[House Report 114-126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 114-126
======================================================================
WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2015
_______
May 19, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Smith of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1561]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 1561) to improve the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research
through a focused program of investment on affordable and
attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling
capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather
forecasting and prediction of high impact weather events, to
expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather
data, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that
the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Committee Statement and Views.................................... 8
Section-by-Section............................................... 14
Explanation of Amendments........................................ 17
Committee Consideration.......................................... 17
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch..................... 17
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the
Committee...................................................... 17
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 17
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 17
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 18
Federal Advisory Committee Act................................... 18
Unfunded Mandate Statement....................................... 18
Earmark Identification........................................... 18
Committee Estimate............................................... 18
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate... 18
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported............. 20
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.
In accordance with NOAA's critical mission to provide science,
service, and stewardship, the Under Secretary shall prioritize weather
research, across all weather programs, to improve weather data,
forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the
enhancement of the national economy.
SEC. 3. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION.
(a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for OAR shall conduct a
program to develop improved understanding of and forecast capabilities
for atmospheric events and their impacts, placing priority on
developing more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and fore-casts
of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.
(b) Program Elements.--The program described in subsection (a) shall
focus on the following activities:
(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather
consistent with section 2, including the boundary layer and
other atmospheric processes affecting high impact weather
events.
(2) Improving the understanding of how the public receives,
interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high
impact weather events that endanger life and property.
(3) Research and development, and transfer of knowledge,
technologies, and applications to the NWS and other appropriate
agencies and entities, including the American weather industry
and academic partners, related to--
(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies,
and other ground-based technologies, including those
emphasizing rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary
layer and lower troposphere, and the use of innovative,
dual-polarization, phased array technologies;
(B) aerial weather observing systems;
(C) high performance computing and information
technology and wireless communication networks;
(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems and
forecasting tools and techniques that improve the
forecasting of timing, track, intensity, and severity
of high impact weather, including through--
(i) the development of more effective
mesoscale models;
(ii) more effective use of existing, and the
development of new, regional and national
cloud-resolving models;
(iii) enhanced global weather models; and
(iv) integrated assessment models;
(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the
impact and value of data and observing systems,
including OSSEs (as described in section 8), OSEs, and
AOAs;
(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential
to accurately characterizing atmospheric composition
and predicting meteorological processes, including
cloud microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric
electrification processes, to more effectively
understand their role in severe weather; and
(G) additional sources of weather data and
information, including commercial observing systems.
(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly and
in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, and
in cooperation with the American weather industry and academic
partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of
the latest scientific and technological advances into NWS
operations and to establish a process to sunset outdated and
expensive operational methods and tools to enable cost-
effective transfer of new methods and tools into operations.
(c) Extramural Research.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program under this
section, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall collaborate
with and support the non-Federal weather research community,
which includes institutions of higher education, private
entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by making funds
available through competitive grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that not
less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research and
development at OAR should be made available for the purpose
described in paragraph (1).
(d) Report.--The Under Secretary shall transmit to Congress annually,
concurrently with NOAA's budget request, a description of current and
planned activities under this section.
SEC. 4. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
American weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a
tornado warning improvement and extension program.
(b) Goal.--The goal of such program shall be to reduce the loss of
life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and
extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts,
predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond
one hour in advance.
(c) Program Plan.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in
coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a
program plan that details the specific research, development, and
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and
timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal.
(d) Budget for Plan.--Following completion of the plan, the Assistant
Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator
for NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.
SEC. 5. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
American weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain the
Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP).
(b) Goal.--The goal of such program shall be to develop and extend
accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of
life, injury, and damage to the economy.
(c) Program Plan.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in
consultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a
program plan that details the specific research, development, and
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and
timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal.
(d) Budget for Plan.--Following completion of the plan, the Assistant
Administrator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator
for NWS, shall transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding to the activities identified in the plan.
SEC. 6. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in
coordination with the Assistant Administrators for NWS and NESDIS,
shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan
to restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather
prediction and forecasting that--
(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals,
objectives, and progress of NOAA in carrying out the program
conducted under section 3;
(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and
development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to
meet the operational weather mission of NWS to achieve a
weather-ready Nation;
(3) describes how the program will collaborate with
stakeholders, including the American weather industry and
academic partners; and
(4) identifies, through consultation with the National
Science Foundation, American weather industry, and academic
partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of
social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning
processes, including to improve the communication of threat
information necessary to enable improved severe weather
planning and decisionmaking on the part of individuals and
communities.
SEC. 7. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING.
The Under Secretary shall--
(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation
data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting
capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent
practicable;
(2) undertake, using OSSEs, OSEs, AOAs, and other appropriate
assessment tools, ongoing systematic evaluations of the
combination of observing systems, data, and information needed
to meet the requirements listed under paragraph (1), assessing
various options to maximize observational capabilities and
their cost-effectiveness;
(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in
observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under
paragraph (1); and
(4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified
under paragraph (3).
