[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4729-H4731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2021

  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5324) to provide guidance for and investment in the upgrade 
and modernization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Weather Radio All Hazards network, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5324

       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 ``NOAA Weather Radio 
     Modernization Act of 2021'' or ``NWR Modernization Act of 
     2021''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and 
     Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       (b) NOAA Weather Radio.--The term ``NOAA Weather Radio'' 
     means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
     Weather Radio All Hazards network.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The NOAA Weather Radio is a nationwide network of 
     transmitters that are critical to protecting life and 
     property by broadcasting weather and other hazard alerts.
       (2) NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts currently reach 95 
     percent of the United States population.
       (3) NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts originate from all 
     National Weather Service Offices, but are only available via 
     a receiver located in sufficient proximity to a radio 
     transmitting tower.
       (4) There are limited options to obtain NOAA Weather Radio 
     broadcasts via the Internet or mobile device application, 
     which are provided by volunteer mechanisms obtaining the 
     audio feed in an ad hoc manner.
       (5) NOAA Weather Radio should provide equal access and 
     availability to unimpeded broadcasts of weather and non-
     weather hazards to every person located within the United 
     States, its territories, and tribal lands.

     SEC. 4. UPGRADING EXISTING SYSTEMS.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator shall, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio 
     and ensure its reliability. In doing so, the Administrator 
     shall--
       (1) maintain support for existing systems serving areas not 
     covered by or having poor quality cellular service;

[[Page H4730]]

       (2) ensure consistent maintenance and operations 
     monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site 
     equipment and antennas; and
       (3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency 
     Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 to 
     remain available until expended.
       (c) Expanding Access.--As part of the activities in this 
     section, the Administrator shall acquire additional 
     transmitters as required to expand coverage to rural and 
     underserved communities, national parks, and recreation 
     areas.

     SEC. 5. MODERNIZATION INITIATIVE.

       (a) In General.--In parallel to the activities under 
     section 4, the Administrator shall, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its 
     capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In 
     carrying out these activities, the Administrator shall--
       (1) upgrade the 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, in order 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, but not limited to, 
     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, 
     but not limited to, microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA 
     Weather Radio signals to transmitters that are remote or do 
     not have IP capability; and
       (6) transition critical applications to the Integrated 
     Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.
       (b) Priority.--In carrying out the objectives described in 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall prioritize practices, 
     capabilities, and technologies recommended by the assessment 
     in subsection (c), to maximize accessibility, particularly in 
     remote and underserved areas of the country.
       (c) Assessment for Management and Distribution.--Not later 
     than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Administrator shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA 
     Weather Radio. In conducting such an assessment, the 
     Administrator shall take into consideration and provide 
     recommendations on--
       (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, which 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; and
       (7) any other function the Administrator deems necessary.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $40,000,000 to 
     remain available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens) and the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Ms. STEVENS. 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 H.R. 5324, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I voice my support for this bipartisan legislation led by Ranking 
Member Bice and Chairwoman Sherrill of the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee's Environment Subcommittee. The NWR Modernization 
Act of 2021 will direct NOAA to undertake various updates to the NOAA 
Weather Radio. NOAA Weather Radio serves as a consistent and reliable 
source of weather forecasts, warnings, and watches from the National 
Weather Service to communities across America--something that is all 
too palpable to Americans today given the rise of extreme weather 
incidents.
  Because of its broad reach and continuous coverage, NOAA Weather 
Radio also provides information related to natural disasters and other 
hazardous, nonweather events. In order to ensure that NOAA Weather 
Radio can continue to provide reliable, life-saving information, it is 
vital to ensure the system is upgraded to reflect the modern era. This 
bill requires NOAA to require more transmitters and update vital 
software and telecommunications infrastructure to support operation of 
NOAA Weather Radio and enhance its transmission of nonweather emergency 
messages. These updates should help to expand NOAA Weather Radio 
coverage to ensure all communities, especially underserved rural 
communities, receive these critical alerts.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will provide benefits to many across this 
incredible country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting its 
passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5324, the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, is 
dedicated to supporting, upgrading, and modernizing one of the best 
alert systems we have for extreme weather and other dangerous events.
  The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards system, known as NWR, is a highly 
successful, nationwide network of stations that broadcasts natural, 
environmental, and safety alerts to the public through radio broadcast 
frequencies.
  Whether it is an earthquake, tornado, chemical release, oil spill, or 
AMBER Alert, the NWR broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to 95 
percent of the U.S. population. It is lifesaving and informative to 
everyone, no matter their location. Simply put, NWR is the single 
source for comprehensive weather and emergency information.
  Many of my constituents in Oklahoma heard alerts through their 
National Weather Radio receiver last week when severe weather and 
tornadoes struck Seminole County in the late evening. Thankfully, there 
have been no reported casualties, and that is due in large part to 
citizens heeding the warnings of the NWR.
  The NWR is consistent, as it operates even when the power goes out 
and cell service is down. It is also trusted because of its accuracy 
and long track record of saving lives. But as with all technology, it 
needs to be upgraded and modernized to remain just as effective in the 
future as well as ensure current outages are short and infrequent.
  It was almost three decades ago, in the late 1990s, that the NWR 
network received its last upgrade. Since that time, operations and 
maintenance costs related to transmitters and antennas have increased. 
It should be obvious that technology has greatly advanced, as the very 
first iPhone wasn't available when these upgrades took place.
  As the world becomes more digitalized, we must ensure that older 
systems like this that protect lives and property don't get lost in the 
shuffle. That is why I introduced this legislation. H.R. 5324 
authorizes upgrades to the existing system through timely repairs and 
ensures that the reliable infrastructure in place is not abandoned. 
This will help outages become less common.
  Mr. Speaker, to give you an idea of this need, right before coming 
down here, I checked the NWR's website to see that 19 transmitters are 
currently out of service, and nine are experiencing degraded signal. 
That means 28 areas and surrounding communities are at risk of severe 
events with minimal warning.
  This legislation also establishes a modernization initiative for 
broadcasts to transmit to IP-based communications and develop options 
for backup capabilities and enhanced signal transmission. This paves 
the way for future development and provides failsafe options, so NWR is 
never down for an extended period of time.
  Last but not least, H.R. 5324 requires NOAA to conduct an assessment 
of NWR access. This will ensure that the modernization efforts are 
effective and people across the country have easy, reliable access in a 
manner that is in line with modern technology.
  The benefits of the National Weather Radio right now are numerous. 
The signal can easily reach and educate vulnerable communities. It can 
cover both land and marine warnings. And when a disaster is over, NWR 
can issue an all-

