115 HR 6093 IH: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023
U.S. House of Representatives
2023-10-26
text/xml
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.
I
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6093
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 26, 2023
Mr. Lucas (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Babin, Mr. Baird, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms. Tenney, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Kean of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title; table of contents
(a)

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023” or the “Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023”.
(b)

Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Title I—Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
Sec. 101. Public safety priority.
Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX).
Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.
Sec. 105. Tsunami warning, education, and research.
Sec. 106. Observing system planning.
Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.
Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization.
Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center.
Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning.
Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities.
Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
Sec. 113. Ocean observations.
Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports.
Title II—Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation
Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation.
Sec. 202. Next generation radar.
Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States.
Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.
Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program.
Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation.
Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program.
Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system.
Title III—Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations
Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.
Sec. 305. Clerical amendment.
Title IV—Communicating Weather to the Public
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.
Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.
Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement.
Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization.
Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments.
Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events.
Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection.
Title V—Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management
Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water management.
Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System.
Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program.
Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Sec. 505. National water center.
Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report.
2.

Definitions
(a)

In general
In this Act, the terms “seasonal”, “State”, “subseasonal”, “Under Secretary”, “weather enterprise”, “weather data”, and “weather industry” have the meanings given such terms in section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
(b)

Weather data defined
Section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501) is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:
“(5)

Weather data
The term “weather data” means information used to track and predict weather conditions and patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative products from such information.” .
I

Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
101.

Public safety priority
Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate and timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and enhance the national economy by disseminating to the public and core partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather information and impact-based decision support services.”.
102.

United States weather research and forecasting
Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:
“110.

Authorization of appropriations
(a)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title the following:
(1)
$155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which—
(A)
$90,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B)
$30,000,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;
(C)
$20,000,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and
(D)
$15,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.
(2)
$156,550,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which—
(A)
$90,900,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B)
$30,300,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;
(C)
$20,200,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and
(D)
$15,150,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.
(3)
$158,116,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which—
(A)
$91,809,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B)
$30,603,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;
(C)
$20,402,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and
(D)
$15,302,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.
(4)
$159,697,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which—
(A)
$92,727,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B)
$30,909,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;
(C)
$20,606,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and
(D)
$15,455,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.
(5)
$161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which—
(A)
$93,654,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B)
$31,218,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;
(C)
$20,812,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and
(D)
$15,609,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 8512(b)(4) of this title.
(b)

Limitation
No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title or the amendments made by this title.”.
103.

Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX)
(a)

In general
Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read as follows:
“103.

Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX)
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and information integration from new sources.
(b)

Goal
The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to tornadoes, with a focus on the following:
(1)
Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(2)
Optimizing lead time and providing actionable information beyond one hour in advance.
(3)
Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-forecast.
(c)

Innovative observations
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program under subsection (a) periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(d)

Activities
The Under Secretary shall award grants for research, including relating to the following:
(1)
Implementing key goals and achieving program milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report, “Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan”.
(2)
In coordination with the National Science and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of information critical for reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes.
(3)
Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling, and tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of tornadoes on the built and natural environment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes.
(e)

Warnings
In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall—
(1)
conduct and transition to operations the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather phenomena;
(2)
incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences;
(3)
enhance workforce training on radar interpretation and use of tornado warning systems; and
(4)
expand computational resources to support higher-resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-forecast.
(f)

Tornado rating system
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with local communities and emergency managers, shall—
(1)
evaluate the system used as of the date of the enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;
(2)
determine whether updates to such system are required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of tornados; and
(3)
if determined necessary, update such system.
(g)

Annual budget
The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section.”.
(b)

Clerical amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows:
“Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX).”.
104.

Hurricane forecast improvement program
Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:
“104.

Hurricane forecast improvement program
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a program to improve hurricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings.
(b)

Goal
The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to hurricanes, with a focus on the following:
(1)
Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid intensification and projected path of hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.
(2)
Improving the forecast and impact-based communication of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges from hurricanes, in coordination with the program established under section 205.
(3)
Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform response to prevent the loss of life or property, such as evacuation or shelter in place.
(4)
Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites.
(c)

Activities
The Under Secretary shall award grants for research, including relating to the following:
(1)
Implementing key strategies and following priorities and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 report “Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program”.
(2)
In coordination with the National Science and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees, improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, and economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of information critical for reducing the loss of life or property related to hurricanes.
(3)
Improving the physical sciences, operational modeling, and tools related to hurricane formation, the impacts of wind and water-based hurricane hazards on the built and natural environment, and the interaction of hurricanes and tornadoes.
(d)

Warnings
In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall—
(1)
conduct and transition to operations the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather phenomena;
(2)
incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences research; and
(3)
expand computational resources to support and improve higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and related weather phenomena.
(e)

Annual budget
The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this section.”.
105.

Tsunami warning, education, and research
The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (5) of section 804(d) (33 U.S.C. 3203(d))—
(A)
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(B)
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(F)
align the analytic techniques and methodologies of the existing tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure seamless continuity of operations and mitigate risk of operational failure by prioritizing investments that include—
(i)
replacing end of life equipment;
(ii)
ensuring product consistency;
(iii)
enabling consistent operational process for backup capabilities;
(iv)
mitigating existing operational security risks; and
(v)
meeting information security requirements specified in chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.”; and
(2)
by amending section 809 (33 U.S.C. 3207) to read as follows:
“809.

Authorization of appropriations
From funds authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.”.
106.

Observing system planning
Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (3)—
(A)
by inserting “Federal” before “observing capabilities”; and
(B)
by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(2)
in paragraph (4)—
(A)
by inserting “, including private sector partnerships or commercial acquisition,” after “options”; and
(B)
by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(5)
compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit analysis, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and
(6)
not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress a report that provides an analysis of the technical, schedule, cost, and cost benefit analyses to place an operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite capability in the early morning orbit to support the weather enterprise and the Administration’s mission.”.
107.

Observing system simulation experiments
Section 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)(3), by striking “providing data” and inserting “comparison to current or experimental commercial system capabilities that provide data”;
(2)
in subsection (c)(1), by striking “, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,”;
(3)
by striking subsection (d); and
(4)
by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
108.