SEC. 8. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.
(a) In General.--In support of the requirements of section 7, the
Assistant Administrator for OAR shall undertake OSSEs to quantitatively
assess the relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and
systems. Technical and scientific OSSE evaluations--
(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing
capabilities on--
(A) global weather prediction;
(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting;
(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy;
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm
outbreaks; and
(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to
cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6
hours to 1 week; and
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate
entities within NOAA, other Federal agencies, the American
weather industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical
and scientific merit of OSSE results.
(b) Requirements.--OSSEs shall quantitatively--
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based,
suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and
forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather
events across all parts of the Nation;
(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; and
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various
observing systems and combinations of observing systems in
providing data necessary to protect life and property.
(c) Implementation.--OSSEs--
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major
Government-owned or Government-leased operational observing
systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite
systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new
commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than
$500,000,000.
(d) Priority OSSEs.--
(1) Global navigation satellite system radio occultation.--
Not later than December 31, 2015, the Assistant Administrator
for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from
Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation.
(2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global
constellation.--Not later than December 31, 2016, the Assistant
Administrator for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the
value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global
constellation.
(e) Results.--Upon completion of all OSSEs, results shall be publicly
released and accompanied by an assessment of related private and public
sector weather data sourcing options, including their availability,
affordability, and cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be
developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States
Code.
SEC. 9. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION REPORT.
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the NOAA Chief Information Officer, in
coordination with the Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant
Administrator for NWS, shall produce and make publicly available a
report that explains how NOAA intends to--
(1) continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most
powerful, and cost effective high performance computing
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
(2) 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) take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as
appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models
available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the
American weather industry, and partners in academic and
government research; and
(4) use existing computing resources to improve advanced
research and operational weather prediction.
SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA.
(a) Amendment.--Section 60161 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following: ``This prohibition shall
not extend to--
``(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with
commercial providers; or
``(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on
cohosted government or private payloads.''.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Under Secretary, shall transmit to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a strategy to enable the
procurement of quality commercial weather data. The strategy
shall assess the range of commercial opportunities, including
public-private partnerships, for obtaining surface-based,
aviation-based, and space-based weather observations. The
strategy shall include the expected cost effectiveness of these
opportunities as well as provide a plan for procuring data,
including an expected implementation timeline, from these
nongovernmental sources, as appropriate.
(2) Requirements.--The strategy shall include--
(A) an analysis of financial or other benefits to,
and risks associated with, acquiring commercial weather
data or services, including through multiyear
acquisition approaches;
(B) an identification of methods to address planning,
programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to
such approaches, including--
(i) how standards will be set to ensure that
data is reliable and effective;
(ii) how data may be acquired through
commercial experimental or innovative
techniques and then evaluated for integration
into operational use;
(iii) how to guarantee public access to all
forecast-critical data to ensure that the
American weather industry and the public
continue to have access to information critical
to their work; and
(iv) in accordance with section 50503 of
title 51, United States Code, methods to
address potential termination liability or
cancellation costs associated with weather data
or service contracts; and
(C) an identification of any changes needed in the
requirements development and approval processes of the
Department of Commerce to facilitate effective and
efficient implementation of such strategy.
(3) Authority for agreements.--The Assistant Administrator
for NESDIS may enter into multiyear agreements necessary to
carry out the strategy developed under this subsection.
(c) Pilot Program.--
(1) Criteria.--Not later than December 31, 2015, NOAA shall
publish data standards and specifications for space-based
commercial weather data.
(2) Pilot contract.--
(A) Contract.--Not later than October 1, 2016, NOAA
shall, through an open competition, enter into at least
one pilot contract with a private sector entity capable
of providing data that meet the standards and
specifications set by NOAA to provide commercial
weather data in a manner that allows NOAA to calibrate
and evaluate the data.
(B) Assessment of data viability.--Not later than
October 1, 2019, NOAA shall transmit to Congress the
results of a determination of the extent to which data
provided under the contract entered into under
subparagraph (A) meet the criteria published under
paragraph (1).
(3) Obtaining future data.--NOAA shall, to the extent
feasible, obtain commercial weather data from private sector
providers.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to
be appropriated out of funds made available for procurement,
acquisition, and construction at NESDIS, $9,000,000 for
carrying out this subsection.
SEC. 11. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICES WORKING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--The NOAA Science Advisory Board shall continue to
maintain a standing working group named the Environmental Information
Services Working Group (in this section referred to as the ``Working
Group'') to--
(1) provide advice for prioritizing weather research
initiatives at NOAA to produce real improvement in weather
forecasting;
(2) provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or
techniques that can be found in private industry or the
research community that could be incorporated into forecasting
at NWS to improve forecasting skill;
(3) identify opportunities to improve communications between
weather forecasters, Federal, State, local, and tribal
emergency management personnel, and the public; and to improve
communications and partnerships among NOAA and the private and
academic sectors; and
(4) address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board
requests of the Working Group.
