[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 199 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7805-S7809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2018

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 424, S. 2200.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2200) to reauthorize the National Integrated 
     Drought Information System, 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 ``National Integrated Drought 
     Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018''.

[[Page S7806]]

  


     SEC. 2. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM 
                   PROGRAM.

       (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)(A), by striking ``in order to make 
     usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, 
     including'' and inserting ``, including precipitation, soil 
     moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, 
     reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``watershed,'' after 
     ``regional,'';
       (C) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) by inserting ``, through interagency agreements'' after 
     ``integrate''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``information'' after ``warning'';
       (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
       ``(5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs 
     and partnerships, including forecast communication 
     coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in 
     seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and''; 
     and
       (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``the prediction,'' 
     after ``relating to'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
     subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Partnerships.--The National Integrated Drought 
     Information System may--
       ``(1) engage with the private sector to improve drought 
     monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under 
     Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-
     effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers 
     described in subsection (b)(2)(A);
       ``(2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic 
     cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated 
     Drought Information System functions; and
       ``(3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by 
     citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to 
     facilitate maximum data integration.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting ``and 
     sustainment'' after ``development''; and
       (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(f) Soil Moisture.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information 
     System Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the National Integrated Drought Information 
     System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated 
     soil moisture monitoring network.''.
       (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:

     ``SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act--
       ``(1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2018;
       ``(2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2019;
       ``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
       ``(4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2021;
       ``(5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
       ``(6) $15,750,000 for fiscal year 2023.''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN 
                   AGRICULTURE.

       Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 
     8521) is amended--
       (1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
       ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities 
     under this section--
       ``(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2018;
       ``(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
       ``(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2020;
       ``(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
       ``(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
       ``(6) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(k) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts made available to carry 
     out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated 
     or otherwise made available to the National Weather 
     Service.''.

  Mr. BOOZMAN. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
substitute amendment be withdrawn; that the Thune substitute amendment 
at the desk be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be 
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion 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. 4157) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, 
as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Integrated Drought 
     Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM 
                   PROGRAM.

       (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)(A), by striking ``in order to make 
     usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, 
     including'' and inserting ``, including precipitation, soil 
     moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, 
     reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and'';
       (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``watershed,'' after 
     ``regional,'';
       (C) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) by inserting ``, through interagency agreements'' after 
     ``integrate''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``information'' after ``warning'';
       (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
       ``(5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs 
     and partnerships, including forecast communication 
     coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in 
     seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal 
     precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction; 
     and''; and
       (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``the prediction,'' 
     after ``relating to'';
       (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
     subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
       ``(c) Partnerships.--The National Integrated Drought 
     Information System may--
       ``(1) engage with the private sector to improve drought 
     monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under 
     Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-
     effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers 
     described in subsection (b)(2)(A);
       ``(2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic 
     cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated 
     Drought Information System functions; and
       ``(3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by 
     citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to 
     facilitate maximum data integration.'';
       (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting ``and 
     sustainment'' after ``development''; and
       (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(f) Soil Moisture.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information 
     System Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the National Integrated Drought Information 
     System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated 
     soil moisture monitoring network.''.
       (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:

     ``SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act--
       ``(1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
       ``(2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2020;
       ``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
       ``(4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
       ``(5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF TITLE II OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH 
                   AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2017.

       (a) Reauthorization of Title II of the Weather Research and 
     Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.--Section 1762 of the Food 
     Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is amended--
       (1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
       ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities 
     under this section--
       ``(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
       ``(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
       ``(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021;
       ``(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
       ``(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(k) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts made available to carry 
     out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated 
     or otherwise made available to the National Weather 
     Service.''.
       (b) United States Weather Research and Forecasting 
     Improvement.--Section 110 of the Weather Research and 
     Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry 
     out this title--
       ``(1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which--
       ``(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
     and cooperative institutes;
       ``(B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather and air 
     chemistry research programs; and
       ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology 
     transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4);
       ``(2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which--
       ``(A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
     and cooperative institutes;
       ``(B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather and air 
     chemistry research programs; and
       ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology 
     transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4);
       ``(3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which--
       ``(A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
     and cooperative institutes;
       ``(B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather and air 
     chemistry research programs; and
       ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology 
     transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4);
       ``(4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which--
       ``(A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
     and cooperative institutes;

[[Page S7807]]

       ``(B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather and air 
     chemistry research programs; and
       ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology 
     transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); and
       ``(5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which--
       ``(A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
     and cooperative institutes;
       ``(B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather and air 
     chemistry research programs; and
       ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology 
     transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4).
       ``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to 
     carry out this title and the amendments made by this 
     title.''.

     SEC. 4. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER.