[[Page H4731]]

clear for a community that might be battered, but whose people are 
safe. Therefore, we should ensure its continued use by supporting its 
reliability and efforts to bring the system into the 21st century. I am 
proud to have introduced this legislation that does exactly that and 
will protect the lives of Oklahomans, as well as communities across the 
Nation.
  I thank the Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Sherrill for leading 
this bill with me and for her efforts to work across the aisle for its 
passage. I also thank Representatives Kilmer, LaTurner, Bonamici, and 
Ellzey for cosponsoring it.

  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will to take a moment to reflect. The Congresswoman 
from Oklahoma mentioned something that I believe is important to 
reiterate, which is that the technology adoptions occurred before the 
iPhone. Last June, in Oakland County, Michigan, the city of Farmington 
and Farmington Hills experienced an extreme weather event otherwise 
known as a supercell. This is rapid winds at a high level, multiple--
hundreds of feet, sometimes up in the air, ripping large trees from 
their roots. It was very destructive. There was no warning. It 
terrified residents of my district.
  We also reflect that in Mason City, Iowa, just last month, there was 
a major tornado that blew through, again, without warning. So this is 
very real and palpable to the American people.
  I again recognize the leadership of the Congresswoman from New Jersey 
(Ms. Sherrill), who is the subcommittee chair of the Environment 
Subcommittee, for her leadership, along with the Congresswoman from 
Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice) for bringing us this very critical bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), who is the 
distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and dean of the Oklahoma delegation.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Oklahoma for 
yielding and for introducing this legislation.
  H.R. 5324, the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act of 2021, is a 
straightforward, lifesaving bill introduced by my esteemed colleague 
from Oklahoma, Representative Stephanie Bice, who is the ranking member 
of the Environment Subcommittee.
  Last week, nearly the entire State of Oklahoma experienced an 
outbreak in severe weather and a number of confirmed tornadoes. That is 
not uncommon for this time of year, and our citizens were well 
prepared.
  While there was significant damage and widespread power outages, 
there have been no confirmed deaths at this point. That is because of 
the lifesaving efforts of NOAA, the National Weather Service, and 
warning capabilities like the NOAA Weather Radio, also known as NWR.
  Day or night, power or no power, in a rural area or in the heart of 
the city, an NWR device loudly alerts you and your family to severe 
weather nearby. Most Oklahomans have grown up listening to these 
announcements, and we know to act when we hear them. That saves lives. 
But since NWR was designated as the sole government provider of direct 
warnings to private homes in 1975, the system has gone through few 
upgrades other than broadly expanding access across the country.
  The NWR's aging infrastructure has led to increased maintenance costs 
and more frequent outages. The copper wiring that connects broadcast 
transmitters to Weather Service stations has become obsolete and 
expensive. More powerful storms require backup options and stronger 
signals in case of extensive damage to mission critical facilities.
  The NWR Modernization Act addresses these challenges and gives NOAA 
the authority and resources to ensure the NWR is as useful in the 21st 
century as it has been for the last four decades. This legislation 
continues to expand access to NWR, but does so while ensuring the 
system does not become obsolete with out-of-date technology.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership of the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology's Environment Subcommittee, Ranking 
Member Bice and Chairwoman Sherrill, for leading on this critical 
issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I would simply note that we pass lots of pieces of legislation in 
this body every session. But every so often, we address a piece of 
legislation that makes a real difference in the lives of people, a 
piece of legislation that deserves to move as swiftly as possible 
through the process to enable its implementation.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I thank all of my colleagues, and I urge a yes 
vote.
  Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, the NWR Modernization Act of 2021 
will ensure the continued safety of all Americans when experiencing 
severe weather and other emergency events. We have seen examples as 
recent as the past month of the NOAA Weather Radio saving lives in 
Oklahoma, Iowa, and Colorado.
  Although the National Weather Radio coverage is currently available 
to 95 percent of the U.S. population, I see no reason why we shouldn't 
strive for 100 percent. Every citizen, no matter how remote or isolated 
their location, deserves equal access to this lifesaving service.
  Additionally, because we have seen just how effective NWR is, we need 
to support its modernization and continued use for decades to come. 
Many services across different industries have used technology to adapt 
to a more modern age, and our country's emergency alert system should 
be no different. This bill allows NOAA to achieve both of those goals.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, NOAA Weather Radio is absolutely essential. 
We have a bill to modernize it. The American people need it now.
  H.R. 5324, the NWR Modernization Act of 2021, has my full support. I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5324, as amended.
  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. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________