[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5509 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 5509

 To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to provide support to State governments in the 
     production by those governments of quadrennial State climate 
                  assessments, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 12, 2024

 Mr. Welch (for himself and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to provide support to State governments in the 
     production by those governments of quadrennial State climate 
                  assessments, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``State Climate Assessment Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT BY NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OF 
              STATE CLIMATE ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall provide support to State governments, 
and entities and institutions partnering or collaborating with State 
governments under subsection (e), in the production by those 
governments, at the election of those governments, of quadrennial State 
climate assessments.
    (b) Support Required.--In providing support under subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall provide technical assistance and data.
    (c) Climate Assessment Coordination Officer.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Weather 
        Service shall designate not fewer than one climate assessment 
        coordination officer at each weather forecast office of the 
        National Weather Service to coordinate the support required 
        under subsection (a).
            (2) Responsibilities.--The officer designated under 
        paragraph (1) shall liaise and collaborate with State and local 
        governments and entities and institutions partnering or 
        collaborating with State governments under subsection (e) to 
        facilitate the sharing of information and the development of 
        quadrennial State climate assessments.
    (d) Elements of Assessment.--A State government that elects to 
produce a quadrennial State climate assessment under subsection (a) 
shall, as a condition of the receipt of support under that subsection, 
ensure that the assessment--
            (1) includes an analysis of the effects of global change on 
        the natural environment, agriculture, energy production and 
        use, land and water resources, transportation, human health and 
        welfare, human social systems, and biological diversity in that 
        State;
            (2) includes an analysis of current trends in global 
        change, both human-induced and natural, and how those trends 
        impact that State, and a projection of major trends for the 
        next 25 to 100 years in that State; and
            (3) integrates, evaluates, and interprets the findings of 
        the assessment and discusses the scientific uncertainties 
        associated with such findings.
    (e) Collaboration.--
            (1) In general.--A State government that elects to produce 
        a quadrennial State climate assessment under subsection (a) may 
        collaborate or partner with private entities and institutions 
        of higher education (or a consortia thereof) in developing and 
        producing such quadrennial State climate assessment.
            (2) Institution of higher education defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``institution of higher education'' has 
        the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
                                 <all>