[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 161 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 161

        To improve hurricane forecasting and for other purposes.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 17, 2017

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
        To improve hurricane forecasting and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Hurricane Forecast Improvement Act 
of 2017''.

SEC. 2. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, in collaboration with the United States weather industry 
and such academic entities as the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration considers appropriate, shall maintain a 
project to improve hurricane forecasting.
    (b) Goal.--The goal of the project maintained under subsection (a) 
shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and 
warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the 
economy, with a focus on--
            (1) improving the prediction of rapid intensification and 
        track of hurricanes;
            (2) improving the forecast and communication of storm 
        surges from hurricanes; and
            (3) incorporating risk communication research to create 
        more effective watch and warning products.
    (c) Project Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research and in consultation with the Director of the 
National Weather Service, shall develop a plan for the project 
maintained under subsection (a) that details the specific research, 
development, and technology transfer activities, as well as 
corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal 
set forth in subsection (b).
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