119 HR 5089 IH: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-09-02
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025
or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
. (b)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 and Education Act reauthorization.
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.
Sec. 115. Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act.
Sec. 116. Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act.
Sec. 117. Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998.
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.
Sec. 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting.
Sec. 210. National Weather Service workforce.
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. 507. Precipitation forecast improvement program.
2.
(a)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)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)The term weather data
means information used to track and predict weather conditions and patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative products from such information.. <enum>I</enum><header>Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017</header> <section id="H9C29B8D09BD14FB6A57CE97A110E655B" commented="no"><enum>101.</enum><header>Public safety priority</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8511">15 U.S.C. 8511</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>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.</quote>.</text></section>
<section id="HDC756719D1B4449889940A1FCF538D42"><enum>102.</enum><header>United States weather research and forecasting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8519">15 U.S.C. 8519</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HC70B63AA73A446DC95363042D2283B70" style="OLC"> <section id="HD20A8317683947CFA8064DCEF65F9369"><enum>110.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header> <subsection id="H0ED971E8085D43728744D39B82EB672F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HD18CCE2F266B4F508D8F3F3AF34B4F7F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$163,794,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which—</text> <subparagraph id="H76E08BCB2F114DA294777B23CFE23A81"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$91,058,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H93E702A8BA3B4824A6486FC8E9A81E44"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$39,491,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF9D56A3C04FD447986D8643CEB02D8E0"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$21,125,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCECDCFC764784A34A33EB9785EF59B9E"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$12,120,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H37F1D3E1C63349C18BAC363B59ADF8C1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$165,432,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEECC98D95A354D8991DA6F20E0027319"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$91,968,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1BC97C40F2094A43B7336190BCB5E29E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$39,866,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H18279784144E425EA7C1451F0668507A"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$21,336,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3E0A67A3BFD944348A618012C15C7E79"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$12,241,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1C3ADA5A2D86499C92009E6C5E958E75"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$167,086,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which—</text> <subparagraph id="H0232311FA6A14492AB28A37228046184"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$92,888,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3923350B27A54AD2A373A8DC997B0B25"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$40,285,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H56E87C716AEF4820A261BFDD09D2D3CF"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$21,550,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFDE5D00C4CF44FA98E438976337992EB"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$12,364,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFEB83AACDC2943528F73A06D98432C68"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$168,757,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6E0CDD9492A3488CAF86FFA0E45E2C7B"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$93,817,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4BA95EC2C96944AF85548D0975CD2659"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$40,688,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8857F8EAFB1D49D8AACD9C1BCAAAA163"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$21,765,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2A01129135EE468793DF801363B651CD"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$12,487,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H293334246EA040FCAB8E302570C64CAA"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$170,444,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which—</text> <subparagraph id="HDA46227825F54B8A947C93AFAAEB3EFA"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$94,755,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H69F2DBEA6ACE46A1A77C59277CF02F69"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$41,094,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF493649C61C74C7698349A2CF3A5C6C5"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$21,983,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9443A9E12FC74BBE956B61763662AB6F"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$12,612,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 8512(b)(4) of this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H073B606247AD4AEE8D25A5CB6FE551D5" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title or the amendments made by this title.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H19382576F5D040E08EA4DB6CD3C03670"><enum>103.</enum><header>Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX)</header>
<subsection id="H1508EEA4DA89408580C7D62C0DE19A35"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8513">15 U.S.C. 8513</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="HA9F392A0CAF4424FB8782BC7BF56BFD1" style="OLC"> <section id="HAAD2BDCEAF394357ABDD3E1CC644DA5A"><enum>103.</enum><header>Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX)</header> <subsection id="H38C7C4974300460F9F2D9DD44791F919"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H59CD62ED72054056B02ADA629CF35675"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Goal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text> <paragraph id="HE2B004C32D0547FBB6B158186C72E45D" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3A56F417C2E74190B3058BD52575D78D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Optimizing lead time and providing actionable information beyond one hour in advance.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE69A6B1A278A4AA6A7A21A8C3BAF4D01"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-forecast.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H638440A6154145C6935FD5DD2F7D1EAE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Innovative observations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H3105B0BCE06B4C598A575D71D4BEEB4C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>The Under Secretary shall award grants for research, including relating to the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H5A9C0A6FD46F476EA5B0A653A9E4BB1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Implementing key goals and achieving program milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report, <quote>Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H02D52B92ADE84B2F952FDD481785599F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB780071AEB2A4E8080421AC1F40AC0AB"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE4E59758A01F4CC6B6D6F0EB23F2A4B0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Warnings</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H7EDBCC65B017429B995EB52FA296838D" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct and transition to operations the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather phenomena;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6D258494362544C0AB43891A392A111B" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H68787B5A3ED0410BB1ABAF33CC663DCD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enhance workforce training on radar interpretation and use of tornado warning systems; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB3BEBF73C2B64A78B4512E33E27E647D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>expand computational resources to support higher-resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-forecast.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H88C37E7BE3754627928DC2460501E0F1"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Tornado rating system</header><text>The Under Secretary, in collaboration with local communities and emergency managers, shall—</text> <paragraph id="HD92400ABEFD74798AE119503E665C29D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>evaluate the system used as of the date of the enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE4E66039C97D456B911CED8B8A6649FA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determine whether updates to such system are required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of tornados; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE712DF1711C14507A541AF05DCDE95AC"><enum>(3)</enum><text>if determined necessary, update such system.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HDD51BC407FCD488F8563C11F1C82E04D" commented="no"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Annual budget</header><text>The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="HA8D494F80BEB4E3EA5C9E49357C133A3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H89E88543A54D4D259C782DB7D914CFAB" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX).</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="HF12AC41A75294C7D88CE4F84365B7A09"><enum>104.</enum><header>Hurricane forecast improvement program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8514">15 U.S.C. 8514</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H9DDBD1A143D5472A9C54DEFEB69612C9" style="OLC"> <section id="H9F765AD6F927458395AA7C47B28E71D1"><enum>104.</enum><header>Hurricane forecast improvement program</header> <subsection id="H65FFF27831B2453F8A797415F0191FE2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HD8A6C0FB1B6A4CC4B6C420CE53D60DBE" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Goal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text> <paragraph id="HCA97D824A0EA4CDDA328197F0F6063AF" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid intensity change and projected path of hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6806A1576FB84FB39670E300EA7DE198" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1B5B0564C4AB4FC99C245E56E261B619" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3468C231546D4ADBA9AC315846E47BB0" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HD30543E578A848AF8679D981980E4C85"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>The Under Secretary shall award grants for research, including relating to the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H0898CC02DCED4B1BAA3CB1058EDB3FFE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Implementing key strategies and following priorities and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report <quote>Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDD16CEBC0700434B9313FE7EE4B68160" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD331D41C7A2045EFB51F134AF90D5075"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H2F9CBAC218AA434485DA7E52CB0F8045"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Warnings</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HCB9063B73A984DF88CFBE995061E11E0" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct and transition to operations the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather phenomena;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD079BB1AD4AB4267A1F64403CBBECB84" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences research; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4A0C2078847D44C8ADF09C3E0642FB6A" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>expand computational resources to support and improve higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and related weather phenomena.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H6857DAB3EEB04EE7B7274A3B9869F79A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual budget</header><text>The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HCB05066E929B4105B38BA160639278B5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization</header>
<subsection id="HD3BC40BA2E3941C4A6B32541E7963269"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Title heading</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (enacted as title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/479">Public Law 109–479</external-xref>)) is amended, in the title heading for title VIII, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">Research,</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="title" style="OLC">Warning,</header-in-text></quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HABCD66E7C45A401B89CCEE55BC9CE968"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 803 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3202">33 U.S.C. 3202</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H8C921E279EC14CDD9F206FFB48C72290"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by inserting <quote>timeliness and</quote> before <quote>accuracy</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5B8EB2CAB65B4615B877187893B2B342"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (7), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H75E96C2334A44A289A5FCB5F5FA7369E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H37FA3F23D5654E8B98163996635D3E67"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H3462BEE84CE74998B5DE1236278E1970" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="HCEDEEFABE6974B3D8F6A31859D967D79"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure data and metadata are managed, archived, and made available for operations, research, education, and mitigation activities in accordance with section 305 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4022F7A21EB84FE2AAA60B6BE0F0B511"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Tsunami forecasting and warning program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 804 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3203">33 U.S.C. 3203</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H4EB3203184C242649FAC5DB542F3E752"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text> <subparagraph id="H05946F01746A4255ACBF7FF03137D97E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by inserting <quote>, using industry and scientific best practices,</quote> after <quote>operational condition</quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB801E4BE738D46E6A585EC05E7473692"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text> <clause id="H984AE24DF13A4A6F89618B55ADAFA61F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>global seismic network</quote> and inserting <quote>Global Seismic Network</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="HEB47B57934E04DF58DD39E1118E368C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and (G), as subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; and</text></clause> <clause id="HF96F385EC19B4186AA38378807F0B247"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H1F456F73E1A84EF8B3198F54B7B2A549" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HD1BD069B667449DF8C8C5147553066BA"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) network;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA9F99FEDE168428BAEAE12DB372EB8D9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H04050A5F5F17444CB63B21DC159D007E" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="HE689EFEE95C04A2582C6EB6C31F761A1"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure data quality and management systems, support data and metadata access and archiving, and support the requirements of the program pursuant to the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/435">Public Law 115–435</external-xref>) and <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/31">chapter 31</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3F818285F3C840668DB1FBB355DAAD8E"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (7)—</text>
<clause id="H9458F560C31B489DB946BD6A626D5A7F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by amending the matter preceding subparagraph (A) to read as follows: <quote>include a cooperative effort among the Administration, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under which the Director of USGS, the Director of the NSF, and the Administrator of NASA shall—</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H6218E1644A4C47FDA235ACC44A908679"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H03216547EE8D49CAA3B1D09F0CBC6255"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF963540E0B1F4EA6B9F519993D134396" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="H13C9E78EFFAE4FCFBC1C917724B594A0" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide reliable and real-time support for the GNSS network data streams from NSF, NASA, and USGS maintained networks, and supplement instrumentation coverage for rapid earthquake assessment;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF3E8275F849E480BA4F27B44C0FD630B" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess the data and information relating to warning systems of collaborating agencies for potential utilization in NOAA’s warning system, taking into consideration advancement in research and technology;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7E93E41D84164064A6BBA1817862E049"><enum>(E)</enum><text>incorporate, as practicable, tsunami notifications and warnings in the USGS Earthquake Early Warning System; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H954F55840FD845AABEFF6DF75E29D58B"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporate, as practicable, preliminary analysis or data from the National Earthquake Information Center regarding the source and magnitude of an offshore earthquake within five minutes of detection;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H05982709409D469D88899EAD563A0FCA"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (8)—</text>
<clause id="H0A7C3C6856AE4B63A472322C828C19ED">
<enum>(i)</enum>
<text>by inserting <quote>and decision support aides</quote> after <quote>graphical warning products,</quote>; and</text>
</clause>
<clause id="H889B552FD4584F29B7EB3E407DBF2DDC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>-prone</quote> after <quote>tsunami</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H862C4B4B5EF04FD4B4E3029F649AB7AE"><enum>(F)</enum><text>in paragraph (9), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H02EBAC4C50E84F0591E88BDF92EADACF"><enum>(G)</enum><text>in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H72B21859A9224AAE94C14A8B7258F07D"><enum>(H)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H2DE778F6077F4075A943061F6858D1D3" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="H7101B1781A0E42D78DE95D414F1DCDC8"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">update tsunami inundation maps, models, or other geographic products, in order to best support, as appropriate, relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation and recovery activities.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAA4F125154B34BD196439A32EA7E6B79"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA02171CB399943F5862B8DB3C3A8C8A9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H98F3A1D977BD4E6FAAF631082499C311"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), as so redesignated—</text>
<clause id="H908241C36F9942CB996EC5AE81D0BE13"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined—</quote> and inserting <quote>the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined to pose significant risks of tsunami for States and United States territories along the coastal areas of such regions; and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H9DCED032D24E405AAB77424560E159AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB44D6D58ACE14D8CAC88F029B6986F8E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE42BF2361FE14A05B4E0E74D2ED0126B"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H13B4ADDCEBFC4A31823CA058056E80A7" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="H4F045316629F456DB486CDF3EB260ABF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Tsunami warning alert level evaluation</header><text>The Administrator, in collaboration with social scientists, emergency personnel, and high-risk communities, shall—</text> <paragraph id="H76A5BF9B924F4AB3BCCEC68370801456" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, timing, and effectiveness;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE9A74F9A22964B0F9D7F884BF644AB5A" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>determine if such alerts produce the desired response and understanding from possible tsunami-prone communities; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8777A9313C164395BFDCC1B300D7F344"><enum>(3)</enum><text>if necessary, update the alert level system for increased effectiveness.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H75C6EE3D45BE4ECFB899F0F270941613"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (e), as so redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="H0AA096B272564E9EB65962A9003570B7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="HE39D44B7B47E4B0F96E647EEEA9D2D7B" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>responsible for Alaska, the continental United States, Hawaii, United States territories, and international entities the Administrator determines appropriate</quote> before the period;</text></clause> <clause id="H5020769B5EBD4CB3887D75C546CBFD1B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>which is primarily responsible for Alaska and the continental United States</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HA79A78017E1545EFB811784E9D1B9358"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>, which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not covered by the National Center</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H8F84D6CF10794A60A0913EC1A1B63C9E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text>
<clause id="HD47F45684C10499DB8C197B9FE8646A1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>current,</quote> after <quote>sea level,</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H5072100431484CA58D82040CF25EE9E3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and volcanic eruptions</quote> and inserting <quote>volcanic eruptions, or other sources</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="H159BFF36580E4C80A28A08EE2045C5AA"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>buoy data and tidal</quote> and inserting <quote>and coastal</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H361B24219DBF4937BA39D0CAEAB9125A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking <quote>Integrated Ocean Observing System of the Administration</quote> and inserting <quote>United States and global ocean and coastal observing system</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="H6DA09908811342C0A0B6067CB9D4A027"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in subparagraph (H), by inserting <quote>monitoring needs,</quote> after <quote>response,</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="HB29F7E76F2424409869807E406170D58"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>by amending subparagraph (I) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HA28E15C70D3441CCAE5FA5A27114652D" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HE4ABE22FD3CB4099B5A6F18F3C7DB36C"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator to coordinate with partners and stakeholders products and services of the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H92AEC8FC7CB24CCBAE05ADEA9CF6D578"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H3FBAD5E203814FEF9CF9E703ED161286" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="H39CB119536F24CD2B6DB1666586BD86E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fail-safe warning capability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall support and maintain fail-safe warning capability for the tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such centers shall conduct at least one service back up drill biannually. </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H66199023FBAC4362929E143361375A38"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text>
<clause id="HEE0DA50079434E1DAC68A3F9B845F762"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by amending the matter preceding subparagraph (A) to read as follows: <quote>The Administrator shall coordinate with the weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such national and regional program offices of the Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating committee, as established in section 805(b), consider appropriate to ensure that regional and local weather forecast offices—</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="HAFB7DB2920D743799D926C9C5B800AD9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause>
<clause id="H20CF2EF13DA44BD4A940A6247FFAEBA1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H52752B0D63F54C62A107F7CA8459EC32"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC6FC835109EC4EAD91DC402628407448" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HDC9F0DFB620840A7B26D0A48445CD59B"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct education and outreach efforts to help prepare coastal communities for tsunami hazards.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H30F7EB5BE5C44CB6BB35D01A3986B5CF" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text>
<clause id="H4CE3BC8F2B6D4179AF4C334513F9ABE9" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Uniform</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Standardized</header-in-text></quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H3DEA40261F1844F8BB7E126644A2F1A0" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>uniform</quote> and inserting <quote>standardized</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="H9A17A85B99CA4C4682F0EA737D8698F1" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking <quote>uniform</quote> and inserting <quote>standardized</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="HA2814568E2A2441C9040C924FC936B4E" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause>
<clause id="HF0229D036DDD4820A3AE5BD9B38BDDD6" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H2ADAB07F6AA94F8A9C82AF3DDAB6EDA2" commented="no"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HDE2D04FCD9D4487F9C69CE8618BC14D3" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HB87E5340D3EC4F69871EBEB530AD654A" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>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—</text> <clause id="H777A921494514EB18EC43C15E25D1359" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>replacing end of life equipment;</text></clause>
<clause id="HB80F5BE77CD5475DB11E0F6C63DDCBE8" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>ensuring product consistency;</text></clause> <clause id="H3AB3218FA9494A9DBE16DFCA36C2A8C3" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>enabling consistent operational process for backup capabilities;</text></clause>
