[House Report 118-306]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress    }                                     {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                     {      118-306

======================================================================



 
WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2023

                                _______
                                

 December 11, 2023.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Lucas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 6093]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 6093) to improve the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research, 
support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, 
expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather 
data, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that 
the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................    42
Background and Need for Legislation..............................    43
Legislative History..............................................    43
Committee Views..................................................    44
Section-by-Section...............................................    45
Related Committee Hearings.......................................    54
Committee Consideration..........................................    55
Roll Call Votes..................................................    55
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch.....................    57
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the 
  Committee......................................................    57
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............    57
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................    57
Federal Advisory Committee Act...................................    57
Unfunded Mandate Statement.......................................    57
Earmark Identification...........................................    57
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................    57
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures    58
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................    58
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............    58

    The amendment is as follows:
     Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023'' or the ``Weather 
Act Reauthorization Act of 2023''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

   TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
                         INNOVATION ACT OF 2017

Sec. 101. Public safety priority.
Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
Experiment (VORTEX).
Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.
Sec. 105. Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization.
Sec. 106. Observing system planning.
Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.
Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization.
Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center.
Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning.
Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities.
Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
Sec. 113. Ocean observations.
Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports.
Sec. 115. National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program.
Sec. 116. Amendments to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
and Control Act of 1998.

     TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION

Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation.
Sec. 202. Next generation radar.
Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States.
Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.
Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement 
program.
Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation.
Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program.
Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system.
Sec. 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting.
Sec. 210. National Weather Service workforce.

      TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS

Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.
Sec. 305. Clerical amendment.

             TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC

Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.
Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.
Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement.
Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization.
Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments.
Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert 
dissemination for hazardous weather or water events.
Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection.

   TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                               MANAGEMENT

Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water 
management.
Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System.
Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program.
Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Sec. 505. National water center.
Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report.
Sec. 507. Precipitation forecast improvement program.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  (a) In General.--In this Act, the terms ``seasonal'', ``State'', 
``subseasonal'', ``Under Secretary'', ``weather enterprise'', ``weather 
data'', and ``weather industry'' have the meanings given such terms in 
section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
  (b) Weather Data Defined.--Section 2 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
          (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
          ``(5) Weather data.--The term `weather data' means 
        information used to track and predict weather conditions and 
        patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative 
        products from such information.''.

   TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
                         INNOVATION ACT OF 2017

SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.

  Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ``The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate and 
timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and enhance 
the national economy by disseminating to the public and core partners 
through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather 
information and impact-based decision support services.''.

SEC. 102. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING.

  Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  ``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry 
out this title the following:
          ``(1) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                  ``(A) $90,000,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  ``(B) $30,000,000 is authorized for the United States 
                Weather Research Program;
                  ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                  ``(D) $15,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
          ``(2) $156,550,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                  ``(A) $90,900,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  ``(B) $30,300,000 is authorized for the United States 
                Weather Research Program;
                  ``(C) $20,200,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                  ``(D) $15,150,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
          ``(3) $158,116,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                  ``(A) $91,809,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  ``(B) $30,603,000 is authorized for the United States 
                Weather Research Program;
                  ``(C) $20,402,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                  ``(D) $15,302,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
          ``(4) $159,697,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                  ``(A) $92,727,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  ``(B) $30,909,000 is authorized for the United States 
                Weather Research Program;
                  ``(C) $20,606,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                  ``(D) $15,455,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
          ``(5) $161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
                  ``(A) $93,654,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  ``(B) $31,218,000 is authorized for the United States 
                Weather Research Program;
                  ``(C) $20,812,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                  ``(D) $15,609,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                8512(b)(4) of this title.
  ``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out 
this title or the amendments made by this title.''.

SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES 
                    EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).

  (a) In General.--Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES 
                    EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a 
program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and 
information integration from new sources.
  ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to 
develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to 
tornadoes, with a focus on the following:
          ``(1) Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado 
        forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
          ``(2) Optimizing lead time and providing actionable 
        information beyond one hour in advance.
          ``(3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-
        forecast.
  ``(c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
program under subsection (a) periodically examines, tests, and 
evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as 
novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, 
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado 
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
  ``(d) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
          ``(1) Implementing key goals and achieving program milestones 
        to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2019 report, `Tornado 
        Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan'.
          ``(2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities, 
        risk communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes.
          ``(3) Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling, and 
        tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of tornadoes on 
        the built and natural environment, and the interaction of 
        tornadoes and hurricanes.
  ``(e) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, 
in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall--
          ``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast 
        guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather 
        phenomena;
          ``(2) incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as 
        appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and 
        economic sciences;
          ``(3) enhance workforce training on radar interpretation and 
        use of tornado warning systems; and
          ``(4) expand computational resources to support higher-
        resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-
        forecast.
  ``(f) Tornado Rating System.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration 
with local communities and emergency managers, shall--
          ``(1) evaluate the system used as of the date of the 
        enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;
          ``(2) determine whether updates to such system are required 
        to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of 
        tornados; and
          ``(3) if determined necessary, update such system.
  ``(g) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently 
than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with 
carrying out this section.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the 
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by 
amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows:

``Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
Experiment (VORTEX).''.

SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a 
program to improve hurricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings.
  ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to 
develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to 
hurricanes, with a focus on the following:
          ``(1) Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid 
        intensity change and projected path of hurricanes, including 
        probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.
          ``(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based communication 
        of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges from 
        hurricanes, in coordination with the program established under 
        section 205 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023.
          ``(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, communication, 
        and economic sciences to clearly inform response to prevent the 
        loss of life or property, such as evacuation or shelter in 
        place.
          ``(4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, 
        observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and 
        hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and 
        satellites.
  ``(c) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
          ``(1) Implementing key strategies and following priorities 
        and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's 2019 report `Hurricane Forecast Improvement 
        Program'.
          ``(2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees, 
        improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, and 
        economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk 
        communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to hurricanes.
          ``(3) Improving the physical sciences, operational modeling, 
        and tools related to hurricane formation, the impacts of wind 
        and water-based hurricane hazards on the built and natural 
        environment, and the interaction of hurricanes and tornadoes.
  ``(d) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, 
in coordination with the program established under section 406, shall--
          ``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast 
        guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather 
        phenomena;
          ``(2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting, as 
        appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and 
        economic sciences research; and
          ``(3) expand computational resources to support and improve 
        higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and 
        related weather phenomena.
  ``(e) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently 
than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with 
carrying out this section.''.

SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.

  (a) Title Heading.--The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (enacted as 
title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-479)) is amended in the 
title heading, by inserting ``RESEARCH,'' after ``WARNING,''.
  (b) Purposes.--Section 803 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act 
(33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``timeliness and'' before 
        ``accuracy'';
          (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
          (3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
          (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, archived, and 
        made available for operations, research, education, and 
        mitigation activities in accordance with section 305 of the 
        Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.''.
  (c) Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program.--Section 804 of the 
Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``, using industry 
                and scientific best practices,'' after ``operational 
                condition'';
                  (B) in paragraph (5)--
                          (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``global 
                        seismic network'' and inserting ``Global 
                        Seismic Network'';
                          (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (D), (E), 
                        (F), and (G), as subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), 
                        and (H), respectively; and
                          (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                        following new subparagraph:
                  ``(D) the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) 
                network;'';
                  (C) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
          ``(6) ensure data quality and management systems, support 
        data and metadata access and archiving, and support the 
        requirements of the program pursuant to the Foundations for 
        Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435) 
        and chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code;'';
                  (D) in paragraph (7)--
                          (i) by amending the matter preceding 
                        subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``include 
                        a cooperative effort among the Administration, 
                        the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 
                        National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
                        (NASA), and the National Science Foundation 
                        (NSF) under which the Director of USGS, the 
                        Director of the NSF, and the Administrator of 
                        NASA shall--'';
                          (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end; and
                          (iii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraphs:
                  ``(C) provide reliable and real-time support for the 
                GNSS network data streams from NSF, NASA, and USGS 
                maintained networks, and supplement instrumentation 
                coverage for rapid earthquake assessment;
                  ``(D) assess the data and information relating to 
                warning systems of collaborating agencies for potential 
                utilization in NOAA's warning system, taking into 
                consideration advancement in research and technology;
                  ``(E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami 
                notifications and warnings in the USGS Earthquake Early 
                Warning System; and
                  ``(F) incorporate, as practicable, preliminary 
                analysis or data from the National Earthquake 
                Information Center regarding the source and magnitude 
                of an offshore earthquake within five minutes of 
                detection;'';
                  (E) in paragraph (8)--
                          (i) by inserting `` and decision support 
                        aides'' after ``graphical warning products,''; 
                        and
                          (ii) by inserting ``-prone'' after 
                        ``tsunami'';
                  (F) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                  (G) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                  (H) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, or other 
        geographic products, in order to best support, as appropriate, 
        relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation and recovery 
        activities.'';
          (2) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating 
                paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), 
                respectively; and
                  (B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated--
                          (i) by striking ``the Atlantic Ocean, 
                        including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, 
                        that are determined--'' and inserting ``the 
                        Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans, including 
                        the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are 
                        determined to pose significant risks of tsunami 
                        for States and United States territories along 
                        the coastal areas of such regions; and''; and
                          (ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);
          (3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as 
        subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;
          (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(d) Tsunami Warning Alert Level Evaluation.--The Administrator, in 
collaboration with social scientists, emergency personnel, and high-
risk communities, shall--
          ``(1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, timing, and 
        effectiveness;
          ``(2) determine if such alerts produce the desired response 
        and understanding from possible tsunami-prone communities; and
          ``(3) if necessary, update the alert level system for 
        increased effectiveness.'';
          (5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
                        by inserting ``responsible for Alaska, the 
                        continental United States, Hawaii, United 
                        States territories, and international entities 
                        the Administrator determines appropriate'' 
                        before the period;
                          (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``which 
                        is primarily responsible for Alaska and the 
                        continental United States''; and
                          (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, 
                        which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the 
                        Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not 
                        covered by the National Center'';
                  (B) in paragraph (2)--
                          (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                        ``current,'' after ``sea level,'';
                          (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and 
                        volcanic eruptions'' and inserting ``volcanic 
                        eruptions, or other sources'';
                          (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``buoy 
                        data and tidal'' and inserting ``and coastal'';
                          (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
                        ``Integrated Ocean Observing System of the 
                        Administration'' and inserting ``United States 
                        and global ocean and coastal observing 
                        system'';
                          (v) in subparagraph (H), by inserting 
                        ``monitoring needs,'' after ``response,''; and
                          (vi) by amending subparagraph (I) to read as 
                        follows:
                  ``(I) Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator to 
                coordinate with partners and stakeholders products and 
                services of the centers supported or maintained under 
                paragraph (1).'';
                  (C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
          ``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The Administrator shall 
        support and maintain fail-safe warning capability for the 
        tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph 
        (1), and such centers shall conduct at least one service back 
        up drill biannually.'';
                  (D) in paragraph (4)--
                          (i) by amending the matter preceding 
                        subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ``The 
                        Administrator shall coordinate with the weather 
                        forecast offices of the National Weather 
                        Service, the centers supported or maintained 
                        under paragraph (1), and such national and 
                        regional program offices of the Administration 
                        as the Administrator or the coordinating 
                        committee, as established in section 805(b), 
                        consider appropriate to ensure that regional 
                        and local weather forecast offices--'';
                          (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                          (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                          (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                  ``(D) conduct education and outreach efforts to help 
                prepare coastal communities for tsunami hazards.'';
                  (E) in paragraph (5)--
                          (i) in the section heading, by striking 
                        ``Uniform'' and inserting ``Standardized'';
                          (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized'';
                          (iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking 
                        ``uniform'' and inserting ``standardized'';
                          (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                          (v) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                          (vi) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                  ``(F) align the analytic techniques and methodologies 
                of the existing tsunami warning centers supported or 
                maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure seamless 
                continuity of operations and mitigate risk of 
                operational failure by prioritizing investments that 
                include--
                          ``(i) replacing end of life equipment;
                          ``(ii) ensuring product consistency;
                          ``(iii) enabling consistent operational 
                        process for backup capabilities;
                          ``(iv) mitigating existing operational 
                        security risks; and
                          ``(v) meeting information security 
                        requirements specified in chapter 35 of title 
                        44, United States Code.''; and
                  (F) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(7) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter until 
        such time as all relevant requirements have been satisfied, the 
        Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate an update briefing on the progress of the following:
                  ``(A) Standardizing products and procedures under 
                paragraph (5), including tsunami assessments, forecast 
                guidance, and related products.
                  ``(B) Migrating the message generation systems of the 
                centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to 
                the Advanced Weather Information Processing Systems, or 
                successor systems.
                  ``(C) The structural reorganization effort, if 
                necessary, to align such centers' organizational 
                charts.
                  ``(D) The expected timeline for the full completion 
                of standardizing such centers' products and 
                procedures.'';
          (6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
                        by inserting ``detect, measure, and'' after 
                        ``used to'';
                          (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                          (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and 
                        the Advanced National Seismic System'' and 
                        inserting ``the Advanced National Seismic 
                        System, and the global navigation satellite 
                        system (GNSS); and''; and
                          (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                  ``(D) ensure research is coordinated with tsunami 
                warning operations;''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``according to 
                industry best practices'' before the period; and
          (7) in subsection (h)(2)(A), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``accuracy of the tsunami model used'' and inserting 
        ``timeliness and accuracy of the forecast used to issue the 
        warning''.
  (d) National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.--Section 805(c) of 
the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(c)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (5)--
                  (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), 
                (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), 
                (G), and (H), respectively;
                  (B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following 
                new subparagraph:
                  ``(B) Coastal digital elevation models (DEMs) to 
                support the development of inundation maps.''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
                  ``(I) Evaluation of the variation of inundation 
                impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment 
                transport.
                  ``(J) Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on critical 
                infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
                1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) and 
                lifelines.
                  ``(K) High-resolution and high-quality digital 
                elevation models needed for at-risk coastlines, ports, 
                and harbors, particularly for regions not covered by 
                existing inundation maps.''; and
          (2) in paragraph (7)(C), by inserting ``and behavioral'' 
        after ``social'';
  (e) Tsunami Research Program.--Section 806 of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) by striking ``section 805(d)'' and inserting 
                ``section 805(b)''; and
                  (B) by inserting ``and management'' after ``data 
                collection'';
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``deployment and'' 
                after ``may include'';
                  (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``social science 
                research'' and inserting ``social and behavioral 
                science research, including data collection,'';
                  (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                  (D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); 
                and
                  (E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following 
                new paragraphs:
          ``(5) develop decision support tools;
          ``(6) leverage and prioritize research opportunities; and''; 
        and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(c) Research and Development Plan.--Not later than 12 months after 
the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less frequently 
than every 36 months thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, 
shall develop a research and development and research to operations 
plan to improve tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities that--
          ``(1) identifies and prioritizes research and development 
        priorities to satisfy section 804;
          ``(2) identifies key research needs for better detecting 
        tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and along the coastlines 
        of the United States and its territories, improve forecasting 
        of tsunamis that are not seismically driven, and other 
        opportunities determined appropriate;
          ``(3) develops plans for transitioning research to 
        operations; and
          ``(4) identifies collaboration opportunities that may further 
        and align tsunami research, development, warnings, and 
        operations between the centers supported or maintained under 
        section 804, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for 
        Tsunami Research, the National Science Foundation, the United 
        States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency, institutions of higher education, private entities, 
        stakeholders, and others determined appropriate.'';
  (f) Global Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Network.--Section 807(d) of 
the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206(d)) is amended by 
inserting ``and management'' after ``data sharing'';
  (g) Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel.--Section 808(b)(1) 
of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206a(b)(1)) is 
amended by inserting ``and behavioral'' after ``social'';
  (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 809 of the Tsunami 
Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3207) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this title $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028, of which--
          ``(1) not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated for 
        each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the State 
        level under the national tsunami hazard mitigation program 
        under section 805; and
          ``(2) not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated 
        shall be for the tsunami research program under section 806.''.

SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING.

  Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (3)--
                  (A) by inserting ``Federal'' before ``observing 
                capabilities''; and
                  (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
          (2) in paragraph (4)--
                  (A) by inserting ``, including private sector 
                partnerships or commercial acquisition,'' after 
                ``options''; and
                  (B) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; 
                and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(5) compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit 
        analysis, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to 
        fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and 
        gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and
          ``(6) not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
        of this paragraph, submit to Congress a report that provides an 
        analysis of the technical, schedule, cost, and cost benefit 
        analyses to place an operational polar-orbiting environmental 
        satellite capability in the early morning orbit to support the 
        weather enterprise and the Administration's mission.''.

SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.

  Section 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``providing data'' and 
        inserting ``comparison to current or experimental commercial 
        system capabilities that provide data'';
          (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``, including polar-
        orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,'';
          (3) by striking subsection (d); and
          (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).

SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION.

  Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and 
all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following 
new subsections:
  ``(b) Computing Research Initiative.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
        the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out an initiative, which 
        may leverage Department of Energy high performance computers, 
        cloud computing, or expertise, to run advanced coupled models 
        in order to conduct proof of concept scenarios in comparison 
        with current issued forecasts and models. The Under Secretary 
        and Secretary of Energy shall carry out the initiative through 
        a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and consider 
        applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, 
        institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in 
        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001)), nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities 
        (or a consortia thereof).
          ``(2) Components.--In carrying out the initiative under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prevent duplication 
        and coordinate research efforts in artificial intelligence, 
        high performance computing, cloud computing, quantum computing, 
        modeling and simulation, machine learning, data assimilation, 
        large scale data analytics, and predictive analysis across the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and may--
                  ``(A) conduct research to compare National Weather 
                Service forecast and model outputs to predictions and 
                model outputs developed through such initiative;
                  ``(B) share relevant modeling system and applications 
                innovations developed through such initiative, 
                including Unified Forecast System-based applications, 
                through community-based activities, in accordance with 
                section 10601 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense 
                Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 
                8512a);
                  ``(C) leverage coordinating activities managed by the 
                National Science and Technology Council, the 
                Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
                Services, and other relevant interagency entities;
                  ``(D) provide sufficient capacity for long-term 
                archive and access of model output to support research 
                and long-term study;
                  ``(E) determine computing decisions based on an agile 
                requirements framework; and
                  ``(F) support the training, recruitment, and 
                retention of the next generation weather, water, and 
                climate computing workforce through incentives and 
                pathways for career development and employment 
                opportunities.
          ``(3) Research security.--The activities authorized under 
        this section 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 
        Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
          ``(4) Termination.--The authority under this subsection shall 
        terminate five years after the date of the enactment of this 
        subsection.
  ``(c) Artificial Intelligence Investments.--The Under Secretary shall 
leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to 
facilitate, optimize, and further leverage advanced computing to 
accomplish critical missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming high-performance 
and cloud computing infrastructure or systems.
  ``(d) Centers of Excellence.--The Under Secretary may expand, and 
where applicable establish, centers of excellence to aid the adoption 
of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning enabled 
advanced computing capabilities. Each such center may carry out 
activities that include the following:
          ``(1) Leveraging robust public-private partnership models to 
        provide access to training, experience, and long-term 
        development of workforce and infrastructure.
          ``(2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, algorithms, 
        data structures, and other supporting software necessary for 
        specific applications on high performance computing systems.
          ``(3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep machine-
        learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to address 
        current and future mission challenges.
          ``(4) To the maximum extent practicable, explore quantum 
        computing and related application partnerships with public, 
        private, and academic entities to improve the accuracy and 
        resolution of weather predictions.
  ``(e) Multi-Year Contracts.--The Under Secretary may enter into 
multi-year contracts in accordance with section 3903 of title 41, 
United States Code, and shall ensure compliance with all clauses 
provided in such section to support operations, research, and 
development related to high performance and cloud computing 
infrastructure or systems with an unfunded contingent liability in the 
event of cancellation.
  ``(f) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the Under Secretary 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 required under 
        subsection (b), including applied research discoveries and 
        advanced modeling improvements achieved.
          ``(2) A best estimate of the overall value of high-resolution 
        probabilistic forecast guidance for hazardous weather or water 
        events (as such term is defined in section 406) using a next-
        generation weather forecast and warning framework.
          ``(3) The needs for cloud computing, quantum computing, or 
        high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination 
        collaboration between the Department of Energy and the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
          ``(4) A timeline and guidance for implementation of the 
        following:
                  ``(A) High-resolution numerical weather prediction 
                models.
                  ``(B) Methods for meeting the cloud computing, 
                quantum computing, or high-performance computing, 
                visualization, and dissemination needs identified under 
                paragraph (3).''.