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall be composed of
leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of
science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry,
atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social science,
risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer
sciences. In carrying out this section, the Working Group may
organize into subpanels.
(2) Number.--The Working Group shall be composed of no fewer
than 15 members. Nominees for the Working Group may be
forwarded by the Working Group for approval by the Science
Advisory Board. Members of the Working Group may choose a chair
(or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by the
Science Advisory Board.
(c) Annual Report.--The Working Group shall transmit annually to the
Science Advisory Board for submission to the Under Secretary a report
on progress made by NOAA in adopting the Working Group's
recommendations. The Science Advisory Board shall transmit this report
to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the
Under Secretary shall transmit it to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 12. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION COORDINATION.
(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish an Inter-agency Committee for
Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather
research and forecast innovation activities across the Federal
Government. The Interagency Committee shall--
(1) include participation by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, NOAA
and its constituent elements, the National Science Foundation,
and such other agencies involved in weather forecasting
research as the President determines are appropriate;
(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate
those needs against budget requests and program initiatives
across participating offices and agencies; and
(3) share information regarding operational needs and
forecasting improvements across relevant agencies.
(b) Co-chair.--The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall serve as
a co-chair of this panel.
(c) Further Coordination.--The Director shall take such other steps
as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government
with those of the American weather industry, State governments,
emergency managers, and academic researchers.
SEC. 13. OAR AND NWS EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for OAR and the
Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program to detail OAR
personnel to the NWS and NWS personnel to OAR.
(b) Goal.--The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting
innovation through regular, direct interaction between OAR's world-
class scientists and NWS's operational staff.
(c) Elements.--The program shall allow up to 10 OAR staff and NWS
staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly
selected by the Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant
Administrator for NWS.
(d) Report.--The Under Secretary shall report annually to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate on participation in such program and shall
highlight any innovations that come from this interaction.
SEC. 14. VISITING FELLOWS AT NWS.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a
program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at any of
the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
(b) Goal.--This program shall be designed to provide direct
interaction between forecasters and talented academic and private
sector researchers in an effort to bring innovation to forecasting
tools and techniques available to the NWS.
(c) Selection and Appointment.--Such fellows shall be competitively
selected and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 year.
SEC. 15. NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS ``MARK TRAIL'' AWARD PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS is authorized to
establish the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards ``Mark Trail'' Award
Program. This award program shall provide annual awards to honor
individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA Weather Radio All
Hazards receivers or transmitters to save lives and protect property.
Individuals or organizations that utilize other early warning tools or
applications also qualify for this award.
(b) Goal.--This award program draws attention to the life-saving work
of the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards program, as well as emerging
tools and applications, that provide real-time warning to individuals
and communities of severe weather or other hazardous conditions.
(c) Program Elements.--
(1) Nominations.--Nominations for this award shall be made
annually by the Weather Field Offices to the Assistant
Administrator for NWS. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio
manufacturers and weather warning tool and application
developers, emergency managers and public safety officials may
nominate individuals and/or organizations to their local
Weather Field Offices, but the final list of award nominees
must come from the Weather Field Offices.
(2) Selection of awardees.--Annually, the Assistant
Administrator for NWS shall choose winners of this award whose
timely actions, based on NOAA weather radio all hazards
receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools and
applications, saved lives and/or property or demonstrated
public service in support of weather or all hazard warnings.
(3) Award ceremony.--The Assistant Administrator for NWS
shall establish a means of making these awards to provide
maximum public awareness of the important Weather Radio All
Hazards program, and such other warning tools and applications
as are represented in the awards.
SEC. 16. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) AOA.--The term ``AOA'' means an Analysis of Alternatives.
(2) NESDIS.--The term ``NESDIS'' means the National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.
(3) NOAA.--The term ``NOAA'' means the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
(4) NWS.--The term ``NWS'' means the National Weather
Service.
(5) OAR.--The term ``OAR'' means the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research.
(6) OSE.--The term ``OSE'' means an Observing System
Experiment.
(7) OSSE.--The term ``OSSE'' means an Observing System
Simulation Experiment.
(8) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
SEC. 17. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Year 2015.--There are authorized to be appropriated for
fiscal year 2015--
(1) $90,800,000 to OAR to carry out this Act, of which--
(A) $70,000,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes; and
(B) $20,800,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
(2) out of funds made available for research and development
at NOAA, an additional amount of $16,000,000 for OAR to carry
out the joint technology transfer initiative described in
section 3(b)(4).
(b) Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017.--For each of fiscal years 2016 and
2017, there are authorized to be appropriated to OAR--
(1) $100,000,000 to carry out this Act, of which--
(A) $80,000,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes; and
(B) $20,000,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
(2) an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4).