Computing resources prioritization
Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following new subsections:
“(b)

Computing research initiative
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out an initiative, which may leverage Department of Energy high performance computers, cloud computing, or expertise, to run advanced coupled models in order to conduct proof of concept scenarios in comparison with current issued forecasts and models. The Under Secretary and Secretary of Energy shall carry out the initiative through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and consider applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia thereof).
(2)

Components
In carrying out the initiative under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prevent duplication and coordinate research efforts in artificial intelligence, high performance computing, cloud computing, quantum computing, modeling and simulation, machine learning, data assimilation, large scale data analytics, and predictive analysis across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and may—
(A)
conduct comparative research between National Weather Service issued forecasts and operational models to predictions and models developed to run on high performance computers or with cloud computing resources;
(B)
share relevant modeling system and applications innovations developed through such initiative, including Unified Forecast System-based applications, through community-based activities;
(C)
leverage coordinating activities managed by the National Science and Technology Council, the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, and other relevant interagency entities;
(D)
provide sufficient capacity for long-term archive and access of model output to support research and long-term study;
(E)
determine computing decisions based on an agile requirements framework; and
(F)
support the training, recruitment, and retention of the next generation weather, water, and climate computing workforce through incentives and pathways for career development and employment opportunities.
(3)

Research security
The activities authorized under this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117–167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
(4)

Termination
The authority under this subsection shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(c)

Artificial intelligence investments
The Under Secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to facilitate, optimize, and further leverage advanced computing to accomplish critical missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming high-performance and cloud computing infrastructure or systems.
(d)

Centers of excellence
The Under Secretary may establish centers of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning enabled advanced computing capabilities. Each such center may carry out activities that include the following:
(1)
Leveraging robust public-private partnership models to provide access to training, experience, and long-term development of workforce and infrastructure.
(2)
Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, algorithms, data structures, and other supporting software necessary for specific applications on high performance computing systems.
(3)
Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep machine-learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to address current and future mission challenges.
(4)
To the maximum extent practicable, explore quantum computing and related application partnerships with public, private, and academic entities to improve the accuracy and resolution of weather predictions.
(e)

Multi-Year contracts
The Under Secretary may enter into multi-year contracts in accordance with section 3903 of title 41, United States Code, and shall ensure compliance with all clauses provided in such section to support operational research and development related to high performance and cloud computing infrastructure or systems.
(f)

Report
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report evaluating the following:
(1)
The effectiveness of the initiative required under subsection (b), including applied research discoveries and advanced modeling improvements achieved.
(2)
A best estimate of the overall value of high-resolution probabilistic forecast guidance for hazardous weather or water events (as such term is defined in section 406) using a next-generation weather forecast and warning framework.
(3)
The needs for cloud computing, quantum computing, or high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination collaboration between the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(4)
A timeline and guidance for implementation of the following:
(A)
High-resolution numerical weather prediction models.
(B)
Methods for meeting the cloud computing, quantum computing, or high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination needs identified under paragraph (3).”.
109.

Earth prediction innovation center
Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (D), by striking “and” after the semicolon; and
(2)
by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
“(E)
developing community weather research modeling systems that—
(i)
are accessible by the public in accordance with section 10601 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and available for archive and long-term study;
(ii)
meet basic end-user requirements for running on public computers and networks located outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information and technology systems;
(iii)
utilize, whenever appropriate and cost-effective, innovative strategies and methods, including cloud-based computing capabilities, for hosting and management of part or all of the system described in this subparagraph;
(iv)
utilize modeling systems that allow for interoperability with new model components, modules, and next-generation software and coding languages;
(v)
allow for open testing and integration of promising operational model improvements from the broader community;
(vi)
access as close to a real-time basis as possible operational data and metadata, including commercially purchased data for use in Earth Prediction Innovation Center research and development testing grounds pursuant to redistribution restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable existing laws and regulations; and
(vii)
provide supported and portable versions of the unified forecast system, including applications for hurricane, space weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, and coastal models, that can reproduce current operational global and regional model prediction; and
(F)
establishing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be maintained by the Administration, a commercial partner, or non-profit entity, that consolidates and maintains a publicly available and continuously updated collection of data and metadata used in numerical weather prediction for use in the Earth Prediction Innovation Center’s model testing, pursuant to redistribution restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable existing laws and regulations.”.
110.

Satellite architecture planning
Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively;
(2)
by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
“(b)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite systems and data
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary shall maintain a fleet of Administration space-based observation platforms that provide critical operations-focused data and information to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mission to monitor the global environment in order to protect lives and property from extreme weather and other natural phenomena.
(2)

Collaboration
The Under Secretary shall implement recommendations from the NOAA Observing Systems Council to ensure an appropriate mix of government, academic, commercial sector, and international partnerships in the provision of data and information, including a broadened effort on data acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 when cost effective and beneficial to the Administration.
(3)

Priority
The Under Secretary shall ensure that Administration platforms maintained under paragraph (1) prioritize the development of products and services that are tailored to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mission.
(4)

National Centers for Environmental Information
The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers for Environmental Information to provide a long-term archive and access to the Administration’s national and global data and metadata.”; and
(3)
in subsection (f)(1), by striking “2023” and inserting “2030”.
111.

Improving uncrewed activities
Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended by striking “, including commercial observing systems” and inserting “, including stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such as uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide observations of the atmosphere and ocean, and other observations, in cooperation with the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations”.
112.

Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services
(a)

In general
Section 402 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8542) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by striking “Advancing Weather Services” and inserting “Advancing Meteorological Services (in this section referred to as the “Interagency Council”)”; and
(B)
by striking “Committee” each place it appears and inserting “Council”;
(2)
by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
“(b)

Co-Chairs
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-chairs of the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.
(c)

Further coordination
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with stakeholders in the United States weather industry, academic partners, State governments, and emergency managers, including by implementing mechanisms to encourage and enable the participation of non-Federal employees in the functions of the Interagency Council.”;
(3)
by adding at the end the following new subsections:
“(d)

Functions
The Interagency Council shall be the formal mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and agencies coordinate implementation of policy and practices to ensure United States global leadership in meteorological services. In doing so, the Interagency Council shall review programs and support relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities, as well as other related implementation activities, related to Federal meteorological services, including by carrying out the following:
(1)
Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological research and service delivery needs, including relating to observations, operational systems, communications, and infrastructure.
(2)
Providing recommendations to streamline or consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies in cross-agency activities.
(3)
Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including research outcomes related to the relevant recommended key science and applications questions and priorities in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 2018 report “Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space”, to understand and predict high-impact weather phenomena.
(4)
Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of partnerships with private sector entities to advance meteorological research, communications, and computing in collaboration with the Earth system science, service, and stakeholder communities.
(5)
Sharing information regarding meteorological research improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant Federal departments and agencies.
(6)
Providing advice to all relevant Federal departments and agencies regarding potential collaborations and expected level of resources needed to maintain and operate the Interagency Council.
(7)
Enhancing communication and coordination and promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments and agencies and across the Interagency Council.
(8)
Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional and diverse workforce for meteorological research and services.
(e)

Data inventory
The Interagency Council, in coordination and avoidance of duplication with the United States Group on Earth Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and archive activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, and reusability by maintaining a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not less frequently than annually for a period of five years beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council shall solicit updated information from private sector entities identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such data shall be made available to member departments and agencies under subsection (a).
(f)

Coordination office
The Interagency Meteorological Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council such administrative and logistical support as the Interagency Council may require, as determined by the co-chairs.
(g)

Cost share
Member departments and agencies of the Interagency Council under subsection (a) may provide reimbursable financial support to the Interagency Meteorological Coordinating Office to enhance cost-sharing and collaboration related to weather research and forecast innovation activities.
(h)

Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Interagency Council shall publish a report which identifies among member agencies the following:
(1)
Federal programs that use meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities.
(2)
Federal programs that acquire such data from private sector entities.
(3)
Advancements in meteorological data collection, assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal programmatic operational capabilities.
(4)
Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities that could be used to better meet Federal programmatic needs.”.
(b)

References
Any reference to the Interagency Committee for Advancing Weather Services in any law, rule, regulation, paper, record, map, or other such document of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
113.