SEC. 109. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER.

  Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)) is amended--
          (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
          (2) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following 
        new subparagraphs:
                  ``(E) developing community weather research modeling 
                systems that--
                          ``(i) are accessible by the public in 
                        accordance with section 10601 of the James M. 
                        Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 
                        Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and 
                        available for archive and long-term study;
                          ``(ii) meet basic end-user requirements for 
                        running on public computers and networks 
                        located outside of secure National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration information and 
                        technology systems;
                          ``(iii) utilize, whenever appropriate and 
                        cost-effective, innovative strategies and 
                        methods, including cloud-based computing 
                        capabilities, for hosting and management of 
                        part or all of the system described in this 
                        subparagraph;
                          ``(iv) utilize modeling systems that allow 
                        for interoperability with new model components, 
                        modules, and next-generation software and 
                        coding languages;
                          ``(v) allow for open testing and integration 
                        of promising operational model improvements 
                        from the broader community;
                          ``(vi) access as close to a real-time basis 
                        as possible operational data and metadata, 
                        including commercially purchased data for use 
                        in Earth Prediction Innovation Center research 
                        and development testing grounds pursuant to 
                        redistribution restrictions, licensing 
                        agreements, and applicable existing laws and 
                        regulations; and
                          ``(vii) provide supported and portable 
                        versions of the unified forecast system, 
                        including applications for hurricane, space 
                        weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, and 
                        coastal models, that can reproduce current 
                        operational global and regional model 
                        prediction; and
                  ``(F) establishing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration Data Lake, to be maintained by the 
                Administration, a commercial partner, or non-profit 
                entity, that consolidates and maintains a publicly 
                available and continuously updated collection of data 
                and metadata used in numerical weather prediction for 
                use in the Earth Prediction Innovation Center's model 
                testing, pursuant to redistribution restrictions, 
                licensing agreements, and applicable existing laws and 
                regulations.''.

SEC. 110. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING.

  Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and 
        redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), 
        (2), and (3), respectively;
          (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
  ``(b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite 
Systems and Data.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a fleet 
        of Administration space-based observation platforms that 
        provide critical operations-focused data and information to 
        support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
        mission to monitor the global environment in order to protect 
        lives and property from extreme weather and other natural 
        phenomena.
          ``(2) Collaboration.--The Under Secretary shall implement 
        recommendations from the NOAA Observing Systems Council to 
        ensure an appropriate mix of government, academic, commercial 
        sector, and international partnerships in the provision of data 
        and information, including a broadened effort on data 
        acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under section 
        302 when cost effective and beneficial to the Administration.
          ``(3) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that 
        Administration platforms maintained under paragraph (1) 
        prioritize the development of products and services that are 
        tailored to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's mission.
          ``(4) National centers for environmental information.--The 
        Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers for 
        Environmental Information to provide a long-term archive and 
        access to the Administration's national and global data and 
        metadata.''; and
          (3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``2023'' and inserting 
        ``2030''.

SEC. 111. IMPROVING UNCREWED ACTIVITIES.

  Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended by 
striking ``, including commercial observing systems'' and inserting ``, 
including stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such as 
uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide observations of the 
atmosphere and ocean, and other observations, in cooperation with the 
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations''.

SEC. 112. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCING METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES.

  (a) In General.--Section 402 of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8542) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) by striking ``Advancing Weather Services'' and 
                inserting ``Advancing Meteorological Services (in this 
                section referred to as the `Interagency Council')''; 
                and
                  (B) by striking ``Committee'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``Council'';
          (2) by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
  ``(b) Co-Chairs.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-chairs of 
the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal 
Coordinator for Meteorology.
  ``(c) Further Coordination.--The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are necessary to 
coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with stakeholders 
in the United States weather industry, academic partners, State 
governments, and emergency managers, including by implementing 
mechanisms to encourage and enable the participation of non-Federal 
employees in the functions of the Interagency Council.'';
          (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
  ``(d) Functions.--The Interagency Council shall be the formal 
mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and agencies 
coordinate implementation of policy and practices to ensure United 
States global leadership in meteorological services. In doing so, the 
Interagency Council shall review programs and support relevant weather 
research and forecast innovation activities, as well as other related 
implementation activities, related to Federal meteorological services, 
including by carrying out the following:
          ``(1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological 
        research and service delivery needs, including relating to 
        observations, operational systems, communications, and 
        infrastructure.
          ``(2) Providing recommendations to streamline or consolidate 
        activities and develop greater efficiencies in cross-agency 
        activities.
          ``(3) Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes of 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other 
        relevant Federal departments and agencies, including research 
        outcomes related to the relevant recommended key science and 
        applications questions and priorities in the National Academies 
        of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2018 report `Thriving 
        on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth 
        Observation from Space', to understand and predict high-impact 
        weather phenomena.
          ``(4) Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of 
        partnerships with private sector entities to advance 
        meteorological research, communications, and computing in 
        collaboration with the Earth system science, service, and 
        stakeholder communities.
          ``(5) Sharing information regarding meteorological research 
        improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant 
        Federal departments and agencies.
          ``(6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal departments 
        and agencies regarding potential collaborations and expected 
        level of resources needed to maintain and operate the 
        Interagency Council.
          ``(7) Enhancing communication and coordination and promoting 
        sharing within relevant Federal departments and agencies and 
        across the Interagency Council.
          ``(8) Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional 
        and diverse workforce for meteorological research and services.
  ``(e) Data Inventory.--The Interagency Council, in coordination and 
avoidance of duplication with the United States Group on Earth 
Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and archive 
activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, and reusability 
by maintaining a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not 
less frequently than annually for a period of five years beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council 
shall solicit updated information from private sector entities 
identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such data 
shall be made available to member departments and agencies under 
subsection (a).
  ``(f) Coordination Office.--The Interagency Meteorological 
Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council such 
administrative and logistical support as the Interagency Council may 
require, as determined by the co-chairs.
  ``(g) Cost Share.--Member departments and agencies of the Interagency 
Council under subsection (a) may provide reimbursable financial support 
to the Interagency Meteorological Coordinating Office to enhance cost-
sharing and collaboration related to weather research and forecast 
innovation activities.
  ``(h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Interagency 
Council shall publish a report which identifies among member agencies 
the following:
          ``(1) Federal programs that use meteorological observations, 
        data sources, and capabilities.
          ``(2) Federal programs that acquire such data from private 
        sector entities.
          ``(3) Advancements in meteorological data collection, 
        assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal 
        programmatic operational capabilities.
          ``(4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations, data 
        sources, and capabilities that could be used to better meet 
        Federal programmatic needs.''.
  (b) References.--Any reference to the Interagency Committee for 
Advancing Weather Services in any law, rule, regulation, paper, record, 
map, or other such document of the United States shall be deemed to be 
a reference to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services.

SEC. 113. OCEAN OBSERVATIONS.

  Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(5) Ships of opportunity pilot program.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The Administrator, in coordination 
                with the heads of relevant Federal departments and 
                agencies, shall, subject to relevant regulations and 
                certifications, maintain pilot programs or projects to 
                contract with research or commercial ship operators for 
                data collection and assess the potential costs, 
                benefits, and viability of a global network of ocean 
                and atmospheric observing instruments operating on 
                research or commercial ocean vessels, including in the 
                Arctic, in order to supplement the Integrated Coastal, 
                Great Lakes, and Ocean Observation System in improving 
                understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their 
                relationships to human activities.
                  ``(B) Standards and specifications.--The 
                Administrator shall ensure that data acquired through 
                the pilot program established pursuant to subparagraph 
                (A) meets the most recent standards and specifications 
                required for observation services and data as published 
                pursuant to subsection (c) of section 302 of the 
                Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
                2017.
                  ``(C) Report.--Not later than five years after the 
                date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
                Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Transportation, shall submit to Congress a report on 
                the requirements for a global network of ocean and 
                atmospheric instruments operating on research or 
                commercial ocean vessels for measurement and data 
                transmission.
                  ``(D) Sunset.--This paragraph shall terminate on the 
                earlier of--
                          ``(i) September 30, 2029; or
                          ``(ii) one year after the date on which the 
                        report required under subparagraph (B) is 
                        submitted by the Administrator.''.

SEC. 114. CONSOLIDATION OF REPORTS.

  (a) Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.--
          (1) In general.--The Weather Research and Forecasting 
        Innovation Act of 2017 is amended--
                  (A) in section 102 (15 U.S.C. 8512), by striking 
                subsection (d);
                  (B) by amending section 105 (15 U.S.C. 8515) to read 
                as follows:

``SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

  ``Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this 
section and not less frequently than semiannually thereafter, the Under 
Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, and in coordination with the Director of the 
National Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite 
and Information Services, shall issue a research and development and 
research to operations plan to maintain United States leadership in 
numerical weather prediction and forecasting that--
          ``(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, 
        objectives, expected budget, and progress of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the 
        program conducted under section 102;
          ``(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and 
        development activities, data collection and analysis, 
        predictive modeling, demonstration of potential operational 
        forecast application, education, training, and performance 
        metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-
        event mission of the National Weather Service to achieve a 
        weather-ready Nation;
          ``(3) describes how the program conducted under section 102 
        will collaborate with Federal agencies and departments, 
        international partners, and stakeholders, including the United 
        States weather industry and academic partners, and the role of 
        each in advancing weather forecasting and communication;
          ``(4) identifies, through consultation with the National 
        Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and 
        academic partners, research necessary to advance the scientific 
        understanding of weather processes and provide information to 
        improve weather warning and forecast systems in the United 
        States most effectively; and
          ``(5) describes how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration is advancing community weather modeling.'';
                  (C) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)--
                          (i) in subsection (a), by inserting ``the'' 
                        after ``Director of''; and
                          (ii) by amending subsection (d) to read as 
                        follows:
  ``(d) Annual Briefing.--Not less frequently than once each year, the 
Under Secretary shall brief the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives on participation in the 
program under subsection (a) and shall highlight any innovations that 
come from the interaction described in subsection (b).''; and
                  (D) by striking sections 408 through 411 and section 
                414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as sections 
                408 and 409, respectively.
          (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents in section 
        1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
        2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 408 
        through 414 and inserting the following new items:

``Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.
``Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.''.

  (b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act 
of 1992.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567) is amended--
          (1) in section 106, by striking subsection (c) (15 U.S.C. 
        1537); and
          (2) in section 108 (15 U.S.C. 8520)--
                  (A) by striking subsection (b); and
                  (B) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
                (b).

SEC. 115. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.

  Subsection (h) of section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness 
Act (43 U.S.C. 3102) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ``2021 through 2024'' and inserting ``2024 through 2028''.

SEC. 116. AMENDMENTS TO THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH 
                    AND CONTROL ACT OF 1998.

  (a) Assessments.--Section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) by renumbering paragraphs (13) and (14) as 
                paragraphs (14) and (15), respectively; and
                  (B) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following 
                new paragraph:
          ``(13) the Department of Energy;''.
          (2) by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (i) 
        and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (b) 
        and (c), respectively;
          (3) in subsection (b), as so redesignated--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``coastal waters 
                including the Great Lakes'' and inserting ``marine, 
                estuarine, and freshwater systems''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (2)--
                          (i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                        follows:
                  ``(A) examine the causes and ecological consequences 
                of hypoxia on marine and aquatic species in their 
                natural environments, and socio-cultural or economic 
                costs of hypoxia, including impacts on food safety and 
                security;'';
                          (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) 
                        through (D) as subparagraphs (D) through (F), 
                        respectively;
                          (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                        following new subparagraphs:
                  ``(B) examine the effect of other environmental 
                stressors on hypoxia;
                  ``(C) evaluate alternatives for reducing, mitigating, 
                and controlling hypoxia and its environmental 
                impacts;'';
                          (iv) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, 
                        by inserting ``, social,'' after 
                        ``ecological''; and
                          (v) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, 
                        by striking ``hypoxia modeling and monitoring 
                        data'' and inserting ``hypoxia modeling, 
                        forecasting, and monitoring and observation 
                        data''; and
          (4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, by mending such 
        subsection to read as follows:
  ``(c) Action Strategy and Scientific Assessment for Marine and 
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms.--
          ``(1) Not less often than once every five years, the Task 
        Force shall complete and submit to Congress an action strategy, 
        including a scientific assessment, of harmful algal blooms in 
        the United States (in this Act referred to as the `Action 
        Strategy'). Each such Action Strategy, including scientific 
        assessment, shall examine both marine and freshwater harmful 
        algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper 
        reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and 
        those that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate 
        to coastal waters.
          ``(2) Each Action Strategy under this subsection shall--
                  ``(A) examine the causes and ecological consequences, 
                and the socio-cultural or economic costs, including 
                impacts on food safety and security, of harmful algal 
                blooms;
                  ``(B) examine the effect of other environmental 
                stressors on harmful algal blooms;
                  ``(C) examine potential methods to prevent, control, 
                and mitigate harmful algal blooms and the potential 
                ecological, social, cultural, and economic costs and 
                benefits of such methods;
                  ``(D) identify priorities for research needed to 
                advance techniques and technologies to detect, predict, 
                monitor, respond to, and minimize the occurrence, 
                duration, and severity of harmful algal blooms, 
                including recommendations to eliminate significant gaps 
                in harmful algal bloom forecasting, monitoring, and 
                observation data;
                  ``(E) evaluate progress made by, and the needs of, 
                Task Force activities and actions to prevent, control, 
                and mitigate harmful algal blooms;
                  ``(F) identify ways to improve coordination and 
                prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal 
                departments and agencies with respect to research on 
                harmful algal blooms; and
                  ``(G) include regional chapters relating to the 
                requirements described in this paragraph in order to 
                highlight geographically and ecologically diverse 
                locations with significant ecological, social, 
                cultural, and economic impacts from harmful algal 
                blooms.''.
  (b) Consultations.--Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 4001a) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``the coastal'';
          (2) by inserting ``and'' after ``Indian tribes,'';
          (3) by inserting ``and'' after ``local governments,''; and
          (4) by striking ``with expertise in coastal zone science and 
        management'' and inserting ``with relevant expertise''.
  (c) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.--Section 603A 
of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 4002) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``predicting,'' and inserting 
                        ``monitoring, observing, forecasting,''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
                  (B) in paragraph (2)--
                          (i) by striking ``comprehensive research plan 
                        and action strategy under section 603B'' and 
                        inserting ``the Action Strategy, including 
                        scientific assessment, under section 603(c)''; 
                        and
                          (ii) by striking the period and inserting ``; 
                        and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(3) the scientific assessment under section 603(b).'';
          (2) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``ocean and Great 
                Lakes'' and inserting ``marine, estuarine, and 
                freshwater systems''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``while 
                recognizing each agency is acting under its own 
                independent mission and authority'' before the 
                semicolon;
          (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``Except as provided in 
        subsection (h), the'' and inserting ``The'';
          (4) in subsection (e)--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
          ``(2) examine, in collaboration with State and local entities 
        and Indian Tribes, including island communities, low-population 
        rural communities, Indigenous communities, subsistence 
        communities, fisheries, and recreation industries that are most 
        dependent on coastal and water resources that may be impacted 
        by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, the 
        causes, ecological consequences, cultural impacts, and social 
        and economic costs of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;'';
                  (B) by striking paragraph (3);
                  (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as 
                paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
                  (D) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated--
                          (i) by striking ``to, regional'' and 
                        inserting ``to regional''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``agencies'' and inserting 
                        ``entities, and regional coastal observing 
                        systems (as such term is defined in section 
                        12330(6) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
                        Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
                        3602(6)))'';
                  (E) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by 
                inserting ``and communities'' after ``ecosystems'';
                  (F) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as 
                redesignated) the following new paragraph:
          ``(6) support sustained observations, including through peer-
        reviewed, merit-based, competitive grant funding, to provide 
        State and local entities, Indian Tribes, and others access to 
        real-time or near real-time observation data for decision-
        making to protect human and ecological health and local 
        economies;'';
                  (G) in paragraph (8), by striking ``State and local'' 
                and inserting ``State, local, and Tribal''; and
                  (H) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ``tribal'' and 
                inserting ``Tribal'';
          (5) by amending subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
  ``(f) Cooperative Efforts.--The Under Secretary shall work 
cooperatively with and avoid duplication of effort of other agencies on 
the Task Force, and with and of States, Indian tribes, and 
nongovernmental organizations concerned with marine and freshwater 
issues, and shall coordinate harmful algal bloom and hypoxia and 
related activities and research.
  ``(g) Freshwater and Estuarine Program Duties.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in coordination with 
        the Task Force, shall carry out the duties under subsection (e) 
        for freshwater and estuarine aspects of the Program through the 
        activities authorized under section 603C.
          ``(2) Nonduplication.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
        activities carried out under this subsection focus on new 
        approaches to addressing freshwater harmful algal blooms and 
        are not duplicative of existing research and development 
        programs authorized under this Act or any other law.''; and
          (6) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
  ``(h) Anti-Deficiency Act Applied to Harmful Algal Bloom Services.--
Any services by an officer or employee under this title relating to the 
immediate development and dissemination of the Harmful Algal Bloom 
Operational Forecast System of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean 
Science and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
be considered, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, United States 
Code, services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or 
the protection of property. Such consideration shall only apply to 
areas with active harmful algal blooms during any lapse in 
appropriations beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this 
subsection.''.
  (d) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Activities.--
          (1) In general.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
        and Control Act of 1998 is amended by amending section 603B (33 
        U.S.C. 4003) to read as follows:

``SEC. 603B. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                    ACTIVITIES.

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall--
          ``(1) carry out marine, coastal, and Great Lakes harmful 
        algal bloom and hypoxia events response activities;
          ``(2) develop and enhance operational harmful algal bloom 
        observing and forecasting programs, including operational 
        observations and forecasting, monitoring, modeling, data 
        management, and information dissemination;
          ``(3) maintain and enhance peer-reviewed, merit-based, 
        competitive grant funding relating to harmful algal blooms and 
        hypoxia to--
                  ``(A) maintain and enhance baseline monitoring 
                programs established by the Program;
                  ``(B) support the projects maintained and established 
                by the Program;
                  ``(C) address the research and management needs and 
                priorities identified in the Action Strategy under 
                section 603(c);
                  ``(D) accelerate the utilization of effective methods 
                of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, 
                severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and 
                hypoxia events;
                  ``(E) identify opportunities to improve monitoring of 
                harmful algal bloom and hypoxia, with a particular 
                focus on coastal waters that may affect fisheries, 
                public health, or subsistence harvest;
                  ``(F) examine the effects of other environmental 
                stressors on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
                  ``(G) assess the effects of multiple environmental 
                stressors on living marine resources and coastal 
                ecosystems; and
                  ``(H) evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies 
                to address the impacts of harmful algal blooms and 
                hypoxia;
          ``(4) enhance communication and coordination among Federal 
        agencies carrying out marine and freshwater harmful algal bloom 
        and hypoxia activities and research;
          ``(5) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing 
        resources and expertise available from local research 
        universities and institutions; and
          ``(6) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        section.
  ``(b) Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.--The 
collection of monitoring and observing data under this section shall 
comply with all data standards and protocols developed pursuant to the 
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3601 et seq.). Such data shall be made available through the system 
established under that Act.''.
          (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
        of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 is amended by 
        amending the item relating to section 603B to read as follows:

``Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
activities.''.

  (e) Environmental Protection Agency Activities.--
          (1) In general.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
        and Control Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section 
        603B, as amended by subsection (d), the following new section:

``SEC. 603C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

  ``The Administrator shall--
          ``(1) carry out research on the ecology and human health 
        impacts of freshwater harmful algal blooms;
          ``(2) develop and maintain forecasting and monitoring of, and 
        event response to, freshwater harmful algal blooms in lakes, 
        reservoirs, rivers, and estuaries (including tributaries 
        thereof);
          ``(3) enhance communication and coordination among Federal 
        agencies carrying out freshwater harmful algal bloom and 
        hypoxia activities and research;
          ``(4) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing 
        resources and expertise available from local research 
        universities and institutions; and
          ``(5) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        section.''.
          (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
        of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to section 603B, as amended 
        by subsection (e), the following new item:

``Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.''.