(c) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out this
Act, and the amendments made by this Act.
Committee Statement and Views
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
The purpose of H.R. 2413 is to improve the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's weather research through a
focused program of investment on affordable and attainable
advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities
to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and
prediction of high impact weather events, and to expand
commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Weather impacts American lives, and extreme weather poses
significant risks to important parts of the U.S. economy. NOAA
has traced a rise in weather disasters costing the economy up
to $1 billion in damage per weather event, and a recent
analysis found that substantial parts of the economy are
sensitive to weather variability, representing more than three
percent of Gross Domestic Product and nearly $500 billion a
year.\1\
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\1\http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/2011BAMS2928.1
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Recent severe weather events in the United States have
underscored the need for timely, accurate, and reliable weather
forecasts. Within NOAA, the National Weather Service (NWS), the
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), and the
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
(NESDIS) play important roles in developing and deploying U.S.
weather forecasting capabilities.\2\ NOAA is joined in this
effort by an ever-evolving private sector weather enterprise.
The National Academy of Sciences emphasized the importance of
this partnership, noting that ``[p]rivate sector and other
organizations provide sensor data, weather forecasts, and end-
user services to a broad set of customers.''\3\
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\2\For more information on these responsibilities, see: ``To
Observe and Protect: How NOAA Procures Data for Weather Forecasting,''
March 28, 2012, http://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-energy-
and-environment-hearing-how-noaa-procures-data-weather-forecasting.
\3\http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-
reports/reports-in-brief/Weather-Services-Report-Brief.pdf.
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Rapid technological advances in computing and other areas
such as remote sensing and advanced radar hold great promise to
improve severe weather prediction, but have yet to be fully
exploited. This promise was detailed in NOAA's most recent 20
Year Research Vision, which asserted that emphasis on weather
research and technological development will result in
significant benefits to public safety:
Severe storm and event warnings will save more lives
and property. The enhanced information delivery systems
of the future will be well coordinated and able to
quickly disseminate severe storm and event warnings.
The warnings themselves will see dramatic improvements.
For example, tornado warning lead times will be on the
order of one hour, rather than minutes. Technology like
phased array radar, significant improvements in our
understanding of meso-scale weather processes, and the
development of models that embody this understanding
will enable this accomplishment. Improvements in storm
surge forecasting and increased tsunami monitoring/
warning capacity will also greatly minimize loss of
life and property damage from these hazards.\4\
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\4\http://nrc.noaa.gov/sites/nrc/Documents/
Reduced%20file%20size_20%20yr%20Research
%20Vision.pdf.
Citing ongoing concerns about potential data gaps for
NOAA's polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite programs, the
Government Accountability Office added NOAA's satellite
programs to its High Risk List in 2013. This potential gap in
weather satellite coverage and management problems with NOAA's
satellites have been the subject of several Science, Space, and
Technology Committee hearings over many years. The GAO
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emphasized the potential effects of a gap:
According to program officials from the Department of
Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), a satellite data gap would
result in less accurate and timely weather forecasts
and warnings of extreme events--such as hurricanes,
storm surges and floods. Such degradation in forecasts
and warnings would place lives, property, and our
nation's critical infrastructures in danger. Given the
criticality of satellite data to weather forecasts, the
likelihood of significant gaps, and the potential
impact of such gaps on the health and safety of the
U.S. population and economy, we concluded that the
potential gap in weather satellite data is a high-risk
area and added it to the High Risk List in 2013.\5\
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\5\http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/668415.pdf.
In addition, independent reviews of NOAA's weather research
portfolio have also recommended a stronger emphasis on moving
research-to-operations within NOAA's weather portfolio. In
2010, the National Academy of Public Administration stated that
OAR ``provides particularly important institutional glue to
support innovation across NOAA.''\6\ In April 2013, NOAA's
Science Advisory Board stated that ``unless . . . science is
transitioned into operations . . . NOAA will fail in its
mission. NOAA must make certain that the intended end use of
the scientific information is understood from the start by its
researchers working on scientific questions and, ensure that
internal as well as external end-user needs are incorporated
explicitly into the problem formulation.''\7\
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\6\http://www.napawash.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NAPA-Final-
Report_NOAA-Climate-Service-Study_September-20101.pdf.
\7\http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Reports/2013/
SAB%20R&D%20Portfolio%20Review%20Report
%20to%20NOAA 20FINAL.pdf.
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
On March 25, 2015, the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology passed H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015 by voice vote. H.R. 1561 is
substantially similar to last year's H.R. 2413, the Weather
Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014, which passed the U.S.
House of Representatives on April 1, 2014 by voice vote.
Informing this legislation, the Environment Subcommittee
held a hearing on May 23, 2013 entitled ``Restoring U.S.
Leadership in Weather Forecasting.'' The purpose of the hearing
was to examine ways to improve NOAA weather forecasting, and to
receive testimony on draft legislation to prioritize weather-
related research. The Committee received testimony from: Mr.