       (a) Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation.--Section 
     102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
     of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(4) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and 
     maintaining international leadership in the area of numerical 
     weather prediction, and improving the transition of research 
     into operations by--
       ``(A) leveraging the weather enterprise to provide 
     expertise on removing barriers to improving numerical weather 
     prediction;
       ``(B) enabling scientists and engineers to effectively 
     collaborate in areas important for improving operational 
     global numerical weather prediction skill, including model 
     development, data assimilation techniques, systems 
     architecture integration, and computational efficiencies;
       ``(C) strengthening the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration's ability to undertake research projects in 
     pursuit of substantial advancements in weather forecast 
     skill;
       ``(D) utilizing and leverage existing resources across the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enterprise; 
     and
       ``(E) creating a community global weather research modeling 
     system that--
       ``(i) is accessible by the public;
       ``(ii) meets basic end-user requirements for running on 
     public computers and networks located outside of secure 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information 
     and technology systems; and
       ``(iii) utilizes, 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 subsection.''.
       (b) United States Weather Research Program.--Section 108(a) 
     of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     Authorization Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 8520(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and inserting 
     a semi-colon;
       (2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction 
     Innovation Center as described in section 102(b)(2) of the 
     Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 
     U.S.C. 8512(b)(2)).''.

     SEC. 5. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 108 of the Weather Research and 
     Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT AND 
                   ANNUAL REPORT.

       ``(a) Computing Resources.--
       ``(1) In general.--In acquiring computing capabilities, 
     including high performance computing technologies and 
     supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration to meet its mission 
     requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and 
     cost-effective, assess and prioritize options for entering 
     into multi-year lease agreements for computing capabilities 
     over options for purchasing computing hardware outright.
       ``(2) Acquisition.--In carrying out the requirements of 
     paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year 
     lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the 
     lease is set for a date on or around--
       ``(A) the expected degradation point of the computing 
     resources; or
       ``(B) the point at which significantly increased computing 
     capabilities are expected to be available for lease.
       ``(3) Pilot programs.--
       ``(A) In general.--In order to more efficiently and 
     effectively meet the mission requirements of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary 
     may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or 
     innovative information and technology capabilities and 
     services.
       ``(B) Program requirements.--Any program created under 
     paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities and 
     services that--
       ``(i) meet or exceed the standards and requirements of the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including 
     for processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall reliability; 
     or
       ``(ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet or exceed, 
     the performance of similar, in-house information and 
     technology capabilities and services that are owned and 
     operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration prior to the establishment of the pilot 
     program.
       ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to the National 
     Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to 
     carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, 
     $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of 
     fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(b) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information 
     System Reauthorization Act of 2018, and triennially 
     thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on 
     which the first report is submitted, the Under Secretary, 
     acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in coordination 
     with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Research and the Director of the National Weather Service, 
     shall produce and make publicly available a report that 
     explains how the Under Secretary intends--
       ``(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the 
     fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance 
     computing technologies in support of its weather prediction 
     mission;
       ``(2) to ensure a balance between the research to 
     operations requirements to develop the next generation of 
     regional and global models as well as highly reliable 
     operational models;
       ``(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts 
     to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction 
     models available in beta-test mode to operational 
     forecasters, the United States weather industry, and partners 
     in academic and Government research;
       ``(4) to use existing computing resources to improve 
     advanced research and operational weather prediction;
       ``(5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the 
     necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if 
     appropriate;
       ``(6) to utilize cloud computing; and
       ``(7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the 
     programming language of weather model code to current and 
     broadly-used coding language.''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Weather 
     Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 
     115-25; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 108 and inserting the following:

``Sec. 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual 
              report.''.

     SEC. 7. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING.

       Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
     Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(c) Next Generation Satellite Architecture.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall analyze, test, 
     and plan the procurement of future data sources and satellite 
     architectures, including respective ground system elements, 
     identified in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration's Satellite Observing System Architecture 
     Study that--
       ``(A) lower the cost of observations used to meet the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's mission 
     requirements;
       ``(B) disaggregate current satellite systems, where 
     appropriate;
       ``(C) include new, value-adding technological advancements; 
     and
       ``(D) improve weather forecasting and predictions.
       ``(2) Quantitative assessments and partnership authority.--
     In meeting the requirements described in paragraph (1), the 
     Under Secretary--
       ``(A) may partner with the commercial and academic sectors, 
     non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations, and other 
     Federal agencies; and
       ``(B) shall, consistent with section 107 of this Act, 
     undertake quantitative assessments for objective analyses, as 
     the Under Secretary considers appropriate, to evaluate 
     relative value and benefits of future data sources and 
     satellite architectures described in paragraph (1).
       ``(d) Additional Forms of Transaction Authorized.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order to 
     enhance the effectiveness of data and satellite systems used 
     by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
     meet its missions, the Under Secretary may enter into and 
     perform such transaction agreements on such terms as the 
     Under Secretary considers appropriate to carry out basic, 
     applied, and advanced research projects to meet the 
     objectives described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
     subsection (c)(1).
       ``(2) Method and scope.--
       ``(A) In general.--A transaction agreement under paragraph 
     (1) shall be limited to research and development activities.
       ``(B) Permissible uses.--A transaction agreement under 
     paragraph (1) may be used--
       ``(i) for the construction, use, operation, or procurement 
     of new, improved, innovative, or value-adding satellites, 
     instrumentation, ground stations, and data;
       ``(ii) to make determinations on how to best use existing 
     or planned data, systems, and assets of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration; and
       ``(iii) only when the objectives of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration cannot be met using a 
     cooperative research and development agreement, grants