  (f) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Observing Network.--
          (1) In general.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
        and Control Act of 1998 is amended by amending section 606 (33 
        U.S.C. 4005) to read as follows:

``SEC. 606. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OBSERVING NETWORK.

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, acting through the National 
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the Integrated Ocean 
Observing System (IOOS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, shall integrate Federal, State, regional, and local 
observing capabilities to establish a national network of harmful algal 
bloom observing systems for the monitoring, detection, and forecasting 
of harmful algal blooms by leveraging the capacity of IOOS regional 
associations, including through the incorporation of emerging 
technologies and new data integration methods, such as artificial 
intelligence.
  ``(b) Coordination.-- In carrying out subsection (a), the IOOS 
Program Office shall--
          ``(1) coordinate with NCCOS regarding observations, data 
        integration, and information dissemination; and
          ``(2) establish a Harmful Algal Bloom Data Assembly Center to 
        integrate, disseminate, and provide a central architecture to 
        support ecological forecasting.''.
          (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
        of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 is amended by 
        amending the item relating to section 606 to read as follows:

``Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.''.

  (g) Definitions.--Section 609 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4008) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``means the comprehensive 
        research plan and action strategy established under section 
        603B'' and inserting ``means the action strategy, including 
        scientific assessment, for marine and freshwater harmful algal 
        blooms established under section 603(c)'';
          (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
          ``(3) Appropriate federal official.--The term `appropriate 
        Federal official' means--
                  ``(A) in the case of marine systems or Great Lakes 
                hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, including those 
                in estuarine areas, the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
                Oceans and Atmosphere; and
                  ``(B) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful 
                algal bloom event, the Administrator of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with 
                the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
                Atmosphere.''.
          (3) by striking paragraph (9);
          (4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) 
        as paragraphs (6), (7), (9), (10), and (11);
          (5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraphs:
          ``(4) Harmful algal bloom; harmful algal bloom and hypoxia 
        event.--
                  ``(A) Harmful algal bloom.--The term `harmful algal 
                bloom' means marine or freshwater algae or macroalgae, 
                including Sargassum, that proliferate to high 
                concentrations, resulting in nuisance conditions or 
                harmful impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems, 
                communities, or human health through the production of 
                toxic compounds or other biological, chemical, or 
                physical impacts of the algae outbreak.
                  ``(B) Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event.--The 
                term `harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event' means the 
                occurrence of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia as a 
                result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined 
                cause.
          ``(5) Harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance.--
        The term `harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance' 
        means a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event that has had or 
        will likely have significant detrimental environmental, 
        economic, social, subsistence use, or public health impacts.'';
          (6) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated--
                  (A) by striking ``aquatic'' and inserting ``marine or 
                freshwater''; and
                  (B) by striking ``resident'' and inserting ``marine 
                or freshwater''; and
          (7) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so redesignated, the 
        following new paragraph:
          ``(8) Subsistence use.--The term `subsistence use' means the 
        customary and traditional use of fish, wildlife, or other 
        freshwater, coastal, or marine resources by any individual or 
        community to meet personal or family needs, including essential 
        economic, nutritional, or cultural applications.''.
  (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 610 of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 
4009) is amended--
          (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
  ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Under Secretary to carry out this title $27,500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028.''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(c) Transfer Authority.--The Under Secretary is authorized to make 
a direct non-expenditure transfer of funds authorized to be 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) to the head of any Federal 
department or agency, with the concurrence of such head, to carry out, 
as appropriate, relevant provisions of this title.''.
  (i) National Level Incubator Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
        and Control Act of 1998 is amended by adding at the end the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 611. NATIONAL LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM.

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
research universities and institutions, shall establish a national 
level incubator program to increase the number of available control 
strategies and technologies relating to harmful algal blooms. Such 
incubator shall establish a framework for preliminary assessments of 
novel harmful algal bloom prevention, mitigation, and control 
technologies in order to determine the potential for effectiveness and 
scalability.
  ``(b) Operation.--The incubator under subsection (a) shall provide 
merit-based funding for harmful algal bloom control strategies and 
technologies that eliminate or reduce through biological, chemical, or 
physical means the levels of harmful algae and associated toxins.
  ``(c) Database.--The incubator under subsection (a) shall include a 
database to catalog the licensing and permitting requirements, economic 
costs, feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability of both novel and 
established prevention, control, and mitigation measures.
  ``(d) Prioritization.--In carrying out the incubator under subsection 
(a), the Under Secretary shall prioritize proposed activities that 
would, to the maximum extent practicable--
          ``(1) protect key habitats for fish and wildlife;
          ``(2) maintain biodiversity;
          ``(3) protect public health;
          ``(4) protect coastal resources of national, historical, and 
        cultural significance; or
          ``(5) seek to partially or fully benefit communities of 
        color, low-income communities, Indian Tribes or Indigenous 
        communities, and rural communities.''.
          (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents in section 2 
        of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to section 610 the following 
        new item:

``Sec. 611. National level incubator program.''.

  (j) Harmful Algal Bloom or Hypoxia Event of Significance.--Subsection 
(g) of section 9 of the National Integrated Drought Information System 
Reauthorization Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 4010) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1)--
                  (A) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the 
                following new sentence: ``The appropriate Federal 
                official may waive the non-Federal share requirements 
                of this subsection if such official determines no 
                reasonable means are available through which the 
                recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal 
                share requirement.''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                  ``(D) Contract, grant, and cooperative agreement 
                authority.--The Under Secretary may enter into 
                agreements and grants with States, Indian Tribes, local 
                governments, or other entities to pay for or reimburse 
                costs incurred for the purposes of supporting the 
                determination of and assessing the environmental, 
                economic, social, subsistence use, and public health 
                effects of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of 
                significance.'';
          (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``, leadership official 
        of an affected Indian Tribe, the executive official of the 
        District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the 
        United States, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
        the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust 
        Territories of the Pacific Islands, and American Samoa, if 
        affected'' after ``State''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(4) Funding authority.--To carry out this subsection, 
        notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is authorized 
        to be appropriated from the amounts made available to the Under 
        Secretary $2,000,000, to remain available until expended.''.
  (k) Protect Families From Toxic Algal Blooms.--Section 128 of the 
Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. 610 note) is 
amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
          (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(e) Harmful Algal Bloom Technologies.--In carrying out the 
demonstration program under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter 
into agreements with water and irrigation districts located in the 
focus areas described in subsections (c) and (d) for the use or sale of 
any new technologies developed under the program to expedite the 
removal of harmful algal blooms in such areas.''.

     TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION

SEC. 201. WEATHER INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a Research, 
Development, Test, and Evaluation Program (in this section referred to 
as the ``Program'') to ensure the continued performance of weather 
radar capabilities, including systems currently being developed, with 
interferences in the line of sight of such radar.
  (b) Requirements.--In carrying out the Program, the Under Secretary, 
in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing 
Meteorological Services, shall--
          (1) partner with the private sector, academia, Federal, 
        State, and local government entities, and any other entity the 
        Under Secretary considers appropriate;
          (2) identify, evaluate, and test existing or near-commercial 
        technologies and solutions that improve radar coverage and 
        performance, including by mitigating the potential impact of 
        interferences on weather radar;
          (3) to the maximum extent practicable, research additional 
        solutions that could mitigate the effects of interferences on 
        weather radar, such as--
                  (A) signal processing algorithms;
                  (B) short-term forecasting algorithms to replace 
                contaminated data;
                  (C) the use of dual polarization characteristics in 
                mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather 
                radar; and
                  (D) gap filling radars to provide supplemental or 
                replacement observations in impacted areas; and
          (4) develop, support, or partner with developers to provide 
        commercially viable technical mitigation solutions for 
        interferences to weather radar capabilities that are compatible 
        with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.
  (c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based 
mitigation solutions:
          (1) Phased array weather radar systems.
          (2) Supplementing or replacing contaminated data with 
        commercial radar data.
          (3) The utilization of data from private sector associated 
        meteorological towers or similar capabilities.
          (4) The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm 
        boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.
          (5) The installation and provision of access to rain gauges.
          (6) Any other technology-based mitigation solution the Under 
        Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by overcoming 
        interferences, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.
  (d) Report; Recommendation.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
        the enactment of this section and annually thereafter until the 
        Program terminates pursuant to subsection (e), the Under 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        implementation of the Program, including an evaluation of each 
        technology-based mitigation solution identified for priority 
        consideration pursuant to subsection (c), and a recommendation 
        regarding additional identification and testing of new 
        technologies based on such consideration.
          (2) Final recommendation.--Not later than five years after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary 
        shall provide to Congress a recommendation on whether 
        additional research, testing, and development through the 
        Program established under subsection (a) is needed, and a 
        determination of whether a cessation of field research, 
        testing, development and evaluation is appropriate.
  (e) Termination.--The authority of the Under Secretary to carry out 
the Program shall terminate on the earlier of--
          (1) September 30, 2029; or
          (2) one year after the date on which the final recommendation 
        required under subsection (d)(2) is submitted by the Under 
        Secretary.
  (f) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Beam blockage.--The term ``beam blockage'' means a signal 
        that is partially or fully blocked due to an interference.
          (2) Ghost echo.--The term ``ghost echo'' means radar signal 
        reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the 
        proximity of an interference.
          (3) Interference.--The term ``interference'' includes the 
        following:
                  (A) a wind turbine that could limit the effectiveness 
                of a weather radar system;
                  (B) any building that disrupts or limits the 
                effectiveness of a weather radar system; or
                  (C) any other natural or human built structure that 
                affects a weather radar system.

SEC. 202. NEXT GENERATION RADAR.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to replace 
the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service 
(``NEXRAD'') system in existence as of the date of the enactment of 
this section.
  (b) Procurement Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to ensure the replacement described in 
subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2040.
  (c) Elements.--The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
          (1) Estimates of quantifiable improvements in radar 
        performance and service delivery, including coverage and 
        accuracy, to be made from replacement of the NEXRAD system 
        referred to in such subsection.
          (2) Development of a digital phased array radar test article 
        designed to test and determine the specifications and 
        requirements for such replacement.
          (3) Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed for 
        the following:
                  (A) Evaluation of commercial radars with the 
                potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.
                  (B) Providing technical assistance for commercial 
                replacement or supplemental radars, including data void 
                filling radars in regions where geographical topography 
                prevents full utilization of conventional systems.
          (4) Consultation and input solicited from meteorologists, 
        emergency managers, and public safety officials regarding the 
        specifications and requirements for the replacement of the 
        NEXRAD system referred in such subsection.
          (5) Prioritized locations for initial deployment of the 
        replacement system described in subsection (a) that will 
        replace the NEXRAD system.
          (6) Expected locations of such replacement system described 
        in subsection (a), including sites located more than 75 miles 
        away from an existing NEXRAD station and additional appropriate 
        locations.
  (d) Radar-as-a-Service.--
          (1) In general.--In order to supplement data voids in radar 
        coverage in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
        section and ensure the continued performance of weather radar 
        capabilities, the Under Secretary may utilize and contract with 
        third party entities to fill such low-level and wide-area radar 
        data voids using diverse weather radars and data assimilation 
        technologies to better detect significant precipitation and 
        severe weather over a greater area across the population.
          (2) Considerations.--In carrying out the activities under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider--
                  (A) utilizing and contracting with third-party 
                entities that have participated in the testbed 
                established in accordance with subsection (c)(3), the 
                National Mesonet Program, or Cooperative Research and 
                Development Agreements; and
                  (B) weather camera systems and services, including 
                systems and services in consultation with the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, as viable technologies to 
                supplement weather forecasting and prediction needs.
  (e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall provide to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of 
this section.

SEC. 203. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in coordination with the 
Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the United 
States weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance with 
activities implemented through existing regional atmospheric, coastal, 
ocean, and Great Lakes observing systems, shall carry out activities to 
ensure equitable and comprehensive weather observation coverage and 
emergency information sharing in the United States, including relating 
to the following:
          (1) Reviewing areas in the continental United States and the 
        territories that are considered under-observed, underserved, or 
        highly vulnerable for weather phenomenon, including urban and 
        offshore regions, and identifying associated challenges to 
        providing such coverage.
          (2) Increasing weather observations and developing new 
        weather observational capabilities, such as urban heat island 
        mapping campaigns, with respect to under-observed, underserved, 
        or highly vulnerable regions.
          (3) Establishing or supporting testbeds to develop and 
        integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or 
        emergency information sharing tools, such as next generational 
        or supplemental radars for weather observations, in under-
        observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
          (4) To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather and 
        water forecasting and climate modeling capabilities for under-
        observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
          (5) Undertaking workforce development efforts for emergency 
        management officials and meteorologists in under-observed, 
        underserved, or highly vulnerable areas, including urban 
        regions, of the United States.
          (6) Using data void filling observations to better resolve 
        extreme rainfall in complex topography.
          (7) Contributing to a national integrated heat health 
        information systems.
  (b) Pilot Program.--In carrying out this section, the Under 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
establish an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that 
accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, water, and 
climate data and impact-based communications in infrastructure and 
emergency management decisions by Federal, State, and local officials.
  (c) Priority.--At least one pilot project under subsection (b) shall 
address key science challenges to using mesonet data in local decision 
making and development of new tools and training for owners and 
operators of critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in 
section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), such as 
dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power 
plants, and transportation networks.

SEC. 204. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish 
an atmospheric river forecast improvement program (in this section 
referred to as the ``program'').
  (b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the 
development and extension of accurate, effective, and actionable 
forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from atmospheric 
rivers, including by--
          (1) establishing quantitative atmospheric river forecast 
        skill metrics that include quantifying the benefits of 
        dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning 
        improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall 
        location, extreme wind and precipitation, and cascading 
        impacts;
          (2) developing an atmospheric river forecast system within 
        the unified forecast system, and advancing next-generation 
        coupled modeling systems, with the capability of providing 
        seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that 
        include forecast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic 
        components;
          (3) advancing scientific understanding of the roles of 
        atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and 
        probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales;
          (4) developing tools and improved forecast products to 
        predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river 
        landfalls and inland penetration over the western United States 
        with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related 
        to perceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmospheric 
        river forecast improvements; and
          (5) enhancing research transition to operations through the 
        Administration's testbeds, including the evaluation of physical 
        and social science, technology, and other research to develop 
        products and services for implementation and use by relevant 
        stakeholders.
  (c) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the 
value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel sensor 
technologies, observation networks, soil moisture monitoring systems, 
reservoir storage data, observations from crewed or uncrewed systems, 
and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and 
satellites, and data assimilation tools, with respect to the 
improvement of atmospheric river forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
  (d) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that 
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and 
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources, 
limitations, and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the 
program under subsection (b).
  (e) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the 
plan pursuant to subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.

SEC. 205. COASTAL FLOODING AND STORM SURGE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT 
                    PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Integrated Ocean Observing System, the United States weather industry, 
and academic partners, shall establish a coastal flooding and storm 
surge forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the 
``program'').
  (b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the 
development and extension of accurate, effective, actionable, and 
probable forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from 
coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
  (c) Priority.--In implementing the program, the Under Secretary shall 
prioritize activities that carry out the following:
          (1) Improving understanding and capacity for real-time 
        operational prediction of the ocean's role in coastal flooding, 
        including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
          (2) Improving the capacity to mitigate or prevent the impacts 
        of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm 
        surge events, including by improving the understanding and 
        capacity of coastal communities to perceive, comprehend, and 
        respond to forecast information.
          (3) Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors into 
        models.
          (4) Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, including high 
        tide flooding, and storm surge estimates to complement worst-
        case scenario estimates, including for use in long-term 
        planning and risk management by States, Tribal governments, 
        localities, and emergency managers in coordination with the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency, as appropriate.
          (5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inundation 
        forecasting that quantify the benefits of dynamical modeling, 
        data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the 
        probabilistic forecast of coastal flooding, including high tide 
        flooding, and storm surge risk and impacts.
          (6) Improving operational regional storm surge and wave 
        prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and 
        messaging.
  (d) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the 
value of incorporating enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or 
machine learning based prediction systems, and innovative observations, 
such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, 
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of coastal 
flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings.
  (e) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that 
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and 
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and 
timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under 
subsection (b).
  (f) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the 
plan pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.

SEC. 206. AVIATION WEATHER AND DATA INNOVATION.

  (a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne 
observation program (in this section referred to as the ``program'') 
for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of 
critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather 
enterprise.
  (b) Activities.--The program shall include activities that carry out 
the following:
          (1) Procurement of weather data available from commercial 
        aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.
          (2) Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations 
        that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the 
        Under Secretary.
          (3) Analysis of procured data when incorporated into the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's unified 
        forecast system in order to provide improved forecast 
        information for aircraft.
  (c) Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than 
annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the 
activities described in subsection (b), including and analysis of 
activities that can be complemented by National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration aircraft.
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available to 
the Commercial Data Program under section 302 of the Weather Research 
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, there is authorized to be 
appropriated up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028 to carry out the program.
  (e) Aviation Weather and Turbulence Forecasting.--The Director of the 
National Weather Service shall include turbulence events, icing 
conditions, or other phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the 
National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center, and deliver 
operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate weather and 
turbulence information for the airspace system and the protection of 
lives and property.
  (f) Coordination.--In carrying out subsection (e), the Director of 
the National Weather Service shall give consideration to 
recommendations from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration in furtherance of section 44720 of title 49, United 
States Code, and improve weather and turbulence forecasting 
capabilities by--
          (1) designating or establishing within the Federal Government 
        an interagency working group to determine weather and 
        environmental data or observation requirements, needs, and 
        potential solutions related to aviation weather and turbulence 
        modeling or forecasting;
          (2) identifying current and future potential data gaps 
        related to turbulence events or phenomena that can--
                  (A) identify or inform route specific flight 
                planning; and
                  (B) be supplemented or filled by commercial aviation 
                tools;
          (3) transitioning research initiatives and pilot programs, 
        including a pilot program of instrumentation for observing 
        greenhouse gases and other atmospheric factors deployed on 
        commercial aircraft and supporting the evaluation of a 
        sustained observing network using such platforms, into 
        operations that improve the forecasting missions of the 
        Aviation Weather Center;
          (4) developing and deploying improved probabilistic aviation 
        weather forecast guidance technology; and
          (5) updating interagency agreements as appropriate, including 
        to address reimbursable agreements.
  (g) Next Generation Aviation Research.--Paragraph (3) of section 
102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 
(15 U.S.C. 8512(b)), is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as 
        subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
          (2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                  ``(F) aviation weather phenomena, including 
                atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve 
                scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for 
                the airspace system;''.
  (h) Aviation Information Dissemination.--The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the Aviation Weather Center is able, to the maximum extent 
possible, to disseminate in a timely manner full resolution aviation 
weather data, forecasts, and information to meet the needs of aviation 
users.

SEC. 207. NESDIS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP TRANSITION PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, shall administer broad agency announcements and other 
transactional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an annual or more 
frequent basis, to support a joint venture partnership program that 
allows the Service to prioritize engagement with the private sector, 
academia, and other Federal departments and agencies.
  (b) Transition Program.--To support the development of next-
generation technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and 
instrument design, the Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, shall maintain a program to transition selected awards 
from research and study phases into demonstration. In selecting 
awardees for demonstrations, the Assistant Administrator shall consider 
technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design 
that--
          (1) improve upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's satellite architecture;
          (2) have a direct impact on implementing the recommendations 
        of the Administration's 2018 Satellite Observing System 
        Architecture Study, ``Building a Plan for NOAA's 21st Century 
        Satellite Observing System''; and
          (3) meet current or future mission requirements.
  (c) Operational Planning.--In carrying out the transition program 
under subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall monitor 
demonstration phase progress and plan for promising results that meet 
mission requirements to be transitioned into National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's operational satellite architecture.
  (d) Annual Plan.--The Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall submit to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation an annual plan that outlines the 
progress made in the joint venture partnership program under subsection 
(a), the transition program for demonstrations under section (b), and 
transition to operational architecture planning under subsection (c).
  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and 
Information Service, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section.

