[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2147-H2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1800
ADVANCED WEATHER MODEL COMPUTING DEVELOPMENT ACT
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1715) to direct the Department of Energy and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct
collaborative research in order to advance numerical weather and
climate prediction in the United States, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1715
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 ``Advanced Weather Model
Computing Development Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Energy.
(2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory''
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(4) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary and Administrator shall
carry out collaborative research and development activities
in artificial intelligence and high performance computing
focused on the advancement of climate models and operational
numerical weather prediction relevant to agency missions.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary and
Administrator shall carry out the activities under subsection
(a) through the establishment of a memorandum of
understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreement.
Such memorandum or agreement, as the case may be, shall
require the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process,
which considers applications from Federal agencies, National
Laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit
institutions, and other appropriate entities.
(c) Activities.--In carrying out the activities under
subsection (a), the Secretary and Administrator may--
(1) conduct collaborative research to develop new methods
and optimization of modeling and simulation, machine
learning, data assimilation, large scale data analytics, and
predictive analysis techniques;
(2) explore options for performance portability of the
optimized weather model codes between the operational
computing systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the Department's high performance
computers;
(3) develop methods to accommodate large data sets of
weather and climate information;
(4) to the maximum extent practicable, and in compliance
with national security policies, promote collaboration, open
community-based development, and data sharing between Federal
agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate
entities by providing the necessary access and secure data
transfer capabilities; and
(5) support maintenance of and improvements to scientific
computing infrastructure that the Secretary and Administrator
determine appropriate.
(d) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under
subsection (a), the Secretary and Administrator are
authorized to--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the
Department, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and other entities in order to maximize the
effectiveness of research and development; and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies as appropriate.
(e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary and Administrator shall
submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate, a report detailing the
following:
(1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency
involved in the research and development activities carried
out under this section.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical
capabilities of the Department and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial gains as a result
of the activities described in subsection (c).
(5) Continuation of coordination between the Department and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on
activities described in subsection (c).
SEC. 4. CLIMATE AND WEATHER PREDICTION ON HIGH PERFORMANCE
COMPUTERS INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--The Administrator, in collaboration with
the Secretary, shall carry out an initiative, which may
leverage Department high performance computers or expertise,
to run advanced models in order to conduct proof of concept
scenarios in comparison with current issued forecasts and
models. The Secretary and Administrator shall carry out the
initiative through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and
consider applications from Federal agencies, National
Laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit
institutions, and other appropriate entities.
(b) Components.--In carrying out the initiative under
subsection (a), the Administrator shall prevent duplication
and coordinate research efforts in artificial intelligence,
high performance computing, modeling and simulation, machine
learning, data assimilation, large scale data analytics, and
predictive analysis across the Department, and may--
(1) run real-time weather forecast scenarios to conduct
comparative research between National Weather Service issued
forecasts to forecasts developed through the use of
operational models run on high performance computers;
(2) share relevant modeling system and applications
innovations developed through the initiative, including
Unified Forecast System-based applications, through
community-based activities; and
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(3) leverage related weather and climate efforts and data
from the National Science and Technology Council, the
Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services,
and other relevant interagency entities.
(c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report evaluating the following:
(1) The effectiveness of the initiative under subsection
(a), including applied research discoveries, and advanced
modeling improvements achieved.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the high performance
computing capabilities of the Department and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(d) Sunset.--The authority under this section shall
terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this
section.
SEC. 5. RESEARCH SECURITY.
The activities authorized under this Act shall be applied
in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the
Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act
(enacted as division B of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Public Law
117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.)).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1715, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1715, the Advanced
Weather Model Computing Development Act.
This legislation authorizes the collaborative research partnership
between the United States Department of Energy and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to improve weather modeling and
prediction on high-performance computers.
Americans rely on accurate weather forecasting before, during, and
after extreme weather events. Recent severe outbreaks across the
country have further highlighted the increased need for more accurate
and effective prediction of extreme weather in every region of the
country. This type of weather prediction relies on the analysis of
increasingly large and complex datasets through high-performance
computing resources.
DOE is home to some of the most advanced supercomputers, including
the first exascale computer, and the most advanced scientific computer
capabilities in the world. This legislation will enable large leaps in
knowledge and operational tools by leveraging DOE's high-performance
computing capabilities to analyze NOAA's complex and large weather
datasets.
By working together, DOE and NOAA can combine their respective
expertise to solve some of today's most challenging problems in
environmental science. By authorizing this partnership, we can ensure
these agencies can continue their essential interagency research for
years to come. We can also save taxpayer money by sharing mutually
beneficial resources instead of building out duplicative capabilities
at different agencies.
This legislation would codify that partnership and provide new paths
forward for this important work and new mechanisms for collaboration.