<clause id="H9A129FF9EF484CEA954DF82AE206A8A8" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>mitigating existing operational security risks; and</text></clause> <clause id="H3A89556F92FA4EEAB8D74E6D1A303097" commented="no"><enum>(v)</enum><text>meeting information security requirements specified in <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE5FF8CF7562948E7B2B6A13DE8CBD5D8" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H87875911A1134D9DB18195BE83EDC8D9" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H2168A85827F149D086AFFA813FF6BDC5" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter until such time as all relevant requirements have been satisfied, the Administrator 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 an update briefing on the progress of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HD429FC5724984BDAA0B221C4FFBBE1AF" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Standardizing products and procedures under paragraph (5), including tsunami assessments, forecast guidance, and related products.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE7F071D04F9E43E1AA76DCF9B34387C2" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Migrating the message generation systems of the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to the Advanced Weather Information Processing Systems, or successor systems.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEA7FA4BA069E4F25A939AC451E02163B" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The structural reorganization effort, if necessary, to align such centers’ organizational charts.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0006B266E107459A94EA7F4144F93D8A" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The expected timeline for the full completion of standardizing such centers’ products and procedures.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBEA30DBFBEEC4BB1B3E26D4BE93418C5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (f), as so redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="H99F1E97A033A42C893C5D893F2991C5B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="H98FA507D049240239349A85E36B08FFC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>detect, measure, and</quote> after <quote>used to</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H64C92F83A8004BC09CC3F7B1E17F5F53"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause>
<clause id="HFB59C3D38DC54DA78720423EEFA600D2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>and the Advanced National Seismic System</quote> and inserting <quote>the Advanced National Seismic System, and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS); and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H710B9FA15B9647579422A2DF0426FF4B"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H77118E97889349989BB5A1BED1B8150C" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="H99026CFED4434EDF8EF00DFE49CDA083"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure research is coordinated with tsunami warning operations;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC0A35764947F4F3B8926289562F42C67"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by inserting <quote>according to industry best practices</quote> before the period; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBD08E6A8373D40D9831B815060EF793E"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in subsection (h)(2)(A), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>accuracy of the tsunami model used</quote> and inserting <quote>timeliness and accuracy of the forecast used to issue the warning</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H790582B241C84EE0A6047A719C0536F4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>National tsunami hazard mitigation program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 805(c) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3204">33 U.S.C. 3204(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HCC9BA8433666456F8E5543F2CAD07AEB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (5)—</text> <subparagraph id="H95F8B955D6CC4B13B90C74740566AF6B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H650FA2771BEF4C21AEE9FBEF6F53FEA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H60E1A533BBC5428380A6AE112534B583" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="H76D11A8277C24D16AC9D448BB9C2B325"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coastal digital elevation models (DEMs) to support the development of inundation maps.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD868E45D325D4284A4E14423D1C05423"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC7D732B96B0B4696A7621005A6FDDD02" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="H7E68E9828FAB4AD48791EDA5196DFEAD"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Evaluation of the variation of inundation impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment transport.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6ED95E6F5D274F4998E9AC1E3FD8DBC6" commented="no"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 1016(e) of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/56">Public Law 107–56</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5195c">42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)</external-xref>)) and lifelines.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HBC4AD0A94A9E4E43A721BC8B4D30BB1F"><enum>(K)</enum><text>High-resolution and high-quality digital elevation models needed for at-risk coastlines, ports, and harbors, particularly for regions not covered by existing inundation maps.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H351A9F4E521943978CBB8B8951567AD3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (7)(C), by inserting <quote>and behavioral</quote> after <quote>social</quote>;</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HCCC992CFCFF649CDB8C07798A6AABA8A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Tsunami research program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 806 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3205">33 U.S.C. 3205</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H71A77991C94140ACA2336015318D688A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <subparagraph id="H6894B99A11DB4B64BED9BA0D099259BF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>section 805(d)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 805(b)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBBDC6A7494EB437492138174BFB3C959"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and management</quote> after <quote>data collection</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7DEDEC41BC414C468F9C7DE84E723C21"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2323D583B13847E4BA2DFB7165D34D78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>deployment and</quote> after <quote>may include</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA62866B2AAB2492BA3995A92EB13BBD1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>social science research</quote> and inserting <quote>social and behavioral science research, including data collection,</quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H69856A5ECD3B4F48A8AEA85981E9816C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7FA6461408B34146B5346802D2128103"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7004A47EF6454751A5C46906825DACC4"><enum>(E)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H5B4F8E300ECE415EB20510BF4CCBEE15" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H5192178A01C74B49BAE4208A832807B4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>develop decision support tools;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCCE15DD147DA4570B3E7D8578793A9C0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>leverage and prioritize research opportunities; and</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H65239E1F500A4AC0844FA77B3FA8BB37"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HEDBD6385303141A2BD5BA969BC9D5222" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="HB96307D1B21C46FA9768BD6C11D83B7F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Research and development plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less frequently than every 36 months thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, shall develop a research and development and research to operations plan to improve tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities that—</text> <paragraph id="H92649658B69F469E80FDE3221E53CB23"><enum>(1)</enum><text>identifies and prioritizes research and development priorities to satisfy section 804;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE572B3EEC3334C42AF8440C5500795F9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifies key research needs for better detecting tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and along the coastlines of the United States and its territories, improve forecasting of tsunamis that are not seismically driven, and other opportunities determined appropriate;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H66D6D1A083AA4BC49593047CB2CF6CC4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>develops plans for transitioning research to operations; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H30240554D2B64FBE94278533C552884E"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identifies collaboration opportunities that may further and align tsunami research, development, warnings, and operations between the centers supported or maintained under section 804, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for Tsunami Research, the National Science Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, institutions of higher education, private entities, stakeholders, and others determined appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H9D4AD3E95EAA46168458A5C471D743DE"> <enum>(f)</enum> <header>Global tsunami warning and mitigation network</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 807(d) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3206">33 U.S.C. 3206(d)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and management</quote> after <quote>data sharing</quote>.</text>
</subsection>
<subsection id="HB31DBD4538114A53879BEA96D295368C" commented="no">
<enum>(g)</enum>
<header>Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 808(b)(1) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3206a">33 U.S.C. 3206a(b)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>and behavioral</quote> after <quote>social</quote>.</text>
</subsection>
<subsection id="H8FE108A2CFBA40B390AEE19EDC030D1D"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 809 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3207">33 U.S.C. 3207</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC5C2C6431D134E2D982971E45669AEE4" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="H2658BB159FE74F319400EB53DA8B5B6C"><enum>809.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this title $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which—</text>
<paragraph id="H6BC015724A2C4E349A54719CDC0491E5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the State level under the national tsunami hazard mitigation program under section 805; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4DB46C2F01BF4743AAA23539FABDCB41"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program under section 806.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>
<section id="HD40D1DA347CC44B1805B21C2E6810EF1"><enum>106.</enum><header>Observing system planning</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8516">15 U.S.C. 8516</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H935003E4DE974C3FB3815DA3082C404B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6D90F30285504281BADA88493D830500"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>Federal</quote> before <quote>observing capabilities</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEEA0B50DF76843ACBB26BDF9CFB690D6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB7F4706E14A74E0B936693FA1EAE5245" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text> <subparagraph id="H795A5B84E2344F6090FEB8BBF8CAACD9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>, including private sector partnerships or commercial acquisition,</quote> after <quote>options</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDFD8E9EF7F6E429891ED0399630A83A5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA7FDDA19B1A54A9E99B7B8A3BC40359E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H74192062BA7B41329B380351C3CDC661" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="H984EA683A05A4A519CF29D051777CB11"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFAA6EB89D13948CEAF2F3062C3F9169B"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="HD87ABE6649AE4DB68FD1149F368EBA24"><enum>107.</enum><header>Observing system simulation experiments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8517">15 U.S.C. 8517</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H238E0934773941E7BC6B4A2538CB930C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)(3), by striking <quote>providing data</quote> and inserting <quote>comparison to current or experimental commercial system capabilities that provide data</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H43DF1936F95C4BFB9A80EB884BCE57A5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(1), by striking <quote>, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H03712E0916AA4EBFB8EDDDEF4CB186D9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking subsection (d); and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9735B4AC61854FAB990048ED191E199D"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).</text></paragraph></section> <section id="HD782A37F0F354EAAB92DAF777F3A3598"><enum>108.</enum><header>Computing resources prioritization</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8518">15 U.S.C. 8518</external-xref>) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H2CFB01D8EC33450E90F40263035973EC">
<subsection id="H28D9A7AC7CDD4074A6714B02FFBDC51D" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Computing research initiative</header>
<paragraph id="H062A5D1366A9480980E62359A4E61FCC" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)), nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia thereof).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8BE8A71BE10B48589AB14CD67CB403F3" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Components</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFF5F1EAB210D428C8D12664D22839C94" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct research to compare National Weather Service forecast and model outputs to predictions and model outputs developed through such initiative;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE214A1B507694049A00B7117A7261C83" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">share relevant modeling system and applications innovations developed through such initiative, including Unified Forecast System-based applications, through community-based activities, in accordance with section 10601 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512a">15 U.S.C. 8512a</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4CF63692E3DE40A684677E1286A104D7" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">leverage coordinating activities managed by the National Science and Technology Council, the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, and other relevant interagency entities;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H33A8786C097F48CD85CA4B829781B3D9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>provide sufficient capacity for long-term archive and access of model output to support research and long-term study;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE55FD9BF682248DA958E8F6C57F1C08D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>determine computing decisions based on an agile requirements framework; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H737537A216DB42279F7AF9442E428E27"><enum>(F)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3107CFC55BF44527AD93F249C728A1E0" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Research security</header><text>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 <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/167">Public Law 117–167</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/19231">42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3FB454D23B2549B0AA1FAEF1FC9FC0BD" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>The authority under this subsection shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HC0B5148B89194089B2066541D78260E2" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Artificial intelligence investments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HD0F5B8A01A96400C871BE9E48B3021D8" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Centers of excellence</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may expand, and where applicable 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:</text>
<paragraph id="H53D4F4FE03814A53BE868B73434424FC" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Leveraging robust public-private partnership models to provide access to training, experience, and long-term development of workforce and infrastructure.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAD4C5326B82C493EA6C21061ED7D9A3A" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, algorithms, data structures, and other supporting software necessary for specific applications on high performance computing systems.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE1EE56C2A66C478F896B411E7D70E57C" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep machine-learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to address current and future mission challenges.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD47FB931D7704E91868C279B1556EBA5"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H9107FA41F2914CBE8F7BC39F0F2314E5" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Multi-Year contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 operations, research, and development related to high performance and cloud computing infrastructure or systems with an unfunded contingent liability in the event of cancellation.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H16BB52E26AC34AA4ADF1B4BD43A51947" commented="no"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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:</text>
<paragraph id="H5B7416F7110E4DB1BEB611D34CE7F763" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The effectiveness of the initiative required under subsection (b), including applied research discoveries and advanced modeling improvements achieved.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H17B21D50A6E64EEDB6B755CE71EA8046" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAE59C3CF09F64F878464C4FC34592D38" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H76C2FA8E2C434381827B60E7ACBADCFF" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>A timeline and guidance for implementation of the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HE9A7A46349D54C929D7BA40A2AF588FE" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>High-resolution numerical weather prediction models.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H80D70E3F473F4D868B4C905E11AB04CB" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Methods for meeting the cloud computing, quantum computing, or high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination needs identified under paragraph (3).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H5835EAB466D54CBF85C6ED0480B57313"><enum>109.</enum><header>Earth prediction innovation center</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512">15 U.S.C. 8512(b)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H5A78DE16127B46B698253A41A392DCC4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF87C3B61A9234F4293500118C6792862"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:</text> <quoted-block id="H24A6CD22F15C47C9A2B3B8AF6CF0D2A3" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H0FDC96432CF44C2EB2590F0BDB489DCF"><enum>(E)</enum><text>developing community weather research modeling systems that—</text>
<clause id="H421CA101DA32496FAF57F84AE952A5CD"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are accessible by the public in accordance with section 10601 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512a">15 U.S.C. 8512a</external-xref>) and available for archive and long-term study;</text></clause> <clause id="H91E84091980B4E06A81E4B516804722F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>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;</text></clause>
<clause id="H4AEB64D735494821A9F5CF698767798C" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>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;</text></clause> <clause id="H9FA9C079B46E4E5280A0A860A5392188"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>utilize modeling systems that allow for interoperability with new model components, modules, and next-generation software and coding languages;</text></clause>
<clause id="H53C27F45839941ECB8E66A8021D31035"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow for open testing and integration of promising operational model improvements from the broader community;</text></clause> <clause id="HD41056BF6B7840EFBF60C0289FB33F3A"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></clause>
<clause id="H6873AAC63FA64C848721FABD708176CB"><enum>(vii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD0F0D841861E46A99C85440A1146E50A"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="H98770046335E4433B359284A75DB8F2C"><enum>110.</enum><header>Satellite architecture planning</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8531">15 U.S.C. 8531</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H12C116C43B064527A43C25589AD7F5D6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H891042A5C0A24FA0A918B3C22EA9AE2B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H3E3875E9AF2442558E25B885CE92E2D2" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="H88185E8289D64A4DB48B91C5E0C49D66"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite systems and data</header> <paragraph id="H2EEA3D52156C4D6FACE7FDF90D64BA42"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3B3D0DB51C6F448A88BE8377038A22B3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFB0DD76011934C3F8FBD080421865CDE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB9FBEA0F104E44868A137410A06FB325"><enum>(4)</enum><header>National Centers for Environmental Information</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H611E583060C147B1A3FF178176E18B6E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (f)(1), by striking <quote>2023</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>.</text></paragraph></section>
<section id="HE5CA3003CBCE4DA2BAF076EC8DCA3820"><enum>111.</enum><header>Improving uncrewed activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512">15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>, including commercial observing systems</quote> and inserting <quote>, 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</quote>.</text></section> <section id="H946AF36E83EE44B5BFB2AB028E0DA6C0"><enum>112.</enum><header>Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services</header> <subsection id="H5C5D9E0B11C54DC4AEC556A6557D85A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 402 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8542">15 U.S.C. 8542</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HC4BFD8E522EC42C9A4C7E05B3DD37A83"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <subparagraph id="H4BF7D9D0ABF2489298B3ACA54283458C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Advancing Weather Services</quote> and inserting <quote>Advancing Meteorological Services (in this section referred to as the <quote>Interagency Council</quote>)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE371C68E852F47BABD9BC28C35BF66A2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>Committee</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>Council</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H07B46E9DD3654B71A18835D326499FBC"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H691C14A7E5A847ED9AE9D815DEB2971F" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H9509A75B542D41338F1501905CB67E9D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Co-Chairs</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H66CBBF5F4D194DCA8C8789D9786B8EAC" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Further coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2A09DA42D28543158D6DB46984C29135"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsections:</text> <quoted-block id="H95FCCFF476F54F9688FD9D42127B213D" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H1EC0E421206247C88F922360FA4DA2BE" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text>
<paragraph id="H2C93E3756C2041BC985AFF83283605BD" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological research and service delivery needs, including relating to observations, operational systems, communications, and infrastructure.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFA421D57FA50459DA82C65931363A318" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Providing recommendations to streamline or consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies in cross-agency activities.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD668F415BD2443DCA4DD309667DB7B1E" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <quote>Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space</quote>, to understand and predict high-impact weather phenomena.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0E0D0237DF7A45A1A2FC01CA64D38100" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4F485D6E9FF148E584DBAAA35E57AFBA" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sharing information regarding meteorological research improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant Federal departments and agencies.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7B4245B33A0942A59698748BDB34AADA" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1183521A625840CF89D9B3AB049D1D92" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Enhancing communication and coordination and promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments and agencies and across the Interagency Council.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H265CA61F7A5C42CFBFD7D8A4BE616370" commented="no"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional and diverse workforce for meteorological research and services.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H86C1BF528CC14BD9B490DD14CD7E0588" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Data inventory</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subsection> <subsection id="HE270D22AA0D1450F84C548A140F45DC1"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HE77116823CE0456C82522A70F976BB89" commented="no"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Cost share</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H86C61328B7DE43A9BF3FF6C241746FC5"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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:</text>