Ocean observations
Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(5)

Ships of opportunity pilot program
(A)

In general
The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall, subject to relevant regulations and certifications, establish a pilot program to contract with research or commercial ship operators for data collection and assess the potential costs, benefits, and viability of a global network of ocean and atmospheric observing instruments operating on research or commercial ocean vessels, including in the Arctic, in order to supplement the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System in improving understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their relationships to human activities.
(B)

Standards and specifications
The Administrator shall ensure that data acquired through the pilot program established pursuant to subparagraph (A) meets the most recent standards and specifications required for observation services and data as published pursuant to subsection (c) of section 302 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.
(C)

Report
Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit to Congress a report on the requirements for a global network of ocean and atmospheric instruments operating on research or commercial ocean vessels for measurement and data transmission.
(D)

Sunset
This paragraph shall terminate on the earlier of—
(i)
September 30, 2029; or
(ii)
one year after the date on which the report required under subparagraph (B) is submitted by the Administrator.”.
114.

Consolidation of reports
(a)

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017
(1)

In general
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended—
(A)
in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)—
(i)
in subsection (a), by inserting “the” after “Director of”; and
(ii)
by striking subsection (d); and
(B)
by striking sections 408 through 411 and section 414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as sections 408 and 409, respectively.
(2)

Clerical amendments
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 408 through 414 and inserting the following new items:
“Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.
Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.”.
(b)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992
Section 106 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567; 106 Stat. 4274) is amended by striking subsection (c) (15 U.S.C. 1537).
II

Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation
201.

Weather innovation for the next generation
(a)

In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Program (in this section referred to as the “Program”) to ensure the continued performance of weather radar capabilities, including systems currently being developed, with obstructions in the line of sight of such radar.
(b)

Requirements
In carrying out the Program, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, shall—
(1)
partner with the private sector, academia, Federal, State, and local government entities, and any other entity the Under Secretary considers appropriate;
(2)
identify, evaluate, and test existing or near-commercial technologies and solutions that improve radar coverage and performance, including by mitigating the potential impact of obstructions on weather radar;
(3)
to the maximum extent practicable, research additional solutions that could mitigate the effects of obstructions on weather radar, such as—
(A)
signal processing algorithms;
(B)
short-term forecasting algorithms to replace contaminated data;
(C)
the use of dual polarization characteristics in mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather radar; and
(D)
gap filling radars to provide supplemental or replacement observations in impacted areas; and
(4)
develop, support, or partner with developers to provide commercially viable technical mitigation solutions for obstructions to weather radar capabilities that are compatible with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.
(c)

Priority
In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based mitigation solutions:
(1)
Phased array weather radar systems.
(2)
Supplementing or replacing contaminated data with commercial radar data.
(3)
The utilization of data from private sector associated meteorological towers or similar capabilities.
(4)
The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.
(5)
The installation and provision of access to rain gauges.
(6)
Any other technology-based mitigation solution the Under Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by overcoming obstructions, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.
(d)

Report; recommendation
(1)

In general
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter until the Program terminates pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the Program, including an evaluation of each technology-based mitigation solution identified for priority consideration pursuant to subsection (c), and a recommendation regarding additional identification and testing of new technologies based on such consideration.
(2)

Final recommendation
Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall provide to Congress a recommendation on whether additional research, testing, and development through the Program established under subsection (a) is needed, and a determination of whether a cessation of field research, testing, development and evaluation is appropriate.
(e)

Termination
The authority of the Under Secretary to carry out the Program shall terminate on the earlier of—
(1)
September 30, 2029; or
(2)
one year after the date on which the final recommendation required under subsection (d)(2) is submitted by the Under Secretary.
(f)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Beam blockage
The term “beam blockage” means a signal that is partially or fully blocked due to an obstruction.
(2)

Ghost echo
The term “ghost echo” means radar signal reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the proximity of an obstruction.
(3)

Obstruction
The term “obstruction” includes the following:
(A)
a wind turbine that could limit the effectiveness of a weather radar system;
(B)
any building that disrupts or limits the effectiveness of a weather radar system; or
(C)
any other natural or human built structure that affects a weather radar system.
202.

Next generation radar
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to replace the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (“NEXRAD”) system in existence as of the date of the enactment of this section.
(b)

Procurement deadline
The Under Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the replacement described in subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2040.
(c)

Elements
The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
Estimates of quantifiable improvements in radar performance and service delivery, including coverage and accuracy, to be made from replacement of the NEXRAD system referred to in such subsection.
(2)
Development of a digital phased array radar test article designed to test and determine the specifications and requirements for such replacement.
(3)
Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed for the following:
(A)
Evaluation of commercial radars with the potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.
(B)
Providing technical assistance for commercial replacement or supplemental radars, including data void filling radars in regions where geographical topography prevents full utilization of conventional systems.
(4)
Consultation and input solicited from meteorologists, emergency managers, and public safety officials regarding the specifications and requirements for the replacement of the NEXRAD system referred in such subsection.
(d)

Radar-as-a-Service
(1)

In general
In order to supplement data voids in radar coverage in existence as of the date of the enactment of this section and ensure the continued performance of weather radar capabilities, the Under Secretary may utilize and contract with third party entities to fill such low-level and wide-area radar data voids using diverse weather radars and data assimilation technologies to better detect significant precipitation and severe weather over a greater area across the population.
(2)

Considerations
In carrying out the activities under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider—
(A)
utilizing and contracting with third-party entities that have participated in the testbed established in accordance with subsection (c)(3); and
(B)
weather camera systems and services, including systems and services in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, as viable technologies to supplement weather forecasting and prediction needs.
(e)

Updates to Congress
The Under Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this section.
203.

Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the United States weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance with activities implemented through existing regional atmospheric, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing systems, shall carry out activities to ensure equitable and comprehensive weather observation coverage and emergency information sharing in the United States, including relating to the following:
(1)
Reviewing areas in the continental United States and the territories that are considered under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable for weather phenomenon, including urban and offshore regions, and identifying associated challenges to providing such coverage.
(2)
Increasing weather observations and developing new weather observational capabilities, such as urban heat island mapping campaigns, with respect to under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
(3)
Establishing or supporting testbeds to develop and integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or emergency information sharing tools, such as next generational radars for weather observations, in under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
(4)
To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather and water forecasting and climate modeling capabilities for under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
(5)
Undertaking workforce development efforts for emergency management officials and meteorologists in under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable areas, including urban regions, of the United States.
(6)
Using data void filling observations to better resolve extreme rainfall in complex topography.
(7)
Contributing to a national integrated heat health information systems.
(b)

Pilot program
In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, water, and climate data and impact-based communications in infrastructure and emergency management decisions by Federal, State, and local officials.
(c)

Priority
At least one pilot project under subsection (b) shall address key science challenges to using mesonet data in local decision making and development of new tools and training for owners and operators of critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), such as dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks.
204.

Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the “program”).
(b)

Goal
The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and actionable forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from atmospheric rivers, including by—
(1)
establishing quantitative atmospheric river forecast skill metrics that include quantifying the benefits of dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall location, extreme wind and precipitation, and cascading impacts;
(2)
developing an atmospheric river forecast system within the unified forecast system, and advancing next-generation coupled modeling systems, with the capability of providing seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that include forecast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic components;
(3)
advancing scientific understanding of the roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales;
(4)
developing tools and improved forecast products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration over the western United States with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related to perceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmospheric river forecast improvements; and
(5)
enhancing research transition to operations through the Administration’s testbeds, including the evaluation of physical and social science, technology, and other research to develop products and services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders.
(c)

Innovative observations and modeling
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, soil moisture monitoring systems, reservoir storage data, observations from crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, and data assimilation tools, with respect to the improvement of atmospheric river forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(d)

Program plan
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources, limitations, and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under subsection (b).
(e)

Annual budget for plan submittal
After the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.
205.

Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the United States weather industry, and academic partners, shall establish a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the “program”).
(b)

Goal
The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the development and extension of accurate, effective, actionable, and probable forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
(c)

Priority
In implementing the program, the Under Secretary shall prioritize activities that carry out the following:
(1)
Improving understanding and capacity for real-time operational prediction of the ocean’s role in coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
(2)
Improving the capacity to mitigate or prevent the impacts of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events, including by improving the understanding and capacity of coastal communities to perceive, comprehend, and respond to forecast information.
(3)
Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors into models.
(4)
Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge estimates to complement worst-case scenario estimates, including for use in long-term planning and risk management by States, Tribal governments, localities, and emergency managers in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as appropriate.
(5)
Establishing skill metrics for coastal inundation forecasting that quantify the benefits of dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the probabilistic forecast of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge risk and impacts.
(6)
Improving operational regional storm surge and wave prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and messaging.
(d)

Innovative observations and modeling
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or machine learning based prediction systems, and innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(e)

Program plan
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under subsection (b).
(f)

Annual budget for plan submittal
After the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.
206.

Aviation weather and data innovation
(a)

Program
The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne observation program (in this section referred to as the “program”) for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather enterprise.
(b)

Activities
The program shall include activities that carry out the following:
(1)
Procurement of weather data available from commercial aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.
(2)
Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the Under Secretary.
(3)
Analysis of procured data when incorporated into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s unified forecast system in order to provide improved forecast information for aircraft.
(c)

Budget
The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities described in subsection (b), including and analysis of activities that can be complemented by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aircraft.
(d)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts made available to the Commercial Data Program under section 302 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, there is authorized to be appropriated up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the program.
(e)

Aviation weather and turbulence forecasting
The Director of the National Weather Service shall include turbulence events, icing conditions, or other phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center, and deliver operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate weather and turbulence information for the airspace system and the protection of lives and property.
(f)

Coordination
In carrying out subsection (e), the Director of the National Weather Service shall give consideration to recommendations from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration in furtherance of section 44720 of title 49, United States Code, and improve weather and turbulence forecasting capabilities by—
(1)
designating or establishing within the Federal Government an interagency working group to determine weather and environmental data or observation requirements, needs, and potential solutions related to aviation weather and turbulence modeling or forecasting;
(2)
identifying current and future potential data gaps related to turbulence events or phenomena that can—
(A)
identify or inform route specific flight planning; and
(B)
be supplemented or filled by commercial aviation tools;
(3)
transitioning research initiatives and pilot programs, including a pilot program of instrumentation for observing greenhouse gases and other atmospheric factors deployed on commercial aircraft and supporting the evaluation of a sustained observing network using such platforms, into operations that improve the forecasting missions of the Aviation Weather Center;
(4)
developing and deploying improved probabilistic aviation weather forecast guidance technology; and
(5)
updating interagency agreements as appropriate, including to address reimbursable agreements.
(g)

Next generation aviation research
Paragraph (3) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)), is amended—
(1)
by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
(2)
by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new subparagraph:
“(F)
aviation weather phenomena, including atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for the airspace system;”.
207.

NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program
(a)

In general
The Assistant Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall administer broad agency announcements and other transactional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an annual or more frequent basis, to support a joint venture partnership program that allows the Service to prioritize engagement with the private sector, academia, and other Federal departments and agencies.
(b)

Transition program
To support the development of next-generation technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design, the Assistant Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall maintain a program to transition selected awards from research and study phases into demonstration. In selecting awardees for demonstrations, the Assistant Administrator shall consider technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design that—
(1)
improve upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s satellite architecture;
(2)
have a direct impact on implementing the recommendations of the Administration’s 2018 Satellite Observing System Architecture Study, “Building a Plan for NOAA’s 21st Century Satellite Observing System”; and
(3)
meet current or future mission requirements.
(c)

Operational planning
In carrying out the transition program under subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall monitor demonstration phase progress and plan for promising results that meet mission requirements to be transitioned into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s operational satellite architecture.
(d)

Annual plan
The Assistant Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation an annual plan that outlines the progress made in the joint venture partnership program under subsection (a), the transition program for demonstrations under section (b), and transition to operational architecture planning under subsection (c).
(e)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts authorized to be appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section.
208.

Advanced weather interactive processing system
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an operational cloud-based environment in order to enable a more nimble, flexible, and mobile workforce.
(b)

Services
The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following services:
(1)
Integrating and displaying forecast data, including meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and radar data, for National Weather Service field offices and national centers.
(2)
Acquiring and processing observational data from sensors and local sources.
(3)
Providing an interactive communications system, including the satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant National Weather Service employees and sites.
(4)
Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, ecological, climate, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts in a rapid and highly reliable manner.
(c)

Elements
The transition strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) may include the following:
(1)
Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, and functional testing activities to facilitate remote evaluation and automated testing.
(2)
Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and non-Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a).
(3)
Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a quality user experience.
(4)
Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network operations and support backup functions.
(5)
Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).
(6)
Development and deployment of virtualized systems to replace physical hardware at operational sites.
(7)
Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.
(8)
Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent with the mission and scientific expertise of the Administration.
(d)

Transition deadline
The Under Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the transition strategy described in subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2030.
(e)

Updates to Congress
The Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this section.
(f)

Continued innovation
Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities, sub-systems, or implementing modeling advancements on the operational computing systems of the Administration.
III

Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations
301.

Commercial Data Program
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking section 302 (15 U.S.C. 8532) and inserting the following new section:
“302.