SEC. 208. ADVANCED WEATHER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition 
operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an 
operational cloud-based environment in order to enable a more nimble, 
flexible, and mobile workforce.
  (b) Services.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced 
Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based 
environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based 
decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following 
services:
          (1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, including 
        meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and 
        radar data, for National Weather Service field offices and 
        national centers.
          (2) Acquiring and processing observational data from sensors 
        and local sources.
          (3) Providing an interactive communications system, including 
        the satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant National 
        Weather Service employees and sites.
          (4) Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, 
        ecological, climate, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts 
        in a rapid and highly reliable manner.
  (c) Elements.--The transition strategy developed pursuant to 
subsection (a) may include the following:
          (1) Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, and 
        functional testing activities to facilitate remote evaluation 
        and automated testing.
          (2) Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and non-
        Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather Interactive 
        Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment 
        referred to in subsection (a).
          (3) Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a quality 
        user experience.
          (4) Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network 
        operations and support backup functions.
          (5) Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible 
        repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).
          (6) Development and deployment of virtualized systems to 
        replace physical hardware at operational sites.
          (7) Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including 
        hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.
          (8) Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and 
        operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent 
        with the mission and scientific expertise of the 
        Administration.
  (d) Transition Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such actions 
as may be necessary to ensure the transition strategy described in 
subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2030.
  (e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of 
this section.
  (f) Continued Innovation.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities, sub-
systems, or implementing modeling advancements on the operational 
computing systems of the Administration.

SEC. 209. REANALYSIS AND REFORECASTING.

  The Under Secretary may support reanalysis and reforecasting 
activities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
including through the hazardous weather testbed of the Administration, 
for improving weather forecasts, extreme weather predictions, and 
weather and climate datasets.

SEC. 210. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORKFORCE.

  (a) Hiring.--The Director of the National Weather Service shall 
annually submit to the Under Secretary and Congress an assessment of 
the milestones, timelines, and service level expectations required for 
the expeditious hiring and timely on-boarding of employees of the 
National Weather Service. Each such assessment may include the 
following:
          (1) Recommendations to outsource hiring to any entity other 
        than the National Weather Service in order to meet such 
        milestones, timelines, and service level expectations.
          (2) Determinations of the number of staff and designated 
        positions required at each forecasting office to provide 
        services to protect lives and property in the geographic region 
        of responsibility.
  (b) Health and Morale Assessment.--The Director of the National 
Weather Service shall contract or continue to partner with an entity 
other than the National Weather Service to conduct an assessment of 
medical impacts, including stress and long-term health impacts, on 
National Weather Service employees related to required rotating shift 
work. Such assessment may include options for mitigating such impacts 
on employees and recommendations for improving benefits related to 
required rotating shift work.
  (c) Designation of Service Hydrologist.--
          (1) In general.--The Director of the National Weather Service 
        may designate at least one service hydrologist at each Weather 
        Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.
          (2) Limitation.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
        authorize or require a change in the authorized number of full 
        time equivalent employees of the National Weather Service or 
        otherwise result in the employment of any additional employees.
          (3) Performance by other employees.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraphs (4) and (5), the Director of the National Weather 
        Service may assign the performance of the responsibilities 
        described in this subsection to such other staff of the 
        National Weather Service as the Director considers appropriate
          (4) Responsibilities.--In order to increase impact-based 
        decision support services, each service coordination 
        hydrologist designated under paragraph (1) shall, with respect 
        to hydrology, carry out the following:
                  (A) Be responsible for providing service to the 
                geographic area of responsibility covered by the 
                Weather Forecast Office at which the service 
                coordination hydrologist is employed to help ensure 
                that users of products and services of the National 
                Weather Service can respond effectively to improve 
                outcomes from flood events.
                  (B) Liaise with users of products and services of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such 
                as emergency managers, the public, academia, media 
                outlets, users in the hydropower, transportation, 
                recreation, and agricultural communities, and forestry, 
                land, fisheries, and water management interests, to 
                evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products 
                and services referred to in subparagraph (A), including 
                extended range streamflow forecasts, water supply 
                forecasts, drought outlooks, flood inundation mapping, 
                coastal inundation, and flood warnings.
                  (C) Collaborate with the National Water Center, River 
                Forecast Centers, other Weather Forecast Offices, the 
                National Integrate Drought Information System, 
                Administration offices, and Federal, State, local, and 
                Tribal government agencies, as the Director considers 
                appropriate, in developing, proposing, and implementing 
                plans to develop, modify, or tailor such products and 
                services to improve the usefulness of such products and 
                services.
                  (D) Engage in interagency partnerships with Federal, 
                State, local, and Tribal government agencies to explore 
                the use of forecast-informed reservoir operations to 
                reduce flood risk and inform decisions related to water 
                resources management.
                  (E) Ensure the maintenance and accuracy of flooding 
                and water resource management partner call lists, 
                appropriate office hydrologic service policy or 
                procedures, and other hydrologic information or 
                dissemination methodologies or strategies.
                  (F) Work closely with Federal, State, local, and 
                Tribal emergency and floodplain management agencies, 
                and other agencies relating to disaster management, to 
                ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective 
                preparedness and response effort.
          (5) Additional responsibilities.--A service coordination 
        hydrologist designated under this subsection may, with respect 
        to hydrology--
                  (A) work with a State agency to develop plans for 
                promoting more effective use of products and services 
                of the National Weather Service throughout the State 
                concerned;
                  (B) identify priority community preparedness 
                objectives;
                  (C) develop plans to carry out the responsibilities 
                described in paragraph (4); and
                  (D) conduct flooding event preparedness planning and 
                citizen education efforts with and through various 
                State, local, and Tribal government agencies and other 
                disaster management-related organizations.

      TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS

SEC. 301. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.

  The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is 
amended by striking section 302 (15 U.S.C. 8532) and inserting the 
following new section:

``SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Program Establishment.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
with the heads of appropriate offices of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain a Commercial Data Program to 
coordinate and execute acquisition of weather and environmental data 
and services from private sector entities for operational use.
  ``(b) Program Elements.--The Under Secretary shall acquire satellite, 
ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote sensing, or 
crowd-sourced data and services for operational use relating to weather 
and environmental forecasting and modeling. The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the Commercial Data Program coordinates, collaborates, and 
ensures access to data across the Administration, including among the 
following:
          ``(1) The National Mesonet Program.
          ``(2) The Aircraft Based Observation Program.
          ``(3) The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, 
        including existing regional associations.
          ``(4) The National Integrated Drought Information System, 
        including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring 
        Network.
          ``(5) The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.
          ``(6) The National Data Buoy Center.
          ``(7) The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.
          ``(8) The Ocean Exploration Program.
          ``(9) Any other program or office the Under Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
  ``(c) Standards and Specifications.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section and on a continuous basis 
thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish data, metadata, and 
service standards and specifications required for acquired observation 
services and data for use, licensing, and attribution to ensure 
quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.
  ``(d) Prioritization.--In acquiring commercial data and services, the 
Under Secretary shall prioritize obtaining surface-based, airborne-
based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and 
services for operational use that participate in the Commercial Data 
Pilot Program or other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration that acquire commercial data or observations.
  ``(e) NOAA Observing Systems and Fleet Councils.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Observing 
        Systems Council and the NOAA Fleet Council (in this subsection 
        referred to as the `Councils') to provide strategic 
        recommendations and guidance regarding the prioritization, 
        design, development, acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, 
        performance monitoring, and retiring of major observing systems 
        portfolio components, including related to the acquisition of 
        commercial weather and environmental data and services.
          ``(2) Line office coordination.--The Councils shall ensure 
        coordination and adherence to uniform policies by providing 
        guidance to all line offices of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration engaged in observing systems 
        portfolio design, technology, development, execution, and 
        operation.
          ``(3) Committee.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a 
        Committee within the Councils to develop and approve procedural 
        directives, guides, or handbooks relevant to management of data 
        and information, including commercial data, and coordinate data 
        governance and management practices across the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration to promote consistent processes.
  ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
          ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
        carry out this section.
          ``(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
        the Under Secretary should seek to enter into contracts or 
        other appropriate agreements that enable the expenditure, to 
        the maximum extent practicable, of amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated or otherwise made available in a fiscal year to 
        carry out this section.
  ``(g) Data and Hosted Payloads.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements relating to 
the following:
          ``(1) The purchase of weather and environmental data and 
        services through contracts with commercial data and service 
        providers.
          ``(2) The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted 
        Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime, 
        or ground platforms.
  ``(h) Ombudsman.--The Under Secretary shall establish or designate at 
least one Ombudsman position within the Commercial Data Program to 
implement the recommendations of the Observing System Council under 
subsection (e) related to commercial weather and environmental data and 
services acquisitions. Such an Ombudsman shall act as the liaison 
between commercial data and service providers and the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration with respect to receiving 
recommendations and resolving issues related to engagement, testing, 
contracting, or other areas related to the Administration's efforts to 
acquire commercial weather and environmental data and services.
  ``(i) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit 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 report evaluating the activities and 
needed authorities related to data governance and management practices, 
including acquisition, collection, documentation, quality control, 
validation, reprocessing, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-
term preservation activities across all National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.''.

SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.

  The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is 
amended by striking section 303 (15 U.S.C. 8533) and inserting the 
following new section:

``SEC. 303. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Program Establishment.--Within the Commercial Data Program 
under section 302, there shall be a Commercial Data Pilot Program to 
engage with external partners and providers to test and develop shared 
standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, and 
attribution of observation services and data, and to ensure quality, 
impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting. The Program is 
authorized to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation 
services, imagery, products, and data from private sector entities, 
including new and innovative surface-based, airborne-based, space-
based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and model 
components.
  ``(b) Criteria.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that data acquired 
through the Commercial Data Pilot Program described in subsection (a) 
meets the most recent standards and specifications required for 
observation services and data as published pursuant to section 302(c).
  ``(c) Pilot Contracts.--The Under Secretary shall, through an open 
competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with private sector 
entities capable of providing observation services and data referred to 
in subsection (a) that meet the standards and specifications published 
pursuant to section 302(c) for so providing such services and data in a 
manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such 
services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration activities.
  ``(d) Assessment of Viability.--The Under Secretary shall annually 
assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives a summary of the pilot 
contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (c), the extent to which 
such contracts meet the standards and specifications published pursuant 
to section 302(c), and any additional information determined necessary 
related to the following:
          ``(1) The viability of assimilating observation services and 
        data from private sector entities into National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
          ``(2) The expected value added or improvements from such 
        services and data so assimilated into National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
          ``(3) The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, 
        reliability, usability, information technology security, and 
        cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data 
        from private sector entities.
          ``(4) Steps to integrate within one year such services and 
        data into operational use by the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration or any associated challenges in 
        doing so.
  ``(e) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under subsection (d) 
demonstrates the ability of commercial services and data to meet the 
standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c), the 
Under Secretary shall--
          ``(1) when cost-effective and feasible, obtain observation 
        services and data from private sector entities through the 
        Commercial Data Program under section 302;
          ``(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for any 
        future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        satellite system, determine whether there is a suitable, cost-
        effective, commercial capability available or that will be 
        available to meet applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system 
        requirements before completion of the critical design phase of 
        such planned satellite system;
          ``(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is 
        or will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine 
        whether and how such capability is in the national interest if 
        developed as a solely governmental system; and
          ``(4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
        Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
        detailing any determinations made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
  ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to be 
appropriated pursuant to section 302 to carry out such section, not 
less than 15 percent of such amounts each fiscal year are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 303. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.

  Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 304. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.

  ``(a) In General.--Consistent with other Federal agencies that 
contract and partner with private sector entities, the Under Secretary 
is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter into agreements 
that utilize multiyear contract options. In carrying out sections 302 
and 303, the Under Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible--
          ``(1) enter into year-long or multiyear contract options 
        using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of 
        datatypes purchased;
          ``(2) partner and contract with multiple observation service 
        and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of data gaps 
        and improve mission robustness; and
          ``(3) utilize authorities, such as additional forms of 
        transaction agreements under section 301, that allow for 
        innovative partnerships with private sector entities.
  ``(b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this title may be construed as 
infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of Federal entities 
authorized under title 10, United States Code.
  ``(c) Unnecessary Duplication.--In meeting the requirements under 
this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication 
between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other Federal 
departments and agencies, and private sector entities, including 
relating to corresponding expenditures of funds and employment of 
personnel by--
          ``(1) coordinating existing activities with other civilian 
        Federal departments and agencies which provide, contract, or 
        partner with private sector entities to acquire, weather and 
        environmental observations and data; and
          ``(2) coordinating and soliciting weather and environmental 
        observations and data requirements and needs from other 
        civilian Federal departments and agencies to be acquired by the 
        Commercial Data Program under section 302.
  ``(d) Fair Compensation for Interagency Needs.--The Under Secretary, 
to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that Federal 
departments and agencies utilizing services and data under sections 302 
and 303 fairly compensate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, or the non-Federal entities providing such services or 
data, as appropriate, for use.''.

SEC. 304. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.

  Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017, as amended by section 303 of this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 305. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.

  ``(a) Data Standards.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent and open data 
and metadata standards to support open science, including simple cloud-
optimized data formats and application programming interfaces that 
support findability, accessibility, usability, and preservability.
  ``(b) Data Infrastructure.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation with 
        the Chief Information Officer and appropriate program heads, 
        shall consolidate and arrange data infrastructure needs to 
        ensure efficient and effective data transfer between National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices by considering 
        the use of commercial cloud technologies, or similar hybrid 
        structures, to host and transmit data and metadata.
          ``(2) Federal partnerships.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
        the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of other Federal 
        departments and agencies, including the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United 
        States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United 
        States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United 
        States Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
        National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological 
        Survey, to collocate data with joint utility and support a 
        transition to cloud architectures, including commercial cloud 
        networks.
          ``(3) Long term data archive.--The Under Secretary shall 
        ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and stewardship 
        of archival data and metadata acquired through the Commercial 
        Data Program under section 302 is conducted within the National 
        Centers for Environmental Information.
  ``(c) Data Sharing With the Weather Enterprise.--To the greatest 
extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall make accessible to 
members of the weather enterprise that are United States persons data 
not subject to redistribution contract permissions and purchased 
through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 or shared through 
international government partners. If purchased data must be 
assimilated into numerical weather prediction models or automated 
forecast guidance to satisfy redistribution contract permissions, the 
Under Secretary shall make accessible without delay to members of the 
weather enterprise that are United States persons the numerical weather 
prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, as the case may 
be.
  ``(d) Data Assimilation.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in coordination with 
        the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the National 
        Centers for Environmental Information, and any other offices 
        within the Administration, shall establish a program to test, 
        advance, and implement data assimilation methods, which may 
        include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data pre- 
        and post-processing, efficient input and output, and next-
        generation algorithms.
          ``(2) Data assimilation university consortium.--Through the 
        program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the Under 
        Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting of 
        institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in 
        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001)) to address critical research challenges for data 
        assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce. 
        The consortium shall seek to--
                  ``(A) solve critical research issues for data 
                assimilation through innovative research;
                  ``(B) increase significantly the number of students, 
                including graduate level and Ph.D. candidates, in data 
                assimilation;
                  ``(C) utilize modern software and frameworks, such as 
                the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration, to 
                conduct data assimilation research and development and 
                facilitate research to operations efforts;
                  ``(D) identify and prioritize critical research areas 
                in data assimilation and facilitate operations to 
                research efforts;
                  ``(E) establish and enable an effective collaboration 
                infrastructure between National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration facilities, such as labs, centers, or 
                joint agency institutes, and the research community, 
                including a mechanism for external partners to host 
                Administration employees; and
                  ``(F) establish mechanisms to enable all members of 
                the consortium to archive and access data required to 
                support the work under this subsection.
          ``(3) Coordination.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration and its associated activities focus 
        on research to operations and operations to research, including 
        by coordinating and collaborating with the Joint Center for 
        Satellite Data Assimilation.
          ``(4) Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices 
        security.--The activities authorized under this subsection 
        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 Public Law 117-167; 42 
        U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
  ``(e) Study on Data Management.--
          ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the data of 
        the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall seek 
        to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal entity to conduct 
        a study on matters concerning data practices and management 
        needs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
        In conducting the study, the outside entity shall--
                  ``(A) assess the costs and benefits of current data 
                management needs for observational and operational 
                mission requirements;
                  ``(B) develop recommendations regarding how to make 
                more robust and cost-effective the data portfolio of 
                the Administration;
                  ``(C) identify data infrastructure technologies and 
                needs that are essential to the performance of modeling 
                systems of the Administration;
                  ``(D) assess the sharing needs and practices of the 
                Administration for both internal and external sharing 
                dissemination; and
                  ``(E) develop recommendations for methods of data 
                infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from 
                the commercial sector.
          ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--From amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Commercial Data Program 
        under section 302, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out the study under paragraph (1) $1,000,000, to remain 
        available until expended.''.

SEC. 305. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.

  The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items 
relating to sections 302 and 303 and inserting the following new items:

``Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.
``Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
``Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
``Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.''.

             TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC

SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.

  In this title:
          (1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term ``hazardous 
        weather or water events'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation 
        Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by 
        section 402 of this Act.
          (2) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution 
        of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001).
          (3) NOAA weather radio.--The term ``NOAA Weather Radio'' 
        means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        Weather Radio All Hazards network.
          (4) Public cloud.--The term ``public cloud'' means an 
        information technology model in which service providers make 
        computing services, including compute and storage and develop-
        and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand 
        to organizations and individuals over the public internet or 
        other means that allows for the widest dissemination of 
        information.
          (5) Watch; warning.--The terms ``watch'' and ``warning'' have 
        the meanings given such terms in section 406 of the Weather 
        Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 
        115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.

SEC. 402. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.

  (a) In General.--Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 406. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.

  ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term `hazardous 
        weather or water events' means weather or water events that 
        have a high risk of loss of life or property, including the 
        following:
                  ``(A) Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-
                fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic 
                events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, 
                damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.
                  ``(B) Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen 
                precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and 
                snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen 
                precipitation and strong winds.
                  ``(C) Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or 
                cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and 
                river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.
          ``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term `institution 
        of higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 
        101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
          ``(3) Watch; warning.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The terms `watch' and `warning', 
                with respect to a hazardous weather or water event, 
                mean products issued by the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by 
                the general public, to alert the general public to the 
                potential for or presence of such event and to inform 
                action to prevent loss of life or property.
                  ``(B) Exception.--The terms `watch' and `warning' do 
                not include technical or specialized meteorological or 
                hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance 
                products.
  ``(b) System Communications.--The Under Secretary shall maintain and 
improve the system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration by which the risks of hazardous weather or water events 
are communicated to the general public, with the goal of informing 
response to prevent loss of life or property.
  ``(c) Hazard Risk Communication Improvement and Simplification.--
          ``(1) In general.--To carry out subsection (b), the Under 
        Secretary shall maintain a social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences program (in this section 
        referred to as the `Program'), for the purpose of simplifying 
        and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water 
        events.
          ``(2) Terminology.--The Program, in coordination with social, 
        behavioral, risk, communication, and economic science community 
        and user feedback, shall identify, eliminate, or modify 
        unnecessary, redundant, or confusing terms for communications 
        regarding hazardous weather or water events and add new 
        terminology, as appropriate.
          ``(3) Communications improvement.--The Program shall improve 
        the form, content, and methods of communications regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events and associated risks to more 
        clearly inform response to prevent the loss of life or 
        property.
          ``(4) Evaluations.--The Program, in coordination with the 
        performance and evaluation branches of the National Weather 
        Service and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, shall develop 
        metrics for such branches to track and evaluate the degree to 
        which communications regarding hazardous weather or water 
        events inform response.
          ``(5) Support plan.--The Program shall develop a plan for the 
        purpose of carrying out paragraph (3). Such plan shall be 
        periodically updated and informed by internal and extramural 
        research and the results of the evaluation of communications 
        regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated 
        risks under paragraph (4).
          ``(6) Methods.--In carrying out this section, the Program 
        shall develop and implement recommendations that--
                  ``(A) are based on the best and most recent 
                understanding from social, behavioral, economic, risk, 
                and communications science research;
                  ``(B) are validated by social, behavioral, risk, and 
                communications science, taking into account the 
                importance of methods that support reproduction and 
                replication of scientific studies, use of rigorous 
                statistical analyses, and, as applicable, data analysis 
                supported by artificial intelligence and machine 
                learning technologies;
                  ``(C) account for the needs of various demographics, 
                vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;
                  ``(D) account for the differences between various 
                types of hazardous weather or water events;
                  ``(E) respond to the needs of Federal, State, and 
                local government partners and media partners; and
                  ``(F) account for necessary changes in the 
                infrastructure, technology, and protocols for 
                developing and disseminating watches and warnings.
          ``(7) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Program shall coordinate with the following:
                  ``(A) Federal partners, including National 
                Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional 
                integrated sciences and assessments programs.
                  ``(B) State and local government partners.
                  ``(C) Tribal governments.
                  ``(D) Institutions of higher education or a consortia 
                thereof.
                  ``(E) Media partners.
          ``(8) Timeliness and consistency.--The Program shall develop 
        best practices and guidance for ensuring timely and consistent 
        communications across public facing platforms that disseminate 
        information related to hazardous weather or water events.''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item 
relating to section 406 to read as follows:

``Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.''.