Barry Myers, Chief Executive Officer of AccuWeather, Inc. and
Mr. Jon Kirchner, President of GeoOptics, Inc. Witnesses
discussed the current weather forecasting systems in the U.S.
and highlighted opportunities to improve weather forecasting
through new technologies.
The Environment Subcommittee also held a hearing on June
26, 2013 entitled ``Restoring U.S. Leadership in Weather
Forecasting Part 2,'' with the purpose of continuing the
discussion of improving NOAA's weather forecasting. The
Subcommittee received testimony from: The Honorable Kathryn
Sullivan, Acting Administrator at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Vice
President for Research, Regents' Professor for Meteorology,
Weathernews Chair Emeritus, University of Oklahoma; Dr. William
Gail, Chief Technology Officer, Global Weather Corporation,
President-Elect, American Meteorological Society; and Dr. Shuyi
Chen, Professor, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography,
Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University
of Miami.
COMMITTEE VIEWS
H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation
Act of 2015, aims to enhance NOAA's protection of lives and
property through a focused program of investment on affordable
and attainable advances in observational, computing, and
modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement in
weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather
events.
The bill codifies ongoing research and development
activities and builds upon funds provided by Congress following
Superstorm Sandy. The core principle that informs this bill is
a firm commitment to restore America's leadership in numerical
weather prediction, forecasting and, risk communication. As Dr.
Tom Bogdan, President of the University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research, wrote to the Committee when passing this
bill in 2013: ``By key measures, U.S. weather forecasting
capabilities have slipped behind those of a number of
international competitors, including the European Union, United
Kingdom, and Japan.''
Through prioritization and greater collaboration with the
American weather industry and academic partners, H.R. 1561 will
result in better prediction of high impact weather events. The
Committee is aware of a long series of reports, including from
the National Research Council, the National Academy of Public
Administration, and the NOAA Science Advisory Board which
demonstrate that the Federal weather effort at NOAA has ample
room for improvement. A recurring theme of these reports is
that efforts to integrate research into the operational needs
of the weather service could be much stronger, and that the
overall effort at NOAA to consider new ideas and techniques
from outside the agency needs to be more vigorous.
Throughout H.R. 1561, the Committee gives responsibility to
different line offices within NOAA, but requires coordination
between these offices. The Committee fully expects that the
coordination will be real and meaningful, with the goal of
improving research-to-operations in a way that improves public
safety and efficiency in government. The bill directs the Under
Secretary of NOAA to prioritize weather-related activities
across all weather programs, especially those that protect
American lives and property and enhance our national economy,
in all relevant line offices, including NWS, OAR, and NESDIS.
This provision highlights that improved forecasting is of
central importance to NOAA's public safety mission.
Section 3 codifies and clarifies a NOAA program, led by the
Assistant Administrator for OAR, for weather research and
forecasting innovation. This program includes a number of
elements, including accelerated research, development, and
deployment of critical technologies like next-generation radar
and aerial observation systems, new global and national models,
advanced high performance computing using graphic processing
information technology networks, and quantitative assessment
tools for measuring the value of data and specific observing
systems, as well as a technology transfer initiative between
relevant NOAA line offices and in collaboration with external
partners. In enumerating the elements of the program in
subsection (b), the Committee relied upon the expert advice of
the weather enterprise--particularly suggestions from
university and not-for-profit research center scientists--to
try to capture specific research issues. However, it is not our
intent to exclude from consideration other areas of research
and development. The Committee's expectation is that the
Assistant Administrator for OAR will develop a program that
reflects the full range of pertinent research challenges.
The technology transfer initiative prescribed in subsection
(b) should be consistent with NOAA's Weather Ready Nation
program, build upon the successes of NOAA's weather-related
test beds, include the necessary advanced research data
handling and processing, and help to ensure that dedicated
resources to support research-to-operations are not diverted.
In subsection (3)(b)(4), the Committee directs that the
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
establish a technology transfer program designed to move the
innovations of OAR into the operational work of NWS. In
carrying out this subsection, the Assistant Administrator
should consult closely with the Assistant Administrator for
Weather Services regarding the value of the science and
technology to be transitioned, integrated, and implemented into
an operational environment. Section 3 further encourages
extramural research collaboration and establishes the sense of
Congress that NOAA should provide competitive grants,
contracts, and cooperative agreements consistent with historic
levels. Subsection (c) directs the Assistant Administrator of
OAR to collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather
research community. The bill requires the Under Secretary to
transmit, as part of the budget process, a report that
identifies the activities carried out under this section.
Building upon the successes of NOAA's Hurricane Forecast
Improvement Program, H.R. 1561 directs the creation of a
tornado warning improvement program. Following several deadly
tornado outbreaks in 2013, including in Moore, Oklahoma, the
tornado program will focus on extending accurate forecasts and
warnings to beyond one hour. The bill also adds language to
maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program. Previous
language in the bill regarding the hurricane program indicated
it would be substantially similar to the ongoing Hurricane
Forecast Improvement Program. The Committee has addressed this
issue by editing language to insist that the original HFIP
program will be maintained without duplication by other program
efforts.