Commercial Data Program
(a)

Program establishment
The Under Secretary, in coordination with the heads of appropriate offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain a Commercial Data Program to obtain weather and environmental data and services from private sector entities for operational use.
(b)

Program elements
The Under Secretary shall acquire satellite, ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote sensing, or crowd-sourced data and services for operational use relating to weather and environmental forecasting and modeling. The Under Secretary shall ensure the Commercial Data Program coordinates, collaborates, and shares data purchases and data needs across the Administration, including among the following:
(1)
The National Mesonet Program.
(2)
The Aircraft Based Observation Program.
(3)
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, including existing regional associations.
(4)
The National Integrated Drought Information System, including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
(5)
The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.
(6)
The National Data Buoy Center.
(7)
The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.
(8)
The Ocean Exploration Program.
(9)
Any other program or office the Under Secretary determines appropriate.
(c)

Standards and specifications
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section and on a continuous basis thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish data, metadata, and service standards and specifications required for acquired observation services and data for use, licensing, and attribution to ensure quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.
(d)

Prioritization
The Under Secretary shall prioritize obtaining surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use that participate in the Commercial Data Pilot Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(e)

Observing Systems Council
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Observing Systems Council (in this subsection referred to as the “Council”) to provide strategic recommendations, guidance, and consent regarding the prioritization, design, development, acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, performance monitoring, and retiring of major observing systems portfolio components, including related to the acquisition of commercial weather and environmental data and services.
(2)

Line office coordination
All line offices and programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration engaged in observing systems portfolio design, technology, development, execution, and operation shall seek guidance and consent from the Council to ensure coordination and adherence to uniform policies.
(3)

Data governance committee
The Under Secretary shall maintain a Data Governance Committee within the Council. The Committee shall develop and approve procedural directives, guides, or handbooks relevant to management of data and information, including commercial data, and coordinate data governance and management practices across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to promote consistent processes.
(f)

Authorization of appropriations
(1)

In general
There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.
(2)

Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that the Under Secretary should seek to enter into contracts or other appropriate agreements that enable the expenditure, to the maximum extent practicable, of amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available in a fiscal year to carry out this section.
(g)

Data and hosted payloads
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements relating to the following:
(1)
The purchase of weather and environmental data and services through contracts with commercial data and service providers.
(2)
The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime, or ground platforms.
(h)

Ombudsman
The Under Secretary shall establish or designate at least one Ombudsman position within the Office of Research, Transition, and Applications to implement the recommendations of the Observing System Council under subsection (e) related to commercial weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. Such an Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between commercial data and service providers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to receiving recommendations and resolving issues related to engagement, testing, contracting, or other areas related to the Administration’s efforts to acquire commercial weather and environmental data and services.
(i)

Report
Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the activities and needed authorities related to data governance and management practices, including acquisition, collection, documentation, quality control, validation, reprocessing, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-term preservation activities across all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.”.
302.

Commercial Data Pilot Program
The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking section 303 (15 U.S.C. 8533) and inserting the following new section:
“303.

Commercial Data Pilot Program
(a)

Program establishment
Within the Commercial Data Program under section 302, there shall be a Commercial Data Pilot Program to engage with external partners and providers to test and develop shared standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, and attribution of observation services and data, and to ensure quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting. The Program is authorized to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation services, imagery, products, and data from private sector entities, including new and innovative surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and model components.
(b)

Criteria
The Under Secretary shall ensure that data acquired through the Commercial Data Pilot Program described in subsection (a) meets the most recent standards and specifications required for observation services and data as published pursuant to section 302(c).
(c)

Pilot contracts
The Under Secretary shall, through an open competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with private sector entities capable of providing observation services and data referred to in subsection (a) that meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c) for so providing such services and data in a manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.
(d)

Assessment of viability
The Under Secretary shall annually assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a summary of the pilot contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (c), the extent to which such contracts meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c), and any additional information determined necessary related to the following:
(1)
The viability of assimilating observation services and data from private sector entities into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
(2)
The expected value added or improvements from such services and data so assimilated into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
(3)
The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data from private sector entities.
(4)
Steps to integrate within one year such services and data into operational use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or any associated challenges in doing so.
(e)

Obtaining future data
If an assessment under subsection (d) demonstrates the ability of commercial services and data to meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c), the Under Secretary shall—
(1)
when cost-effective and feasible, obtain observation services and data from private sector entities through the Commercial Data Program under section 302;
(2)
as early as possible in the acquisition process for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite system, determine whether there is a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability available or that will be available to meet applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system requirements before completion of the critical design phase of such planned satellite system;
(3)
if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is or will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine whether and how such capability is in the national interest if developed as a solely governmental system; and
(4)
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report detailing any determinations made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
(f)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to section 302 to carry out such section, not less than 15 percent of such amounts each fiscal year are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section.”.
303.

Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication
Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“304.

Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication
(a)

In general
Consistent with other Federal agencies that contract and partner with private sector entities, the Under Secretary is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter into agreements that utilize multiyear contract options. In carrying out sections 302 and 303, the Under Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible—
(1)
enter into year-long or multiyear contract options using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of datatypes purchased;
(2)
partner and contract with multiple observation service and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of data gaps and improve mission robustness; and
(3)
utilize authorities, such as additional forms of transaction agreements under section 301, that allow for innovative partnerships with private sector entities.
(b)

Savings clause
Nothing in this title may be construed as infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of Federal entities authorized under title 10, United States Code.
(c)

Unnecessary duplication
In meeting the requirements under this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, and private sector entities, including relating to corresponding expenditures of funds and employment of personnel by—
(1)
coordinating existing activities with other civilian Federal departments and agencies which provide, contract, or partner with private sector entities to acquire, weather and environmental observations and data; and
(2)
coordinating and soliciting weather and environmental observations and data requirements and needs from other civilian Federal departments and agencies to be acquired by the Commercial Data Program under section 302.
(d)

Fair compensation for interagency needs
The Under Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that Federal departments and agencies utilizing services and data under sections 302 and 303 fairly compensate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the non-Federal entities providing such services or data, as appropriate, for use.”.
304.

Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices
Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as amended by section 303 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“305.

Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices
(a)

Data standards
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent and open data and metadata standards to support open science, including simple cloud-optimized data formats and application programming interfaces that support findability, accessibility, usability, and preservability.
(b)

Data infrastructure
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and appropriate program heads, shall consolidate and arrange data infrastructure needs to ensure efficient and effective data transfer between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices by considering the use of commercial cloud technologies, or similar hybrid structures, to host and transmit data and metadata.
(2)

Federal partnerships
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological Survey, to collocate data with joint utility and support a transition to cloud architectures, including commercial cloud networks.
(3)

Long term data archive
The Under Secretary shall ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and stewardship of archival data and metadata acquired through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 is conducted within the National Centers for Environmental Information.
(c)

Data sharing with the weather enterprise
To the greatest extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall make accessible to members of the weather enterprise that are United States persons data not subject to redistribution contract permissions and purchased through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 or shared through international government partners. If purchased data must be assimilated into numerical weather prediction models or automated forecast guidance to satisfy redistribution contract permissions, the Under Secretary shall make accessible without delay to members of the weather enterprise that are United States persons the numerical weather prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, as the case may be.
(d)

Data assimilation
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the National Centers for Environmental Information, and any other offices within the Administration, shall establish a program to test, advance, and implement data assimilation methods, which may include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data pre- and post-processing, efficient input and output, and next-generation algorithms.
(2)

Data assimilation university consortium
Through the program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting of institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to address critical research challenges for data assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce. The consortium shall seek to—
(A)
solve critical research issues for data assimilation through innovative research;
(B)
increase significantly the number of students, including graduate level and Ph.D. candidates, in data assimilation;
(C)
utilize modern software and frameworks, such as the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration, to conduct data assimilation research and development and facilitate research to operations efforts;
(D)
identify and prioritize critical research areas in data assimilation and facilitate operations to research efforts;
(E)
establish and enable an effective collaboration infrastructure between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facilities, such as labs, centers, or joint agency institutes, and the research community, including a mechanism for external partners to host Administration employees; and
(F)
establish mechanisms to enable all members of the consortium to archive and access data required to support the work under this subsection.
(3)

Coordination
In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its associated activities focus on research to operations and operations to research, including by coordinating and collaborating with the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation.
(e)

Study on data management
(1)

In general
Not later than 90 days after the data of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal entity to conduct a study on matters concerning data practices and management needs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In conducting the study, the outside entity shall—
(A)
assess the costs and benefits of current data management needs for observational and operational mission requirements;
(B)
develop recommendations regarding how to make more robust and cost-effective the data portfolio of the Administration;
(C)
identify data infrastructure technologies and needs that are essential to the performance of modeling systems of the Administration;
(D)
assess the sharing needs and practices of the Administration for both internal and external sharing dissemination; and
(E)
develop recommendations for methods of data infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from the commercial sector.
(2)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Commercial Data Program under section 302, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the study under paragraph (1) $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.”.
305.