SEC. 403. HAZARD COMMUNICATION RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT.

  Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of 
this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsections:
  ``(d) Hazard Communication Research and Engagement.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain, as 
        appropriate, a program to--
                  ``(A) modernize the development and communication of 
                risk-based, statistically reliable, probabilistic 
                hazard information, with the goal of informing 
                appropriate responses to hazardous weather or water 
                events; and
                  ``(B) improve the fundamental social, behavioral, 
                economic, risk, and communication science relating to 
                communications, including by means of collecting 
                voluntary data, regarding hazardous weather or water 
                events.
          ``(2) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and 
        communicate with States, Tribal governments, localities, and 
        emergency managers regarding research priorities and results.
          ``(3) Pilot program for tornado hazard communication 
        required.--To further research into communications regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events, the Under Secretary, in 
        coordination with the VORTEX program under section 103 and in 
        collaboration with one or more eligible institutions (or a 
        consortia thereof), shall establish a pilot program for tornado 
        hazard communication to test the effectiveness of implementing 
        research into operations with respect to tornadoes.
          ``(4) Pilot study for hurricane hazard communication.--
                  ``(A) In general.--To further research into 
                communications regarding hazardous weather or water 
                events, the Under Secretary, in coordination with the 
                hurricane forecast improvement program under section 
                104, shall seek to enter into an agreement with an 
                appropriate entity, as determined by the Under 
                Secretary, to conduct a pilot study using a mixed 
                methods approach, such as surveys, focus groups, and 
                interviews, to gather information from hurricane prone 
                population areas regarding the levels of preparedness 
                of such areas for hurricanes or in response to the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's early 
                forecasts and warnings. Such study shall evaluate the 
                following:
                          ``(i) Possession of disaster supplies.
                          ``(ii) Evacuation decisions.
                          ``(iii) Levels of trust of tropical cyclone 
                        information and hurricane path prediction from 
                        various sources.
                          ``(iv) Access to tropical cyclone and 
                        hurricane warnings in such study participant's 
                        first language.
                          ``(v) Determination regarding such study 
                        participant's reasoning that may hinder the 
                        ability of such a participant to evacuate or 
                        willingness to evacuate.
                  ``(B) Additional criteria.--The pilot study described 
                in subparagraph (A) shall define its methodology and be 
                made publicly available on a website of the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
          ``(5) Eligible institution defined.--In this subsection, the 
        term `eligible institution' means any of the following:
                  ``(A) An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
                organization, or other institution located in a 
                jurisdiction eligible to participate in the program 
                under section 113 of the National Science Foundation 
                Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
                  ``(B) An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
                organization, or other institution located in proximity 
                to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather 
                Service.
  ``(e) Hurricane Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.--As part 
of the program carried out under subsection (d), the Under Secretary 
shall carry out research and development activities to improve how the 
public receives, interprets, responds to, and values hurricane 
forecasts and warnings. In conducting such activities, the Under 
Secretary shall--
          ``(1) conduct a comprehensive review of what is known about 
        how the public receives, interprets, responds to, and makes 
        decisions regarding hurricane forecasts and warnings, 
        including--
                  ``(A) how the connections between weather 
                observations, downstream models, and processes affect 
                the decision tools or products derived from such 
                hurricane forecasts and warnings;
                  ``(B) how such hurricane forecasts and warnings 
                generated by decision tools and products are used by 
                emergency managers, governments, and other users to 
                benefit the public and stakeholder groups;
                  ``(C) how past experiences with hurricanes impacts 
                decision making;
                  ``(D) how the source of such hurricane forecasts and 
                warnings affects interpretation;
                  ``(E) how tropical cyclone warnings and watches are 
                received and interpreted;
                  ``(F) how understanding of and response to such 
                hurricane forecasts and warnings vary across 
                demographic groups, including the elderly, people with 
                disabilities, and other vulnerable populations;
                  ``(G) language barriers; and
                  ``(H) how understanding and response to such 
                hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across 
                geographic areas, including rural, urban, and suburban 
                areas;
          ``(2) identify communication data gaps based on the review 
        conducted pursuant to paragraph (1);
          ``(3) carry out research, including data collection and 
        baseline assessments, in coordination with the hurricane 
        forecast improvement program under section 104 to evaluate and 
        quantify the economic value of extending lead times of tropical 
        cyclone and hurricane warnings and watches, including 
        identifying the most effected or vulnerable populations and 
        potential impacts to those populations;
          ``(4) as part of post-storm surveys and assessments conducted 
        under section 406 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 
        2023, conduct retrospective or ex ante assessments of previous 
        hurricane forecasts and warnings with improvements to better 
        understand the key components, including expected actions or 
        behavior changes, of the value of the forecasts and warnings 
        provided;
          ``(5) conduct cost benefit analysis of forecasts and warnings 
        improvement alternatives developed through the hurricane 
        forecast improvement program under section 104; and
          ``(6) conduct risk assessments for pre-, during, and post-
        storm periods in regions and communities with significant 
        elderly populations, including retirement communities.''.

SEC. 404. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVEMENT.

  (a) Improvement of NWS Instant Messaging Service.--The Director of 
the National Weather Service shall improve the instant messaging 
service used by personnel of the National Weather Service by 
implementing, not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-
shelf communications solution that replaces the instant messaging 
service commonly referred to as ``NWSChat''.
  (b) Requirements.--The communications solution implemented under this 
section shall--
          (1) be hosted on the public cloud; and
          (2) satisfy requirements set forth by the Director to ensure 
        such solution--
                  (A) best accommodates future growth;
                  (B) performs successfully with increased numbers of 
                users;
                  (C) is easy to use for the majority of users; and
                  (D) is similar to systems already in commercial use.
  (c) Funding.--From amounts made available for Operations, Research, 
and Facilities, the Director of the National Weather Service shall 
allocate up to $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 405. NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its 
reliability. In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary 
shall--
          (1) maintain support for existing systems serving areas not 
        covered by or having poor quality cellular service;
          (2) ensure consistent maintenance and operations monitoring, 
        with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site equipment and 
        antennas;
          (3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency 
        Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and
          (4) acquire additional transmitters as required to expand 
        coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the 
        National Park System, and National Recreation Areas.
  (b) Modernization Initiative.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
Under Secretary shall enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its 
capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying 
out this section, the Under Secretary shall--
          (1) upgrade telecommunications infrastructure of NOAA Weather 
        Radio 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, 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 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 
        microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals 
        to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet 
        protocol capability; and
          (6) transition critical applications to the Integrated 
        Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.
  (c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended 
in accordance with the assessment under subsection (d) to maximize 
accessibility, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the 
United States.
  (d) Assessment for Management and Distribution.--Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In 
conducting such assessment, the Under Secretary shall take into 
consideration and provide recommendations regarding the following:
          (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 that 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.
          (7) Any other function the Under Secretary determines 
        necessary.

SEC. 406. POST-STORM SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall continue to perform one or 
more post-storm surveys and assessments following every hazardous 
weather or water event determined by the Under Secretary to be of 
sufficient societal importance to warrant a post-event survey and 
assessment.
  (b) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall coordinate with Federal, 
State, local and Tribal governments, private entities, and relevant 
institutions of higher education (or a consortia thereof) when 
conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section to 
optimize data collection, sharing, integration, archiving, and access, 
as appropriate for research needs.
  (c) Data Availability.--The Under Secretary shall make the 
appropriate data obtained from each post-storm survey and assessment 
conducted under this section available to the public as soon as 
practicable after conducting each such survey and assessment.
  (d) Improvement.--In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary 
shall--
          (1) examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems in 
        data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments 
        conducted under this section;
          (2) identify gaps in and update tactics and procedures to 
        enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from 
        post-storm surveys and assessments;
          (3) to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number of 
        post-storm community impact studies, particularly among under-
        observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable populations, 
        including--
                  (A) surveying-individual responses;
                  (B) conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk 
                evaluations;
                  (C) evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation 
                activity; and
                  (D) gathering survivability statistics; and
          (4) as appropriate, integrate community-based, social, 
        behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences elements 
        into existing post-storm surveys and assessments, including 
        relating to efficacy of forecast and warning information, 
        barriers to action, and messaging challenges.
  (e) Support for Employees.--The Under Secretary shall provide 
training, resources, and access to professional counseling to support 
the emotional and mental health and well-being of employees conducting 
post-storm surveys and assessments under this section.
  (f) Exemption.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during the 
conduct of a survey or assessment authorized under subsection (a).

SEC. 407. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON ALERT 
                    DISSEMINATION FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER 
                    EVENTS.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives a report that examines the information 
technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, specifically regarding 
the system for timely public notification via alerts and updates 
regarding hazardous weather or water events.
  (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
          (1) An analysis of the information technology infrastructure 
        of the National Weather Service, including software and 
        hardware capabilities and limitations, including an examination 
        of server and data storage methods, broadband, data management, 
        and data sharing.
          (2) An identification of secondary and tertiary fail-safes 
        for the timely distribution to the public of notifications via 
        alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.
          (3) A process analysis to determine the source and extent to 
        which public notifications via alerts and updates regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events have been delayed and an 
        identification of possible improvements or corrective measures 
        to address latency in the notification process.
          (4) An assessment of whether collaboration with other Federal 
        offices, States, or private entities could reduce delays in 
        notifications to the public.
          (5) A description of actions being undertaken to better 
        identify critical steps in public notification via alerts and 
        updates for hazardous weather or water events that may be 
        vulnerable to disruption or failure in the event of 
        communication, technologic, or computational failure.
          (6) The geographical differences in availability and 
        effectiveness of rural systems, including an estimated number 
        of rural areas affected by unreliable or unavailable accurate 
        systems and barriers to obtain or upgrade such systems.

SEC. 408. DATA COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION.

  (a) Data Collection.--The Under Secretary may collect social, 
behavioral, and economic data, including Federal communication and 
related public response to hazardous weather or water events. Where 
appropriate, the Under Secretary shall encourage use of secondary data, 
purchase data, or partner with the private sector.
  (b) Data Management.--The Under Secretary shall establish a central 
repository system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration for social, behavioral, and economic data related to the 
communication of and related public response to hazardous weather or 
water events, including data developed or received pursuant to this 
title.
  (c) Protection of Data.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that all 
data collected and managed by the Administration is done within with 
all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations and in accordance 
with chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code, and the Federal 
Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435).
  (d) Digital Watermarking.--The Under Secretary shall develop methods 
to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with online public 
notifications of hazardous weather or water events, such as developing 
digital watermarks.
  (e) Policies and Procedures.--The Under Secretary shall establish 
policies and procedures for the collection, archiving, and stewardship 
of data on community response, including the response of effected or 
vulnerable populations, to hazardous weather or water events.

   TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                               MANAGEMENT

SEC. 501. WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                    MANAGEMENT.

  Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is 
amended--
          (1) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
  ``(h) Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting Pilot Projects.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall establish not 
        fewer than two pilot projects, in accordance with paragraph 
        (2), within the U.S. Weather Research Program of the Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Research office of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to support improved subseasonal to 
        seasonal precipitation forecasts for the following:
                  ``(A) Water management in the western United States.
                  ``(B) Agriculture in the central United States.
          ``(2) Objectives.--In carrying out this subsection, the Under 
        Secretary shall ensure the following:
                  ``(A) A pilot project under subparagraph (A) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to 
                improving forecasts and developing related products for 
                water management in the western United States, 
                including the following:
                          ``(i) Improving operational model resolution, 
                        both horizontal and vertical, to resolve issues 
                        associated with mountainous terrain, such as 
                        intensity of precipitation and relative 
                        fraction of rain versus snow precipitation.
                          ``(ii) Improving fidelity in the operational 
                        modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in 
                        mountainous regions.
                          ``(iii) Resolving challenges in predicting 
                        winter atmospheric circulation and storm 
                        tracks, including periods of blocked versus 
                        unblocked flow over the eastern North Pacific 
                        Ocean and western United States.
                          ``(iv) Utilizing outcomes from the 
                        Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program 
                        as authorized in section 204 of the Weather Act 
                        Reauthorization Act of 2023 to produce 
                        operational tools and services.
                          ``(v) Improving the quality and temporal and 
                        spatial resolution of observations and accurate 
                        operational modeling of air-sea interactions, 
                        and the influence of oceans on subseasonal and 
                        seasonal forecasting.
                  ``(B) A pilot project under subparagraph (B) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to 
                improving forecasts and developing related products for 
                agriculture in the central United States, including the 
                following:
                          ``(i) Improving the quality and temporal and 
                        spatial resolution of observations and accurate 
                        operational modeling of the land surface and 
                        hydrologic cycle, including soil moisture and 
                        flash drought processes.
                          ``(ii) Improving fidelity in the operational 
                        modeling of warm season precipitation 
                        processes.
                          ``(iii) Understanding and predicting large-
                        scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that 
                        occur in spring and summer.
          ``(3) Activities.--A pilot project under this subsection 
        shall include activities that carry out the following:
                  ``(A) Best implement recommendations of the National 
                Weather Service's 2020 Report, entitled `Subseasonal 
                and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans for the 
                Twenty-First Century'.
                  ``(B) Achieve measurable objectives for operational 
                forecast improvement.
                  ``(C) Engage with, and leverage the resources of, 
                institutions of higher education (as such term is 
                defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or a consortia thereof, and 
                entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration in existence as of the date of the 
                enactment of this subsection, including Regional 
                Climate Centers and the National Centers for 
                Environmental Information.
                  ``(D) Are carried out in coordination with the 
                Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National 
                Weather Service.
          ``(4) Sunset.--The authority under this subsection shall 
        terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the 
        enactment of this subsection.''; and
          (2) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
  ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
carry out the activities under this section.''.

SEC. 502. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM.

  (a) In General.--Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought 
Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                          (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon; and
                          (iii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                  ``(C) incorporates flash drought research and tools 
                to enhance timely response;'';
                  (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                  (C) in paragraph (6)--
                          (i) by inserting ``(including ecological 
                        drought)'' after ``drought'' each place it 
                        appears; and
                          (ii) by striking the period and inserting a 
                        semicolon; and
                  (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
          ``(7) advance and deploy next generation technologies related 
        to drought and related publicly available data, such as 
        monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting capabilities 
        utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud 
        technologies; and
          ``(8) utilize observational networks, including the National 
        Weather Service cooperative observer program and State or 
        regional hydrological monitoring projects, and refine drought 
        indicators across a variety of spatial and temporal scales for 
        decision-support products by optimizing data and resources from 
        across the Federal Government, including snowpack, soil 
        moisture, groundwater, and rapid intensification data.'';
          (2) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                  (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(4) in partnership with the National Mesonet Program, 
        establish memoranda of understanding to provide coordinated, 
        high-quality, nationwide drought information for the public 
        good, including integrated soil moisture information in 
        accordance with the 2021 report, `A Strategy for the National 
        Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network'.''; and
          (3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
  ``(f) Modeling Update.--The Under Secretary, in partnership with 
National Integrated Drought Information System and the Climate 
Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, shall undertake an 
effort to transition existing drought products to probabilistic 
forecasts and incorporate new and improved dynamical and statistical 
forecast modeling tools.''.
  (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 4 of the National 
Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d note) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  ``From amounts made available to Operations, Research, and Facilities 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section the following:
          ``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
          ``(2) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
          ``(3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
          ``(4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
          ``(5) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.''.

SEC. 503. NATIONAL MESONET PROGRAM.

  (a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Mesonet 
Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program''). The Program 
shall--
          (1) obtain observations in all geographic environments to 
        improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for 
        atmospheric and water events, with a prioritization on 
        leveraging available commercial, academic, and other non-
        Federal environmental data to enhance coordination across the 
        private, public, and academic sectors of the United States 
        weather enterprise; and
          (2) establish memoranda of understanding with networks 
        outside of the scope of the Program.
  (b) Program Elements.--The Program shall carry out the following 
activities:
          (1) Improve environmental observations used by the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather 
        Service to support baseline forecasts, including nowcasts, and 
        warnings that protect the Nation's citizens, businesses, 
        military, and government agencies, and enable such individuals 
        and entities to operate in safe, efficient, and orderly 
        manners.
          (2) When demonstrably cost effective and meeting or exceeding 
        agency data quality standards, leverage existing networks of 
        environmental monitoring stations, including supplemental radar 
        systems, to increase the quantity and density of environmental 
        observations and data available to the Administration.
          (3) Establish means to integrate greater density and type of 
        environmental observations into the Program on an annual basis, 
        including by encouraging local and regional networks of 
        environmental monitoring stations, in situ sensor networks and 
        satellite constellations to participate in the Program.
          (4) Yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to 
        improve numerical weather prediction performance, including 
        regarding subseasonal to seasonal timescales.
          (5) Provide the critical technical and administrative 
        infrastructure needed to facilitate rapid integration and 
        sustained use of new and emerging networks of environmental 
        monitoring stations anticipated in coming years from non-
        Federal sources.
          (6) Expand and enhance environmental observational networks 
        in the roadway environment to provide real-time road weather 
        and surface conditions for surface transportation and related 
        economic sectors.
          (7) Identify available terrestrial or marine environmental 
        data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the 
        understanding of air-sea interactions.
          (8) Support the National Weather Service in reaching its 
        target of a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through 
        better predictive model algorithms driven by increasingly 
        effective observations.
          (9) Coordinate with existing Administration data used for 
        forecasts, including data from the National Environmental 
        Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Integrated Ocean 
        Observing System, the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing 
        Program, the National Data Buoy Center, and the National Ocean 
        Service.
          (10) Identify and communicate to the Office of Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Research and other partners priorities of research 
        and development needed to advance observations in the Program.
          (11) Support the National Coordinated Soil Moisture 
        Monitoring Network in acquiring soil moisture and related data 
        to support the development of decision-support products and 
        other information services.
  (c) Financial and Technical Assistance.--
          (1) In general.--In furtherance of the Program, the Under 
        Secretary may, to the extent amounts are made available, award 
        up to 15 percent of the Program's annual appropriations for 
        financial assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic 
        entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade equipment and 
        capacity of mesonet systems. Financial assistance under this 
        subsection may be made in coordination with and in addition to 
        awards from other Federal agencies.
          (2) Agreements.--Before receiving financial assistance under 
        paragraph (1), the State, Tribal, private, or academic entity 
        seeking financial assistance under this subsection shall enter 
        into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide data to 
        the Program, subject to verification by the Program of the 
        relative operational value and evaluation of the cost of such 
        data, for use in weather prediction, severe weather warnings, 
        and emergency response.
          (3) Assistance and other support.--The Under Secretary may 
        provide technical assistance, project implementation support, 
        and guidance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities 
        seeking financial assistance under this subsection. The Under 
        Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for 
        maintenance of monitoring stations in underrepresented or 
        remote areas of the country where it is financially unfeasible 
        for one entity to operate such stations without such 
        assistance.
          (4) Terms.--In providing financial assistance under this 
        subsection, the Under Secretary shall establish terms to ensure 
        that each State, Tribal, private, or academic entity that 
        receives financial assistance under this subsection receives a 
        level of Federal support commensurate with the quality and 
        other characteristics of the data to be provided.
          (5) Determination.--A State, Tribal, private, or academic 
        entity may receive financial assistance under this subsection 
        only if the Under Secretary determines such entity shall 
        provide sufficient non-Federal financial support and full 
        maintenance to maintain the quality of the mesonet system and 
        associated data standards required by the Program for a period 
        of not less than five years.
          (6) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall prioritize providing 
        assistance under paragraph (1) to at least one entity in an 
        underrepresented or remote area.
  (d) Advisory Committee.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the Program 
        has an active advisory committee of subject matter experts to 
        make recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration on the identification, implementation, 
        procurement, and tracking of data needed to supplement the 
        Program, and recommend improvements, expansions, and 
        acquisitions of available data. The Under Secretary may 
        designate an existing Federal advisory committee, subcommittee, 
        or working group, including, if appropriate, the Science 
        Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, to carry out this subsection.
          (2) Academic expertise.--The advisory committee under 
        paragraph (1), in consultation with the Program, shall include 
        expertise from one or more institutions of higher education (as 
        such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to assist the advisory committee to 
        identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships, 
        regional or subregional consortia, and collaborative methods 
        that would expand the number of participants and volume of data 
        in the Program.
  (e) Regular Reporting.--The Under Secretary shall provide regular 
briefings, not less than twice annually, to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on all Program 
activities. Such briefings shall include information relating to the 
following:
          (1) Efforts to implement the activities described in 
        subsection (b).
          (2) Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant 
        to subsection (c).
          (3) Efforts to address recommendations received from the 
        advisory committee under subsection (d).
          (4) The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal 
        and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data 
        needs.
          (5) Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation 
        data by States and regions of the United States.
          (6) Any other topic the Under Secretary determines relevant.
  (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available to 
the National Weather Service, the Under Secretary, to carry out this 
section, shall allocate up to the following amounts for each specified 
fiscal year:
          (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
          (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
          (3) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
          (4) $68,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
          (5) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.

