, both horizontal and vertical, to
resolve issues associated with mountainous
terrain, such as intensity of precipitation and
relative fraction of rain versus snow
precipitation.
``(ii) Improving fidelity in the
operational modeling of the atmospheric
boundary layer in mountainous regions.
``(iii) Resolving challenges in predicting
winter atmospheric circulation and storm
tracks, including periods of blocked versus
unblocked flow over the eastern North Pacific
Ocean and western United States.
``(iv) Utilizing outcomes from the
Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program
as authorized in section 204 of the Weather Act
Reauthorization Act of 2023 to produce
operational tools and services.
``(v) Improving the quality and temporal
and spatial resolution of observations and
accurate operational modeling of air-sea
interactions, and the influence of oceans on
subseasonal and seasonal forecasting.
``(B) A pilot project under subparagraph (B) of
paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to
improving forecasts and developing related products for
agriculture in the central United States, including the
following:
``(i) Improving the quality and temporal
and spatial resolution of observations and
accurate operational modeling of the land
surface and hydrologic cycle, including soil
moisture and flash drought processes.
``(ii) Improving fidelity in the
operational modeling of warm season
precipitation processes.
``(iii) Understanding and predicting large-
scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that
occur in spring and summer.
``(3) Activities.--A pilot project under this subsection
shall include activities that carry out the following:
``(A) Best implement recommendations of the
National Weather Service's 2020 Report, entitled
`Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans
for the Twenty-First Century'.
``(B) Achieve measurable objectives for operational
forecast improvement.
``(C) Engage with, and leverage the resources of,
institutions of higher education (as such term is
defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or a consortia thereof, and
entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in existence as of the date of the
enactment of this subsection, including Regional
Climate Centers and the National Centers for
Environmental Information.
``(D) Are carried out in coordination with the
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National
Weather Service.
``(4) Sunset.--The authority under this subsection shall
terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the
enactment of this subsection.''; and
(2) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to
carry out the activities under this section.''.
SEC. 502. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought
Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``and'' after the semicolon; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(C) incorporates flash drought research and tools
to enhance timely response;'';
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(C) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by inserting ``(including ecological
drought)'' after ``drought'' each place it
appears; and
(ii) by striking the period and inserting a
semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
``(7) advance and deploy next generation technologies
related to drought and related publicly available data, such as
monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting capabilities
utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud
technologies; and
``(8) utilize observational networks, including the
National Weather Service cooperative observer program, and
refine drought indicators across a variety of spatial and
temporal scales for decision-support products by optimizing
data and resources from across the Federal Government,
including snowpack, soil moisture, groundwater, and rapid
intensification data.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(4) in partnership with the National Mesonet Program,
establish memoranda of understanding to provide coordinated,
high-quality, nationwide drought information for the public
good, including integrated soil moisture information in
accordance with the 2021 report, `A Strategy for the National
Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network'.''; and
(3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
``(f) Modeling Update.--The Under Secretary, in partnership with
National Integrated Drought Information System and the Climate
Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, shall undertake an
effort to transition existing drought products to probabilistic
forecasts and incorporate new and improved dynamical and statistical
forecast modeling tools.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 4 of the National
Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d note)
is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available
to Operations, Research, and Facilities of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this section the following:
``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
``(2) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
``(3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
``(4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
``(5) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.''.
SEC. 503. NATIONAL MESONET PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the National
Mesonet Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program''). The
Program shall--
(1) obtain observations in all geographic environments to
improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for
atmospheric and water events, with a prioritization on
leveraging available commercial, academic, and other non-
Federal environmental data to enhance coordination across the
private, public, and academic sectors of the United States
weather enterprise; and
(2) establish memoranda of understanding with networks
outside of the scope of the Program.
(b) Program Elements.--The Program shall carry out the following
activities:
(1) Improve environmental observations used by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather
Service to support baseline forecasts, including nowcasts, and
warnings that protect the Nation's citizens, businesses,
military, and government agencies, and enable such individuals
and entities to operate in safe, efficient, and orderly
manners.
(2) When demonstrably cost effective and meeting or
exceeding agency data quality standards, leverage existing
networks of environmental monitoring stations, including
supplemental radar systems, to increase the quantity and
density of environmental observations and data available to the
Administration.
(3) Establish means to integrate greater density and type
of environmental observations into the Program on an annual
basis, including by encouraging local and regional networks of
environmental monitoring stations, in situ sensor networks and
satellite constellations to participate in the Program.
(4) Yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to
improve numerical weather prediction performance, including
regarding subseasonal to seasonal timescales.
(5) Provide the critical technical and administrative
infrastructure needed to facilitate rapid integration and
sustained use of new and emerging networks of environmental
monitoring stations anticipated in coming years from non-
Federal sources.
(6) Expand and enhance environmental observational networks
in the roadway environment to provide real-time road weather
and surface conditions for surface transportation and related
economic sectors.
(7) Identify available terrestrial or marine environmental
data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the
understanding of air-sea interactions.
(8) Support the National Weather Service in reaching its
target of a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through
better predictive model algorithms driven by increasingly
effective observations.
(9) Coordinate with existing Administration data used for
forecasts, including data from the National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Integrated Ocean
Observing System, the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing
Program, the National Data Buoy Center, and the National Ocean
Service.