<paragraph id="HD61E035D5F074ADE93900175C89E15C3" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal programs that use meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H13BFDA8ECC8D4B388FE71DDFDB1B2960" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal programs that acquire such data from private sector entities.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEF216C130A3D482199DCA1C082201B57" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advancements in meteorological data collection, assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal programmatic operational capabilities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD34439889EE44E218C9A79264E899D3E" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities that could be used to better meet Federal programmatic needs.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H76F4D98A44774407828D634DBB2922C5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>References</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H20079A91591E4ED8843188E0C806EB7D"><enum>113.</enum><header>Ocean observations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3603">33 U.S.C. 3603</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H2BD14A5CAA334D8B94E62EDC7406DBA5" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="HD33790F1A242416594B0826C8AC6ABCB"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Ships of opportunity pilot program</header>
<subparagraph id="H57C96B8BF50B4B23B9FA5A2056197FC7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall, subject to relevant regulations and certifications, maintain pilot programs or projects 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, Great Lakes, and Ocean Observation System in improving understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their relationships to human activities.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB6091711AC174C119D8EAB1795A1E8E1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Standards and specifications</header><text>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.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HECBD6A004D5141358D44995E7759E9FC"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE05313BFACB442169AF45787299043AB"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>This paragraph shall terminate on the earlier of—</text>
<clause id="HB30A91E8BA5A4187B5C3EF3DA9AFE2A7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>September 30, 2030; or</text></clause> <clause id="H25F166A1F36E44398F1BE21B4B3364EA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>one year after the date on which the report required under subparagraph (B) is submitted by the Administrator.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HA318EE0B53CC41A78382FC07C310424F"><enum>114.</enum><header>Consolidation of reports</header>
<subsection id="H7BDA57122BAE42ECB3F5A5F6A6181AEC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017</header>
<paragraph id="H5C80C59DDE2947FBBB750B64AF0E261D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="H6F429962F5CD411F921A503E1AD83B2C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 102 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512">15 U.S.C. 8512</external-xref>), by striking subsection (d);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF6B0434348264DBAA551F90DEB539A92"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by amending section 105 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8515">15 U.S.C. 8515</external-xref>) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HFFFC3C202BF84E7FADE251E91CC80A45" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="H5D84F30DEF50416BAE70A1BC7750780C" commented="no"><enum>105.</enum><header>Weather research and development planning</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section and not less frequently than semiannually thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan to maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that—</text>
<paragraph id="HFF50F1A831DB4E2C83551AEF4067C3E3" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, objectives, expected budget, and progress of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the program conducted under section 102;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H319C56C62D9A462EA6D1967E0F7854A1" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, data collection and analysis, predictive modeling, demonstration of potential operational forecast application, education, training, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-event mission of the National Weather Service to achieve a weather-ready Nation;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7127BA90FD1C4B9ABA38B497B297273D" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">describes how the program conducted under section 102 will collaborate with Federal agencies and departments, international partners, and stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and academic partners, and the role of each in advancing weather forecasting and communication;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF7F2F778867941F0A0ACBD0C2B7DC133" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and academic partners, research necessary to advance the scientific understanding of weather processes and provide information to improve weather warning and forecast systems in the United States most effectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H781E0C4153884A9C8B286F3C39D8E49C" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>describes how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is advancing community weather modeling.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3E30277B95114BE09D99C2C771B79EE2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in section 403 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8543">15 U.S.C. 8543</external-xref>)—</text>
<clause id="HCF87CA0412084532888878E243354112"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subsection (a), by inserting <quote>the</quote> after <quote>Director of</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H364F35A719D44878A569E0E8C10B78E6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H9E040241D5954CB6888CFA60F3416CB1" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="H9893747AD86D4F089ACD92C11EB861C4"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once each year, the Under Secretary shall brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives on participation in the program under subsection (a) and shall highlight any innovations that come from the interaction described in subsection (b).</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEA7D1659D0FA401FB234EBBF47C9FAE9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking sections 408 through 411 and section 414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as sections 408 and 409, respectively.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H892D02E6E3F64030AA89341B6FCE5304"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8400BD025C3A4FF587E11C5CCD49B664" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H3B5A218F580745DE997B1FF084F8B41C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/102/567">Public Law 102–567</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HD37339AB4592405DBA6C51A81296357E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 106, by striking subsection (c) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/1537">15 U.S.C. 1537</external-xref>); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF69C84DE93504BC2A596ABD1E1A4694C"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 108 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8520">15 U.S.C. 8520</external-xref>)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H87F36BE0091A4621A1BD742F54BE069F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking subsection (b); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H77C429167602477EA8D298F57093C9DE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H6976D4998FF9419891D33448128BABB0"><enum>115.</enum><header>Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act</header>
<subsection id="HA24DD7C2ED434FB49E247AA6CC1CB071"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HD83635D9377A42648F168B737B57825A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB9780FC1EFDC422790D8A915A3DE372E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (4) (as so redesignated) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H2436319D9FD946FF8F4862FABDD6D567" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H3146A571E146494A87DF62BC01EA36A5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Atmospheric river</header><text>The term <quote>atmospheric river</quote> means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7D5DC8EB55CA4BF8871076D2253654E5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>produces significant quantities of rain or snow; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1BB40D2E55174CEE99F90AC135CC4557"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H11CE5767EB4C4DFBAFA4832E9D32C7AB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Atmospheric river flooding event</header><text>The term <quote>atmospheric river flooding event</quote> means an atmospheric river that—</text> <subparagraph id="H8FF36AC34204427C86828353721C749A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCD3A802EADE743709F6F3E3CFFB6354D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD28D453EFD7E465EADCC0260C224F664"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Extreme precipitation event</header><text>The term <quote>extreme precipitation event</quote> means precipitation quantities exceeding the 5-year annual recurrence interval for a specific location.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H553CC355C5A84E00943528C9AEC7B766"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>Section 12(d)(1) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>, such as precipitation resulting from hurricanes, atmospheric river flooding events, and extreme precipitation events</quote> before the period at the end.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HF08669BF937344019B61236A6358395B"><enum>116.</enum><header>Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act</header> <subsection id="H7FBE6580EBC3439C85F59F9D16C54AEE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>Section 2 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3101">43 U.S.C. 3101</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDC59AB2E71AB410D8CCCA5C3AF0CDCDC"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and (12) as paragraphs (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), (14), (15), and (16), respectively;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3FAB3F92F9954AE591E19B803F3C7E72"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H86526CF203154219AF28434652B1FA75" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H8F823485FCD14F40BC0E9D2F2A2DA648"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Atmospheric river</header><text>The term <quote>atmospheric river</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H767ED265CA7443FE924B6AB45082BF77"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Atmospheric river flooding event</header><text>The term <quote>atmospheric river flooding event</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE2FF46795B694345AB0C6A34DE540D23"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Extreme precipitation event</header><text>The term <quote>extreme precipitation event</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBDB6BB0D969F45639442A2A15F3203EE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H33C1C35BF4E54A42B30F97F434766412" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H7B1D3E01BE8B454A8326E951D12099A0"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text>The term <quote>institution of higher education</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0249FE29464046E78404C00F00F3459C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (11), as so redesignated, the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H5158C6128A8449A6BC2CC17CF6516E8D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H9B5C7B34D28744A480F5BE602B00861C"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Native Hawaiian organization</header><text>The term <quote>Native Hawaiian organization</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HEC6ABE2A9AC2455DBFE3F2929F52BAAB"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HA61D4EACD93049AA8E1185468897DA4E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H7EB8A3A64D4D403BA7F14D37DE87150D"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <quote>Tribal organization</quote> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H5AC64A13FCEC4E55A23D704DB4A31DCA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>National landslide hazards reduction program</header> <paragraph id="HC13E18F3EBCA44A088D8E0A9383B5A11"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Section 3(a)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(a)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>protect</quote> and inserting <quote>contribute to protecting</quote>.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3F474A1921C94C97AD6601252F9E17EF"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program activities</header><text>Section 3(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(1)(C)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>implement</quote> and inserting <quote>disseminate</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCECB4D2692394067B2EBE1C498F18AEC"><enum>(3)</enum><header>National strategy</header><text>Section 3(b)(2) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H394190C6B4A649EFB8AA233F6B411475"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H45C4864D84434090B655711C1027D624"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>Not later than</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H7930163287434BE6B2DEC1331ECD76D2" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H238FAB3B9DD0476BB63CD82AC3450F25"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6358A961966A4D4484DBEB97090B0DE3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H620AD31785744C73BBE19859CC0CC905" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H411356782CA54F088758710A19EC8B1D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Assessment</header><text>For purposes of the first national strategy published after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall include an assessment of the risks that atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events pose to the safety of life and property in the United States with respect to landslide hazards.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H037A7CBCFF52424C957F542A6497F775"><enum>(4)</enum><header>National landslide hazards database</header><text>Section 3(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H106F39B533F449859D4846EB88C80D92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD6B6C4FD122B4721939FDEE6411D5342"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HDEB7C669ECAB4543B6C7085B7287F785" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H79D2D71EE7FB44B3B53CFE857B87DD6E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the identification of areas in need of additional hazard risk assessment, including areas that may be at risk due to—</text> <clause id="HEDEFBAD2C5794FF9B111F2DE1CD2C966"><enum>(i)</enum><text>hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;</text></clause>
<clause id="HAFC127B0538D488A92E66CED0273B342"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;</text></clause> <clause id="HBCE133B64EF043DEADF4086D1ED67A70"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; or</text></clause>
<clause id="HADDBE6C628D34762AEC522109E3875C9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk;</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD636704FFC3F42FB9E9BAF5715964324"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Landslide hazard and risk prepared ness for communities</header><text>Section 3(b)(4) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(4)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEC6B74D2F34C40A8A2A94977F4374148"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>Native Hawaiian organizations and other stakeholders, as appropriate,</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H269FA58CEE874B048FC8F498A7CFBD27"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)—</text>
<clause id="H4B8417FA19B8410E92B5A09686066D84"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal governments and decisionmakers</quote> and inserting <quote>and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other decisionmakers</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="HE2065EE516E647BDB577D4F33C4488CE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H0ADDC86AAF0E43A996C1DE6A3DF0006C" style="OLC">
<clause id="HD4DAC4582D374C56BB2DD8DFB9C3AF96"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>health and safety with respect to landslides;</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause id="H1E2A32AED547401A8D425E050B7DD088"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and</text></clause>
<clause id="H656AB9243B99481B8F210E335F8738D5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by inserting after clause (iii) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HE9D134807F9644BC82DE41ECC4486BAC" style="OLC"> <clause id="H794B5AABA5E74F93A310C46352713F47"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>reducing losses from landslides, including the threats caused by atmospheric rivers and other extreme precipitation events; and</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HD1E7700805B343E38C1261447BA03BB9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text> <clause id="H604DFA4DB6734C848ECD9C7DA10DA99D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal officials</quote> and inserting <quote>and local officials, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H153FF49CF7274C4286CD5859D4A8DC7B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal emergency managers</quote> and inserting <quote>and local emergency managers and emergency managers of Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAF7EDB5003D64E258CDD7C2A47CFD647"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Debris flow early warning system</header><text>Section 3(b)(5) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(5)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H1F3D0BA81B8542C3B6A4E571432F65FA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments</quote> and inserting <quote>State, territorial, and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF867F8719CEC4186AB834B76DA44FFA6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9ABA97D7703644B180D490CD94561772"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>In carrying out</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H0A4C5763A67A4D1387A13BB231AC241A" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HE1DB60F97CD046E5AD086D63765ED5B6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying out</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H503700951C194077898CD4C8DD0EC845"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H6F1277F1F714454CA53119422808A8A3" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H67DC13B66BD744B8A1904AA024E82832"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and other stakeholders to establish and support emergency response procedures, as appropriate.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H73B01F6BEEED410BAFAD6C377879BAAE"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Emergency response activities</header><text>Section 3(b)(6) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(6)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="H8D0E67AAA61A448BAE12847BC5DEBE8F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HEFA7B1E9E2C642439CF3D9A46B847FA7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>In carrying</quote> and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H4DA50006536846ECB7EDB0FE6671AB44" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="H7FAE010F75874941B4E02A9661C85539"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In carrying</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H87841659C1234E6F92FF23968B4F1710"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—</text> <clause id="HFD43A4275FC140A299BC36696C0192D6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by inserting <quote>Native Hawaiian organizations,</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>;</text></clause>
<clause id="H4146182E6ED04757B806373485B0F52B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause> <clause id="H72059AE26AC343E0962BD270C66C6A61"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HE3B29A6A88994945B8D28EE3BA72766F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block id="H8FF7175CA841416B869BF765D257409F" style="OLC"> <clause id="H555BE81DFEAD46DBAC5685F9EDFCCD23"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to improve real-time risk management during landslide events, including with respect to landslide events caused by—</text>
<subclause id="H862C225D89054C2CB734F718CECB188B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H375ED506D50A44B49570A0B04F6C31D4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>atmospheric river flooding events and extreme precipitation events, as identified by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary;</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H14485CDBE3B54F38A3524FEF2BA5D536"><enum>(III)</enum><text>geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis;</text></subclause> <subclause id="H570237FED54B4F108E9AE70E94001201"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk; or</text></subclause>
<subclause id="H06C2A42EB10A4379AF1A7DF898A4142C"><enum>(V)</enum><text>thawing permafrost and glacial retreat causing destabilization of slopes.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H44E3DDA5A8FC4820AC87F17FAEE4F507"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H3ECE22C1E58B49AEBE09C5C7B4CB4839" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H5264E3E555404570B5CFFCD8DEC04A07"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and the private sector.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD871F5B2FFF54D8891906E71BD03503B"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Interagency coordinating committee on landslide hazards</header><text>Section 3(c)(2) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(c)(2)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H45A73C822D3941919C6CC6D17FDF84DD" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="HABA25D3843A4439DA206DB868AD1731E"><enum>(J)</enum><text>The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2BDEA480EC494E01BC9A5D14E0B37796"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Advisory committee</header><text>Section 3(d)(2)(B) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(d)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA5D02D77A6FA41E9927749A77E1EEC1A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (iii), by striking <quote>geological</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCD585A77A1B04611AA237B76394B4817"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (vi), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal emergency management agencies</quote> and inserting <quote>and local emergency management agencies and emergency management agencies of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H19ACC24140CE4F90B56492B9BC7DCC0B"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Regional partnerships</header><text>Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HC9FE92BBB5AC4A34B3A73F0CBC4696E4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HCFECBF80D00146CCA9B897F45CEC615C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HFFD04AABDB824BA092EDB67385145FE0" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HA76CDB38BCB54B2289428AE746271643"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Regional partnerships</header> <paragraph id="HBBDA24BE3486496BA77FD3D3FCE1675E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the National Landslide Preparedness Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish in the State of Alaska and other regions, as the Secretary determines to be. appropriate, a regional partnership with an eligible partner described in paragraph (2).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB2DA567347E444B8B9C6C3A51F933220"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible partners</header><text>An organization or institution of higher education with expertise in landslide mapping, research, and monitoring shall be eligible for a regional partnership under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE0776C4644D94D518C512436411484F8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Purposes and duties</header><text>A regional partnership established under paragraph (1) shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H66CB4424FE9643F28F2ABF38B588D965"><enum>(A)</enum><text>allow the Secretary to leverage applicable expertise in regional organizations;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HDEF9A215BC4D44369907960284A01662"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coordinate long-term landslide research specific to the applicable region; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5C95D6DB97CE4C5C8C597F8105C9637C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>align interagency landslide monitoring efforts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H79E19D64F6FE464BBAB330D3D4E4FBF7"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Grant programs</header><text>Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in paragraph (1) of subsection (f) (as so redesignated)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HEF5E45EA48B541CDB68A874BE9884F83"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess</quote> and inserting <quote>and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to research, map, assess, monitor</quote>;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6F36A5A49CEF4C4387240BC23C780D2A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B)—</text>
<clause id="H9B9E57A7F8894782B7415ED53FC4B148"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by inserting <quote>institutions of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv),</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H446F45C253314F52B2847A4D314D61ED"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii)—</text>
<subclause id="H14AFC07D97784FFAB166BA7B6640613E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by redesignating subclauses (II) through (IV) as subclauses (III) through (V), respectively; and</text></subclause> <subclause id="H36FFEBFDE4F8423DBE82FC009EB04689"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by inserting after subclause (I) the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H499CEF0E73114768B076B2A49338C666" style="OLC">
<subclause id="HF37462467A8B4C35B2710EBFB46B4FB4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in regions that have recently experienced loss of life due to landslides;</text></subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE67F7D7FB2914F14831600D68E520E03"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C)—</text>
<clause id="HA2253D1D63294684B0C543DABDC15801"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by inserting <quote>awarded</quote> after <quote>grants</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H841F49E209254B1F84F2B6914D99ACC3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>made</quote> and inserting <quote>or other accomplishments resulting</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H60A8FD03B5F248E798E9BE78BB5BC2FB"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Significant events</header><text>Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in subsection (h)(3) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal partners</quote> and inserting <quote>and local partners, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCF78AB5D351C402B94AD913AADF053C7"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in subsection (i) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HB159B99A7AEE4298960412C80D6EA328"><enum>(c)</enum><header>3d elevation program</header>
