[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 172 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6679-S6680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          METROPOLITAN WEATHER HAZARDS PROTECTION ACT OF 2015

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 629, S. 2058.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2058) to require the Secretary of Commerce to 
     maintain and operate at least one Doppler weather radar site 
     within 55 miles of each city in the United States that has a 
     population of more than 700,000 individuals, and for other 
     purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Metropolitan Weather Hazards 
     Protection Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   PLAN TO ADDRESS SUCH GAPS.

       (a) Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next 
     Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service 
     (known as ``NEXRAD'').
       (2) Elements.--Under the study required by paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall--
       (A) identify areas in the United States with limited or no 
     Next Generation Weather Radar coverage below 6,000 feet above 
     ground level of the surrounding terrain;
       (B) for the areas identified under subparagraph (A), 
     Charlotte, North Carolina, and surrounding counties, central 
     Washington State, northwest New Mexico, and Columbus, Ohio, 
     and surrounding counties--
       (i) identify the key weather effects for which prediction 
     would improve with improved radar detection;
       (ii) identify additional sources of observations for high 
     impact weather that were available and operational for such 
     areas on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, including Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (known as 
     ``TDWR''), air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration, and cooperative network observers; and
       (iii) assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to 
     integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities in such 
     areas that are not owned or controlled by of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar 
     capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
     Department of Defense;
       (C) assess the feasibility and advisability of 
     incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars 
     into the operations of the National Weather Service;
       (D) identify options to improve radar coverage in the areas 
     identified under subparagraph (A); and
       (E) estimate the cost of, and develop a timeline for, 
     carrying out each of the options identified under 
     subparagraph (D).
       (3) Report.--Upon the completion of the study required by 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary 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 on the findings of the Secretary 
     with respect to the study.
       (b) Plan to Improve Radar Coverage.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the completion of the study required by subsection 
     (a)(1), the Secretary shall develop 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 plan to improve radar coverage 
     in the areas identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) by 
     integrating, and upgrading where practicable, additional 
     observation solutions to improve hazardous weather detection 
     and forecasting.
       (c) Requirement for Third-party Reviews Regarding Plan to 
     Improve Radar Coverage.--The Secretary shall seek third-party 
     reviews on scientific methodology relating to, and the 
     feasibility and advisability of, implementing the plan 
     developed and submitted under subsection (b), including the 
     extent to which warning and forecast services of the National 
     Weather Service would be improved by additional Next 
     Generation Weather Radar coverage.

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn, the Burr 
substitute amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered 
read a third time and passed, the title amendment be agreed to, and the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
withdrawn.
  The amendment (No. 5123) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows:

[[Page S6680]]

  


                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   PLAN TO ADDRESS SUCH GAPS.

       (a) Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next 
     Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service 
     (referred to in this section as ``NEXRAD'').
       (2) Elements.--In conducting the study required under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) identify areas in the United States with limited or no 
     NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level of the 
     surrounding terrain;
       (B) for the areas identified under subparagraph (A)--
       (i) identify the key weather effects for which prediction 
     would improve with improved radar detection;
       (ii) identify additional sources of observations for high 
     impact weather that were available and operational for such 
     areas on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, including Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (commonly known 
     as ``TDWR''), air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration, and cooperative network observers; and
       (iii) assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to 
     integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities that are not 
     owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, including radar capabilities of the Federal 
     Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense;
       (C) assess the feasibility and advisability of 
     incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars 
     into the operations of the National Weather Service;
       (D) identify options to improve radar coverage in the areas 
     identified under subparagraph (A); and
       (E) estimate the cost of, and develop a timeline for, 
     carrying out each of the options identified under 
     subparagraph (D).
       (3) Report.--Upon the completion of the study required 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit a report to 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives that includes the findings of the 
     Secretary with respect to the study.
       (b) Plan to Improve Radar Coverage.--Not later than 30 days 
     after the completion of the study under subsection (a)(1), 
     the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a plan to the 
     congressional committees referred to in subsection (a)(3) for 
     improving radar coverage in the areas identified under 
     subsection (a)(2)(A) by integrating and upgrading, to the 
     extent practicable, additional observation solutions to 
     improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting.
       (c) Requirement for Third-party Reviews Regarding Plan to 
     Improve Radar Coverage.--The Secretary of Commerce shall seek 
     third-party reviews on scientific methodology relating to, 
     and the feasibility and advisability of, implementing the 
     plan submitted under subsection (b), including the extent to 
     which warning and forecast services of the National Weather 
     Service would be improved by additional NEXRAD coverage.

  The bill (S. 2058), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
  The amendment (No. 5124) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To amend the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to require the 
     Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next 
     Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and 
     to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous 
     weather detection and forecasting.''.

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