Clerical amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 302 and 303 and inserting the following new items:
“Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.”.
IV

Communicating Weather to the Public
401.

Definitions
In this title:
(1)

Hazardous weather or water events
The term “hazardous weather or water events” has the meaning given such term in section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.
(2)

Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3)

NOAA Weather Radio
The term “NOAA Weather Radio” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network.
(4)

Public cloud
The term “public cloud” means an information technology model in which service providers make computing services, including compute and storage and develop-and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand to organizations and individuals over the public internet or other means that allows for the widest dissemination of information.
(5)

Watch; warning
The terms “watch” and “warning” have the meanings given such terms in section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.
402.

Hazardous weather or water event risk communication
(a)

In general
Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 109) is amended to read as follows:
“406.

Hazardous weather or water event risk communication
(a)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Hazardous weather or water events
The term “hazardous weather or water events” means weather or water events that have a high risk of loss of life or property, including the following:
(A)
Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.
(B)
Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen precipitation and strong winds.
(C)
Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.
(2)

Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3)

Watch; warning
(A)

In general
The terms “watch” and “warning”, with respect to a hazardous weather or water event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by the general public, to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of such event and to inform action to prevent loss of life or property.
(B)

Exception
The terms “watch” and “warning” do not include technical or specialized meteorological or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.
(b)

System communications
The Under Secretary shall maintain and improve the system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by which the risks of hazardous weather or water events are communicated to the general public, with the goal of informing response to prevent loss of life or property.
(c)

Hazard risk communication improvement and simplification
(1)

In general
To carry out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall maintain a social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences program (in this section referred to as the “Program”), for the purpose of simplifying and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water events.
(2)

Terminology
The Program, in coordination with social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic science community and user feedback, shall identify, eliminate, or modify unnecessary, redundant, or confusing terms for communications regarding hazardous weather or water events and add new terminology, as appropriate.
(3)

Communications improvement
The Program shall improve the form, content, and methods of communications regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated risks to more clearly inform response to prevent the loss of life or property.
(4)

Evaluations
The Program, in coordination with the performance and evaluation branches of the National Weather Service and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, shall develop metrics for such branches to track and evaluate the degree to which communications regarding hazardous weather or water events inform response.
(5)

Support plan
The Program shall develop a plan for the purpose of carrying out paragraph (3). Such plan shall be periodically updated and informed by internal and extramural research and the results of the evaluation of communications regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated risks under paragraph (4).
(6)

Methods
In carrying out this section, the Program shall develop and implement recommendations that—
(A)
are based on the best and most recent understanding from social, behavioral, economic, risk, and communications science research;
(B)
are validated by social, behavioral, risk, and communications science, taking into account the importance of methods that support reproduction and replication of scientific studies, use of rigorous statistical analyses, and, as applicable, data analysis supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;
(C)
account for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;
(D)
account for the differences between various types of hazardous weather or water events;
(E)
respond to the needs of Federal, State, and local government partners and media partners; and
(F)
account for necessary changes in the infrastructure, technology, and protocols for developing and disseminating watches and warnings.
(7)

Coordination
In carrying out this section, the Program shall coordinate with the following:
(A)
Federal partners, including National Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional integrated sciences and assessments programs.
(B)
State and local government partners.
(C)
Tribal governments.
(D)
Institutions of higher education or a consortia thereof.
(E)
Media partners.
(8)

Timeliness and consistency
The Program shall develop best practices and guidance for ensuring timely and consistent communications across public facing platforms that disseminate information related to hazardous weather or water events.”.
(b)

Table of contents
Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item relating to section 406 to read as follows:
“Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.”.
403.

Hazard communication research and engagement
Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(d)

Hazard communication research and engagement
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary shall maintain, as appropriate, a program to—
(A)
modernize the development and communication of risk-based, statistically reliable, probabilistic hazard information, with the goal of informing appropriate responses to hazardous weather or water events; and
(B)
improve the fundamental social, behavioral, economic, risk, and communication science relating to communications, including by means of collecting voluntary data, regarding hazardous weather or water events.
(2)

Coordination
In carrying out the program under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and communicate with States, Tribal governments, localities, and emergency managers regarding research priorities and results.
(3)

Pilot program for tornado hazard communication required
To further research into communications regarding hazardous weather or water events, the Under Secretary, in coordination with the VORTEX program under section 103 and in collaboration with one or more eligible institutions (or a consortia thereof), shall establish a pilot program for tornado hazard communication to test the effectiveness of implementing research into operations with respect to tornadoes.
(4)

Eligible institution defined
In this subsection, the term “eligible institution” means any of the following:
(A)
An institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other institution located in a jurisdiction eligible to participate in the program under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
(B)
An institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other institution located in proximity to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.”.
404.

National Weather Service communications improvement
(a)

Improvement of NWS instant messaging service
The Director of the National Weather Service shall improve the instant messaging service used by personnel of the National Weather Service by implementing, not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-shelf communications solution that replaces the instant messaging service commonly referred to as “NWSChat”.
(b)

Requirements
The communications solution implemented under this section shall—
(1)
be hosted on the public cloud; and
(2)
satisfy requirements set forth by the Director to ensure such solution—
(A)
best accommodates future growth;
(B)
performs successfully with increased numbers of users;
(C)
is easy to use for the majority of users; and
(D)
is similar to systems already in commercial use.
(c)

Funding
From amounts made available for Operations, Research, and Facilities, the Director of the National Weather Service shall allocate up to $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to carry out this section.
405.