<paragraph id="HB42A513246624350BB27231B8A04A32E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Section 5(a) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HAA4643A17E114E568A577444EF9475C2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting <quote>and derivative</quote> after <quote>3D elevation</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H129EA5D42853482DB1FF6DA06BF0A3A9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting <quote>, process, and integrate</quote> after <quote>acquire</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC3E713F306CA40B397E418E04B75862D"> <enum>(2)</enum> <header>3d elevation Federal interagency coordinating committee</header> <text>Section 5(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2D64A7382E9F4B22AE12FC7F9CEA9A34">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text>by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF9583B94987D449CA8B6C05EB6ED3BA4">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text>by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HFF10F90E1BCC454CA2EB2A897FC15307" style="OLC"> <subparagraph id="HE650AD88B73A40F98E5E6C95925A144D"> <enum>(D)</enum> <text>the 3D Hydrography Program Working Group;</text>
</subparagraph>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block>
</quoted-block>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2842910148A0465A9F3F7761374BF6C1"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Grants and cooperative agreements</header><text>Section 5(d)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>publically</quote> and inserting <quote>publicly</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H90F9D74B73F94FFE9EB9B9A502C055B5"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Section 5(e) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(e)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H781C310A07DD44BA869EB70AB7F4D1DC"><enum>117.</enum><header>Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998</header>
<subsection id="HB3532B6CA68E4353A91323F9D138E7C3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assessments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001">33 U.S.C. 4001</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HDDC614B90F86418FBDA3BB7068521C0C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDB4689CF269C42B98B13387D080D3F1F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (13) and (14) as paragraphs (14) and (15); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H35CDF6122CFA4ED0A63180EDB877AE4F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HAADC8ADF4AA84F5E9596F1C0DE56EBCE" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H5D84F12DD17940EF88D426EA4E3E3052"><enum>(13)</enum><text>the Department of Energy;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE1155A1F360448D4B42FD2912F05796B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (i) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (b) and (c), respectively;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H147A987EFF2340D08F06E55B8DBE93D8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (b), as so redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="HBF037C9A25BF427DA87C994F95681EF6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>coastal waters including the Great Lakes</quote> and inserting <quote>marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB41EC15307594B2F9900E7A32791D314"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text> <clause id="HB2AF8B1FA891495C958B98E6A47D8E90"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HA25583B896FD42628632E0E70B132C24" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subparagraph id="HBFD707B1CC6542E8A1B54072760FBD42" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the causes and ecological consequences of hypoxia on marine and aquatic species in their natural environments, and socio-cultural or economic costs of hypoxia, including impacts on food safety and security;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause id="H556B841B0528491EA69AC544B5C29133"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively;</text></clause>
<clause id="H526CF4C153DA4E1E973469CCCDDE779F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8EC784F68529402983228D650776FE4A" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="HF8447E2DEF3C4B4AAAF7F8D1537A0B64" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the effect of other environmental stressors on hypoxia;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5D6BE3CD49554B61B1FBEEE1A0C20197" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate alternatives for reducing, mitigating, and controlling hypoxia and its environmental impacts;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause id="H6A61CC289DC84DEEA76219AC309F946F"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by inserting <quote>, social,</quote> after <quote>ecological</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H2E422E2CA34D4C13BB60152ABF5787CB"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>hypoxia modeling and monitoring data</quote> and inserting <quote>hypoxia modeling, forecasting, and monitoring and observation data</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H53A3B823B7DA48CD91A438AF6F565AF6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF070F3C1AFC0460FA0303B3402CD003A" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="HE0B5127CA1A048348AD5072F370AEE51"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Action strategy and scientific assessment for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms</header>
<paragraph id="H19FE29BD324C409C8E0824C14EC296C5" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less often than once every 5 years, the Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress an action strategy, including a scientific assessment, of harmful algal blooms in the United States (in this Act referred to as the <quote>Action Strategy</quote>). Each such Action Strategy, including scientific assessment, shall examine both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD1D053DA5C4E41C996940E89F05066F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Each Action Strategy under this subsection shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H5A401158D59D454AACB072FB68DEE972"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the causes and ecological consequences, and the socio-cultural or economic costs, including impacts food safety and security, of harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HB92AA219A02D47B8B0A0361ECFD1D80A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>examine the effect of other environmental stressors on harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3CA1B4D33FC541159FA9E109AFAAC0C4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>examine potential methods to prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and the potential ecological, social, cultural, and economic costs and benefits of such methods;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HDDCBCC46E3924CC39065DC47F7FA13D4"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify priorities for research needed to advance techniques and technologies to detect, predict, monitor, respond to, and minimize the occurrence, duration, and severity of harmful algal blooms, including recommendations to eliminate significant gaps in harmful algal bloom forecasting, monitoring, and observation data;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H741F737776B0411EA5485033A4FF5708"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate progress made by, and the needs of, Task Force activities and actions to prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H5413D065A2BB44FD86DEE45DB9286D1C"><enum>(F)</enum><text>identify ways to improve coordination and prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal departments and agencies with respect to research on harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HE6FE1D871A0B4004B83A57D15A24CB93"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include regional chapters relating to the requirements described in this paragraph in order to highlight geographically and ecologically diverse locations with significant ecological, social, cultural, and economic impacts from harmful algal blooms; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1105260424BC47CE809CCD40AF7571AF"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">define methodology used to determine ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts from harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H931AC0C0B7F24E38BC8C9B54164B37C1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001a">33 U.S.C. 4001a</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HE390686FFA404B0398FC9755AB317883"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking <quote>the coastal</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD7CD434724CE4137BB9216D8AB9B589A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and</quote> after <quote>Indian tribes,</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H348E00D0FD65471C89F74C850CD4E7A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>and</quote> after <quote>local governments,</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5452838E9F07421FAF9304A76A93F3F8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by striking <quote>with expertise in coastal zone science and management</quote> and inserting <quote>with relevant expertise</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H7EC62686AB374D8A9A13A6B6D3168945"><enum>(c)</enum><header>National harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603A of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4002">33 U.S.C. 4002</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H7CFF95D41E9B411381812FB90E6D92ED"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <subparagraph id="H4C6B05F9F2434F61B64E7B707A964DDA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="H526886D8A9F24AB5B8722B16FEBC3EDF"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>predicting,</quote> and inserting <quote>monitoring, observing, forecasting,</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="HBCB57491DEBE41E2B49E6EE5850908C5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H4EBAD034FD1349D2BF0CCE25161CB2C1" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text> <clause id="HA61920AE69154D8F9DABC8E9ED2CE6E4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>comprehensive research plan and action strategy under section 603B</quote> and inserting <quote>Action Strategy, including scientific assessment, under section 603(c)</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="HC4B2ED828BC1411EBB9F60BAA3C2FFBC"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9A4F274F7D1248F9A3E9CAAB0EFCEF2D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HE237251C1C41403695FB330E08E00118" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="H0F43BEF7CDD5495EA6B9A97E27DDFB0E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the scientific assessment under section 603(b).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB1D6CD8D5E034602A4BDEF93D04380CD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H22BA9C5D7D1343B19EA2871761426EB6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>ocean and Great Lakes</quote> and inserting <quote>marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HBD9C59ABF12A4425A87165FF6407D4E3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by inserting <quote>while recognizing each agency is acting under its own independent mission and authority</quote> before the semicolon;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2AFFBCF111144E3FAAF969DFA3886E5A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (d), by striking <quote>Except as provided in subsection (h), the</quote> and inserting <quote>The</quote>;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFF95FD041E0A40D2965F1D5D75D4BF1C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (e)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H26F141999602405AB0572A46F744B0BB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6F609C2427D24F45A93398EE2AE3DF0D" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H6E070FDE860F45E9BA1DE25429EE2A19"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine, in collaboration with State and local entities and Indian Tribes, including island communities, low-population rural communities, Indigenous communities, subsistence communities, fisheries, and recreation industries that are most dependent on coastal and water resources that may be impacted by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, the causes, ecological consequences, cultural impacts, and social and economic costs of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; </text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB2C088CA059C4B77A9BCCCE237842902"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (3);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H908B330584D94178BB5BDE3AEA73C91C"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8491081BDBB04DD8A716CB8CE3B37668"><enum>(D)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), as so redesignated—</text> <clause id="H70CBAAECA5D446099EEE1AD230951CAB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>to, regional</quote> and inserting <quote>to regional</quote>; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H0637D8C4A1E249EAAF39F2A3A0BC5273" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>agencies</quote> and inserting <quote>entities, and regional coastal observing systems (as such term is defined in section 12330(6) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3602">33 U.S.C. 3602(6)</external-xref>))</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HE182CD3FF03F490DB623004EE535E1AC"><enum>(E)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by inserting <quote>and communities</quote> after <quote>ecosystems</quote>;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HC7ED89AEFF0A4FDC817CCDB1330CD5B2"><enum>(F)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7541A262818E462E915DCF18DA099C84" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H41F7B0F02FEE4E00814A12F7F1B714F5"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support sustained observations, including through peer-reviewed, merit-based, competitive grant funding, to provide State and local entities, Indian Tribes, and others access to real-time or near real-time observation data for decision-making to protect human and ecological health and local economies;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H68E787343B9C4E35B86FA92E4EF5324C"><enum>(G)</enum><text>in paragraph (8), by striking <quote>State and local</quote> and inserting <quote>State, local, and Tribal</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H59943FB8B1394406A46F1DF1514ECC77"><enum>(H)</enum><text>in paragraph (9)(A), by striking <quote>tribal</quote> and inserting <quote>Tribal</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4376B1F552C041C1AE358BA4A8DED69A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by amending subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H137EA6FD6D8C4157B4BE15D8365D2624" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="HFE859091735B438F95EA09A84CFF4AA4"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Cooperative efforts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall work cooperatively with and avoid duplication of effort of other agencies on the Task Force, and with and of States, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with marine and freshwater issues, and shall coordinate harmful algal bloom and hypoxia and related activities and research.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H3F302D10B40F44A8A128ABE595AF02F0" commented="no"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Freshwater and estuarine program duties</header>
<paragraph id="H0C8B3277140D45218E6B8C6A6FCAE946"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall—</text> <subparagraph id="HE0996895C8944A9B8DD7ED39A9E4C3C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with respect to freshwater aspects of the Program, in coordination with the Task Force, carry out the duties under subsection (e) through the activities required under section 603C; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H67CF0B1360FB43FAA9F74F7568AAE897"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to estuarine aspects of the Program, coordinate with the Under Secretary to carry out activities required under this section.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6662F1D4364B46D68442E918491BEBA6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Nonduplication</header><text>The Administrator shall ensure that activities carried out under this subsection focus on new approaches to addressing freshwater harmful algal blooms and are not duplicative of existing research and development programs authorized under this Act or any other law.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H680B1B2E5CC941E183F776679A0880A4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7C7426485B9440DFB6F1D8FC6E60ECE1" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="HFEA7376B1CA54757B00A52DD87ED7A0E"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Anti-Deficiency Act applied to harmful algal bloom services</header><text>Any services by an officer or employee under this title relating to the immediate development and dissemination of the Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be considered, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. Such consideration shall only apply to areas with active harmful algal blooms during any lapse in appropriations beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H897CFE2ABB09458B9633D5B88C549F96"><enum>(d)</enum><header>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities</header>
<paragraph id="H4424F36D5D914F909F0F3CAAF0F32E41"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603B of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4003">33 U.S.C. 4003</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD54FA0195DE3415A90B400B415AA8303" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="H1474F0B7EA6E4FAD8E28D6E865C2558B"><enum>603B.</enum><header>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities</header> <subsection id="HFAC3E9C4C74240B2B747BAC33F688CD3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H7DEA43AE1ABD4B7BAEA808EF5E9797E1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>carry out marine, coastal, and Great Lakes harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events response activities;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAD684EBEAF4143D692DF31F68E2717DF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop and enhance operational harmful algal bloom observing and forecasting programs, including operational observations and forecasting, monitoring, modeling, data management, and information dissemination;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC327A3C6336D42489E8EF4F03FD246CF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>maintain and enhance peer-reviewed, merit-based, competitive grant funding relating to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia to—</text> <subparagraph id="HD113ECA948324F9FB5054D22D5B3C954"><enum>(A)</enum><text>maintain and enhance baseline monitoring programs established by the Program;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDA090E52EB034EE3A231F46230A58214"><enum>(B)</enum><text>support the projects maintained and established by the Program;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H4872F0E5C59C4B5B9B6A6624F382185C" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>address the research and management needs and priorities identified in the Action Strategy under section 603(c);</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6AED9C0556CF4CF6A28E79CC8667F2B7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>accelerate the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HA835612F80084E59806717D896056800"><enum>(E)</enum><text>identify opportunities to improve monitoring of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia, with a particular focus on coastal waters that may affect fisheries, public health, or subsistence harvest;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2DD442311382401C8CA76CBCE93880B9"><enum>(F)</enum><text>examine the effects of other environmental stressors on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H59D28B2CCCBC4721942E6D541D253368"><enum>(G)</enum><text>assess the effects of multiple environmental stressors on living marine resources and coastal ecosystems; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H932FD571640E497598AFE209DD1ED53F"><enum>(H)</enum><text>evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H39C2C45525C2412A8463E72540088EAE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>enhance communication and coordination among Federal agencies carrying out marine and freshwater harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and research;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8697A9C06E5947509FD55C75C26C3391"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing resources and expertise available from local research universities and institutions; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0D74847A193B4B7C917FAA5B893F20CC"><enum>(6)</enum><text>use cost effective methods in carrying out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD34055BCF9334909BC7C3230A0122902"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The collection of monitoring and observing data under this section shall comply with all data standards and protocols developed pursuant to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3601">33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.</external-xref>). Such data shall be made available through the system established under that Act.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H097ED2330F8640298402B5D0476F0296"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>) is amended by amending the item relating to section 603B to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HDF7F183DB4D94B7C998B173A27AF6A0B" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H35B42295E4A14F449DB9817EFD2390B1"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Environmental Protection Agency activities</header>
<paragraph id="H7CB3AC9D52EA4A91A2CC468395A84EE6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001">33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after section 603B of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4003">33 U.S.C. 4003</external-xref>), as amended by subsection (d), the following new section:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8EA2A3C7B9B84F1394DA804F99B601F9" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="H0A85ACD22CDE4A9EB67373CCE596EA85"><enum>603C.</enum><header>Environmental Protection Agency activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H5E1FD1C2F774467EAE8E228B9F228054"><enum>(1)</enum><text>carry out research on the ecology and human health impacts of freshwater harmful algal blooms;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC86ECF49B18344D485DCF01003EB609A"><enum>(2)</enum><text>develop and maintain forecasting and monitoring of, and event response to, freshwater harmful algal blooms in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and estuaries (including tributaries thereof);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H13A67ADCF7534594BC411646165D3BB9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enhance communication and coordination among Federal agencies carrying out freshwater harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and research;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9E2EB25D818E4467B99D491D4B217DB3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing resources and expertise available from local research universities and institutions; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA9CDE22B2BF34F84AAA51EDD86B981A3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>use cost effective methods in carrying out this section.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H73E07035A8824CA18C4A789FE10D0688"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 603B, as amended by subsection (e), the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HB0C7FBD84CFF43C89D73F76D9CB5CD3E" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H261C805222184F3EA809E496121B1F6B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>National harmful algal bloom and hypoxia observing network</header>
<paragraph id="H2014F84DCD014F039BFA67790858D020"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 606 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4005">33 U.S.C. 4005</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H77340811706B4ADB909C0A84F40711D5" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="H36F3BB5A2C614E309C83AD23B82836F0"><enum>606.</enum><header>National harmful algal bloom observing network</header> <subsection id="H794DAE02AE504F168E0B0CD8DDEB6DB3" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, acting through the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (referred to in this section as <quote>NCCOS</quote>) and the Integrated Ocean Observing System (referred to in this section as <quote>IOOS</quote>) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall integrate Federal, State, regional, and local observing capabilities to establish a national network of harmful algal bloom observing systems for the monitoring, detection, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms by leveraging the capacity of IOOS regional associations, including through the incorporation of emerging technologies and new data integration methods, such as artificial intelligence.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H41224F0C2209429F8330D48D7F8E8D1C" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In carrying out subsection (a), the IOOS Program Office shall—</text> <paragraph id="HD8B138CE8B494D708F397578896E4EC2" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>coordinate with NCCOS regarding observations, data integration, and information dissemination; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H40971F88033B40DE9B502F6A632C0B19" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish a Harmful Algal Bloom Data Assembly Center to integrate, disseminate, and provide a central architecture to support ecological forecasting.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H821EF12CD1FA4A6DA67D3A803D5744B5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>) is amended by amending the item relating to section 606 to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HED20E950B01E491FADFAE76671AE22F2" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1C7721A522BC4119996BA3DFA0474BEC"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 609 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4008">33 U.S.C. 4008</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H463DEAFB34C346CCB0437E2F5CC31637"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>means the comprehensive research plan and action strategy established under section 603B</quote> and inserting <quote>means the action strategy, including scientific assessment, for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms established under section 603(c)</quote>;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEC1E8524F90A4FE99C7728D3C0D6B103"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H610E7617ABBA4054935A64347687C4EF" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H5E6338A23CED4FDF81186814254873C0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Appropriate Federal official</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>appropriate Federal official</quote> means—</text>
