[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10420-H10424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2018
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (S. 2200) to reauthorize the National Integrated Drought
Information System, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2200
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``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;
``(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
[[Page H10421]]
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. 6. 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
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.
[[Page H10422]]
``(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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. 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 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.
[[Page H10423]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on S. 2200, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 2200 has broad bipartisan support, and I urge all
Members to support this legislation.
This bill reauthorizes and enhances priority NOAA programs,
especially the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act. The
Weather Act, signed into law by President Trump 2 years ago, already
has made tremendous advances in the accuracy and timeliness of weather
forecasting and the rapid integration of the private sector.
S. 2200 accelerates advances in model development and data
assimilation, increases the use of innovative computing technologies
and leasing strategies, promotes targeted research for the next
generation of weather satellites, and further engages the growing
commercial weather industry through reauthorization of the Commercial
Weather Data Pilot program.
I would like to thank Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune for his
leadership on this bill, which enables NOAA to protect lives and
property and advance the economy of the United States.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2200, the National Integrated
Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018.
The NIDIS program has grown tremendously since its creation in 2006,
and this reauthorization will aid in continuing its mission to provide
a drought early warning system by coordinating and integrating drought
research through key Federal, State, local, and Tribal partnerships.
This bill also includes a reauthorization of the Harmful Algal Bloom
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act, which Senator Nelson and I
introduced this Congress with bipartisan support.
This bill provides valuable resources to better understand, detect,
assess, monitor, and respond to both marine and freshwater harmful
algal blooms and hypoxia events.
Updating this program and investing in research on harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia will help Oregonians and people across the country
who are facing the dangerous effects of exposure to harmful algal
blooms in drinking water sources, oceans, and lakes.
Recently, we have seen harmful algal blooms cut off access to clean
drinking water for residents of Salem, Oregon, and they have stifled
recreational activities on the Willamette River. Harmful algal blooms
in the marine environment produce dangerous toxins that make Oregon's
prized Dungeness crabs toxic and deprive fishing communities of income.
As co-chair of both the House Oceans Caucus and the House Estuary
Caucus, I am pleased to reauthorize the research programs that help us
better predict and guard against harmful algal blooms in marine and
freshwater systems.
Additionally, this bill contains provisions to reauthorize funding
for programs from the Weather Research and Forecasting and Innovation
Act of 2017, which I fully support.
Other language in this bill regarding NOAA's Earth prediction
innovation center, computing resources, and our next-generation
satellite architecture, though valuable, is completely new to this body
and is deserving of robust, discussion which has been missing.
Though I am supportive of the NIDIS, the algal blooms bill, and the
Weather Act programs that are reauthorized in this legislation, I would
like to note that we have not had a hearing, a markup, or any
substantive discussion of these programs in the House of
Representatives this Congress.
These critical issues do warrant such discussion, given the number of
Americans affected by either drought or toxic algal blooms and hypoxia
events, and all Americans benefit from NOAA programs that provide
timely and accurate forecasts.
I look forward to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee
providing a forum to discuss these significant issues next Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like to
thank the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) for all of her good
work on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee over several
years' time.
I also want to express my appreciation to her for being instrumental
in the number of bipartisan bills that the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee has brought to the House floor. In fact, as of
today, 33 of the 35 Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills that
have passed the House floor have been bipartisan bills.
Ms. Bonamici has worked on any number of those bills to help make
sure that they are bipartisan, and to the extent that those bills have
been changed, they have been improved because of her input. So I really
want to thank her for her friendship over the years and for her
contributions on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee over the
years.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I do thank Chairman Smith. I have been on the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee my entire time in Congress, and I thank
him for his years of leadership and service to the committee.
Even though Chairman Smith and I have not always agreed on every
issue, he has been always willing to listen and to work with me and my
colleagues on my side of the aisle on bills like the Weather Research
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, which we worked on for several
years together and is now law.
So, again, I thank Chairman Smith for his years of service to the
committee. I wish him well in the new chapter of his life.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman from Oregon for those very
nice comments. They are much appreciated.
I also want to take just a minute to thank the ranking member of the
full committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, my colleague and friend from
Texas. We also would not be here without her effort over the many, many
years and her help in making sure that 33 of the 35 bills that the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee has passed on the House floor
were, in fact, bipartisan.
I also want to congratulate her on being the next chairman of the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee. I know she brings a lot of
intelligence and a lot of commitment and will do great work on behalf
of the country as chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology
Committee.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in
support of S. 2200, the ``National Integrated Drought Information
System Reauthorization Act of 2018''. This bill also reauthorizes the
``Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act,'' as
introduced by Senator Nelson and my colleague on the Science Committee,
Ms. Bonamici. Both of these existing programs have years of successful
accomplishments, and their reauthorization ensures that NOAA will be
able to continue supporting communities that are dealing with the
impacts of drought and toxic freshwater and marine harmful algal blooms
and hypoxia events.
The Weather Research and Forecasting and Innovation Act that the
House passed in a bipartisan fashion last year was a great
accomplishment for the Science Committee, and I am happy to see the
existing weather laboratories, cooperative institutes, joint technology
[[Page H10424]]
transfer initiative and research programs within NOAA's Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research will be reauthorized with this bill.
As Congresswoman Bonamici mentioned earlier, this bill reauthorizes
critical programs at NOAA that benefit countless Americans, which I
fully support.
However, I am disappointed in the process used to bring NIDIS,
HABHRCA, and the Weather Act to the floor today for reauthorization.
The brand-new language in this bill related to NOAA's Earth Prediction
Innovation Center, computing resources, and our next-generation
satellite architecture has never gone through the standard committee
process in either the House or the Senate. By not providing an
opportunity for hearings, markups, or any debate on these key pieces of
legislation we rob our colleagues of the opportunity to advocate for
their constituents, and do not do justice to the importance of these
provisions. I hope we will do better to abide by regular order next
Congress, and it is my intention to do that on the Science Committee.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 2200.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. AMASH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________