The bill encourages NOAA to address the loss of U.S.
competitiveness in weather forecasting by requiring the annual
development of a plan to restore and maintain leadership in
numerical weather prediction and forecasting. Section 6 goes on
to specify that one of the elements of the plan will be that it
``identifies and prioritizes specific research and development
activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the
operational weather mission of NWS.'' This ensures that the
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services will have
meaningful input into R&D planning because the plan must
reflect, to some degree, initiatives that are tied directly to
operational needs. This section also includes a requirement
that the agency pay special attention to the social science
knowledge necessary to turn improved weather forecasting skills
into communications that will help the public take effective
steps to be safe.
In order to address observing system needs and potential
data gaps, H.R. 1561 also requires NOAA to conduct
comprehensive observing system planning. In support of this
planning, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall conduct
OSSEs prior to major observing system acquisitions or
commercial data purchases. The bill codifies NOAA's commitment
to complete OSSEs on GNSS Radio Occultation and a geostationary
hyperspectral sounder global constellation using funds made
available in the Superstorm Sandy Supplemental. NOAA has
informed the Committee that these OSSE studies are underway and
directs the reports be shared with the Committee. The bill
directs NOAA to complete the GNSS Radio Occultation OSSE by
December 31, 2015, and the geostationary hyperspectral sounder
OSSE by December 31, 2016. The bill provides flexibilities
within NOAA's assessment of observing systems, and the OSSE
provisions are consistent with NOAA Administrators'
characterization of these experiments as a ``powerful tool'' to
``inform our strategies for investing in observation networks''
and ``to help determine what new data or technologies will
yield the best improvement in forecast accuracy.'' These
activities should be carried out collaboratively with the Joint
Center for Satellite Data Assimilation and other relevant
bodies.
Section 10 makes clear that NOAA is not prohibited from
purchasing weather data through contracts with commercial
providers or the placement of weather satellite instruments on
government or private payloads. The Committee views NOAA's
unwillingness to seriously consider all sources of cost-
effective, critical weather data, including from commercial
providers, as short-sighted and with the potential to compound
future data gaps. To help rectify this resistance to non-NOAA
sources of observing data, H.R. 1561 directs the Secretary of
Commerce to develop and transmit a strategy to enable the
procurement of quality commercial weather data, including
commercial opportunities for surface-, aviation-, and space-
based observations. The purchase of data from commercial
satellite vendors could lead to the best pricing for quality
weather data. In assessing the range of commercial
opportunities and developing the strategy of quality commercial
weather data, the full range of commercial options must be
considered, including FAR and non-FAR opportunities, public-
private partnerships, commercial service agreements, anchor
tenancy agreements, and pay on delivery contracts. NASA has
provided a model for many of these options, including data
purchases and NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services
for working with commercial companies cost-effectively to build
confidence in commercial capabilities. If the Department of
Commerce requires revised authority in order to implement one
or more of these options, the strategy should clearly note this
but it should not be a primary criterion in negatively
assessing an option.
Section 10 also establishes a pilot program to enable NOAA
to purchase and test space-based data from private sector
companies. The program first directs NOAA to publish data
standards and specifications for commercial weather data. It
also directs NOAA to enter into at least one contract with a
private sector entity capable of providing data that meets the
standards and specifications outlined by NOAA. The Committee is
aware of various space-based weather technologies that can
augment and improve NOAAs existing observing systems. Namely,
GNSS Radio Occultation and geostationary hyperspectral sounders
are key technologies that could provide substantial upgrades to
our forecasting capabilities. The Committee has been informed
by numerous sources on the advancements of these technologies
and understands that GNSS Radio Occultation is the most mature
at this time. The bill provides $9 million to carry out the
contract(s). This money is authorized out of funds made
available from the procurement, acquisition, and construction
account at NESDIS.
H.R. 1561 authorizes funding to allow NOAA to carry out a
balanced portfolio of research and development related to
weather forecasting and other areas. Authorization of funds for
the joint technology transfer initiative enabled by OAR's
Global Systems Division advanced data facility indicates the
Committee's desire to ensure that dedicated research-to-
operations be preserved in order to promote active partnerships
between NOAA line offices. The FY 2013 Disaster Relief
Appropriations Act ``kick-started'' important weather
forecasting improvement initiatives by providing initial
program funding and making possible the procurement of critical
enabling hardware such as a Global Hawk for the OAR unmanned
aircraft system research and development program and graphic
processing unit supercomputing infrastructure for revolutionary
new model development. The funding authorized by this bill will
follow through on these initiatives by making possible robust
operational base technology development programs for new aerial
weather observing systems to provide better meteorological
data, higher performance research computing, accelerated
development of next generation global and national/regional
weather models, and an institutionalized OSSE process
capability. Dedicated OAR funding for the direct transfer of
new knowledge, technologies, and applications to the NWS and
other agencies and entities under a ``real-time research''
approach completes this vision. The bill authorizes
appropriations to be made out of the overall funding for
operations, research, and facilities at OAR.