<subparagraph id="H42E2A4EEF44346A7BF33F0A8C16A51A6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of marine systems or Great Lakes hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, including those in estuarine areas, the Under Secretary; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H815B5C129F84420B87174E515B6E6F1E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator, in consultation with the Under Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4168816E2C38477F8DF64EBC02063A68"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (9);</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9730A4199FE74AF3A5C6265D410D3544"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (6), (7), (8), (10), and (11);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFD3B7CA58354401594A5A04CCF56921A"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraphs:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HED355423138F4E199E9E445AD04BE962" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="HCF91E71E33B3497FA11F50BDD575A5CF" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom; harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event</header> <subparagraph id="H086BCDD1E52940548412F7B2164E80EC" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>harmful algal bloom</quote> means marine or freshwater algae or macroalgae, including Sargassum, that proliferate to high concentrations, resulting in nuisance conditions or harmful impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems, communities, or human health through the production of toxic compounds or other biological, chemical, or physical impacts of the algae outbreak.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB18BE9E18FB44139B4F77F820C0DD40E" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event</quote> means the occurrence of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE9842E2678044B6EBAB7992650F1B833"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance</quote> means a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event that has had or will likely have significant detrimental environmental, economic, social, subsistence use, or public health impacts.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H84CD026F73044C9C93CDCA2F007EE7BF"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), as so redesignated—</text> <subparagraph id="HB0F0CADCC2B045CC818F6402A6137E6C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>aquatic</quote> and inserting <quote>marine or freshwater</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H5F02A13202AC4218AD753EEED4F8F57B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>resident</quote> and inserting <quote>marine or freshwater</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H92F8346E5E964CBC9909B914C1DCD2E9"><enum>(7)</enum><text>by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HD0372018D2DF476793F581512D5FCABA" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="HD61F8E9F0430426A80CA79AC0025C0C3"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Subsistence use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>subsistence use</quote> means the customary and traditional use of fish, wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or marine resources by any individual or community to meet personal or family needs, including essential economic, nutritional, or cultural applications.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H5ADFFE873BF24E2E8383F0B544527E55"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 610 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4009">33 U.S.C. 4009</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H588B05DA97B84709BCC74B98EE5C9F49"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a), to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H3BC2C2259E6A489EB4B1F5899F0B06DC" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="H0DE04123F0734533B04ECFAC493E1F7E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this title $27,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H733912698F43462EACF7E48E556DA2A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H1F5193F00693482E83D724E9A16C8219" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subsection id="H8C3DC44C51904961A3EF99170A04D9FC" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Transfer authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary is authorized to make a direct non-expenditure transfer of funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) to the head of any Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of such head, to carry out, as appropriate, relevant provisions of this title.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H92A3E4FFF52C4C3D8FFC5DF8EEA433F6" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><header>National level incubator program; harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance</header>
<paragraph id="HF3886A6D55764CF59E19D1D5A908A465" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001">33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6F072A91330E4624B8390F4A8536174A" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="HBE32BAB4A2E84318BBA8251323CAD422" commented="no"><enum>611.</enum><header>National level incubator program</header> <subsection id="HFC0B2BC9FDD7486A9EE551011E240A35" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, in collaboration with research universities and institutions, shall establish a national level incubator program to increase the number of available control strategies and technologies relating to harmful algal blooms. Such incubator shall establish a framework for preliminary assessments of novel harmful algal bloom prevention, mitigation, and control technologies in order to determine the potential for effectiveness and scalability.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H6823BE8EA71941F08CBD9B2C3EFC91CF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Operation</header><text>The incubator established under subsection (a) shall provide merit-based funding for harmful algal bloom control strategies and technologies that eliminate or reduce through biological, chemical, or physical means the levels of harmful algae and associated toxins.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H9227009E87064358922857F896EAB793"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Database</header><text>The incubator established under subsection (a) shall include a database to catalog the licensing and permitting requirements, economic costs, feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability of both novel and established prevention, control, and mitigation measures.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HC9D7DA91FA434482B0B666D8FA637292"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the incubator established under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall prioritize proposed activities that would, to the maximum extent practicable—</text> <paragraph id="H198F2948C06E4EF4AFCE5DD574FBA827"><enum>(1)</enum><text>protect key habitats for fish and wildlife;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7221BC9C7A1F401498FABD35C5255832"><enum>(2)</enum><text>maintain biodiversity;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1ECD7A70B03046DFB63E4C5F7180EA6E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>protect public health;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HADA2A38101274A11A065A84C2B42EAC0"><enum>(4)</enum><text>protect coastal resources of national, historical, and cultural significance; or</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4071DE4466884B74BBCFBD77C1F45243"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">seek to partially or fully benefit communities of color, low-income communities, Indian Tribes or Indigenous communities, and rural communities.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3279AA19507142EC9BA0F612FAF2226E" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 610 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H5BA90654178C4C36A4E7E04381689423" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 611. National level incubator program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4763FE88BE8447EEB58D7337A60D687B"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 9(g) of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4010">33 U.S.C. 4010(g)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H643409CC8AC84E5BAB3648B6ACDC808A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text> <subparagraph id="H8E9B612D1E624D518E0BBFADFB72890B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>The appropriate Federal official may waive the non-Federal share requirements of this subsection if such official determines no reasonable means are available through which the recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal share requirement.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1B7F18EA7D854429A4FBA7A5A03695A4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6B67222AEA7643BEA0DDA333E3BC0EF5" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="H65F16940BA844382BEF763DEDCC7785B" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Contract, grant, and cooperative agreement authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere may enter into agreements and grants with States, Indian Tribes, local governments, or other entities to pay for or reimburse costs incurred for the purposes of supporting the determination of and assessing the environmental, economic, social, subsistence use, and public health effects of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCBCB176A9DCF4879AB9594AC78A06C91"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting <quote>, leadership official of an affected Indian Tribe, the executive official of the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, and American Samoa, if affected</quote> after <quote>State</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC99EFC17B3104087802FFBEEB043163C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HF4CD113A7A8146B5BC6E49875725165C" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<paragraph id="H8952BA20EC4B4CA2BF508B2CA17A9C98"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Funding authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out this subsection, notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is authorized to be appropriated from the amounts made available to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere $2,000,000, to remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4BB711A8DD5C40AFB8ADFD0A891446E6"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Protect families from toxic algal blooms</header><text>Section 128 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/610">33 U.S.C. 610</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HA5349E8E668740C5B902C74C8AC34BB9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9C33DC98AF3C4B5C8EF172AC3556A0FB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection:</text>
<quoted-block id="HFE2544EFE1374F52A18789F15E215C8A" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H776BEE9864FE4CEBA7BB3744EDCBCBC0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Harmful algal bloom technologies</header><text>In carrying out the demonstration program under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into agreements with water and irrigation districts located in the focus areas described in subsections (c) and (d) for the use or sale of any new technologies developed under the program to expedite the removal of harmful algal blooms in such areas.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header>Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation</header> <section id="HE54F2E6ECD244FEAA3183E9B3D6ED2C7"><enum>201.</enum><header>Weather innovation for the next generation</header> <subsection id="H9AF60D7A06FE4C39AF0E8E0DE8C726ED"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <quote>Program</quote>) to ensure the continued performance of weather radar capabilities, including systems currently being developed, with interferences in the line of sight of such radar.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H0E13096E5EB94109BF87CA39D9F002B9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, shall—</text> <paragraph id="HEE749A315A034BBF8043B9B183ECF33C" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>partner with the private sector, academia, Federal, State, and local government entities, and any other entity the Under Secretary considers appropriate;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H78A517B0D8EA4EF1AD244410B9C0B394"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify, evaluate, and test existing or near-commercial technologies and solutions that improve radar coverage and performance, including by mitigating the potential impact of interferences on weather radar;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC95916D12FB4E00A0FCE20720758300"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the maximum extent practicable, research additional solutions that could mitigate the effects of interferences on weather radar, such as—</text>
<subparagraph id="HDC2F81FDFEC34A6881A4ED80DB23202E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>signal processing algorithms;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC408D882810545BD9DD17CC9EC8AA4B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>short-term forecasting algorithms to replace contaminated data;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFE934FEAD8A64519A7EC200DBBD8AB87"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the use of dual polarization characteristics in mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather radar; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3EB49C85F8CF4D32992A66CB610722A4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>gap filling radars to provide supplemental or replacement observations in impacted areas; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H70F83B3FA2754636973A1D6001DC908E"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop, support, or partner with developers to provide commercially viable technical mitigation solutions for interferences to weather radar capabilities that are compatible with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H946C778028CD4C94BA3982C733BF892A"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based mitigation solutions:</text>
<paragraph id="H6A1F84AC780F4DBABB959003A2694B31"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Phased array weather radar systems.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDF0074A634F5404B98A2C272D89BC64E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Supplementing or replacing contaminated data with commercial radar data.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H83191E6A4AA048A5ADEBE058894C3DB5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The utilization of data from private sector associated meteorological towers or similar capabilities.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5FE6A6910BED4E0FA4D5597F5BD28FCE"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE7878DEE00574B368AB209ED3C6DB815"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The installation and provision of access to rain gauges.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC8BA7A6D8E9B4EA899BB80400C690FC2" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any other technology-based mitigation solution the Under Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by overcoming interferences, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HD99C027233B04C53A2F293B2AF4D0332"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report; recommendation</header>
<paragraph id="H43AB82D173E640E7B7E6F84E044F314B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFC8C7695D81A48E3945872B05FE34F18" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Final recommendation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H223705AAE98842A1A2D02A6E36372848" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Termination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority of the Under Secretary to carry out the Program shall terminate on the earlier of—</text> <paragraph id="HE3FA479094B3445E889B4685A3D26AE7" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>September 30, 2030; or</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7B30C79762F74287B793E50986DC4D61" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>one year after the date on which the final recommendation required under subsection (d)(2) is submitted by the Under Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H71B7CDB4EED248AFBEADE60236444D60"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text>
<paragraph id="H5DA14B8EE7CA4B5CA2FCDE3DC539CC41"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Beam blockage</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>beam blockage</quote> means a signal that is partially or fully blocked due to an interference.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF33CA90A156A49AB9B84633B2225119D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Ghost echo</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>ghost echo</quote> means radar signal reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the proximity of an interference.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3969D9E1A21B4660B80B3F91B590FFF8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Interference</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>interference</quote> includes the following:</text> <subparagraph id="HAC73DCADC1C54A0C96B354C5A644EF18" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a wind turbine that could limit the effectiveness of a weather radar system;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFBF8FEDE188B470FAD843F8111555840" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any building that disrupts or limits the effectiveness of a weather radar system; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0E4AD91695BA4BDE9E25A598869F4F75" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other natural or human built structure that affects a weather radar system.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="HBFB0B7B272F949BB8F7270A06BABF083"><enum>202.</enum><header>Next generation radar</header>
<subsection id="H032B1D4A9A0F43DB82CDF676A59831C2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to replace the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (<quote>NEXRAD</quote>) system in existence as of the date of the enactment of this section.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HC0D4471C1D8E4932896ABA22EF6C4163"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Procurement deadline</header><text>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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HD7DABE5440954C87939D223B448D57E9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:</text> <paragraph id="HD9407ABC298C4A1EAA569C01C90A661A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H105D61AE70C5434B836FB51917FD49BC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Development of a digital phased array radar test article designed to test and determine the specifications and requirements for such replacement.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCA5DDB4965AB467D889C7160B1F92B25"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed for the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H334A869055EF4C10B6799ACB70812961"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Evaluation of commercial radars with the potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H629670E35D21420DA09D5C5856B35946" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H55DDBF415ACD4CB2B58A019D8E79D0BF" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF4F470EC8DA140529B37FAB6A45CD3AA"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Prioritized locations for initial deployment of the replacement system described in subsection (a) that will replace the NEXRAD system.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF540779F78E24EF19DB1CC68157347A4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Expected locations of such replacement system described in subsection (a), including sites located more than 75 miles away from an existing NEXRAD station and additional appropriate locations.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H59FEA095F94A414AAF999362E4A75470"> <enum>(d)</enum> <header>Radar-as-a-Service</header> <paragraph id="HF880C3A7311D4BE88748D3A1C4305A52"> <enum>(1)</enum> <header>In general</header> <text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7663C286DA884635B7157EE2E2C7C206">
<enum>(2)</enum>
<header>Considerations</header>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the activities under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCDAABDCB6822456B97904AA6E5F027FC">
<enum>(A)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilizing and contracting with third-party entities that have participated in the testbed established in accordance with subsection (c)(3), the National Mesonet Program, or Cooperative Research and Development Agreements; and</text>
</subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3CFCFA2ABA244E40B6A50DC839A0E59D">
<enum>(B)</enum>
<text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subparagraph>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection id="H3B431522927442D5B5AC5E58AC142CB0"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Updates to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HB264B1496BCF493E9E94B0A6340E25DF"><enum>203.</enum><header>Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States</header> <subsection id="H65AADB77ED704B508C3717E2910D9E1C" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text>
<paragraph id="H82872C3B92104FAEBB98891B904CED43" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H39067749335A4268A25F32E903331981" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8426AABA5510469DA5750228EB0AA103" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishing or supporting testbeds to develop and integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or emergency information sharing tools, such as next generational or supplemental radars for weather observations, in under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6C3DB482813F420DAB09B36644D3B35F" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather and water forecasting and climate modeling capabilities for under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB29E12048E414787B58C69EBC4D07CF3" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H95E399FD0EDC4140A08427670D99570A" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Using data void filling observations to better resolve extreme rainfall in complex topography.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCEF2249E152E442EB8DE726A8FA4FC66" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Contributing to a national integrated heat health information systems.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HBD508ABAA897400286B3CCAAD171FD88"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pilot program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H6B3590DE81ED4222AEDFC124D1AF7EE1" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/107/56">Public Law 107–56</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5195c">42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)</external-xref>)), such as dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H230A80E34F7C4D0F972D1707B218BEBC"><enum>204.</enum><header>Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program</header> <subsection id="H0A6BFF29AA8540548A730C5D2834EF23"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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 <quote>program</quote>).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HDFD26ED58A44443F8CB3DAF132F0D62B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Goal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text> <paragraph id="H3E7B93B5DEAC43939980C428CFB270C4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0A69497FD9FC44169153460962004835"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFF0A75B1CBDB4B63AE190DFFE5CBB91F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>advancing scientific understanding of the roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB2C28D16B69B42A09FE90F0D083F8C4A"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0F437763088942E39604790D44B88779"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5DF68F4540BF463A961F81D00CCD20EE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Innovative observations and modeling</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H7593E234B2AC43CFA5869DA5A7347468" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Program plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H2EA6EA6333E848E396CA9F7C93E0A2E3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual budget for plan submittal</header><text>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.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H343136531A334F11944115EF4F90D68F"><enum>205.</enum><header>Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program</header> <subsection id="HC533C158AFC743E2B766858F2567A2D6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <quote>program</quote>).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HA3898FD83DB844BDB7E4B48019C60364"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Goal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H1575DAB0AC044E30B926681FC3170317"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In implementing the program, the Under Secretary shall prioritize activities that carry out the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HAE8C147C680444D0A13E624CA9AA5283"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H11A8635C44E742BCB67DF19C21D18CAE" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H73DE0E83E49B4F2BB401CA6E20F73DBE"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors into models.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4E362F01C7A74F31B37DF6B6C6732A0A" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE60F4FF25E374304BF5A0EA15F2CFEC1" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7D514303C7CB46A9868E7F68C939A42F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Improving operational regional storm surge and wave prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and messaging.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8781B6C95E684CD2AC618E2669C95B17"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Innovative observations and modeling</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H12A776EA580D4420AE5145161764F72C" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Program plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H769AE088BF1E40A482A507D89C5FB592"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Annual budget for plan submittal</header><text>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.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HED90248A45084E1BA24DD1FF6051D997"><enum>206.</enum><header>Aviation weather and data innovation</header> <subsection id="HABA7B6C921284EF98C088781D440BE53"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne observation program (in this section referred to as the <quote>program</quote>) for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather enterprise.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HDC175D39C67449B4AD4CA647A50241DF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>The program shall include activities that carry out the following:</text> <paragraph id="H209569AEF64C44A792CD68E9DBD0DE6C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Procurement of weather data available from commercial aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HA054C2501D6D426EB4CAA4FE94286F9E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the Under Secretary.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H04249FBF964941C3811309840BCEAEE3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H31109D9C331C4D7C843468C5E0F39695"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Budget</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HDCC81E45E29049608571C3FF9C5A7209" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H85EC1B471462403DA3277C0677F3D25D"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Aviation weather and turbulence forecasting</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H98E1E95BE5D04CB2AB480D9B7B1475B6"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>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—</text>