NOAA Weather Radio modernization
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its reliability. In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall—
(1)
maintain support for existing systems serving areas not covered by or having poor quality cellular service;
(2)
ensure consistent maintenance and operations monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site equipment and antennas;
(3)
enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and
(4)
acquire additional transmitters as required to expand coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the National Park System, and National Recreation Areas.
(b)

Modernization initiative
To the maximum extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary shall—
(1)
upgrade telecommunications infrastructure to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based communications over non-copper media;
(2)
accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or the relevant system successors, to implement partial county notifications and alerts;
(3)
consult with relevant stakeholders, including the private sector, to enhance accessibility and usability of NOAA Weather Radio data and feeds;
(4)
develop options, including satellite backup capability and commercial provider partnerships, for NOAA Weather Radio continuity in the event of Weather Forecast Office outages;
(5)
research and develop alternative options, including microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet protocol capability; and
(6)
transition critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.
(c)

Priority
In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended in accordance with the assessment under subsection (d) to maximize accessibility, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the United States.
(d)

Assessment for management and distribution
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In conducting such assessment, the Under Secretary shall take into consideration and provide recommendations regarding the following:
(1)
The need for continuous, adequate, and operational real-time broadcasts of the NOAA Weather Radio in both urban and rural areas.
(2)
Solicited inputs from relevant stakeholders on the compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data for third party platforms that provide online services, such as websites and mobile device applications, or deliver NOAA Weather Radio access.
(3)
Existing or new management systems that promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather Radio.
(4)
The ability of NOAA to aggregate real time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations.
(5)
Effective interagency coordination.
(6)
The potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio.
(7)
Any other function the Under Secretary determines necessary.
406.

Post-storm surveys and assessments
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary shall continue to perform one or more post-storm surveys and assessments following every hazardous weather or water event determined by the Under Secretary to be of sufficient societal importance to warrant a post-event survey and assessment.
(b)

Coordination
The Under Secretary shall coordinate with Federal, State, local and Tribal governments, private entities, and relevant institutions of higher education (or a consortia thereof) when conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section to optimize data collection, sharing, integration, archiving, and access, as appropriate for research needs.
(c)

Data availability
The Under Secretary shall make the appropriate data obtained from each post-storm survey and assessment conducted under this section available to the public as soon as practicable after conducting each such survey and assessment.
(d)

Improvement
In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary shall—
(1)
examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems in data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments conducted under this section;
(2)
identify gaps in and update tactics and procedures to enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from post-storm surveys and assessments;
(3)
to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number of post-storm community impact studies, including—
(A)
surveying-individual responses;
(B)
conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk evaluations;
(C)
evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation activity; and
(D)
gathering survivability statistics; and
(4)
as appropriate, integrate community-based, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences elements into existing post-storm surveys and assessments, including relating to efficacy of forecast and warning information, barriers to action, and messaging challenges.
(e)

Support for employees
The Under Secretary shall provide training, resources, and access to professional counseling to support the emotional and mental health and well-being of employees conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section.
(f)

Exemption
Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during the conduct of a survey or assessment authorized under subsection (a).
407.

Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events
(a)

In general
Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that examines the information technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, specifically regarding the system for timely public notification via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.
(b)

Elements
The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
An analysis of the information technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service, including software and hardware capabilities and limitations, including an examination of server and data storage methods, broadband, data management, and data sharing.
(2)
An identification of secondary and tertiary fail-safes for the timely distribution to the public of notifications via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.
(3)
A process analysis to determine the source and extent to which public notifications via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events have been delayed and an identification of possible improvements or corrective measures to address latency in the notification process.
(4)
An assessment of whether collaboration with other Federal offices, States, or private entities could reduce delays in notifications to the public.
(5)
A description of actions being undertaken to better identify critical steps in public notification via alerts and updates for hazardous weather or water events that may be vulnerable to disruption or failure in the event of communication, technologic, or computational failure.
(6)
The geographical differences in availability and effectiveness of rural systems, including an estimated number of rural areas affected by unreliable or unavailable accurate systems and barriers to obtain or upgrade such systems.
408.

Data collection management and protection
(a)

Data collection
The Under Secretary may collect social, behavioral, and economic data, including Federal communication and related public response to hazardous weather or water events. Where appropriate, the Under Secretary shall encourage use of secondary data, purchase data, or partner with the private sector.
(b)

Data management
The Under Secretary shall establish a central repository system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for social, behavioral, and economic data related to the communication of and related public response to hazardous weather or water events, including data developed or received pursuant to this title.
(c)

Protection of data
The Under Secretary shall ensure that all data collected and managed by the Administration is done within with all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations and in accordance with chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code, and the Federal Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–435).
(d)

Digital watermarking
The Under Secretary shall develop methods to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with online public notifications of hazardous weather or water events, such as developing digital watermarks.
V

Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management
501.

Weather and climate information in agriculture and water management
Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is amended—
(1)
by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
“(h)

Subseasonal to seasonal forecasting pilot projects
(1)

Establishment
The Under Secretary shall establish not fewer than two pilot projects, in accordance with paragraph (2), within the U.S. Weather Research Program of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support improved subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasts for the following:
(A)
Water management in the western United States.
(B)
Agriculture in the central United States.
(2)

Objectives
In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure the following:
(A)
A pilot project under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to improving forecasts and developing related products for water management in the western United States, including the following:
(i)
Improving operational model resolution, both horizontal and vertical, to resolve issues associated with mountainous terrain, such as intensity of precipitation and relative fraction of rain versus snow precipitation.
(ii)
Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in mountainous regions.
(iii)
Resolving challenges in predicting winter atmospheric circulation and storm tracks, including periods of blocked versus unblocked flow over the eastern North Pacific Ocean and western United States.
(iv)
Utilizing outcomes from the Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program as authorized in section 204 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 to produce operational tools and services.
(v)
Improving the quality and temporal and spatial resolution of observations and accurate operational modeling of air-sea interactions, and the influence of oceans on subseasonal and seasonal forecasting.
(B)
A pilot project under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to improving forecasts and developing related products for agriculture in the central United States, including the following:
(i)
Improving the quality and temporal and spatial resolution of observations and accurate operational modeling of the land surface and hydrologic cycle, including soil moisture and flash drought processes.
(ii)
Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of warm season precipitation processes.
(iii)
Understanding and predicting large-scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that occur in spring and summer.
(3)

Activities
A pilot project under this subsection shall include activities that carry out the following:
(A)
Best implement recommendations of the National Weather Service’s 2020 Report, entitled “Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First Century”.
(B)
Achieve measurable objectives for operational forecast improvement.
(C)
Engage with, and leverage the resources of, institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or a consortia thereof, and entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in existence as of the date of the enactment of this subsection, including Regional Climate Centers and the National Centers for Environmental Information.
(D)
Are carried out in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service.
(4)

Sunset
The authority under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.”; and
(2)
by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
“(j)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the activities under this section.”.
502.

National Integrated Drought Information System
(a)

In general
Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(ii)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting “and” after the semicolon; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(C)
incorporates flash drought research and tools to enhance timely response;”;
(B)
in paragraph (5), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(C)
in paragraph (6)—
(i)
by inserting “(including ecological drought)” after “drought” each place it appears; and
(ii)
by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and
(D)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(7)
advance and deploy next generation technologies related to drought and related publicly available data, such as monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting capabilities utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud technologies; and
(8)
utilize observational networks, including the National Weather Service cooperative observer program, and refine drought indicators across a variety of spatial and temporal scales for decision-support products by optimizing data and resources from across the Federal Government, including snowpack, soil moisture, groundwater, and rapid intensification data.”;
(2)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(B)
in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4)
in partnership with the National Mesonet Program, establish memoranda of understanding to provide coordinated, high-quality, nationwide drought information for the public good, including integrated soil moisture information in accordance with the 2021 report, “A Strategy for the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network”.”; and
(3)
by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
“(f)

Modeling update
The Under Secretary, in partnership with National Integrated Drought Information System and the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, shall undertake an effort to transition existing drought products to probabilistic forecasts and incorporate new and improved dynamical and statistical forecast modeling tools.”.
(b)

Authorization of appropriations
Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows:
“(d)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts made available to Operations, Research, and Facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section the following:
(1)
$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
(2)
$15,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(3)
$16,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
(4)
$16,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
(5)
$17,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.”.
503.