In this way, we can increase government efficiency by working across
the larger Federal landscape, a good government measure that will not
only result in the protection of lives and property but also
efficiently utilize existing Federal research dollars.
It is smart, bipartisan policy, and I thank Ranking Member Ross for
working with me on this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in enthusiastic support of H.R. 1715, the
Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act. Introduced by
Representatives Deborah Ross and Max Miller, this good bipartisan
legislation significantly advances the weather forecasting and climate
modeling missions of the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, otherwise known as NOAA, by authorizing
collaborative research partnerships between the agencies.
Climate change is fueling extreme weather events, which poses
significant threats to life and causes massive property damage across
the United States. My home State of California has experienced billion-
dollar extreme weather events and disasters. No State in our Nation is
untouched by the damaging physical and emotional impacts of windstorms,
flooding, and other disasters.
Deadly storms across the South and Midwest and entire communities
being washed away in Alaska are only a few of the many challenges that
extreme weather events and climate change pose. In my own district in
California, we have seen flooding in Monterey County, in Pajaro, in
Watsonville, in San Benito County, and great devastation and suffering.
Supporting a robust Federal weather and climate research enterprise is
invaluable to the safety and well-being of the Nation.
This bill is a necessary push forward for our weather and climate
modeling capabilities, as it lets NOAA utilize DOE's high-performing
computing capabilities and expertise. It also would improve the
scientific computing infrastructure between both agencies, a critical
need that NOAA has repeatedly expressed as being a roadblock to more
timely and accurate weather forecasts.
An important aspect of the research which this bill would support is
that it would improve NOAA's ability to accurately forecast weather and
climate events by improving the utilization of preexisting data
streams. This increases the bang for the buck for every taxpayer dollar
spent on acquiring data while also improving our Nation's resilience to
weather and climate disasters.
Madam Speaker, I thank again the sponsors of this legislation. I
strongly urge all Members of the House to support this timely and
important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Ross), an enormously talented member of the
Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Ms. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1715, the
Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act.
As all Members know, the United States has witnessed an alarming rise
in severe weather events. According to NOAA, in 2020 alone, the U.S.
experienced 22 disasters in which the total damages exceeded $1
billion.
North Carolina is no stranger to extreme weather. Flooding occurs an
average of every 7.6 days in my home State. Hurricanes Matthew and
Florence in 2016 and 2018 killed 76 people and caused a combined $21.8
billion in damages.
As climate change continues to drive the growing number of severe
weather events, accurate and timely forecasts have never been more
important for protecting American lives.
This bill will enable NOAA to do just that, by fostering a
groundbreaking partnership with DOE that will tap DOE's computing
resources and expertise to improve weather modeling.
Our bipartisan legislation with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller)
will enhance tools available to outstanding forecasters at the National
Weather Service who dedicate their time and expertise to protecting
lives, property, aviation, commerce, agriculture, and so much more.
Madam Speaker, I also thank Ranking Member Lofgren and Chairman Lucas
for their leadership. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for
time. I am prepared to close once the gentlewoman from California
closes, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman
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from Michigan (Ms. Stevens), a valued member of the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee.
Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lofgren and my
phenomenal colleague, Ms. Deborah Ross, for their leadership in putting
forth this piece of legislation in a bipartisan way alongside the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller). Ms. Ross hails from Research Triangle
Park, and there is no one better in this institution to understand and
put forth the systems of our supercomputer technology, matching the
Department of Energy alongside NOAA to get in front of these storms
that are hitting us more ferociously and faster than ever before.
Every single Member of this body can talk about their experience with
a storm in their State or in their district. This is very real, and we
know that supercomputer technology puts forth the best and the fastest
applications. The DOE technology along with NOAA and their capabilities
to match these datasets will help us get in front of these storms.
Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Ross, a second-term member on the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee, the ranking member, and the chair for
their work on this bill. I urge all Members to join us in passing this
bipartisan legislation, getting in front of storms, getting in front of
climate change, and making people's lives better.
Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to Representative Ross for
the expertise and diligence and hard work that she puts in on the
Science Committee. Her knowledge is invaluable, but there is something
else. In this body, we know there is sometimes acrimony and fighting.
She is someone, along with Mr. Miller, who wants to get things done,
who put aside that kind of dissension and work together for the
betterment of our country. I am grateful to both of them.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I feel the same way and echo the
sentiment, and I thank the gentlewoman for her comments.
As I mentioned in my opening remarks, H.R. 1715 is a good government
bill that leverages existing Federal research dollars to advance
weather and climate science that will protect American lives and
property. It is bipartisan, commonsense legislation, which is why it
recently passed unanimously through the committee.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill once again,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1715.
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. MILLER of Ohio. Madam 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.
____________________