<paragraph id="H6D1AED8DBA254A70807DB58A2FFD5BF6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE002953EBA6D46AA8F8DB6A4100D4B3F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identifying current and future potential data gaps related to turbulence events or phenomena that can—</text>
<subparagraph id="HD731200745E44C238EC75E533FF91850"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify or inform route specific flight planning; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3FF44951DF13474386D776EAF75BF8D9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be supplemented or filled by commercial aviation tools;</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3126936AC1084FCB9C0377B22F54CAD9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H277DD5047BF74E45B66115503C0D63A4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>developing and deploying improved probabilistic aviation weather forecast guidance technology; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD6ED89D9D4FC450491BC193ABFF1D6FC"><enum>(5)</enum><text>updating interagency agreements as appropriate, including to address reimbursable agreements.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H1B84C80F08344E66A454E53E9E3B07E2"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Next generation aviation research</header><text>Paragraph (3) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8512">15 U.S.C. 8512(b)</external-xref>), is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H51DDB39680204287A1F29904371FC067"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H79BB759446CD424AA1DD897AD734F1A4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H636F0285EBBF4D3C89B3B26C74D5673E" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="H28D677029D4B4169BEB0C8AE1CCA7698"><enum>(F)</enum><text>aviation weather phenomena, including atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for the airspace system;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H56F788838CCB48C7B77C354915980584"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Aviation information dissemination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure the Aviation Weather Center is able, to the maximum extent possible, to disseminate in a timely manner full resolution aviation weather data, forecasts, and information to meet the needs of aviation users.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HE3515624EA824A7BA1931D640276CC3A"><enum>207.</enum><header>NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program</header>
<subsection id="H89CAD69B3FDC4647AAAE5DFE74C02CB0" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HF154F98ED87F4FA9BFBC816A5DEEB027"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transition program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<paragraph id="H2F1D6D913A694106A22276F807610C30"><enum>(1)</enum><text>improve upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s satellite architecture;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1F56B4B74A8041E99721BDF2F598D4D7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have a direct impact on implementing the recommendations of the Administration’s 2018 Satellite Observing System Architecture Study, <quote>Building a Plan for NOAA’s 21st Century Satellite Observing System</quote>; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H634724E6480F477C91C19E0739B2ECD5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>meet current or future mission requirements.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HA960B203B240478085617365EDA410B8" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Operational planning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H76258F191EAB4A27B229744179D9E1F9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subsection> <subsection id="HB0710DC7C9704C9F97A39BB54EE16D0A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>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 2026 through 2030 to carry out to this section.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HD019C76FDE934F95AC86E12180533962"><enum>208.</enum><header>Advanced weather interactive processing system</header>
<subsection id="H3E7D7ACA900845508073167626C35704"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H4579E3D2734645279722D41F6CCA6309" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text>
<paragraph id="H69B4D53109A54D889EDBC38284D1C227" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Integrating and displaying forecast data, including meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and radar data, for National Weather Service field offices and national centers.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2BC377C58CCD4877833FA63D08C158D3" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Acquiring and processing observational data from sensors and local sources.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H064606F86FC34DD4A77A048B169A06D5" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Providing an interactive communications system, including the satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant National Weather Service employees and sites.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H922384C1C88B4575A4FC440919478F2B" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, ecological, climate, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts in a rapid and highly reliable manner.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H3D7E5F83BD404455B02FA16E6AA36ACD"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The transition strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) may include the following:</text> <paragraph id="H50C45322A1CE4D3594E724A306D107A0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, and functional testing activities to facilitate remote evaluation and automated testing.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H189C4CD911C24E7682B6749DB26336BB" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H135C877419504A6BAB302DD60A2EB8EE"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a quality user experience.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HBBAB29C20C09407C83BF7678900554F6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network operations and support backup functions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H784D971016F0475FA3CDC011EB799877"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H05E4E9BF0FA84F4394BDC4CA74D70ED0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Development and deployment of virtualized systems to replace physical hardware at operational sites.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6A22BCE80F6447EA911B91493AC8712D"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H081C70CC30084721913D6FF1CA9D8863"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent with the mission and scientific expertise of the Administration.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE9FFCA31EAAF4ECF9B0AD6E4D05A7B7C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transition deadline</header><text>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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H88DB635FFF9E4380934AEAAB47DC9F4F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Updates to Congress</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HC41C5025B2D44C77B9108F251B2F4F85"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Continued innovation</header><text>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.</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HD3422EAD4B7F4506B0E27A14B322B70B"><enum>209.</enum><header>Reanalysis and reforecasting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Under Secretary may support reanalysis and reforecasting activities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including through the hazardous weather testbed of the Administration, for improving weather forecasts, extreme weather predictions, and weather and climate datasets.</text></section> <section id="H2EA1F496B90E40B09361ACB595089284"><enum>210.</enum><header>National Weather Service workforce</header> <subsection id="H8CAB4533543749D68D194C3682BB9152" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hiring</header><text>The Director of the National Weather Service shall annually submit to the Under Secretary and Congress an assessment of the milestones, timelines, and service level expectations required for the expeditious hiring and timely on-boarding of employees of the National Weather Service. Each such assessment may include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HF896933A423E49459307563498EF9C09" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Recommendations to outsource hiring to any entity other than the National Weather Service in order to meet such milestones, timelines, and service level expectations.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H60FFBA35C51D4303AC60E268D06F4E2B" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Determinations of the number of staff and designated positions required at each forecasting office to provide services to protect lives and property in the geographic region of responsibility.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5AF5B86FA43046B288B5AD6D68FCD33A" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Health and morale assessment</header><text>The Director of the National Weather Service shall contract or continue to partner with an entity other than the National Weather Service to conduct an assessment of medical impacts, including stress and long-term health impacts, on National Weather Service employees related to required rotating shift work. Such assessment may include options for mitigating such impacts on employees and recommendations for improving benefits related to required rotating shift work.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H0653EC3D54014BA0AD57E4AD1061998B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Designation of service hydrologist</header> <paragraph id="H92AD0B10ACB348B8A2DE8DBE4410462C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Director of the National Weather Service may designate at least one service hydrologist at each Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB3A45317416B41E9B779C46FEFC56185"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text>Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize or require a change in the authorized number of full time equivalent employees of the National Weather Service or otherwise result in the employment of any additional employees.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H904009C5EB11490486ABB1ADEAB4CBC8" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Performance by other employees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding paragraphs (4) and (5), the Director of the National Weather Service may assign the performance of the responsibilities described in this subsection to such other staff of the National Weather Service as the Director considers appropriate.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0131E884968849AD901BA1114E011D37" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Responsibilities</header><text>In order to increase impact-based decision support services, each service coordination hydrologist designated under paragraph (1) shall, with respect to hydrology, carry out the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H2FADAE582FD8439DAB89AA5059EF9A92" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Be responsible for providing service to the geographic area of responsibility covered by the Weather Forecast Office at which the service coordination hydrologist is employed to help ensure that users of products and services of the National Weather Service can respond effectively to improve outcomes from flood events.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H0B98940E87F547679031B1E520141B57" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Liaise with users of products and services of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as emergency managers, the public, academia, media outlets, users in the hydropower, transportation, recreation, and agricultural communities, and forestry, land, fisheries, and water management interests, to evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products and services referred to in subparagraph (A), including extended range streamflow forecasts, water supply forecasts, drought outlooks, flood inundation mapping, coastal inundation, and flood warnings.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H58F89B04036E408C8170414A8F146F83" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Collaborate with the National Water Center, River Forecast Centers, other Weather Forecast Offices, the National Integrate Drought Information System, Administration offices, and Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies, as the Director considers appropriate, in developing, proposing, and implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor such products and services to improve the usefulness of such products and services.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2BEAC569C6D442C4978E9484A462DB3E" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Engage in interagency partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies to explore the use of forecast-informed reservoir operations to reduce flood risk and inform decisions related to water resources management.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2454C42EE81A49018523473A58BCC28C" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Ensure the maintenance and accuracy of flooding and water resource management partner call lists, appropriate office hydrologic service policy or procedures, and other hydrologic information or dissemination methodologies or strategies.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8F7FE202161947AF9FC09A4722A61960" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Work closely with Federal, State, local, and Tribal emergency and floodplain management agencies, and other agencies relating to disaster management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective preparedness and response effort.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6D84C662FF58442497126447CE3472B5" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Additional responsibilities</header><text>A service coordination hydrologist designated under this subsection may, with respect to hydrology—</text>
<subparagraph id="HBBD1829A37BE4F28BE9F6B789D6BCDA9" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>work with a State agency to develop plans for promoting more effective use of products and services of the National Weather Service throughout the State concerned;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H58023D3A9F17471BB6D75136A765586C" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identify priority community preparedness objectives;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H49D9231E12AD436690047C89A2877BCC" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>develop plans to carry out the responsibilities described in paragraph (4); and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF2D9739456D84643B7593CFD64AB3429" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>conduct flooding event preparedness planning and citizen education efforts with and through various State, local, and Tribal government agencies and other disaster management-related organizations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section>
<enum>III</enum><header>Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations</header>
<section id="HE3B6717A519149729DAC6D917AF7D38F"><enum>301.</enum><header>Commercial Data Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking section 302 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8532">15 U.S.C. 8532</external-xref>) and inserting the following new section:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HDABE2B6FE42C4E5B9B2567D399F31F55" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <section id="HD4A4B91D36E149939E861E2414AB047D"><enum>302.</enum><header>Commercial Data Program</header> <subsection id="H454A56E461B747D2B9C57A65E67486F4" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 coordinate and execute acquisition of weather and environmental data and services from private sector entities for operational use.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HB50C8C85D21045EEAADBC56FC24E1155"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 ensures access to data across the Administration, including among the following:</text> <paragraph id="HA1A0DED6A36E45668D12C396B2A72772"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The National Mesonet Program.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H48A5AFD219A14824817FBAD1D3863676"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Aircraft Based Observation Program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBBF8461F834048BE9CFB1567668F8FBE" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, including existing regional associations.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCCE08D330F2D464890273B6571D44152"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Integrated Drought Information System, including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6531CD9565C64543A8DB0AD5594AAB01"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCDCB251790FF484282D1B754DC78D75F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The National Data Buoy Center.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H670C207E47EB4DC9B39C1B09AFC20F40"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDA170BF8BEA941A09D2B6FBD1E106565"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The Ocean Exploration Program.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBEF1FB5558F84B6CA29F22E5311C08B4"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Any other program or office the Under Secretary determines appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H68E9B90C0DE94E0FAFF6F5AF3E59D42D" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Standards and specifications</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HDED9E61FAAB84FDA9E4C82FFF618F673" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In acquiring commercial data and services, 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 or other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that acquire commercial data or observations.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HA227C044322C4FE2888F86BEEC94EE84"><enum>(e)</enum><header>NOAA Observing Systems and Fleet Councils</header>
<paragraph id="H8F8BC15FEC664D9AB64A1893D66996F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Observing Systems Council and the NOAA Fleet Council (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>Councils</quote>) to provide strategic recommendations and guidance 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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H27285AC7ED5F49A98022ED4073AEFEBD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Line office coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Councils shall ensure coordination and adherence to uniform policies by providing guidance to all line offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration engaged in observing systems portfolio design, technology, development, execution, and operation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0335127BAEED46329554EBB17CAB307C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall maintain a Committee within the Councils to 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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HB314120D753445FF8BD8F6BAAED26B69"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header> <paragraph id="H43C41B08144E4A6AA3B37F9612CD4E49" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE49F4A2A82824696AECE2B32C5F3B0FD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H9292707588464B26AFDD2DFCB3C864C0"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Data and hosted payloads</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements relating to the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H2BF8D7EE7B16414F95CBDC03FAC051EA" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The purchase of weather and environmental data and services through contracts with commercial data and service providers.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H367AD5D55109468D8719F4625C567BBD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime, or ground platforms.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H8FF12614278F4960978EBACB17712150" commented="no"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Ombudsman</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish or designate at least one Ombudsman position within the Commercial Data Program 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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H708F661FB7364B79994764492459A191"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Report</header><text>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.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H72F32B46FA9947F5A21DAD7EE0ABD6AE"><enum>302.</enum><header>Commercial Data Pilot Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking section 303 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8533">15 U.S.C. 8533</external-xref>) and inserting the following new section:</text> <quoted-block id="H91D22B3BE3BA40629426AF18609614CA" style="OLC"> <section id="HFC7D6601A65C49368887DADEF662B7A4"><enum>303.</enum><header>Commercial Data Pilot Program</header> <subsection id="H3B9CCA7AE3504369BF477B459302CE7D" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H24533CEBA3AD469DBC1998F3939B8931" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Criteria</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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).</text></subsection> <subsection id="H92FD822219B54BFAB86C166188D30E89" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Pilot contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HA6B0F2FD90BD4CE386024AD6DFA42F30" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assessment of viability</header><text>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:</text> <paragraph id="HB38744EBFF12485CB021B6FC2DD715DA" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The viability of assimilating observation services and data from private sector entities into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5136786CF6ED482A9D81D404999FA62C" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The expected value added or improvements from such services and data so assimilated into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1BE74C3598B24CDDA1DD820B872145F9" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data from private sector entities.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H8FFDCD893EE644A39431EC20470BE2B2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H4BB99A7C23B846169A17411813E04535" commented="no"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Obtaining future data</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<paragraph id="H237E0A8632A443C2ACC77EB10C9A8E98" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">when cost-effective and feasible, obtain observation services and data from private sector entities through the Commercial Data Program under section 302;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4E1D1324059D416985C54B6620212364" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB20DB6050D7D4CA1B58B62600DD2F4C0" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8E90D3C03EDF4F38B74D00BBC430A793" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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).</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HDEEEB0ED90AE4103B92CF3B303AF33AE"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H9E67DC877A3F45DC9B3A9ABF08AF23F4"><enum>303.</enum><header>Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block id="H9C021C3EB3934A869A12A4A305A0E710" style="OLC">
<section id="H2576D336269C4D409CABDA7800CC6548"><enum>304.</enum><header>Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication</header>
<subsection id="HCFDA9EB13D1E4D60BCE3265775D549F0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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—</text> <paragraph id="HE26914C2BECD49F09A509331F3142252"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enter into year-long or multiyear contract options using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of datatypes purchased;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H652BED48D9FB485691E06175715BDEC9"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">partner and contract with multiple observation service and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of data gaps and improve mission robustness; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H820AD9FD77E74DABADFEB85E55A0DA15"><enum>(3)</enum><text>utilize authorities, such as additional forms of transaction agreements under section 301, that allow for innovative partnerships with private sector entities.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H1F3F39F742D74741B64A9D43DCCBAD8E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Savings clause</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H7ACAF651C8BD43BBA0433F817C79530B"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Unnecessary duplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<paragraph id="HF1F02C1622C44D6283D3242790960F3F" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H30E4E1F8B3FD481DAE105A1FE260BA2E" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H4E9BBA6E7DBC4698936AA71AFDAF5F2B" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Fair compensation for interagency needs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section id="H57D1D463AA80458F9394E1235729CE34"><enum>304.</enum><header>Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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:</text>
<quoted-block id="H620C0E558CA349CB8F129A557929DA09" style="OLC">
<section id="H81BEB7B419C54F8D9105F427D1E3936E"><enum>305.</enum><header>Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices</header>