SEC. 504. NATIONAL COORDINATED SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING NETWORK.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United States Geological 
Survey, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and 
departments, shall support the development, deployment, and maintenance 
of soil moisture monitoring networks by managing the National 
Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network (in this section referred 
to as the ``Network'') within the National Integrated Drought 
Information System.
  (b) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network 
includes activities that carry out the following:
          (1) Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.
          (2) Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data 
        sources.
          (3) Supporting research necessary to develop or improve soil 
        moisture monitoring products at a national scale.
          (4) Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in situ 
        and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations across the 
        United States.
          (5) Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the 
        private sector.
          (6) Engaging with the citizen science community.
          (7) Developing, releasing, and promoting new, nationwide 
        point-based and gridded soil moisture data products that meet 
        the needs of diverse end-user groups.
          (8) Supporting community building and outreach to the network 
        of individuals engaged with soil moisture information delivery, 
        from data provision to end-user decision making.

SEC. 505. NATIONAL WATER CENTER.

  Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 
2020 (42 U.S.C. 10371) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                          (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
                        inserting ``as a component of the National 
                        Centers for Environmental Prediction'' after 
                        ``center'';
                          (ii) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after 
                        the semicolon;
                          (iii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        and inserting ``; and''; and
                          (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        clause:
                          ``(iii) to provide service backup 
                        capabilities and additional mission support 
                        services for River Forecast Centers.''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the 
                following new subparagraph:
                  ``(F) Serving as the primary Center for collaboration 
                and coordination of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration's water research and 
                operational activities with existing Federal centers 
                and networks, including the Department of Agriculture, 
                the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, 
                the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency.'';
          (2) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsections 
        (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d) respectively; 
        and
          (3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read 
        as follows:
  ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
carry out this section.''.

SEC. 506. SATELLITE TRANSFERS REPORT.

  Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the Department of Commerce's authorities, policies, and 
Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any portion of 
the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of Commerce to 
any other Federal department or agency. The report shall also include 
the following:
          (1) A description of the process for decommissioning a 
        Department of Commerce operational weather satellite, any 
        existing agreements related to transfers of weather satellites, 
        whether decommissioned or not, and any reimbursable agreements 
        related to the transfer of physical property or the operation 
        of Department of Commerce weather satellites on behalf of any 
        other Federal department or agency.
          (2) A summary of any Department of Commerce plans for 
        potential transfer of existing or future weather satellite 
        systems to any other Federal department or agency.

SEC. 507. PRECIPITATION FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--Title VI of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating section 603 as section 604; and
          (2) by inserting after section 602 the following new section:

``SEC. 603. PRECIPITATION FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry, other Federal agencies, and academic 
partners, shall maintain a program to improve precipitation forecasting 
across timescales.
  ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to 
provide more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation forecasts 
across timescales through the development and application of a fully 
coupled Earth system prediction model in order to reduce the loss of 
life or property related to precipitation extremes, with a focus on the 
following:
          ``(1) Improving the understanding and prediction of 
        precipitation extremes from a variety of weather systems, 
        including atmospheric rivers.
          ``(2) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations into operational monitoring and 
        forecast systems to improve precipitation forecasts.
          ``(3) Improving earth system model predictions of 
        precipitation extremes from atmospheric rivers, tropical 
        cyclones, summer-time thunderstorms, winter storms, and other 
        phenomena, in coordination with relevant programs.
          ``(4) Enhancing research transition to operations through 
        testbeds, including the evaluation of physical and social 
        science, technology, and other research to develop products and 
        services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders.
          ``(5) Incorporating social, behavioral, and economic sciences 
        best practices into operations for more effective and 
        actionable watch and warning products that help drive public 
        safety and damage mitigation decisions in coordination with the 
        programs established in accordance with this Act.
          ``(6) Ensuring data and metadata management processes are in 
        place to support data access and archive for long term research 
        and operations among multiple partners.
  ``(c) Activities.--In carrying out the program under subsection (a), 
the Under Secretary shall support research-to-operations work, 
including relating to the following:
          ``(1) Implementing key strategies and following priorities 
        and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's `Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge 
        Strategy'.
          ``(2) Improving the physical science, operational modeling 
        and tools, and technology related to better forecasting 
        precipitation extremes across timescales.
          ``(3) Improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, 
        and economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk 
        communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to extreme 
        precipitation.
          ``(4) Conducting the research necessary to develop and deploy 
        probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology relating to 
        precipitation extremes in operational practice.
          ``(5) Enhancing the operational capacity of the National 
        Weather Service to deliver decision support for increasing 
        precipitation extremes.
          ``(6) Expanding computational resources to improve 
        precipitation modeling.
  ``(d) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently 
than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with 
carrying out this section.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the 
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 603 and inserting the following 
new items:

``Sec. 603. Precipitation forecast improvement program.
``Sec. 604. Definitions.''.

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 6093 improves the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's weather research, supports improvements in 
weather forecasting and prediction, and expands commercial 
opportunities for the provision of weather data. This bill 
reauthorizes many of the activities and programs established by 
the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 and 
addresses research gaps that have been identified since the 
enactment of that bill.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), weather, water, and climate events cause 
an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in 
damage per year and are responsible for around 90 percent of 
all presidentially declared disasters. About one-third of the 
United States' economy, or roughly $3 trillion, is sensitive to 
weather and climate. The primary Federal agency responsible for 
addressing these events, the National Weather Service (NWS) 
within NOAA, provides weather, hydrologic, and climate 
forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, 
adjacent waters, and ocean areas for the protection of life and 
property as well as the enhancement of the national economy.
    In April of 2017, H.R. 353, the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (the Weather Act), was 
signed into law and became the first comprehensive weather 
policy authorization in over two decades. The Weather Act set 
forth specific goals and guidance to improve NOAA's weather 
research through advances in observational, computing, and 
modeling capabilities, and support substantial improvement in 
weather forecasting and prediction of high impact weather 
events.
    Many of the authorizations were short-term, lasting only 
through FY 2018, which required the National Integrated Draught 
Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 to include clean 
extensions of authorizations for many Weather Act programs 
until FY 2023. Therefore, H.R. 6093 would be the first 
comprehensive reauthorization and update of the Weather Act.
    The Weather Act has resulted in numerous accomplishments to 
date, including development of promising technologies and 
techniques for hurricane forecast performance; efforts to 
achieve the goal of tornado prediction beyond 1-hour; and 
improvements in 2-week to 2-year forecasts known as subseasonal 
and seasonal forecasting. Yet with severe weather events 
constantly evolving, more communities facing new threats, and 
programs set to expire, the need for H.R. 6093 is paramount.

                          Legislative History

    H.R. 6093 was introduced on October 26, 2023, by Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Lucas (R-OK) and is 
cosponsored by Ranking Member Lofgren (D-CA) and 
Representatives Miller (R-OH), Ross (D-NC), Babin (R-TX), 
Sorensen (D-IL), Obernolte (R-CA), Foushee (D-NC), Collins (R-
GA), Stevens (D-MI), Weber (R-TX), Baird (R-IN), Garcia (R-CA), 
Bice (R-OK), Fleischmann (R-TN), Tenney (R-NY), McCormick (R-
GA), Kean (R-NJ), Feenstra (R-IA), Moran (R-TX), Crawford (R-
AR), Bonamici (D-OR), Jackson (D-NC), Lee (D-PA), Issa (R-CA), 
Sykes (D-OH), Caraveo (D-CO), Slotkin (D-MI), McClellan (D-VA), 
and Frost (D-FL).
    On November 8, 2023, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology met to consider H.R. 6093.
    Chairman Lucas offered a Manager's Amendment, which made 
minor technical and conforming changes to the text of the bill. 
The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Reps. Bonamici and Issa offered an amendment to insert the 
Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Amendments Act as Sec. 
105 of the bill. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Rep. Obernolte offered an amendment to reauthorize and 
extend the National Landslides Hazards Reduction Program 
through FY 2028. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Reps. Bonamici and Posey offered an amendment to insert the 
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments 
Act of 2023 as Sec. 116 of the bill. The amendment was adopted 
by voice vote.
    Rep. Jackson offered an amendment to add the identification 
of locations to an existing plan for implementing the next-
generation radar replacement system. The amendment was adopted 
by voice vote.
    Rep. Sykes offered an amendment to ensure the NWS Aviation 
Weather Center is able to disseminate data, forecasts, and 
information in a timely manner to meet the needs of aviation 
users. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Rep. Sorensen offered an amendment to authorize the support 
of reanalysis and reforecasting activities. The amendment was 
adopted by voice vote.
    Reps. Strong and Ross offered an amendment to address 
workforce issues at the National Weather Service by 
establishing milestones, timelines, and service level 
expectations required for expeditious hiring and timely 
onboarding of NWS employees; conducting an assessment of 
medical impacts, including stress and mental health, on NWS 
employees working rotating shifts; and designating at least one 
service hydrologist at each Weather Forecast Office. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Rep. Posey offered an amendment to add research security 
policies and procedures for the Data Assimilation University 
Consortium. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Reps. Frost and Webster offered an amendment to insert the 
Fixing Gaps in Hurricane Preparedness Act into Sec. 403 of the 
bill. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Rep. McClellan offered an amendment to include under-
observed, underserved, and highly vulnerable populations in 
post-storm community impact studies. The amendment was adopted 
by voice vote.
    Rep. Jackson offered an amendment to authorize a 
precipitation forecast and modeling improvement program. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Chairman Lucas moved that Committee favorably report the 
bill, H.R. 6093, as amended, to the House of Representatives 
with the recommendation that the bill be approved. The motion 
was agreed to by a vote of 31-0.

                            Committee Views

    The Committee notes the National Weather Service's 
Modernization and Associated Restructuring program implemented 
in the 1990s was a successful effort to transition the NWS into 
the 21st century with no service disruptions. Yet, the 
modernization plan envisioned 115 Weather Forecast Offices and 
resulted in the closure or consolidation of multiple Weather 
Service Offices and Weather Forecast Offices. It is the intent 
of the Committee that nothing in H.R. 6093 be construed to 
necessitate or recommend the closure or consolidation of any of 
the 122 current Weather Forecast Offices, and the Committee 
strongly discourages NOAA from pursuing any such related effort 
based on the legislative direction provided in H.R. 6093 or 
activities resulting from the bill.
    The Committee also notes that Sec. 210 contains new 
directives regarding the National Weather Service workforce. It 
is the intent of the Committee that these authorities are 
exercised in accordance with all existing laws, statutes, and 
agreements in place at the time of enactment of H.R. 6093.

                           Section-by-Section


Section 1: Short title; Table of Contents

    States the short title of the bill and includes the table 
of contents for the bill.

Section 2: Definitions

    Defines the terms ``seasonal,'' ``State,'' ``subseasonal,'' 
``Under Secretary,'' ``weather enterprise,'' ``weather data,'' 
and ``weather industry'' to have the same meaning as in the 
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.

   TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
                         INNOVATION ACT OF 2017

Section 101: Public safety priority

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to ensure that the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) remains focused 
on providing accurate and timely weather forecasts that protect 
lives and property and enhance the national economy.

Section 102: United States Weather Research and forecasting

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 with authorization of 
appropriations for NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research to carry out the activities of this bill through four 
accounts: weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; the 
United States Weather Research Program; tornado, severe storm, 
and next generation radar research; and the joint technology 
transfer initiative.
    The amounts authorized to be appropriated are a 1% annual 
increase from adjusted FY 22 appropriated amounts.

Section 103: Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
        Experiment (VORTEX)

    Amends the Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension 
Program as established by the Weather Act of 2017. 
Specifically, this section expands the goals of the program to 
improve the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings by optimizing lead times, 
transitioning to warn-on-forecast, and updating the system to 
rate the severity of tornadoes in collaboration with local 
communities and emergency managers.

Section 104: Hurricane Forecasting Improvement program

    Amends the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project as 
established by the Weather Act of 2017. Specifically, this 
section builds on the progress made through the project by 
establishing it as a long-term program which will incorporate 
social, behavioral, risk, and communication science into 
probabilistic modeling, forecasting, and response guidance.

Section 105: Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization

    Amends the Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program as 
established and modified by the Tsunami Warning, Education, and 
Research Act of 2017 within the Weather Act of 2017 by 
inserting the text of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici's H.R. 6234. 
Specifically, this section directs NOAA to evaluate tsunami 
alert levels, maintain fail-safe warning capabilities, and 
align the analytic techniques and methodologies of the two 
existing tsunami warning centers in Hawaii and Alaska. 
Additionally, this section extends authorization of 
appropriations which had expired in 2021.

Section 106: Observing system planning

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to ensure NOAA is focused on 
Federal systems when developing the prioritized list of 
observation data requirements that are necessary for weather 
forecasting capabilities to protect life and property. This 
section also requires NOAA to compare costs and schedule of 
Federal and private sector supplemental options when meeting 
these capabilities.
    Additionally, this section directs NOAA to submit a report 
to Congress analyzing the technicalities, schedule, and cost 
benefits of a polar-orbiting environmental satellite in the 
early morning orbit.

Section 107: Observing system simulation experiments

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to ensure NOAA assesses the 
capabilities and costs of current or experimental commercial 
systems capabilities when conducting required assessments of 
major Government-owned or Government-leased operational 
observing systems. Additionally, this section removes the 
priority placed on experiments for systems that have already 
been completed.

Section 108: Computing resources prioritization

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 by inserting Rep. Max 
Miller's H.R. 1715, which establishes a joint research 
initiative with the Department of Energy to conduct proof of 
concept weather forecasts and models on high performance or 
quantum computers and using cloud computing.
    Additionally, this section directs NOAA to leverage 
artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, as 
well as establish Centers of Excellence for public-private 
partnerships to address current and future mission needs, 
including workforce development.
    This section also removes the requirement for NOAA to 
deliver a triennial report on computing infrastructure and 
inserts an updated report requirement on estimating the 
specific needs, timeline, and strategy for joint NOAA-DOE 
activities that advance high-resolution numerical weather 
prediction models.

Section 109: Earth Prediction Innovation Center

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to modernize and improve the 
activities and mission of the Earth Prediction Innovation 
Center (EPIC). Specifically, this section directs EPIC to 
develop a community weather research model that is open source 
for testing and incorporates promising improvements from the 
weather industry.
    Additionally, this section directs NOAA to establish a data 
lake that maintains and consolidates an updated collection of 
data and metadata that can be used in numerical weather 
prediction and EPIC models.

Section 110: Satellite architecture planning

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to ensure that NOAA 
maintains a fleet of space-based observation platforms that 
prioritize the development of products or services tailored to 
meet NOAA's mission through a mix of government, academic, 
commercial section, and international partnerships. This 
section also ensures that the existing National Centers for 
Environmental Information provide long-term archives and access 
to all data and metadata.
    Additionally, this section removes the requirement for an 
annual report on the Constellation Observing System for 
Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) program and a 
completed independent study, while extending until 2030 the 
existing requirement for an annual report on the use of 
additional transaction authority.

Section 111: Improving uncrewed activities

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to ensure that uncrewed 
aircraft and marine systems are included in weather data 
research and development carried out by the United States 
Weather Research Program.

Section 112: Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services

    Amends the Weather Act of 2017 to update and refine the 
focus of the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services (ICAMS) that is charted under the authority of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy. Specifically, this 
section ensures ICAMS is the formal mechanism by which Federal 
departments and agencies coordinate implementation of policies 
and practices with the goal of United States global leadership 
in meteorological services.
    Additionally, this section directs ICAMS to maintain a data 
inventory of Federal meteorological observations, as well as 
annually solicit updated information from private sector 
entities regarding current or near future sources of such data. 
This section also allows member departments and agencies of 
ICAMS to provide reimbursable financial support to the 
coordinating office.

Section 113: Ocean Observations

    Amends the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act by directing NOAA to establish a pilot program to contract 
with research or commercial ship operators for data collection 
in order to assess the viability of a global network to 
supplement the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.

Section 114: Consolidation of reports

    Removes the requirement of 9 different out-of-date or 
completed reports.

Section 115: National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program

    Amends the National Landside Preparedness Act by extending 
the authorization of the National Landslide Hazards Reduction 
Program through Fiscal Year 2028.

Section 116: Amendments to the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia 
        Research and Control Act of 1998

    Amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Act by extending the authorization of the National 
Harmful Algal Bloom & Hypoxia Program and the associated 
comprehensive research plan and action strategy through Fiscal 
Year 2028. Additionally, this section directs the establishment 
of a national harmful algal bloom observing network, a national 
incubator program for control strategies and technologies, and 
increases the avenues of assistance NOAA can give to affected 
communities during an event of significance.
    This section inserts the text of Rep. Suzanne Bonamici & 
Rep. Bill Posey's H.R. 6235, Rep. Bryon Donalds' H.R. 325, and 
Reps. Josh Harder, Nancy Mace, John Garamendi, and Eric 
Swalwell's H.R. 5756.

     TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION

Section 201: Weather innovation for the next generation

    Inserts the text of Rep. Randy Feenstra's H.R. 3764, which 
establishes a research, development, test, and evaluation 
program to ensure the continued performance of weather radar 
capabilities. Specifically, this section requires NOAA to 
identify, evaluate, and test technologies or solutions that 
improve radar coverage and performance, including by mitigating 
the impacts of interferences.

Section 202: Next Generation Radar

    Inserts the text of Rep. Rick Crawford's H.R. 4575, which 
directs NOAA to develop a plan to replace the Next Generation 
Weather Radar (NEXRAD) of the National Weather Service. This 
section requires NOAA to take action to implement the NEXRAD 
replacement plan by the end of Fiscal Year 2040 and give 
Congress periodic updates.
    Additionally, this section gives NOAA the authority to 
utilize and contract with third party entities to fill radar 
data voids and supplement weather radar coverage by acquiring 
data, services, and technologies.

Section 203: Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States

    Inserts part of Rep. Tom Kean's H.R. 4069, which directs 
NOAA, in coordination with FEMA, to address weather observation 
gaps in under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable areas 
of the United States. Specifically, this section directs NOAA 
and FEMA to establish an interagency partnership to support 
pilot projects that accelerate coordination and use of 
localized data and communications in infrastructure and 
emergency management.

Section 204: Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program

    Inserts part of Rep. Mike Garcia's & Rep. Jay Obernolte's 
H.R. 3966, which establishes an atmospheric river forecast 
improvement program to develop tools and improved forecast 
products, including quantitative forecast skill metrics, that 
advance accurate, effective, and actionable forecasts and 
warnings that reduce the loss of life or property from 
atmospheric rivers.