(10) Identify and communicate to the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research and other partners priorities of research
and development needed to advance observations in the Program.
(11) Support the National Coordinated Soil Moisture
Monitoring Network in acquiring soil moisture and related data
to support the development of decision-support products and
other information services.
(c) Financial and Technical Assistance.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the Program, the Under
Secretary may, to the extent amounts are made available, award
up to 15 percent of the Program's annual appropriations for
financial assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic
entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade equipment and
capacity of mesonet systems. Financial assistance under this
subsection may be made in coordination with and in addition to
awards from other Federal agencies.
(2) Agreements.--Before receiving financial assistance
under paragraph (1), the State, Tribal, private, or academic
entity seeking financial assistance under this subsection shall
enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide
data to the Program, subject to verification by the Program of
the relative operational value and evaluation of the cost of
such data, for use in weather prediction, severe weather
warnings, and emergency response.
(3) Assistance and other support.--The Under Secretary may
provide technical assistance, project implementation support,
and guidance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities
seeking financial assistance under this subsection. The Under
Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for
maintenance of monitoring stations in underrepresented or
remote areas of the country where it is financially unfeasible
for one entity to operate such stations without such
assistance.
(4) Terms.--In providing financial assistance under this
subsection, the Under Secretary shall establish terms to ensure
that each State, Tribal, private, or academic entity that
receives financial assistance under this subsection receives a
level of Federal support commensurate with the quality and
other characteristics of the data to be provided.
(5) Determination.--A State, Tribal, private, or academic
entity may receive financial assistance under this subsection
only if the Under Secretary determines such entity shall
provide sufficient non-Federal financial support and full
maintenance to maintain the quality of the mesonet system and
associated data standards required by the Program for a period
of not less than five years.
(6) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall prioritize
providing assistance under paragraph (1) to at least one entity
in an underrepresented or remote area.
(d) Advisory Committee.--
(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the
Program has an active advisory committee of subject matter
experts to make recommendations to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration on the identification,
implementation, procurement, and tracking of data needed to
supplement the Program, and recommend improvements, expansions,
and acquisitions of available data. The Under Secretary may
designate an existing Federal advisory committee, subcommittee,
or working group, including, if appropriate, the Science
Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, to carry out this subsection.
(2) Academic expertise.--The advisory committee under
paragraph (1), in consultation with the Program, shall include
expertise from one or more institutions of higher education (as
such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to assist the advisory committee to
identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships,
regional or subregional consortia, and collaborative methods
that would expand the number of participants and volume of data
in the Program.
(e) Regular Reporting.--The Under Secretary shall provide regular
briefings, not less than twice annually, to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on all Program
activities. Such briefings shall include information relating to the
following:
(1) Efforts to implement the activities described in
subsection (b).
(2) Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant
to subsection (c).
(3) Efforts to address recommendations received from the
advisory committee under subsection (d).
(4) The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal
and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data
needs.
(5) Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation
data by States and regions of the United States.
(6) Any other topic the Under Secretary determines
relevant.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available
to the National Weather Service, the Under Secretary, to carry out this
section, shall allocate up to the following amounts for each specified
fiscal year:
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
(2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(3) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
(4) $68,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
(5) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
SEC. 504. NATIONAL COORDINATED SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING NETWORK.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United States Geological
Survey, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and
departments, shall support the development, deployment, and maintenance
of soil moisture monitoring networks by managing the National
Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network (in this section referred
to as the ``Network'') within the National Integrated Drought
Information System.
(b) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network
includes activities that carry out the following:
(1) Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.
(2) Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data
sources.
(3) Supporting research necessary to develop or improve
soil moisture monitoring products at a national scale.
(4) Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in
situ and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations
across the United States.
(5) Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the
private sector.
(6) Engaging with the citizen science community.
(7) Developing, releasing, and promoting new, nationwide
point-based and gridded soil moisture data products that meet
the needs of diverse end-user groups.
(8) Supporting community building and outreach to the
network of individuals engaged with soil moisture information
delivery, from data provision to end-user decision making.
SEC. 505. NATIONAL WATER CENTER.
Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act
of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 10371) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``as a component of the National
Centers for Environmental Prediction'' after
``center'';
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(iii) to provide service backup
capabilities and additional mission support
services for River Forecast Centers.''.
(v) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end
the following new subparagraph:
``(F) Serving as the primary Center for
collaboration and coordination of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's water research and
operational activities with existing Federal centers
and networks, including the Department of Agriculture,
the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation,
the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.'';
(2) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating
subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d)
respectively; and
(3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read
as follows:
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to
carry out this section.''.
SEC. 506. SATELLITE TRANSFERS REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a
report describing the Department of Commerce's authorities, policies,
and Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any
portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of
Commerce to any other Federal department or agency. The report shall
also include the following:
(1) A description of the process for decommissioning a
Department of Commerce operational weather satellite, any
existing agreements related to transfers of weather satellites,
whether decommissioned or not, and any reimbursable agreements
related to the transfer of physical property or the operation
of Department of Commerce weather satellites on behalf of any
other Federal department or agency.
(2) A summary of any Department of Commerce plans for
potential transfer of existing or future weather satellite
systems to any other Federal department or agency.
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