National Mesonet Program
(a)

Program
The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Mesonet Program (in this section referred to as the “Program”). The Program shall—
(1)
obtain observations in all geographic environments to improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric and water events, with a prioritization on leveraging available commercial, academic, and other non-Federal environmental data to enhance coordination across the private, public, and academic sectors of the United States weather enterprise; and
(2)
establish memoranda of understanding with networks outside of the scope of the Program.
(b)

Program elements
The Program shall carry out the following activities:
(1)
Improve environmental observations used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service to support baseline forecasts, including nowcasts, and warnings that protect the Nation’s citizens, businesses, military, and government agencies, and enable such individuals and entities to operate in safe, efficient, and orderly manners.
(2)
When demonstrably cost effective and meeting or exceeding agency data quality standards, leverage existing networks of environmental monitoring stations, including supplemental radar systems, to increase the quantity and density of environmental observations and data available to the Administration.
(3)
Establish means to integrate greater density and type of environmental observations into the Program on an annual basis, including by encouraging local and regional networks of environmental monitoring stations, in situ sensor networks and satellite constellations to participate in the Program.
(4)
Yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to improve numerical weather prediction performance, including regarding subseasonal to seasonal timescales.
(5)
Provide the critical technical and administrative infrastructure needed to facilitate rapid integration and sustained use of new and emerging networks of environmental monitoring stations anticipated in coming years from non-Federal sources.
(6)
Expand and enhance environmental observational networks in the roadway environment to provide real-time road weather and surface conditions for surface transportation and related economic sectors.
(7)
Identify available terrestrial or marine environmental data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the understanding of air-sea interactions.
(8)
Support the National Weather Service in reaching its target of a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through better predictive model algorithms driven by increasingly effective observations.
(9)
Coordinate with existing Administration data used for forecasts, including data from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program, the National Data Buoy Center, and the National Ocean Service.
(10)
Identify and communicate to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and other partners priorities of research and development needed to advance observations in the Program.
(11)
Support the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in acquiring soil moisture and related data to support the development of decision-support products and other information services.
(c)

Financial and technical assistance
(1)

In general
In furtherance of the Program, the Under Secretary may, to the extent amounts are made available, award up to 15 percent of the Program’s annual appropriations for financial assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade equipment and capacity of mesonet systems. Financial assistance under this subsection may be made in coordination with and in addition to awards from other Federal agencies.
(2)

Agreements
Before receiving financial assistance under paragraph (1), the State, Tribal, private, or academic entity seeking financial assistance under this subsection shall enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide data to the Program, subject to verification by the Program of the relative operational value and evaluation of the cost of such data, for use in weather prediction, severe weather warnings, and emergency response.
(3)

Assistance and other support
The Under Secretary may provide technical assistance, project implementation support, and guidance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities seeking financial assistance under this subsection. The Under Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for maintenance of monitoring stations in underrepresented or remote areas of the country where it is financially unfeasible for one entity to operate such stations without such assistance.
(4)

Terms
In providing financial assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall establish terms to ensure that each State, Tribal, private, or academic entity that receives financial assistance under this subsection receives a level of Federal support commensurate with the quality and other characteristics of the data to be provided.
(5)

Determination
A State, Tribal, private, or academic entity may receive financial assistance under this subsection only if the Under Secretary determines such entity shall provide sufficient non-Federal financial support and full maintenance to maintain the quality of the mesonet system and associated data standards required by the Program for a period of not less than five years.
(6)

Priority
The Under Secretary shall prioritize providing assistance under paragraph (1) to at least one entity in an underrepresented or remote area.
(d)

Advisory committee
(1)

In general
The Under Secretary shall ensure the Program has an active advisory committee of subject matter experts to make recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the identification, implementation, procurement, and tracking of data needed to supplement the Program, and recommend improvements, expansions, and acquisitions of available data. The Under Secretary may designate an existing Federal advisory committee, subcommittee, or working group, including, if appropriate, the Science Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to carry out this subsection.
(2)

Academic expertise
The advisory committee under paragraph (1), in consultation with the Program, shall include expertise from one or more institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to assist the advisory committee to identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships, regional or subregional consortia, and collaborative methods that would expand the number of participants and volume of data in the Program.
(e)

Regular reporting
The Under Secretary shall provide regular briefings, not less than twice annually, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on all Program activities. Such briefings shall include information relating to the following:
(1)
Efforts to implement the activities described in subsection (b).
(2)
Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant to subsection (c).
(3)
Efforts to address recommendations received from the advisory committee under subsection (d).
(4)
The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data needs.
(5)
Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation data by States and regions of the United States.
(6)
Any other topic the Under Secretary determines relevant.
(f)

Authorization of appropriations
From amounts made available to the National Weather Service, the Under Secretary, to carry out this section, shall allocate up to the following amounts for each specified fiscal year:
(1)
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
(2)
$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(3)
$61,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
(4)
$68,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
(5)
$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
504.

National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network
(a)

In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, shall support the development, deployment, and maintenance of soil moisture monitoring networks by managing the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network (in this section referred to as the “Network”) within the National Integrated Drought Information System.
(b)

Activities
The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network includes activities that carry out the following:
(1)
Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.
(2)
Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data sources.
(3)
Supporting research necessary to develop or improve soil moisture monitoring products at a national scale.
(4)
Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in situ and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations across the United States.
(5)
Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the private sector.
(6)
Engaging with the citizen science community.
(7)
Developing, releasing, and promoting new, nationwide point-based and gridded soil moisture data products that meet the needs of diverse end-user groups.
(8)
Supporting community building and outreach to the network of individuals engaged with soil moisture information delivery, from data provision to end-user decision making.
505.

National water center
Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 10371) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)(A)—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting “as a component of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction” after “center”;
(ii)
in clause (i), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
(iii)
in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting “; and”; and
(iv)
by adding at the end the following new clause:
“(iii)
to provide service backup capabilities and additional mission support services for River Forecast Centers.”.
(v)
in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(F)
Serving as the primary Center for collaboration and coordination of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s water research and operational activities with existing Federal centers and networks, including the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”;
(2)
by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d) respectively; and
(3)
by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read as follows:
“(c)

Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.”.
506.

Satellite transfers report
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the Department of Commerce’s authorities, policies, and Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of Commerce to any other Federal department or agency. The report shall also include the following:
(1)
A description of the process for decommissioning a Department of Commerce operational weather satellite, any existing agreements related to transfers of weather satellites, whether decommissioned or not, and any reimbursable agreements related to the transfer of physical property or the operation of Department of Commerce weather satellites on behalf of any other Federal department or agency.
(2)
A summary of any Department of Commerce plans for potential transfer of existing or future weather satellite systems to any other Federal department or agency.