Section 205: Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Forecast Improvement 
        Program

    Inserts part of Rep. Tom Kean's H.R. 4069, which 
establishes a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast 
improvement program to improve understanding and capacity for 
real-time operational prediction of coastal flooding, including 
high tide flooding, and storm surge events. Specifically, this 
section directs NOAA to use innovative observations and 
modeling to develop probabilistic estimates for use in long-
term planning and risk management by States, Tribal 
governments, localities, and emergency managers.

Section 206: Aviation Weather and data innovation

    Inserts the text of Rep. Rich McCormick's H.R. 3915, which 
establishes an airborne observation program for the acquisition 
of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of critical 
atmospheric sensors. Specifically, this section directs NOAA to 
procure weather data from commercial aircraft and analyze such 
data when incorporated into the unified forecast system.
    Additionally, this section directs the National Weather 
Service to include turbulence events, icing conditions, or 
other related phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the 
Aviation Weather Center. In carrying out these activities, the 
NWS is authorized to designate an existing or establish a new 
interagency working group, identify current or future data gaps 
related to turbulence, and update interagency agreements.

Section 207: NESDIS Joint Venture Partnership Transition Program

    Authorizes NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
and Informative Service, in consultation with NASA, to 
administer broad agency announcements and contracting 
mechanisms to support a joint venture partnership program that 
engages with the private sector, academia, and other Federal 
departments and agencies to transition awards from research and 
study phases into demonstration. This section includes a total 
of $20 million in authorization of appropriations for these 
activities.

Section 208: Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System

    Directs the National Weather Service to develop a strategy 
to transition operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive 
Processing System--the system required to produce watches, 
warnings, and forecasts at every Weather Forecast Office--to an 
operational cloud-based environment. This section requires NWS 
to take actions to ensure the transition strategy is completed 
by the end of Fiscal Year 2030.

Section 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting

    Authorizes NOAA to support reanalysis and reforecasting 
activities, including through the hazardous weather testbed, to 
improve forecasts, predictions, and datasets.

Section 210. National Weather Service workforce

    Directs the National Weather Service to annually assess and 
submit to Congress the milestones, timelines, and service level 
expectations required for expeditious hiring and timely on-
boarding of NWS employees. As part of this assessment, the 
Director of the NWS is required to report on the total number 
of staff and designated positions at each Weather Forecast 
Office. This section also directs the NWS to contract or 
continue to partner with an external organization to conduct an 
assessment of medical impacts, including stress and mental 
health, on NWS employees required to work rotating shifts.
    Additionally, this section authorizes the Director of the 
NWS to designate at least one service hydrologist at each 
Weather Forecast Office. This position can be performed by an 
existing employee or in addition to current responsibilities of 
another position.

      TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS

Section 301: Commercial Data Program

    Codifies the Commercial Data Program at NOAA to expand on 
activities related to obtaining a broad variety of weather and 
environmental data and services from the private sector for 
operational use. This section directs NOAA to maintain a Data 
Governance Committee within its Observing System Council for 
the purpose of ensuring coordinated and uniform processes for 
commercial data acquisitions. This section also establishes an 
Ombudsman position in NOAA's Office of Research, Transition, 
and Applications to serve as a liaison between commercial data 
providers and NOAA.
    Additionally, this section authorizes the appropriation of 
$100 million for each Fiscal Year 2024 through 2028 to acquire 
surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal-and 
ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use. 
This section includes a Sense of Congress that NOAA should 
enter contracts or agreements with private sector providers to 
expend all amounts appropriated in a fiscal year.

Section 302: Commercial Data Pilot Program

    Modifies the existing commercial data pilot program to be a 
testing program within the Commercial Data Program. Directs the 
Pilot Program to engage with external partners and providers to 
test and evaluate all sources and types of observation 
services, imagery, products, and data. The Pilot Program is 
also directed to test, develop, and publish within 180 days 
shared standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, 
and attribution of observation services and data.
    Additionally, this section authorizes NOAA to enter into 
pilot contracts with private sector entities capable of 
providing observation services and data in a manner that allows 
NOAA to calibrate and evaluate such services and data for use 
in modeling and forecasting activities. This section specifies 
that if a pilot contract is assessed to be viable, accurate, 
and cost-effective, the Commercial Data Program shall enter 
into a contract to acquire such data or services.
    This section authorizes appropriations for the Pilot 
Program at not less than 15% of the total amount appropriated 
to the Commercial Data Program each fiscal year.

Section 303: Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication

    Authorizes NOAA to enter into year-long or multiyear 
contracts, partner or contract with multiple observation 
service or data providers simultaneously and utilize any other 
authorities like transaction agreements to enter innovative 
partnerships with the private sector.
    Additionally, this section directs NOAA to avoid 
duplication with NASA and other Federal departments and 
agencies by coordinating all contracts and partnership with 
private sector data providers and, to the maximum extent 
possible, execute all contracts through the Commercial Data 
Program. This section directs NOAA to ensure that other Federal 
departments and agencies utilizing services or data through the 
Program fairly compensate NOAA or the private sector entity 
providing such service or data.

Section 304: Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices

    Directs NOAA to consider the use of commercial cloud 
technologies to host and transmit data and metadata acquired by 
the Commercial Data Program. This section gives NOAA the 
authority to partner with other Federal departments or agencies 
to collocate data with joint utility. This section also directs 
NOAA to ensure that the long-term management, maintenance, and 
stewardship of acquired data is conducted by the National 
Centers for Environmental Information and made available to the 
U.S. weather enterprise in accordance with contract permissions 
and redistribution terms.
    Additionally, this section establishes a program to test, 
advance, and implement data assimilation methods, including 
through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, 
and next-generation algorithms. This section also directs NOAA 
to establish a consortium of institutions of higher education 
to address critical research challenges for data assimilation 
and foster a growing data assimilation workforce while 
protecting data and models from foreign adversaries.
    This section requires NOAA to enter into an agreement with 
a non-Federal entity to conduct a study on data practices and 
management needs at NOAA, including recommendations on data 
infrastructure.

Section 305: Clerical amendment

    Updates the table of contents in the Weather Act of 2017 to 
reflect the addition of the new sections in this Title.

             TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC

Section 401: Definitions

    Defines the terms ``hazardous weather or water events,'' 
``institution of higher education,'' ``NOAA weather radio,'' 
``public cloud,'' ``watch,'' and ``warning.''

Section 402: Hazardous weather or water event risk communication

    Requires NOAA maintain and improve a system by which risks 
of hazardous weather or water events are communicated to the 
public with the goal of informing response to prevent loss of 
life or property. Establishes a program to use social, 
behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences to 
simplify, improve, and develop metrics for the communication of 
hazardous events.

Section 403: Hazard communication research and engagement

    Requires NOAA to maintain a program to modernize the 
development and communication of probabilistic hazard 
information. Requires the program to improve the social, 
behavioral, economic, risk, and communication sciences used to 
communicate hazardous events, including by voluntary collection 
of data.
    Additionally, this section establishes a pilot program with 
one or more eligible institutions to test the effectiveness of 
implementing such research into operations with respect to 
tornado hazard communications. This section also inserts the 
text of Rep. Maxwell Frost's & Rep. Daniel Webster's H.R. 6080, 
which authorizes a pilot study and research activities on 
improving the communication of hurricanes forecasts and 
predictions, including to vulnerable populations.

Section 404: National weather service communications improvement

    Inserts the text of Rep. Randy Feenstra's H.R. 1496, which 
directs the National Weather Service to replace their instant 
messaging service, known as NWSChat, with a public cloud-based 
platform.

Section 405: NOAA Weather radio modernization

    Inserts the text of Rep. Stephanie Bice's H.R. 1482, which 
directs NOAA to maintain, expand, and modernize the NOAA 
Weather Radio (NWR) system that broadcasts weather information 
across 90% of the United States and its territories. This 
section directs NOAA to upgrade telecommunications 
infrastructure, accelerate software upgrades, develop backup 
options, and consult with relevant stakeholders in order to 
ensure NWR meets its maximum performance potential and coverage 
remains valuable to the public.

Section 406: Post-storm Surveys and Assessments

    Directs NOAA to perform one or more post-storm surveys or 
assessments following every hazardous weather or water event 
determined to be of sufficient societal importance by the NOAA 
Administrator. Requires that post-storm surveys and assessments 
include under-observed, underserved, and highly vulnerable 
communities and are done in coordination with Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal governments, and the data obtained is made 
available to the public as soon as practicable.
    Additionally, this section exempts post-storm surveys and 
assessments from the Paperwork Reduction Act, which will save 
NWS an estimated 9 months per each new survey it designs.

Section 407: GAO Report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or 
        water events

    Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to 
submit to Congress a report examining the information 
technology infrastructure of NOAA and the system for public 
notification regarding hazardous weather or water events. 
Specifically, this section requires the report to identify 
secondary and tertiary fail-safe measures, assess 
collaborations that could reduce delays in notification, and 
analyze the source and extent of public notification delays.

Section 408: Data collection management and protection

    Authorizes NOAA to collect social, behavioral, and economic 
data, including through purchase or partnership collections, 
related to communications and public response to hazardous 
weather or water events. Requires that such data is collected 
and managed within all legal, regulatory, and contractual 
obligations and in accordance with all relevant laws. This 
section also directs NOAA to establish a central repository 
system for such data.
    Additionally, this section directs NOAA to develop methods 
that reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with 
online public notifications, such as digital watermarks.

   TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                               MANAGEMENT

Section 501: Weather and Climate Information in Agriculture and Water 
        Management

    Inserts the text of Rep. Jim Baird's H.R. 3802 and part of 
Rep. Mike Garcia's & Rep. Jay Obernolte's H.R. 3966, which 
direct NOAA to establish not fewer than 2 pilot projects to 
support improved subseasonal to seasonal precipitation 
forecasts for agriculture and water management. Specifically, 
these pilot projects are directed to improve operational model 
resolution and achieve measurable objectives for operational 
forecast improvement. This section also removes a completed 
report requirement on NOAA's plans and goals for subseasonal 
and seasonal forecasts.
    Additionally, this section reauthorizes the National 
Weather Service's existing involvement in providing 
agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information. 
This section authorizes the appropriation of $45 million 
derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available 
to the National Weather Service for each fiscal year through 
2028.

Section 502: National Integrated Drought Information System

    Inserts part of Rep. Mike Collins' H.R. 4373, which 
reauthorizes and updates the National Integrated Drought 
Information System (NIDIS). Specifically, this section directs 
NIDIS to advance and deploy next generation drought monitoring 
technologies and transition existing drought products to 
probabilistic forecasts, as well as utilize observations from 
State or regional hydrological monitoring projects.

Section 503: National Mesonet Program

    Inserts the text of Rep. Stephanie Bice's H.R. 2995, which 
codifies and authorizes the National Mesonet Program. 
Specifically, the National Mesonet Program is directed to 
obtain observations in all geographic environments and increase 
the quantities of boundary-layer data to improve numerical 
weather prediction performance.
    Additionally, this section gives the National Mesonet 
Program the authority to provide financial and technical 
assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities 
seeking to build, expand, or upgrade the equipment or capacity 
of a mesonet system. Before financial assistance is provided, 
the entity must enter into an agreement to provide data to the 
Program and allow the Program to verify the operational value 
and cost of such data.
    This section also ensures that the Program has an active 
advisory committee of subject matter experts to make 
recommendations on the identification, implementation, 
procurement, and tracking of data needed to supplement the 
Program. The advisory committee is required to include 
expertise from one or more institutions of higher education and 
regularly report to Congress.

Section 504: National coordinated soil moisture monitoring network

    Inserts part of Rep. Mike Collins' H.R. 4373, which 
requires the development, deployment, and maintenance of a soil 
moisture monitoring network within the National Integrated 
Drought Information System. Eliminates the requirement for a 
completed report on the strategy to develop such a network.

Section 505: National Water Center

    Reauthorizes the activities of the National Water Center 
and designates the Center as NOAA's primary center in 
collaborating and coordinating water research and operational 
activities with other Federal centers and networks. 
Additionally, this section ensures that the National Water 
Center is a component of the National Centers for Environmental 
Prediction in line with all of NOAA's other centers.

Section 506: Satellite transfers report

    Requires the Department of Commerce to report to Congress 
on the Department's authorities and policies, as well as 
government-wide policies, related to transferring any portion 
of weather satellite systems to another Federal agency or 
department. The report is required to include a summary of any 
plans the Department of Commerce has to transfer existing or 
future weather satellite systems.

Section 507: Precipitation forecast improvement program

    Inserts modified text of Rep. Jeff Jackson's H.R. 3802, 
which establishes a program to improve precipitation 
forecasting across all timescales with the goal of providing 
more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation forecasts and 
extremes.

                       Related Committee Hearings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII, the following 
hearings were used to develop or consider H.R. 6093.
    On March 28, 2023, the Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing entitled Reauthorizing the Weather Act: Data and 
Innovation for Predictions. Members and witnesses discussed 
improvements in the fields of weather modeling and forecasting, 
as well as examples of private sector companies in the U.S. 
Weather Enterprise that can provide data and services to 
benefit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Witnesses:
           Mr. Richard Jenkins, Founder & CEO, 
        Saildrone, Inc.
           Ms. Meredith Bell, Atmospheric Program 
        Manager, FLYHT Inc.
           Dr. Antonio J. Busalacchi Jr., President, 
        University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
           Mr. Michael Eilts, General Manager, Weather 
        and Earth Intelligence, Spire Global.
    On May 11, 2023, the Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing entitled An Overview of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 
2024. Members and the witness discussed the President's FY 2024 
budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration and NOAA's priorities for research, development, 
forecasting, and prediction.
    Witness:
           Dr. Rick Spinrad, Administrator, National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    On June 6, 2023, the Subcommittee on Environment held a 
hearing entitled Reauthorizing the Weather Act: Users of 
Weather Data and Areas for Improvement by Sector. Members and 
the witnesses discussed the quality and availability of weather 
data and how the public understands and utilizes this 
information, as well as potential areas of improvement related 
to the collection, distribution, and use of weather data 
specific to different sectors of the economy.
    Witnesses:
           Mr. Gary McManus, State Climatologist, 
        Oklahoma Climatological Survey.
           Ms. Jeanine Jones, Interstate Resources 
        Manager at the California Department of Water Resources 
        representing Western States Water Council.
           Mr. Eric Snodgrass, Senior Fellow Scientist 
        and Principal Atmospheric Scientist, Nutrien.
           Dr. Kathie Dello, State Climatologist of 
        North Carolina, and Co-Director, NOAA Carolinas Climate 
        Adaptation Partnership (CAP/RISA).

                        Committee Consideration

    On November 8, 2023, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 6093, as amended, by 
a roll call vote of 31 yeas and 0 nays, a quorum being present.

                            Roll Call Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII requires the Committee to list the 
record votes on the motion to report legislation and amendments 
thereto. The following reflects the record votes taken during 
the Committee consideration:

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that H.R. 6093 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

  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, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of 
this report.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c)(4) of rule XIII, the goal of H.R. 
6093 is to improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's weather research, support improvements in 
weather forecasting and prediction, and expand commercial 
opportunities for the provision of weather data.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, the Committee 
finds that no provision of H.R. 6093 establishes or 
reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known to be 
duplicative of another Federal program, including any program 
that was included in a report to Congress pursuant to section 
21 of Public Law 111 139 or identified in the most recent 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

                     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 section 5(b) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

                         Earmark Identification

    Pursuant to clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the 
Committee finds that H.R. 6093 does not include any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits.

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII, the Committee 
adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the time this report was 
filed, the estimate was not available.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, And Tax Expenditures

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII, the Committee 
finds that H.R. 6093 would result in no new or increased budget 
authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or 
revenues.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII, at the time this 
report was filed, the cost estimate prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not available.

         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 (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

        WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2017


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Weather 
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is 
as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

   TITLE I--UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT

     * * * * * * *
[Sec. 103. Tornado warning improvement and extension program.]
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
          Experiment (VORTEX).
     * * * * * * *

            TITLE III--WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION

Sec. 301. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite and 
          data management.
[Sec. 302. Commercial weather data.
[Sec. 303. Unnecessary duplication.]
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.

                 TITLE IV--FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION

     * * * * * * *
[Sec. 406. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
          communication of hazardous weather and water events.]
Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.
Sec. 407. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready 
          All Hazards Award Program.
[Sec. 408. Department of Defense weather forecasting activities.
[Sec. 409. National Weather Service; operations and workforce analysis.
[Sec. 410. Report on contract positions at National Weather Service.
[Sec. 411. Weather impacts to communities and infrastructure.
[Sec. 412. Weather enterprise outreach.
[Sec. 413. Hurricane hunter aircraft.
[Sec. 414. Study on gaps in NEXRAD coverage and recommendations to 
          address such gaps.]
Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.
Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.
     * * * * * * *

          TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION

     * * * * * * *
[603. Definitions.]
Sec. 603. Precipitation forecast improvement program.
Sec. 604. Definitions.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means the time 
        range between 3 months and 2 years.
          (2) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, a 
        territory, or possession of the United States, 
        including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
          (3) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means the 
        time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
          (4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' 
        means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
        Atmosphere.
          (5) Weather data.--The term ``weather data'' means 
        information used to track and predict weather 
        conditions and patterns, including forecasts, 
        observations, and derivative products from such 
        information.
          [(5)] (6) Weather industry and weather enterprise.--
        The terms ``weather industry'' and ``weather 
        enterprise'' are interchangeable in this Act, and 
        include individuals and organizations from public, 
        private, and academic sectors that contribute to the 
        research, development, and production of weather 
        forecast products, and primary consumers of these 
        weather forecast products.

  TITLE I--UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT

SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.

  In conducting research, the Under Secretary shall prioritize 
improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and 
warnings for the protection of life and property and for the 
enhancement of the national economy. The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
remains focused on providing accurate and timely weather 
forecasts that protect lives and property and enhance the 
national economy by disseminating to the public and core 
partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical 
weather information and impact-based decision support services.

SEC. 102. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION.

  (a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for the Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 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 
forecasts 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 101, including the 
        boundary layer and other 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 
        National Weather Service and other appropriate agencies 
        and entities, including the United States 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 Observing System 
                Simulation Experiments (as described in section 
                107), Observing System Experiments, and 
                Analyses of Alternatives;
                  (F) aviation weather phenomena, including 
                atmospheric composition and turbulence, to 
                improve scientific understanding and forecast 
                capabilities for the airspace system;
                  [(F)] (G) 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)] (H) additional sources of weather data 
                and information[, including commercial 
                observing systems], including stationary and 
                mobile commercial observing systems, such as 
                uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to 
                provide observations of the atmosphere and 
                ocean, and other observations, in cooperation 
                with the Office of Marine and Aviation 
                Operations.
          (4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out 
        jointly and in coordination with the Director of the 
        National Weather Service, and in cooperation with the 
        United States weather industry and academic partners, 
        to ensure continuous development and transition of the 
        latest scientific and technological advances into 
        operations of the National Weather Service 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.
          (5) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and 
        maintaining international leadership in the area of 
        numerical weather prediction, and improving the 
        transition of research into operations by--
                  (A) leveraging the weather enterprise to 
                provide expertise on removing barriers to 
                improving numerical weather prediction;
                  (B) enabling scientists and engineers to 
                effectively collaborate in areas important for 
                improving operational global numerical weather 
                prediction skill, including model development, 
                data assimilation techniques, systems 
                architecture integration, and computational 
                efficiencies;
                  (C) strengthening the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration's ability to 
                undertake research projects in pursuit of 
                substantial advancements in weather forecast 
                skill;
                  (D) utilizing and leverage existing resources 
                across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration enterprise; [and]
                  [(E) creating a community global weather 
                research modeling system that--
                          [(i) is accessible by the public;
                          [(ii) meets basic end-user 
                        requirements for running on public 
                        computers and networks located outside 
                        of secure National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration information 
                        and technology systems; and
                          [(iii) utilizes, whenever appropriate 
                        and cost-effective, innovative 
                        strategies and methods, including 
                        cloud-based computing capabilities, for 
                        hosting and management of part or all 
                        of the system described in this 
                        subsection.]
                  (E) developing community weather research 
                modeling systems that--
                          (i) are accessible by the public in 
                        accordance with section 10601 of the 
                        James M. Inhofe National Defense 
                        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 
                        (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and available for 
                        archive and long-term study;
                          (ii) meet basic end-user requirements 
                        for running on public computers and 
                        networks located outside of secure 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration information and 
                        technology systems;
                          (iii) utilize, whenever appropriate 
                        and cost-effective, innovative 
                        strategies and methods, including 
                        cloud-based computing capabilities, for 
                        hosting and management of part or all 
                        of the system described in this 
                        subparagraph;
                          (iv) utilize modeling systems that 
                        allow for interoperability with new 
                        model components, modules, and next-
                        generation software and coding 
                        languages;
                          (v) allow for open testing and 
                        integration of promising operational 
                        model improvements from the broader 
                        community;
                          (vi) access as close to a real-time 
                        basis as possible operational data and 
                        metadata, including commercially 
                        purchased data for use in Earth 
                        Prediction Innovation Center research 
                        and development testing grounds 
                        pursuant to redistribution 
                        restrictions, licensing agreements, and 
                        applicable existing laws and 
                        regulations; and
                          (vii) provide supported and portable 
                        versions of the unified forecast 
                        system, including applications for 
                        hurricane, space weather, ocean, 
                        cryosphere, air quality, and coastal 
                        models, that can reproduce current 
                        operational global and regional model 
                        prediction; and
                  (F) establishing a National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be 
                maintained by the Administration, a commercial 
                partner, or non-profit entity, that 
                consolidates and maintains a publicly available 
                and continuously updated collection of data and 
                metadata used in numerical weather prediction 
                for use in the Earth Prediction Innovation 
                Center's model testing, pursuant to 
                redistribution restrictions, licensing 
                agreements, and applicable existing laws and 
                regulations.
  (c) Extramural Research.--
          (1) In general.--In carrying out the program under 
        this section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Research 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 the Office of Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Research should be made available for the 
        purpose described in paragraph (1).
  [(d) Annual Report.--Each year, concurrent with the annual 
budget request submitted by the President to Congress under 
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a description of current and planned 
activities under this section.]