<subsection id="HCE68EB6E831C4A9292838CBEADCA1C12"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Data standards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H8B9D22994C464CD9862AD794D847A672"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Data infrastructure</header> <paragraph id="H99BC61F229AE4FFAA7E70A87CD039AB0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE97C6FEC86DC46ECA99E226B1AC4D3E8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Federal partnerships</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDF9B9566C5254CBA81052CF863106357"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Long term data archive</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HBF7B637C3B5B4C6D993D583CE089F51E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Data sharing with the weather enterprise</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H3C52E1B524F94E289E5B21EC7181140C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Data assimilation</header> <paragraph id="HF0182B8013264BAAB08D60ED537412B3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFAAC441E18E343339DBAD11ABE0E20F2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Data assimilation university consortium</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)) to address critical research challenges for data assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce. The consortium shall seek to—</text> <subparagraph id="H39F21903B1A24A7CB6B3219C2BF6AFAE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>solve critical research issues for data assimilation through innovative research;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H70E61F96F8B5480490153FBB81A19770"><enum>(B)</enum><text>increase significantly the number of students, including graduate level and Ph.D. candidates, in data assimilation;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1DD984A2B01B42EB80BACEB2AAC0FF53"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBB62B3640A9242DFB906715CB18E4489"><enum>(D)</enum><text>identify and prioritize critical research areas in data assimilation and facilitate operations to research efforts;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0C2BBE412E6B4A79A81060E183593213"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H6441A29EF1F846F39B3C0829CDE6A4CC" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish mechanisms to enable all members of the consortium to archive and access data required to support the work under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3282B6B9798D43918D834C4C99F66996"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HCF2D5ED114984BA0A99A627851DB70A0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices security</header><text>The activities authorized under this subsection 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 <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/167">Public Law 117–167</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/19231">42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H9F5330BF94984666B31EF695EF13DCDA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Study on data management</header> <paragraph id="HEE517584C15A429FA8DF4DD652F7E5A4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9FF050C96C064F12946AD16F8B6D621E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>assess the costs and benefits of current data management needs for observational and operational mission requirements;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H04730F9B8C6B428C9F0FA0F794536373"><enum>(B)</enum><text>develop recommendations regarding how to make more robust and cost-effective the data portfolio of the Administration;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H2A4A5525F20A463FAF1A64E91CC4A991"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identify data infrastructure technologies and needs that are essential to the performance of modeling systems of the Administration;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9B7B772D8FAE4FF0978060EA76E59BEF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assess the sharing needs and practices of the Administration for both internal and external sharing dissemination; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H7BD8EC4904F244C7938713375A7393F1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>develop recommendations for methods of data infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from the commercial sector.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5606DF6EAD0849CC9275B17F8ECF6441"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="HDA420BACA2AD4C529081363E1EAE65ED" commented="no"><enum>305.</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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:</text> <quoted-block id="H270BB0C7A98A4E739E18D9CC62960DC0" style="OLC"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <enum>IV</enum><header>Communicating Weather to the Public</header> <section id="H465F58B2281C42E3B061F9526821735A"><enum>401.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="H639AF226AAF44515AF9CB647C55FD333" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Hazardous weather or water events</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>hazardous weather or water events</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/25">Public Law 115–25</external-xref>; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7E9998C7F32B40C3BF2EB1DB0A69EAE6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text>The term <quote>institution of higher education</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEC9A44EE8C6F427A9941536E035C34A3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>NOAA Weather Radio</header><text>The term <quote>NOAA Weather Radio</quote> means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H196B430E4D2C4D34B3E4330829CA5969"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Public cloud</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>public cloud</quote> 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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H59DAC01A7CCF46A0B5D71F15C77E3E75" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Watch; warning</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms <quote>watch</quote> and <quote>warning</quote> have the meanings given such terms in section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/25">Public Law 115–25</external-xref>; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="H790AF46E5C6741CD86EFCB1ADE8D75BE"><enum>402.</enum><header>Hazardous weather or water event risk communication</header> <subsection id="H2CD090F8CB34424BB10297F2BA8E63BC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/25">Public Law 115–25</external-xref>; 131 Stat. 109) is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6BB872E49EB5403994907EF24170F6EF" style="OLC">
<section id="H1745DD18AEAE4A5CAF2F438E322226E7"><enum>406.</enum><header>Hazardous weather or water event risk communication</header>
<subsection id="H9858EC9F861541858DE17F4E0E57A655"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text> <paragraph id="H519BD336A5D04EC493B2722019F68BD7" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Hazardous weather or water events</header><text>The term <quote>hazardous weather or water events</quote> means weather or water events that have a high risk of loss of life or property, including the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H28793D331BBC4D5D8ABBE14091206B8F" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H7887C914A5A643E3AA613C76A00BA2A4" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H9AC800DB0E6B41B5A171673651B05378" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCB58FA0CB92E4CD5A4450E38B6628A51"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>institution of higher education</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD44709882A9740E786C192433EBE268F" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Watch; warning</header>
<subparagraph id="H90347765CBCA4F4781A293D73AC1FBAF" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms <quote>watch</quote> and <quote>warning</quote>, 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.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC8B241A8C002461EB7AD45F4187D50D2" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>The terms <quote>watch</quote> and <quote>warning</quote> do not include technical or specialized meteorological or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H863D169BDBCA4488828C9A04D01531C2" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>System communications</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H483BE35EB83845BDB19AA0BFEA7C0468"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Hazard risk communication improvement and simplification</header> <paragraph id="H3DD3813785604DE4AE0AF9FE067C3B99" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <quote>Program</quote>), for the purpose of simplifying and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water events.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6E374FBEADC34888BD702A175F97EC57"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terminology</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE1DA4369626C45B5A15D8D324946E8ED"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Communications improvement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6EB844955F154D18829D3E6C522847B0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Evaluations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9E29B6F4BC7F4205904691F2A83E5A0F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Support plan</header><text>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).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H501C8137112A4EF8A912F9257EA67C35"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Methods</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Program shall develop and implement recommendations that—</text> <subparagraph id="HF89F79039C524D7B96B60AA6CF0459A5" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are based on the best and most recent understanding from social, behavioral, economic, risk, and communications science research;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H76CFDED57AB34B999282121AB6070294" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HCA5E199514CE48F98BBAF00742387885"><enum>(C)</enum><text>account for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HDAA246C4003B48668FC6C812C32C37F2" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text>account for the differences between various types of hazardous weather or water events;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H3AD0550B9F894EB38ADCD95BBC315B0F"><enum>(E)</enum><text>respond to the needs of Federal, State, and local government partners and media partners; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H533DB80C218749D884011EA0B50509F2" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text>account for necessary changes in the infrastructure, technology, and protocols for developing and disseminating watches and warnings.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCCB0570D47CF46F483A044D144740D48" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Program shall coordinate with the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="H16AC1FD124FB439CA4B3BB4A85CC0BF0" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Federal partners, including National Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional integrated sciences and assessments programs.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H55FA14835FCA4CAE8BB99FA574FE6F19" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State and local government partners.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFFB3229E81BB4EB0A9A464DC983F5C49" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Tribal governments.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HDE19C89E7D574BB4BC05FB8EE1228103" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Institutions of higher education or a consortia thereof.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFC02A1AEA6034463BD474D0B8C03AE7B" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Media partners.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H18D543BC8E0248F3887A0D412B3DC7ED" commented="no"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Timeliness and consistency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection>
<subsection id="HA1878BD1986F45F3AED45281191C2A50"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Table of contents</header><text>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 406 to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6138F71F7C8F4290945BA0F2DF29D42C" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H2FE4F963DE6544529674ABAE344A8620"><enum>403.</enum><header>Hazard communication research and engagement</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/25">Public Law 115–25</external-xref>; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HC2B921472A174815AA064E4E79839ED2" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<subsection id="H4CEF2295608E4433B682BB31593D196C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Hazard communication research and engagement</header>
<paragraph id="HC444662012C0431696EEF07277B57867"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall maintain, as appropriate, a program to—</text> <subparagraph id="H2CC6CD54B5C64C5E83AE0071F558602F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H912B50DF675B48AEA32CBFCD04170507"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HFB635CB168D44B1DBE410DC4A315444C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H7282B93E8CD34B978474C928BC29ADBE" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Pilot program for tornado hazard communication required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H56775CFE97A4464B922E31BDC0D5C126"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Pilot study for hurricane hazard communication</header> <subparagraph id="H851EFD6AD6874FD08A5810141B8F4FEC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To further research into communications regarding hazardous weather or water events, the Under Secretary, in coordination with the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104, shall seek to enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity, as determined by the Under Secretary, to conduct a pilot study using a mixed methods approach, such as surveys, focus groups, and interviews, to gather information from hurricane prone population areas regarding the levels of preparedness of such areas for hurricanes or in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s early forecasts and warnings. Such study shall evaluate the following:</text>
<clause id="H793246ADFB17463B9958210FF821D7DD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Possession of disaster supplies.</text></clause> <clause id="H6AB99B58F4F144C29A5386D035822F38"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Evacuation decisions.</text></clause>
<clause id="H9621D8EC27A74C5B94E20D79E13BB271"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Levels of trust of tropical cyclone information and hurricane path prediction from various sources.</text></clause> <clause id="H4304A949106B43DCAA27F530D5400960"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Access to tropical cyclone and hurricane warnings in such study participant’s first language.</text></clause>
<clause id="H2A70F10733C74EF8821B49F337F00B56"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Determination regarding such study participant’s reasoning that may hinder the ability of such a participant to evacuate or willingness to evacuate.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD10CFFB8AD974A07B0168E6245763DC1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional criteria</header><text>The pilot study described in subparagraph (A) shall define its methodology and be made publicly available on a website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF673F340B5134E42939B2659AFDD0A9A"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Eligible institution defined</header><text>In this subsection, the term <quote>eligible institution</quote> means any of the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H9201DCE7F1794B78BF2DB71074ED54ED" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1862g">42 U.S.C. 1862g</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H8620974264F0437F93893F570C8EC955"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other institution located in proximity to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H8F36AEC1709645FF8F6B010CE6CE09BC"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Hurricane social, behavioral, and economic sciences</header><text>As part of the program carried out under subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall carry out research and development activities to improve how the public receives, interprets, responds to, and values hurricane forecasts and warnings. In conducting such activities, the Under Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H8F72AB8785E7439B9F9C304223D8F074"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a comprehensive review of what is known about how the public receives, interprets, responds to, and makes decisions regarding hurricane forecasts and warnings, including—</text> <subparagraph id="HD3A92AC9153A4249A9A481572FADFDD8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>how the connections between weather observations, downstream models, and processes affect the decision tools or products derived from such hurricane forecasts and warnings;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HA2BBBCE75CDF43BF917051A6EDE1811A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>how such hurricane forecasts and warnings generated by decision tools and products are used by emergency managers, governments, and other users to benefit the public and stakeholder groups;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1D9E303CBBA54BE4B15D6DA00A113B9B"><enum>(C)</enum><text>how past experiences with hurricanes impacts decision making;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H619787936CAC415784B3A00FF43B87EB"><enum>(D)</enum><text>how the source of such hurricane forecasts and warnings affects interpretation;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H9B4E67C16E054377A0AB7E41135991ED"><enum>(E)</enum><text>how tropical cyclone warnings and watches are received and interpreted;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H3EB0400800D2423D9D392BF1A691AB78"><enum>(F)</enum><text>how understanding of and response to such hurricane forecasts and warnings vary across demographic groups, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H0028B514845143CB949ACE4CB1642814"><enum>(G)</enum><text>language barriers; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H48571F5210EC4D21889A1C39AF414765"><enum>(H)</enum><text>how understanding and response to such hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across geographic areas, including rural, urban, and suburban areas;</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HDDDCDF1C88964E049ADBC570C0CB8320"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify communication data gaps based on the review conducted pursuant to paragraph (1);</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEA2E7C26EFCD4EC4841629F50081CAE7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>carry out research, including data collection and baseline assessments, in coordination with the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104 to evaluate and quantify the economic value of extending lead times of tropical cyclone and hurricane warnings and watches, including identifying the most effected or vulnerable populations and potential impacts to those populations;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE216E16D6D8A44CAA85798AA2640E1E7"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as part of post-storm surveys and assessments conducted under section 406 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, conduct retrospective or ex ante assessments of previous hurricane forecasts and warnings with improvements to better understand the key components, including expected actions or behavior changes, of the value of the forecasts and warnings provided;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H9145E2F137A149AC865076FEA73AACFE"><enum>(5)</enum><text>conduct cost benefit analysis of forecasts and warnings improvement alternatives developed through the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H6F9290F8AF5F42F7B057C425ACDD1B4F"><enum>(6)</enum><text>conduct risk assessments for pre-, during, and post-storm periods in regions and communities with significant elderly populations, including retirement communities.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>
<section id="H9F3AE1C960AA47E98B4A48F47F62FB14"><enum>404.</enum><header>National Weather Service communications improvement</header>
<subsection id="HB287179A46404FF9B91BEFF3B47076D4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Improvement of NWS instant messaging service</header><text>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 <quote>NWSChat</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HC9DA9684FF9B435188A97BDFC4C03F5E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>The communications solution implemented under this section shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HA270A3C4282D4ECE90F9A7DECE423887"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be hosted on the public cloud; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7FE2E8F4A4C74723B5E7F84340C196FE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>satisfy requirements set forth by the Director to ensure such solution—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAF9E004B20364855A9C70985591F8285"><enum>(A)</enum><text>best accommodates future growth;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEB69BA38893A43CE8404C860C49B8F35"><enum>(B)</enum><text>performs successfully with increased numbers of users;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="H1EEB76EA105546B3815C72D6D772E045"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is easy to use for the majority of users; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HC90F22C10AB14DE095C8E7E768092195"><enum>(D)</enum><text>is similar to systems already in commercial use.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HA9550A556A404866B159AA3EA28A27C3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>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 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.</text></subsection></section> <section id="H02BEC2F985A5486881526A2982F9A45B"><enum>405.</enum><header>NOAA Weather Radio modernization</header> <subsection id="HE2AA2C4B32EB47BDA211C3E220FFA792"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>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—</text>
<paragraph id="H812FDDCCEB2B4CB1ACA8A534138EFC00"><enum>(1)</enum><text>maintain support for existing systems serving areas not covered by or having poor quality cellular service;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HD54F27D51F694B069AF8496DD1428718"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensure consistent maintenance and operations monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site equipment and antennas;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HEB873CFB1BB64D238D7D29B4A7A0743A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H0C983C3EA60049D0AC286B2592D6EC85"><enum>(4)</enum><text>acquire additional transmitters as required to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the National Park System, and National Recreation Areas.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H5E65D0186F3E4B8ABF92F2CCFCF22CE7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Modernization initiative</header><text>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—</text> <paragraph id="H1117C7E99EDA4F6A905E4397C4C2857E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">upgrade telecommunications infrastructure of NOAA Weather Radio to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based communications over non-copper media;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H813313DA4F6042A8B4D5331BAF769A17"><enum>(2)</enum><text>accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or the relevant system successors, to implement partial county notifications and alerts;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H86B3F2C1AA114017900DE64E0FE1C5BB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>consult with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to enhance accessibility and usability of NOAA Weather Radio data and feeds;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H082C0E10AFD949A78925FD4AE10D60FA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>develop options, including satellite backup capability and commercial provider partnerships, for NOAA Weather Radio continuity in the event of Weather Forecast Office outages;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3E6270BB7B884893AB17C481C08865E2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H165B01B4F9DA40B6A8699F0E9FEEE665"><enum>(6)</enum><text>transition critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HBB24007357CF44FF8D1304E5DFA46EA0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H92C6B65680F5401EBAF9F63C38719972"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Assessment for management and distribution</header><text>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:</text> <paragraph id="HF79E45674A2F481380ED43851B607CB1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The need for continuous, adequate, and operational real-time broadcasts of the NOAA Weather Radio in both urban and rural areas.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF1A617A776FE43BCB2DC30CAB6148388"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2987BE07501B4DECA41F638ACC4D7C18"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Existing or new management systems that promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather Radio.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H2553EEADF5D74CB485CE9EF714F961D1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The ability of NOAA to aggregate real time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H45C5D8221E4F4B2D99E645351C5B3377"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Effective interagency coordination.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD4E13C938F0C41B794E354208CDB92BB"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H383E28BFB6C44B3794B5445FEC6E510F"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Any other function the Under Secretary determines necessary.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H1CBF8FE403C048B2A8DC1021AA3DB6A8"><enum>406.</enum><header>Post-storm surveys and assessments</header>
<subsection id="HC1F64B6DEA644F1DA7DDDAAE520667A6" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HCCE01DAEAB44467CA0524807EDA830A0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HAF18DB959FEF423A9B2F76550498DB1F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Data availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H88DC892FF7B5499A85B67E4DD19A7988"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Improvement</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HE83B9D5142C54E05A33A09E32E442801"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems in data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments conducted under this section;</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H3ECA98B4B82C47C98A47D071EB819523"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify gaps in and update tactics and procedures to enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from post-storm surveys and assessments;</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF684909AE4654B36978D5EF36A21167C"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number of post-storm community impact studies, particularly among under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable populations, including—</text> <subparagraph id="H1F9D36B664684A068CAA129CD6027DE8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>surveying-individual responses;</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HB7153A2193A34316A3547A2FC66757F6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk evaluations;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1D22B6D808994F51A25FF0BB32397341"><enum>(C)</enum><text>evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation activity; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF46EC8F400B24C67B018C67475F80D3A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>gathering survivability statistics; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H38B47BA4812D46E1A1AE212F66D7F0DF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H70A65C68161A476B8645B809EE3E3256"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Support for employees</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HAC893DE5A8C54C1C8DC9FCF56ECA3072"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Exemption</header><text>Subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> 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).</text></subsection></section>
<section id="HF1C142C264A946B9959EA2BD93151C3B"><enum>407.</enum><header>Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events</header>