Section-by-Section
Section 1. Short title
This section established the short title as the ``Weather
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015''.
Section 2. Public safety priority
This section directs the Under Secretary of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Administrator) to
prioritize weather research across all weather programs,
including weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the
protection of lives and property.
Section 3. Weather research and forecasting innovation
Section 3 directs the Assistant Administrator of the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), in consultation with
the Assistant Administrator of the Weather Service, to
undertake a weather research program and directs the Assistant
Administrator to place priority on developing more accurate,
timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact
weather events that endanger life and property. Section 3
further defines the specific program elements to include
advanced radar, aerial systems, computing/modeling, and
Observing System Stimulation Experiments (OSSE) and codifies a
longstanding joint OAR-National Weather Service (NWS) tech
transfer program, moving its funding from NWS. Finally, this
section also directs NOAA to support weather research through
competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
Section 4. Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program
This section establishes a Tornado Warning Improvement and
Extension Program focused on developing and extending accurate
tornado forecasts and warnings beyond one hour in order to
reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy.
Section 5. Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program
Section 5 maintains the Hurricane Forecast Improvement
Program focused on extending accurate hurricane forecasts and
warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to
the economy.
Section 6. Weather research and development planning
Section 6 requires NOAA to develop a prioritized weather
research plan to guide activities authorized under the Act and
restore U.S. leadership in weather modeling, prediction, and
forecasting. The section requires the plan to also identify,
through consultation with the National Science Foundation, the
research necessary to integrate social science knowledge into
weather forecast and warning processes.
Section 7. Observing system planning
Section 7 directs NOAA to maintain a list of observation
data requirements and systematically evaluate the combination
of systems necessary to meet such requirements. This section
further directs NOAA to identify current and potential future
data gaps in observing capabilities and develop a range of
options to address any identified gaps.
Section 8. Observing system simulation experiments
This section directs NOAA to undertake Observing System
Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to quantitatively assess the
relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and
systems. This section identifies specific instances when an
OSSE must be performed. Section 8 specifies that OSSEs shall be
conducted prior to acquisition of government owned or leased
operational observing systems.
Section 9. Computing resources prioritization report
Section 9 directs NOAA to issue a plan that explains how it
intends to: (1) aggressively pursues the fastest, most
powerful, and cost effective high performance computing
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission; (2)
ensure a balance between the research to operations
requirements; (3) take advantage of advanced development
concepts; and (4) use existing computing resources to improve
advanced research and operational weather prediction.
Section 10. Commercial weather data
This section clarifies restrictions in existing law
prohibiting the sale of weather satellite systems to the
private sector do not extend to the purchase of weather data
through contracts with commercial providers or the placement of
instruments on private payloads. This section requires the
Secretary of Commerce to transmit a strategy that assesses the
range of commercial opportunities for obtaining both surface-
based and space-based weather observations. The strategy shall
include an analysis of financial or other benefits, methods to
address planning and budgeting, and identification of the
changes needed to facilitate effective implementation of such
strategy. This section also establishes a pilot program for
providing commercial weather data. The program directs NOAA to
enter into a contract or contracts with private sector entities
to provide data under criteria determined by NOAA. The Pilot
Project authorizes, out of funds made available to NOAA's
Satellite Office, $9,000,000 to carry out the contract or
contracts entered into for providing commercial weather data.
Section 11. The Environmental Information Services Working Group
Section 11 tasks NOAA's already-established Environmental
Information Services Working Group to provide advice for
prioritizing weather research initiatives at NOAA and identify
emerging technologies. The Working Group shall be composed of
leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of
science and engineering. The Working Group will transmit an
annual report to the Undersecretary. The Undersecretary will
relay such reports to the Committee.
Section 12. Interagency weather research and innovation coordination
This section requires the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy to establish an Interagency Committee for
Advancing Weather Services. The Committee will improve
coordination of relevant weather research and forecast
innovation activities across the federal government.
Section 13. Visiting OAR Researchers Program
Section 13 grants the Assistant Administrator for OAR the
authority to establish a program to detail OAR researchers to
NWS. If OAR establishes the program, it allows between five and
fifteen OAR staff to spend up to one year on detail to the NWS
to allow for productive interaction to improve forecasting
capabilities. The Undersecretary shall submit an annual report
to the Science Committee detailing the program participation
and highlighting any innovations that come from this
interaction.
Section 14. Visiting fellows at NWS
This section allows the Assistant Administrator for NWS to
establish a program to host post-doctoral fellows and academic
researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental
Prediction.