[[Page S7808]]

     procurement contract, or cooperative agreement.
       ``(3) Termination of effectiveness.--The authority provided 
     in this subsection terminates effective September 30, 2023.
       ``(e) Transparency.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     that a transaction agreement is made under subsection (d), 
     the Under Secretary shall make publicly available, in a 
     searchable format, on the website of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration all uses of the authority under 
     subsection (d), including an estimate of committed National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resources and the 
     expected benefits to National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration objectives for the transaction agreement, with 
     appropriate redactions for proprietary, sensitive, or 
     classified information.
       ``(f) Reports.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after September 
     30 of each fiscal year through September 30, 2023, the Under 
     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 use of additional transaction 
     authority by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration during the previous fiscal year.
       ``(2) Contents.--Each report shall include--
       ``(A) for each transaction agreement in effect during the 
     fiscal year covered by the report--
       ``(i) an indication of whether the transaction agreement is 
     a reimbursable, non-reimbursable, or funded agreement;
       ``(ii) a description of--

       ``(I) the subject and terms;
       ``(II) the parties;
       ``(III) the responsible National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration line office;
       ``(IV) the value;
       ``(V) the extent of the cost sharing among Federal 
     Government and non-Federal sources;
       ``(VI) the duration or schedule; and
       ``(VII) all milestones;

       ``(iii) an indication of whether the transaction agreement 
     was renewed during the previous fiscal year;
       ``(iv) the technology areas in which research projects were 
     conducted under that agreement;
       ``(v) the extent to which the use of that agreement--

       ``(I) has contributed to a broadening of the technology and 
     industrial base available for meeting National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration needs; and
       ``(II) has fostered within the technology and industrial 
     base new relationships and practices that support the United 
     States; and

       ``(vi) the total value received by the Federal Government 
     under that agreement for that fiscal year; and
       ``(B) a list of all anticipated reimbursable, non-
     reimbursable, and funded transaction agreements for the 
     upcoming fiscal year.
       ``(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed as limiting the authority of the National Oceanic 
     and Atmospheric Administration to use cooperative research 
     and development agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or 
     cooperative agreements.''.

     SEC. 8. INTEGRATION OF OCEAN AND COASTAL DATA FROM THE 
                   INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Section 301(a)(2) of the Weather Research 
     and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531(a)(2)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) support increasing use of autonomous, mobile surface, 
     sub-surface, and submarine vehicle ocean and fresh water 
     sensor systems and the infrastructure necessary to share and 
     analyze these data in real-time and feed them into predictive 
     early warning systems.''.
       (b) Commercial Weather Data; Authorization of 
     Appropriations.--Section 302(c)(3) of the Weather Research 
     and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8532(c)(3)) 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking ``2017 through 2020'' and inserting ``2019 
     through 2023''; and
       (2) by inserting ``the'' before ``National''.

     SEC. 9. IMPROVEMENTS TO COOPERATIVE OBSERVER PROGRAM OF 
                   NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
     and Atmosphere, acting through the National Weather Service, 
     shall improve the Cooperative Observer Program by--
       (1) providing support to--
       (A) State-coordinated programs relating to the Program; and
       (B) States and regions where observations provided through 
     the Program are scarce;
       (2) working with State weather service headquarters to 
     increase participation in the Program and to add stations in 
     States and regions described in paragraph (1)(B);
       (3) where feasible, ensuring that data streams from 
     stations that have been contributing data to the Program for 
     more than 50 years are maintained and continually staffed by 
     volunteers;
       (4) prioritizing the recruitment of new volunteers for the 
     Program;
       (5) ensuring that opportunities exist for automated 
     reporting to lessen the burden on volunteers to collect and 
     report data by hand; and
       (6) ensuring that integrated reporting is available for 
     qualitative observations that cannot be automated, such as 
     drought conditions, snow observations, and hazardous weather 
     events, to ensure that volunteers in the Program can report 
     and upload observations quickly and easily.
       (b) Coordination With States and Regions.--Not less 
     frequently than every 180 days, the National Weather Service 
     shall coordinate with State and regional offices with respect 
     to the status of Cooperative Observer Program stations.
       (c) Coordination With Federal Agencies.--The National 
     Weather Service shall coordinate with other Federal agencies, 
     including the Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture, 
     and the United States Geological Survey, to leverage 
     opportunities to grow the Cooperative Observer Program 
     network and to more effectively use existing infrastructure, 
     weather stations, and staff of the Program.