<subsection id="HA1CC0CF7D0CA4B52BB3EEA788054930D" commented="no"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HE9B3496F64BF4BC88E58FDE6F1636FC6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph id="H73D2497194A44B9A9A406499E94E1E55"><enum>(1)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC7C6DE9EEC324F0ABDC3D850195C5CBD"><enum>(2)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF4D6A6D631DD4348ACA2AE1B1CB267B3" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9E7241571E9A495BA06A44F34C9ECB45"><enum>(4)</enum><text>An assessment of whether collaboration with other Federal offices, States, or private entities could reduce delays in notifications to the public.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HDEEF5E3577F241D8B29B303EEF096ECD"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5F9027EBBFF44691AA9DDC78C6482651"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection></section>
<section id="H65D127C63A20490E845D0694AC64ADD8"><enum>408.</enum><header>Data collection management and protection</header>
<subsection id="H6543CF80F25448E2AD9BD3CB3F6BC0B0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Data collection</header><text>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.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HB8688C3F51FF4890AA0C511E8CC8D6FE" commented="no"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Data management</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="HB6999FF8DE084F9BBDB575C311236E24"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection of data</header><text>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 <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/31">chapter 31</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, and the Federal Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/435">Public Law 115–435</external-xref>).</text></subsection> <subsection id="HE49C3EB245334F8BA390AA936AEDD7BC" commented="no"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Digital watermarking</header><text>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.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H53D98F0B26374654994888C8F7FBC15A"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Policies and procedures</header><text>The Under Secretary shall establish policies and procedures for the collection, archiving, and stewardship of data on community response, including the response of effected or vulnerable populations, to hazardous weather or water events.</text></subsection></section> <enum>V</enum><header>Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management</header> <section id="H7B8EFFB2C36540F59C247E2673EE2CCF"><enum>501.</enum><header>Weather and climate information in agriculture and water management</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8521">15 U.S.C. 8521</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H31964D9B048844C684E19BA42987C6C8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H3C654A3E89714F949D112B9474F28B21" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H00B602FA1DA44461B7F0480D2775A07D"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Subseasonal to seasonal forecasting pilot projects</header> <paragraph id="H244E7CC640404F869D6C7D119D88605F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>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:</text>
<subparagraph id="HC67CCF2AD9CB470FA99321560B93BC4B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Water management in the western United States.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H86658F2EA7464EC1934FCF90C534F0C7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Agriculture in the central United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H037D237DB6D943F1879AC6B7AD8092AB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Objectives</header><text>In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H93EDE8C353D2455580F72037DD0F070F" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>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:</text>
<clause id="H8042A8D118FB44449BF5C58C07B83ADE" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></clause> <clause id="HA6BAC33964044B2C963402C58BD8619F" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in mountainous regions.</text></clause>
<clause id="H86C990750ACE4634A28678BF8B823EA9" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>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.</text></clause> <clause id="H86369DC907E94DB89C07B2583D778510" commented="no"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Utilizing outcomes from the Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program as authorized in section 204 of the <short-title>Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025</short-title> to produce operational tools and services.</text></clause>
<clause id="H6DDDD234FF4C49DE9EF0EF886764EC1D"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HD72ABB49D12A43B7A09B5B52BBA7ED26" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>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:</text>
<clause id="H20E84A3ACBDC4ABEAA8EA6024482F1F1" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></clause> <clause id="H9635E66A076741A88D7E32CDD46F350F" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of warm season precipitation processes.</text></clause>
<clause id="H7E528EC89AE645CE9D9AC1334E8F489E" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Understanding and predicting large-scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that occur in spring and summer.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H2EBDEA04E0B94282B7551A114B1286C5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>A pilot project under this subsection shall include activities that carry out the following:</text>
<subparagraph id="HBC852FE4835B46A881F305F375CC0740"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Best implement recommendations of the National Weather Service’s 2020 Report, entitled <quote>Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First Century</quote>.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEFA0DA8D7D4F4A7593432B740AEE615F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Achieve measurable objectives for operational forecast improvement.</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HAA9E5A682F03422288E811119D50231B"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)), 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.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H57DAA3BF5B8E4CEA832F3BB6DB0D4E3B"><enum>(D)</enum><text>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.</text></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H398F725F33544B9DA95ADBCC48BF4E66"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="H907D388A0DB8433AB054595C9732D170"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block id="H6C83C6BEA6FE45508FC36BE39382BBB9" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H2B6D94D7B0FA4A21982C700ED1132D68"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated $50,300,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the activities under this section.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section id="HF3377D0437924E5B8F765EF41D6100F7"><enum>502.</enum><header>National Integrated Drought Information System</header> <subsection id="H7AEC7088E30444BC969EAF5B92B8A8A1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/313d">15 U.S.C. 313d</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H788D8EB2CF4C4074A46AE43C84395A8B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text> <subparagraph id="H778EC82C0CB14F54BEBFFEBC0A097799"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text>
<clause id="H8B8FC009AD084B3085457D17CFC2B417"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause> <clause id="H04E9F3CEDC4E4445A4C7273EBB4B4D34"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by inserting <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></clause>
<clause id="H9E5E25C878BD4377ABE89C144B6B97C9"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H4EDE508C9B234D18A3D1C9EDD8BBA568" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <subparagraph id="H825B1E2A71624D46BBCCDACF4A7F8799"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporates flash drought research and tools to enhance timely response;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HFDAE4BCEF0994E53916552CFF1B18C9E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HF63A58478A2A46A79C3D5051EFD5F593"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (6)—</text>
<clause id="H16D5FE85B8844760A3F360BED0045AF3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>(including ecological drought)</quote> after <quote>drought</quote> each place it appears; and</text></clause> <clause id="H85DFA16B545F4EAAB7C8FD07062137C1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and</text></clause></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HF435CE2FAA764CEEA84937533565DA13"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:</text> <quoted-block id="H30AE89FB2A784268AB2C9C5C29E2B36A" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H7B8AB112C51E4BEEB137EFF6D4260E9B"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H6D6B54FF3CB046418C4E3ECF7C25B924"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">utilize observational networks, including the National Weather Service cooperative observer program and State or regional hydrological monitoring projects, 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.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8694AE8AB75245B0A91AFD770E6B9EF2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4C7061988F554DE7B2456C6AB79F1CCB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H662A960B11C244CC9BC86771C0568B88"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph>
<subparagraph id="HBF1E5D7A1FD14054ADA373030DE41C09"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block id="H902EBF71139B4D1486696ACFC3CB26C4" style="OLC"> <paragraph id="H5B2A4B12EC5A44AB96AFEE6C3994DFC5"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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, <quote>A Strategy for the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network</quote>.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFE8C203BFA864CE09F53B5475DE4A4D6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H0606F5ADAC924D73A7124C2A4C13DF7E" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H00C9B9EB46B84F6EB74F7D235534FB4C"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Modeling update</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H76F589F18A2E465D9B28FAB6C8D2B7E6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/313d">15 U.S.C. 313d</external-xref> note) is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H49F4B910708E4C969879A66A98406C3E" style="OLC"> <section id="H5C06BAE314934212B8D6152D7A42BC6C"><enum>4.</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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:</text>
<paragraph id="HE0873DD4AD4048EFA50B960C69E5F159"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC2CF33C92FA548E1B6C6068646F76864"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$15,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H00D01CAFDF53402A920C4F865A5DA4A0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$16,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5D80802C748F4CD199356FB333B117BF"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$16,500,000 for fiscal year 2029.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H25F426AD661649B3BB1239113A06C536"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$17,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section id="H5CCEC4EB050F404D80638228B87E34CC"><enum>503.</enum><header>National Mesonet Program</header> <subsection id="HA0FF9E44BE2B48228D9C6F130651013E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Mesonet Program (in this section referred to as the <quote>Program</quote>). The Program shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H68EFA847EB6C47F6AC9B409CD9C64C35"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HB6A0367332374969A0569FAA036B7DC9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>establish memoranda of understanding with networks outside of the scope of the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7855CB093BB5474A9C290DC6930BEB03"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program elements</header><text>The Program shall carry out the following activities:</text> <paragraph id="HD2DB1AC0B32A4504A9C01183201D574B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD445DC26FE4C4527916556EAC662FF4E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE530FE2705E24DA49DB4F64933AF5AB3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HAA40053AA4994F5BA305ADD6C2FE9F28"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to improve numerical weather prediction performance, including regarding subseasonal to seasonal timescales.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H5A36E4D11EF247FEAE092111FB9C2CA9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3893170B56DB4849B8E63F31FB7EC442"><enum>(6)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H9D80BA909DC04681A9105B8B44B7E074"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Identify available terrestrial or marine environmental data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the understanding of air-sea interactions.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H82573DDF127C4D88A7DE997C49258697"><enum>(8)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1A03BBC8054E4645808B047C4A797555"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H0DBEA83AC0C64D92977F386B04A19E4D"><enum>(10)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H85DCD05FE9594E5B88AF34C944EC1C80"><enum>(11)</enum><text>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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2A8BFF0EF63E42F88DCF1802C2A7FD86"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Financial and technical assistance</header>
<paragraph id="HC4228C59AF944FCF9354E75F578EC01D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC9199A646B584F478CEF6F33F579D9D6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3DE97D474F0046198316DBA008AA5D60"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Assistance and other support</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H37229382163A4487AAFF1733DD55D5D7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Terms</header><text>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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H526A00F205334231A50AA8798EB566D6"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC79B845F365A4E5CA239887A6EE2C990"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>The Under Secretary shall prioritize providing assistance under paragraph (1) to at least one entity in an underrepresented or remote area.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H7369F89AEE1846B686B09256D1E13BEC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Advisory committee</header>
<paragraph id="HC3ACA1D4971748F9BC1BEC57B8C41698"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HABD76EA4EEC84F1FBF3C5C53F226E632"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Academic expertise</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)) 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.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H2D6B51170A22436A80B3F802F75B1663"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Regular reporting</header><text>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:</text> <paragraph id="H28BFAE2D094B48FDBBE4783A14D70188"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Efforts to implement the activities described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4B880A40A35F44468E532BBEE51B4D1E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant to subsection (c).</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1E2DA114D548405D9EDEC07675E4DAEB"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Efforts to address recommendations received from the advisory committee under subsection (d).</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HC745F759C6E742E5BBED9B2A9B7B82A8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data needs.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE0FF285513BF4752844B77CD0DE75CF2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation data by States and regions of the United States.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HD1DD5B532985442B9B46E6F61932C680"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Any other topic the Under Secretary determines relevant.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H223A52805ECB4735880C8EC9C969F921"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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:</text>
<paragraph id="H203C99A9816D4F73A0356DF2703E2FC0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4FC2521714DD407081C3E4832CC9D897"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H4563DAFAB21B4D6BBF22F44ED6988D28"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$61,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H4F8D08CA7187465E94D8828D1862FACD"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$68,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H068E06E91A2D445389522C37D40993DD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H10625DA7B1D2458F8792A9CE82D7D4DD"><enum>504.</enum><header>National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network</header> <subsection id="HFA66B1E9EDE3432C9C900C4D4F87F2E3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 <quote>Network</quote>) within the National Integrated Drought Information System.</text></subsection>
<subsection id="H4649E0FC2EF744B7ABFACB5E86708696"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network includes activities that carry out the following:</text> <paragraph id="H2EAB56B606894833B7A28F0AA07647D4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1DC1046CF27343A9A986A90543379E91"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data sources.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAD79EA17A1CA499BB1E16DF363C665EF"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Supporting research necessary to develop or improve soil moisture monitoring products at a national scale.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1052C6845E9A429988B6CACFB6A93C09"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in situ and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations across the United States.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H8ECB29855BEF401DBD345E5CD4237827"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the private sector.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HE8AE7A807BE34953B6956E59407C4846"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Engaging with the citizen science community.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HF5D203B4A8A24F8FADA74F200F05EF6B"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Developing, releasing, and promoting new, nationwide point-based and gridded soil moisture data products that meet the needs of diverse end-user groups.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H5DF901FDF6194CEEB0D4345D6F54FF59"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Supporting community building and outreach to the network of individuals engaged with soil moisture information delivery, from data provision to end-user decision making.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section id="H664180EE91234A56BE5627888D00D083" commented="no"><enum>505.</enum><header>National water center</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/10371">42 U.S.C. 10371</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H966C7EDF38D446A897B3C73E969186EC" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text> <subparagraph id="H1C86055C8BD748EA8786766A11CC6EA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A)—</text>
<clause id="HF68FE53AE8264179824D80D50D093A36"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting <quote>as a component of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction</quote> after <quote>center</quote>;</text></clause> <clause id="H321962E4B17D42DCA37A397F3F6432E7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause>
<clause id="HB61DB040168D43DD8D1D501BB7DD51FC"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="HFC06E7C9CD484B8D845D770851BF3474"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text>
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H850DD52E7FE3433F9D913327CF4129E8" display-inline="no-display-inline">
<clause id="HD7B6F265C96048E0ACEFD9A79CA925C4" commented="no"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide service backup capabilities and additional mission support services for River Forecast Centers.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H1AE78761B3A24E9BBCEE12CA9061E4E6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="HADBEDA88ADE9497A8656C7757489B4E0" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="HF90F61725FFA45708876698A6218698B" commented="no"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H46650CE179C44FE5B548172B89E95854" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d) respectively; and</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1D82EB99541A4EF9B22F6ACAD9FB57FB" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H4ACD64901D45499DB54ABBA49220CF17" style="OLC"> <subsection id="H5DCB3347A9E54C8C9154B5C35681EA2F" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>
<section id="HD77B5CACD78741E1B1EA9E57866DF799"><enum>506.</enum><header>Satellite transfers report</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">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:</text> <paragraph id="HB9AE0B67B3704F95B6353CD1ED9B8183"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HFE79E2DA1FE14E7D9403F23B7AEA7A4B"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text></paragraph></section> <section id="HECD36E0194E34D85B63B122684C14A32"><enum>507.</enum><header>Precipitation forecast improvement program</header> <subsection id="H4B985E267F344F2490928228D47FE91D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Title VI of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8501">15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HD99C310BF7274E60B12CA1E73B564A60"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating section 603 as section 604; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H710ED1F5D3C14767A80E90696CDC3863"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after section 602 the following new section:</text>
<quoted-block id="H91B01E9A69E24A5B8FFAE24EFC22FAAB" style="OLC">
<section id="H1106725A8D0B41B1A01A4D646C7D8DE4"><enum>603.</enum><header>Precipitation forecast improvement program</header>
<subsection id="H8CEE166C534D49828C720A1F43B7A8BB"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry, other Federal agencies, and academic partners, shall maintain a program to improve precipitation forecasting across timescales.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H74B9F44ED1124667AE4B4F2293579652"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Goal</header><text>The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to provide more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation forecasts across timescales through the development and application of a fully coupled Earth system prediction model in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to precipitation extremes, with a focus on the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HDFC6540C2A4D43E2A63D184BDC3F8C9B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Improving the understanding and prediction of precipitation extremes from a variety of weather systems, including atmospheric rivers.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HC89EF2D63A9C4EC2A18C106CD7C90935"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations into operational monitoring and forecast systems to improve precipitation forecasts.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H1F609682357440AD82D45AE10ED3CAE2"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Improving earth system model predictions of precipitation extremes from atmospheric rivers, tropical cyclones, summer-time thunderstorms, winter storms, and other phenomena, in coordination with relevant programs.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HAFA5F66D97DB4B8898AAF1AEF6ADD0C8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Enhancing research transition to operations through 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.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HB07D5169EEE245C7A3D796CCC93041AC"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Incorporating social, behavioral, and economic sciences best practices into operations for more effective and actionable watch and warning products that help drive public safety and damage mitigation decisions in coordination with the programs established in accordance with this Act.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H36BEA94863BF4F2CB6F1684181828D15"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Ensuring data and metadata management processes are in place to support data access and archive for long term research and operations among multiple partners.</text></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="H453A2D99A57C4014899C7EC0EA0020D4" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Activities</header><text>In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall support research-to-operations work, including relating to the following:</text> <paragraph id="H3D9905D2BFFE41A5AC4D1A5302247A85" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Implementing key strategies and following priorities and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s <quote>Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge Strategy</quote>.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="HF2C9C3FD388447748846F3D2285E9A8E" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Improving the physical science, operational modeling and tools, and technology related to better forecasting precipitation extremes across timescales.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE2ECF754A1D442AD9A1B97D1E01185E7" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><text>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 extreme precipitation.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H04DCB079F9F64A2793E9C0DB8BAE8BC9" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Conducting the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology relating to precipitation extremes in operational practice.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HBF8AC672A41C42DA8A1AC8C4F0C4CEC4" commented="no"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Enhancing the operational capacity of the National Weather Service to deliver decision support for increasing precipitation extremes.</text></paragraph>
<paragraph id="H3BD626513EFF435E8AD6DC3DC2DB36DD" commented="no"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Expanding computational resources to improve precipitation modeling.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="H09482CB28F3F4CF6B9450B40671CD6F2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual budget</header><text>The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection>
<subsection id="HF47C18434DAB46C6BF737A9199B701B4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the item relating to section 603 and inserting the following new items:</text> <quoted-block id="H51EDA855FD194B829066B94A7941AC90" style="OLC"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 603. Precipitation forecast improvement program.</toc-entry> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 604. Definitions.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section>