Section 15. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards ``Mark Trail'' Award Program
Section 15 reinstates a previously established program that
honors individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA
Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters. The
nominations for this honor shall be made by the Weather
Services' field offices. The Assistant Administrator for the
Weather Service shall choose the winners, and make the public
aware of the honors. This program costs no money to carry out.
Section 16. Definitions
This section provides definitions for terms in the bill.
Section 17. Authorization of appropriations
Section 17 authorizes $90.8 million for Fiscal Year 2015 to
carry out the weather research program established under
section 3. It further specifies that out of the $90.8 million
provided in this section, $70.0 million is authorized for
weather laboratories and cooperative institutes and $20.8
million is authorized for weather and air chemistry research
programs. It also authorizes for FY 2015, $16 million to carry
out the joint technology transfer initiative described in
section 3.
For FY2016 and FY2017, the section authorizes $100 million
to carry out the weather research program established under
section 3. It further specifies that out of the $100 million
provided in this section, $80 million is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes and $20 million is
authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs.
Finally, this section also authorizes $20 million annually to
carry out the joint technology transfer initiative described in
section 3. No additional funds are authorized to carry out this
Act, and the amendments made by this Act.
Explanation of Amendments
An amendment offered by Mr. Beyer to add ``Federal, State,
local, and tribal'' to the emergency management personnel that
the Environmental Information Services Working Group seeks to
have better communication with, in addition to weather
forecasters and the public was adopted.
An amendment offered by Mr. Grayson: to strike ``Warning''
and insert ``Forecast'' into the section 5 title was adopted.
This language helps clarify that the program does not duplicate
current hurricane research efforts at NOAA.
Committee Consideration
On March 25, 2015, the Committee met in open session and
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 1561, as amended, by
voice vote, a quorum being present.
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch
Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a
description of the application of this bill to the legislative
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
This bill improves the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's weather research through a focused program of
investment on affordable and attainable advances in
observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support
substantial improvement in weather forecasting and prediction
of high impact weather events, and to expand commercial
opportunities for the provision of weather data. As such this
bill does not relate to employment or access to public services
and accommodations.
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
H.R. 1561 would direct the Under Secretary of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Administrator) to
prioritize weather research across all weather programs,
including weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the
protection of lives and property.
Duplication of Federal Programs
No provision of H.R. 1561 establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1561 does not
direct the completion of any specific rule makings within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).
Unfunded Mandate Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement as to
whether the provisions of the reported include unfunded
mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has
received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office included
herein.
Earmark Identification
H.R. 1561 does not include any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9 of rule XXI.
Committee Estimate
Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out
H.R. 1561. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received
the following cost estimate for H.R. 1561 from the Director of
Congressional Budget Office:
May 12, 2015.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1561, the Weather
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1561--Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015
Summary: H.R. 1561 would authorize the appropriation of
$120 million for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to
improve forecasting of severe weather events. The bill also
would authorize NOAA to carry out various other activities
related to weather forecasting and research.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $240
million over the 2016-2020 period. Enacting H.R. 1561 would not
affect direct spending or revenues, therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
H.R. 1561 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments. Public entities, such as weather and emergency
response agencies and public universities, would benefit from
cooperative arrangements and federal grants authorized in the
bill for research and weather-related activities.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 1561 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-------------------------------------------------------
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2016-2020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Level..................................... 120 120 0 0 0 240
Estimated Outlays....................................... 78 102 38 18 4 240
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
legislation will be enacted near the end of 2015 and that the
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year.
Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for
NOAA programs. Although funds have probably been appropriated
in fiscal year 2015 to conduct certain activities authorized
under the bill, CBO cannot identify those amounts because NOAA
has not provided information regarding the amounts of
appropriated funds allocated to those activities.
H.R. 1561 would authorize the appropriation of $120 million
a year over the 2016-2017 period for NOAA to develop a program
to improve forecasting of severe weather events. Under the
bill, NOAA would use those funds to purchase equipment and
conduct research to improve the agency's forecasting
capabilities and warning systems and enter into a contract with
at least one private-sector entity to provide commercial
weather data. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts,
CBO estimates that implementing the program would cost $240
million over the 2016-2020 period.
Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1561
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments. Public entities, such as weather and
emergency response agencies and public universities, would
benefit from cooperative arrangements and federal grants
authorized in the bill for research and weather-related
activities.
Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; Impact on the
private sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for
Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 51, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
Subtitle VI--Earth Observations
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 601--LAND REMOTE SENSING POLICY
* * * * * * *
Subchapter VI--Prohibition of Commercialization of Weather Satellites
* * * * * * *
Sec. 60161. Prohibition
Neither the President nor any other official of the
Government shall make any effort to lease, sell, or transfer to
the private sector, or commercialize, any portion of the
weather satellite systems operated by the Department of
Commerce or any successor agency. This prohibition shall not
extend to--
(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts
with commercial providers; or
(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on
cohosted government or private payloads.
* * * * * * *
[all]