     SEC. 10. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND 
                   CONTROL.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
     Amendments Act of 2017''.
       (b) References to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
     Research and Control Act of 1998.--Except as otherwise 
     expressly provided, wherever in this section an amendment or 
     repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal 
     of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
     considered to be made to a section or other provision of the 
     Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 
     1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
       (c) Inter-Agency Task Force.--Section 603(a) (33 U.S.C. 
     4001(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
       ``(13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and''.
       (d) Scientific Assessments of Freshwater Harmful Algal 
     Blooms.--Section 603 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (f);
       (2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as 
     subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and
       (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
       ``(g) Scientific Assessments of Marine and Freshwater 
     Harmful Algal Blooms.--Not less than once every 5 years the 
     Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific 
     assessment of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal 
     waters and freshwater systems. Each assessment shall examine 
     both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including 
     those in the Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, 
     those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and those that 
     originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to 
     coastal waters.''.
       (e) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.--
       (1) Program duties.--Section 603A(e) (33 U.S.C. 4002(e)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including to local 
     and regional stakeholders through the establishment and 
     maintenance of a publicly accessible Internet website that 
     provides information as to Program activities completed under 
     this section'' after ``Program'';
       (B) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and'' after the 
     semicolon at the end; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) to accelerate the utilization of effective methods of 
     intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, 
     severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia 
     events;'';
       (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and work cooperatively 
     with'' and inserting ``, and work cooperatively to provide 
     technical assistance to,''; and
       (D) in paragraph (7)--
       (i) by inserting ``and extension'' after ``existing 
     education''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``intervention,'' after ``awareness of 
     the causes, impacts,''.
       (2) National oceanic and atmospheric administration 
     activities.--Section 603A(f) (33 U.S.C. 4002(f)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, which shall include 
     unmanned systems,'' after ``infrastructure'';
       (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this Act; 
     and
       ``(8) develop contingency plans for the long-term 
     monitoring of hypoxia.''.
       (f) Consultation Required.--Section 102 of the Harmful 
     Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 
     4001a) is amended by striking ``the amendments made by this 
     title'' and inserting ``the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
     Research and Control Act of 1998''.
       (g) Hypoxia or Harmful Algal Bloom of National 
     Significance.--
       (1) Relief.--
       (A) In general.--Upon a determination under paragraph (2) 
     that there is an event of

[[Page S7809]]

     national significance, the appropriate Federal official is 
     authorized to make sums available to the affected State or 
     local government for the purposes of assessing and mitigating 
     the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and 
     public health effects of the event of national significance.
       (B) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     activity carried out under this paragraph for the purposes 
     described in subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50 percent of 
     the cost of that activity.
       (C) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     an appropriate Federal official may accept donations of 
     funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment that the 
     appropriate Federal official considers necessary for the 
     purposes described in subparagraph (A). Any funds donated to 
     an appropriate Federal official under this paragraph may be 
     expended without further appropriation and without fiscal 
     year limitation.
       (2) Determinations.--
       (A) In general.--At the discretion of an appropriate 
     Federal official, or at the request of the Governor of an 
     affected State, an appropriate Federal official shall 
     determine whether a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event is 
     an event of national significance.
       (B) Considerations.--In making a determination under 
     subparagraph (A), the appropriate Federal official shall 
     consider the toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the 
     severity of the hypoxia, its potential to spread, the 
     economic impact, the relative size in relation to the past 5 
     occurrences of harmful algal blooms or hypoxia events that 
     occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and the geographic 
     scope, including the potential to affect several 
     municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or to cross an 
     international boundary.
       (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       (A) Appropriate federal official.--The term ``appropriate 
     Federal official'' means--
       (i) in the case of a marine or coastal hypoxia or harmful 
     algal bloom event, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
     and Atmosphere; and
       (ii) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful algal 
     bloom event, the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency.
       (B) Event of national significance.--The term ``event of 
     national significance'' means a hypoxia or harmful algal 
     bloom event that has had or will likely have a significant 
     detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, or 
     public health impact on an affected State.
       (C) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event.--The term 
     ``hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event'' means the occurrence 
     of hypoxia or a harmful algal bloom as a result of a natural, 
     anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 609(a) (33 
     U.S.C. 4009(a)) is amended by inserting ``, and $20,500,000 
     for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' before the 
     period at the end.

  The bill (S. 2200), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                          ____________________