[SEC. 103. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION PROGRAM.

  [(a) In general.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the United States 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 1 hour in advance.
  [(c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall 
ensure that the program periodically examines the value of 
incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or 
infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, 
and observations from mesonets, with respect to the improvement 
of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
  [(d) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, in coordination with the 
Director of the National Weather Service, 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.
  [(e) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--Following completion 
of the plan, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in 
coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service, 
shall, not less frequently than once each year, submit to 
Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities 
identified in the plan.

[SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  [(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the United States weather industry and such academic entities 
as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall maintain a 
project to improve hurricane forecasting.
  [(b) Goal.--The goal of the project maintained under 
subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate 
hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of 
life, injury, and damage to the economy, with a focus on--
          [(1) improving the prediction of rapid 
        intensification and track of hurricanes;
          [(2) improving the forecast and communication of 
        storm surges from hurricanes;
          [(3) incorporating risk communication research to 
        create more effective watch and warning products; and
          [(4) evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations, including acoustic or 
        infrasonic measurements.
  [(c) Project Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research and in consultation with the Director of the National 
Weather Service, shall develop a plan for the project 
maintained under subsection (a) that details the specific 
research, development, and technology transfer activities, as 
well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to 
achieve the goal set forth in subsection (b).

[SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

  [Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and not less frequently than once each year 
thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in 
coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information 
Services, 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 the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the 
        program conducted under section 102;
          [(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and 
        development activities, and performance metrics, 
        weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-
        event mission of the National Weather Service to 
        achieve a weather-ready Nation;
          [(3) describes how the program will collaborate with 
        stakeholders, including the United States weather 
        industry and academic partners; and
          [(4) identifies, through consultation with the 
        National Science Foundation, the United States 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. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES 
                    EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall 
maintain a program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings, including forecaster training in 
radar interpretation and information integration from new 
sources.
  (b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall 
be to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings in order to reduce the loss of life 
or property related to tornadoes, with a focus on the 
following:
          (1) Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of 
        tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
          (2) Optimizing lead time and providing actionable 
        information beyond one hour in advance.
          (3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-
        forecast.
  (c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall 
ensure the program under subsection (a) periodically examines, 
tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative 
observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation 
tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted 
instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, 
with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings.
  (d) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
          (1) Implementing key goals and achieving program 
        milestones to the maximum extent practicable as 
        outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's 2019 report, ``Tornado Warning 
        Improvement and Extension Program Plan''.
          (2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences regarding 
        vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of 
        information critical for reducing the loss of life or 
        property related to tornadoes.
          (3) Improving the physical sciences, computer 
        modeling, and tools related to tornado formation, the 
        impacts of tornadoes on the built and natural 
        environment, and the interaction of tornadoes and 
        hurricanes.
  (e) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under 
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under 
section 406, shall--
          (1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather 
        forecast guidance technology for tornadoes and related 
        weather phenomena;
          (2) incorporate into tornado modeling and 
        forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences;
          (3) enhance workforce training on radar 
        interpretation and use of tornado warning systems; and
          (4) expand computational resources to support higher-
        resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-
        on-forecast.
  (f) Tornado Rating System.--The Under Secretary, in 
collaboration with local communities and emergency managers, 
shall--
          (1) evaluate the system used as of the date of the 
        enactment of this section to rate the severity of 
        tornadoes;
          (2) determine whether updates to such system are 
        required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the 
        severity of tornados; and
          (3) if determined necessary, update such system.
  (g) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with carrying out this section.

SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall 
maintain a program to improve hurricane forecasting, 
predictions, and warnings.
  (b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall 
be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings in order to reduce the loss of life 
or property related to hurricanes, with a focus on the 
following:
          (1) Improving the understanding and prediction of 
        rapid intensity change and projected path of 
        hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for 
        hurricane hazard mapping.
          (2) Improving the forecast and impact-based 
        communication of inland flooding, compound flooding, 
        and storm surges from hurricanes, in coordination with 
        the program established under section 205 of the 
        Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023.
          (3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform 
        response to prevent the loss of life or property, such 
        as evacuation or shelter in place.
          (4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations, such as novel sensor 
        technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or 
        uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial 
        aircrafts, vessels, and satellites.
  (c) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
          (1) Implementing key strategies and following 
        priorities and objectives outlined by the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2019 report 
        ``Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program''.
          (2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees, 
        improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, 
        and economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk 
        communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to 
        hurricanes.
          (3) Improving the physical sciences, operational 
        modeling, and tools related to hurricane formation, the 
        impacts of wind and water-based hurricane hazards on 
        the built and natural environment, and the interaction 
        of hurricanes and tornadoes.
  (d) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under 
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under 
section 406, shall--
          (1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather 
        forecast guidance technology relating to hurricanes and 
        related weather phenomena;
          (2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and 
        forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences research; and
          (3) expand computational resources to support and 
        improve higher-resolution operational modeling of 
        hurricanes and related weather phenomena.
  (e) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with carrying out this section.

SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.

  Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of 
this section and not less frequently than semiannually 
thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant 
Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and in 
coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information 
Services, shall issue a research and development and research 
to operations plan to maintain United States leadership in 
numerical weather prediction and forecasting that--
          (1) describes the forecasting skill and technology 
        goals, objectives, expected budget, and progress of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 
        carrying out the program conducted under section 102;
          (2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and 
        development activities, data collection and analysis, 
        predictive modeling, demonstration of potential 
        operational forecast application, education, training, 
        and performance metrics, weighted to meet the 
        operational weather and flood-event mission of the 
        National Weather Service to achieve a weather-ready 
        Nation;
          (3) describes how the program conducted under section 
        102 will collaborate with Federal agencies and 
        departments, international partners, and stakeholders, 
        including the United States weather industry and 
        academic partners, and the role of each in advancing 
        weather forecasting and communication;
          (4) identifies, through consultation with the 
        National Science Foundation, the United States weather 
        industry, and academic partners, research necessary to 
        advance the scientific understanding of weather 
        processes and provide information to improve weather 
        warning and forecast systems in the United States most 
        effectively; and
          (5) describes how the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration is advancing community 
        weather modeling.

SEC. 106. 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) consistent with section 107, utilize Observing 
        System Simulation Experiments, Observing System 
        Experiments, Analyses of Alternatives, and other 
        appropriate assessment tools to ensure continuous 
        systemic evaluations of the observing systems, data, 
        and information needed to meet the requirements of 
        paragraph (1), including options to maximize 
        observational capabilities and their cost-
        effectiveness;
          (3) identify current and potential future data gaps 
        in Federal observing capabilities related to the 
        requirements listed under paragraph (1); [and]
          (4) determine a range of options, including private 
        sector partnerships or commercial acquisition, to 
        address gaps identified under paragraph (3)[.];
          (5) compare costs and schedule, including cost-
        benefit analysis, of Federal and private sector 
        supplemental options to fill the observation data 
        requirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified 
        pursuant to paragraph (3); and
          (6) not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress a 
        report that provides an analysis of the technical, 
        schedule, cost, and cost benefit analyses to place an 
        operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite 
        capability in the early morning orbit to support the 
        weather enterprise and the Administration's mission.

SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.

  (a) In general.--In support of the requirements of section 
106, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research shall undertake Observing System Simulation 
Experiments, or such other quantitative assessments as the 
Assistant Administrator considers appropriate, to 
quantitatively assess the relative value and benefits of 
observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific 
Observing System Simulation Experiment 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 the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, other Federal agencies, the 
        United States weather industry, and academic partners 
        to ensure the technical and scientific merit of results 
        from Observing System Simulation Experiments or other 
        appropriate quantitative assessment methodologies.
  (b) Requirements.--Observing System Simulation Experiments 
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] comparison to current or 
        experimental commercial system capabilities that 
        provide data necessary to protect life and property.
  (c) Implementation.--Observing System Simulation 
Experiments--
          (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 Observing System Simulation Experiments.--
          [(1) Global navigation satellite system radio 
        occultation.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator 
        for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall complete an 
        Observing System Simulation Experiment to assess the 
        value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System 
        Radio Occultation.
          [(2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global 
        constellation.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant 
        Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
        shall complete an Observing System Simulation 
        Experiment to assess the value of data from a 
        geostationary hyperspectral sounder global 
        constellation.]
  [(e)] (d) Results.--Upon completion of all Observing System 
Simulation Experiments, the Assistant Administrator shall make 
available to the public the results 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. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT AND ANNUAL REPORT.

  (a) Computing Resources.--
          (1) In general.--In acquiring computing capabilities, 
        including high performance computing technologies and 
        supercomputing technologies, that enable the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its 
        mission requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when 
        appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize 
        options for entering into multi-year lease agreements 
        for computing capabilities over options for purchasing 
        computing hardware outright.
          (2) Acquisition.--In carrying out the requirements of 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure 
        multi-year lease agreements in such a manner that the 
        expiration of the lease is set for a date on or 
        around--
                  (A) the expected degradation point of the 
                computing resources; or
                  (B) the point at which significantly 
                increased computing capabilities are expected 
                to be available for lease.
          (3) Pilot programs.--
                  (A) In general.--In order to more efficiently 
                and effectively meet the mission requirements 
                of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, the Under Secretary may create 
                1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or 
                innovative information and technology 
                capabilities and services.
                  (B) Program requirements.--Any program 
                created under paragraph (3) shall assess only 
                those capabilities and services that--
                          (i) meet or exceed the standards and 
                        requirements of the National Oceanic 
                        and Atmospheric Administration, 
                        including for processing speed, 
                        cybersecurity, and overall reliability; 
                        or
                          (ii) meet or exceed, or are expected 
                        to meet or exceed, the performance of 
                        similar, in-house information and 
                        technology capabilities and services 
                        that are owned and operated by the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration prior to the 
                        establishment of the pilot program.
                  [(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There 
                is authorized to be appropriated, out of funds 
                appropriated to the National Environmental 
                Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to 
                carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal 
                year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, 
                and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
                through 2023, to remain available until 
                expended.]
  [(b) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, and triennially thereafter until 
the date that is 6 years after the date on which the first 
report is submitted, the Under Secretary, acting through the 
Chief Information Officer of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and in coordination with the 
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
and the Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce 
and make publicly available a report that explains how the 
Under Secretary intends--
          [(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the 
        fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high 
        performance computing technologies in support of its 
        weather prediction mission;
          [(2) to ensure a balance between the research to 
        operations requirements to develop the next generation 
        of regional and global models as well as highly 
        reliable operational models;
          [(3) to take advantage of advanced development 
        concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation 
        weather prediction models available in beta-test mode 
        to operational forecasters, the United States weather 
        industry, and partners in academic and Government 
        research;
          [(4) to use existing computing resources to improve 
        advanced research and operational weather prediction;
          [(5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the 
        necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if 
        appropriate;
          [(6) to utilize cloud computing; and
          [(7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the 
        programming language of weather model code to current 
        and broadly-used coding language.]
  (b) Computing Research Initiative.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in 
        collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry 
        out an initiative, which may leverage Department of 
        Energy high performance computers, cloud computing, or 
        expertise, to run advanced coupled models in order to 
        conduct proof of concept scenarios in comparison with 
        current issued forecasts and models. The Under 
        Secretary and Secretary of Energy shall carry out the 
        initiative through a competitive, merit-reviewed 
        process, and consider applications from Federal 
        agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher 
        education (as such term is defined in section 101 of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), 
        nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities 
        (or a consortia thereof).
          (2) Components.--In carrying out the initiative under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prevent 
        duplication and coordinate research efforts in 
        artificial intelligence, high performance computing, 
        cloud computing, quantum computing, modeling and 
        simulation, machine learning, data assimilation, large 
        scale data analytics, and predictive analysis across 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        and may--
                  (A) conduct research to compare National 
                Weather Service forecast and model outputs to 
                predictions and model outputs developed through 
                such initiative;
                  (B) share relevant modeling system and 
                applications innovations developed through such 
                initiative, including Unified Forecast System-
                based applications, through community-based 
                activities, in accordance with section 10601 of 
                the James M. Inhofe National Defense 
                Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 
                U.S.C. 8512a);
                  (C) leverage coordinating activities managed 
                by the National Science and Technology Council, 
                the Interagency Council for Advancing 
                Meteorological Services, and other relevant 
                interagency entities;
                  (D) provide sufficient capacity for long-term 
                archive and access of model output to support 
                research and long-term study;
                  (E) determine computing decisions based on an 
                agile requirements framework; and
                  (F) support the training, recruitment, and 
                retention of the next generation weather, 
                water, and climate computing workforce through 
                incentives and pathways for career development 
                and employment opportunities.
          (3) Research security.--The activities authorized 
        under this section 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 Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 
        19231 et seq.).
          (4) Termination.--The authority under this subsection 
        shall terminate five years after the date of the 
        enactment of this subsection.
  (c) Artificial Intelligence Investments.--The Under Secretary 
shall leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning 
technologies to facilitate, optimize, and further leverage 
advanced computing to accomplish critical missions of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by enhancing 
existing and forthcoming high-performance and cloud computing 
infrastructure or systems.
  (d) Centers of Excellence.--The Under Secretary may expand, 
and where applicable establish, centers of excellence to aid 
the adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence and 
machine learning enabled advanced computing capabilities. Each 
such center may carry out activities that include the 
following:
          (1) Leveraging robust public-private partnership 
        models to provide access to training, experience, and 
        long-term development of workforce and infrastructure.
          (2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, 
        algorithms, data structures, and other supporting 
        software necessary for specific applications on high 
        performance computing systems.
          (3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep 
        machine-learning, and advanced data analysis 
        technologies to address current and future mission 
        challenges.
          (4) To the maximum extent practicable, explore 
        quantum computing and related application partnerships 
        with public, private, and academic entities to improve 
        the accuracy and resolution of weather predictions.
  (e) Multi-year Contracts.--The Under Secretary may enter into 
multi-year contracts in accordance with section 3903 of title 
41, United States Code, and shall ensure compliance with all 
clauses provided in such section to support operations, 
research, and development related to high performance and cloud 
computing infrastructure or systems with an unfunded contingent 
liability in the event of cancellation.
  (f) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the Under Secretary 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 required 
        under subsection (b), including applied research 
        discoveries and advanced modeling improvements 
        achieved.
          (2) A best estimate of the overall value of high-
        resolution probabilistic forecast guidance for 
        hazardous weather or water events (as such term is 
        defined in section 406) using a next-generation weather 
        forecast and warning framework.
          (3) The needs for cloud computing, quantum computing, 
        or high-performance computing, visualization, and 
        dissemination collaboration between the Department of 
        Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
          (4) A timeline and guidance for implementation of the 
        following:
                  (A) High-resolution numerical weather 
                prediction models.
                  (B) Methods for meeting the cloud computing, 
                quantum computing, or high-performance 
                computing, visualization, and dissemination 
                needs identified under paragraph (3).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  [(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out 
this title--
          [(1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which--
                  [(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  [(B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather 
                and air chemistry research programs; and
                  [(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4);
          [(2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which--
                  [(A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  [(B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather 
                and air chemistry research programs; and
                  [(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4);
          [(3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which--
                  [(A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  [(B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather 
                and air chemistry research programs; and
                  [(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4);
          [(4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which--
                  [(A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  [(B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather 
                and air chemistry research programs; and
                  [(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4); and
          [(5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which--
                  [(A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  [(B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather 
                and air chemistry research programs; and
                  [(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4).
  [(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry 
out this title and the amendments made by this title.]

SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research to carry out this title the following:
          (1) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                  (A) $90,000,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  (B) $30,000,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                  (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for tornado, 
                severe storm, and next generation radar 
                research; and
                  (D) $15,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4) of this title.
          (2) $156,550,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                  (A) $90,900,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  (B) $30,300,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                  (C) $20,200,000 is authorized for tornado, 
                severe storm, and next generation radar 
                research; and
                  (D) $15,150,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4) of this title.
          (3) $158,116,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                  (A) $91,809,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  (B) $30,603,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                  (C) $20,402,000 is authorized for tornado, 
                severe storm, and next generation radar 
                research; and
                  (D) $15,302,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4) of this title.
          (4) $159,697,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                  (A) $92,727,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  (B) $30,909,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                  (C) $20,606,000 is authorized for tornado, 
                severe storm, and next generation radar 
                research; and
                  (D) $15,455,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 102(b)(4) of this title.
          (5) $161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
                  (A) $93,654,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                  (B) $31,218,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                  (C) $20,812,000 is authorized for tornado, 
                severe storm, and next generation radar 
                research; and
                  (D) $15,609,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in 
                section 8512(b)(4) of this title.
  (b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry 
out this title or the amendments made by this title.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


            TITLE III--WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION

SEC. 301. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SATELLITE AND 
                    DATA MANAGEMENT.

  (a) Short-Term Management of Environmental Observations.--
          [(1) Microsatellite constellations.--
                  [(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall 
                complete and operationalize the Constellation 
                Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, 
                and Climate-1 and Climate-2 (COSMIC) in effect 
                on the day before the date of the enactment of 
                this Act--
                          [(i) by deploying constellations of 
                        microsatellites in both the equatorial 
                        and polar orbits;
                          [(ii) by integrating the resulting 
                        data and research into all national 
                        operational and research weather 
                        forecast models; and
                          [(iii) by ensuring that the resulting 
                        data of National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration's COSMIC-1 
                        and COSMIC-2 programs are free and open 
                        to all communities.
                  [(B) Annual reports.--Not less frequently 
                than once each year until the Under Secretary 
                has completed and operationalized the program 
                described in subparagraph (A) pursuant to such 
                subparagraph, the Under Secretary shall submit 
                to Congress a report on the status of the 
                efforts of the Under Secretary to carry out 
                such subparagraph.]
          [(2)] (1) Integration of ocean and coastal data from 
        the integrated ocean observing system.--In National 
        Weather Service Regions where the Director of the 
        National Weather Service determines that ocean and 
        coastal data would improve forecasts, the Director, in 
        consultation with the Assistant Administrator for 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Assistant 
        Administrator of the National Ocean Service, shall--
                  (A) integrate additional coastal and ocean 
                observations, and other data and research, from 
                the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) 
                into regional weather forecasts to improve 
                weather forecasts and forecasting decision 
                support systems;
                  (B) support the development of real-time data 
                sharing products and forecast products in 
                collaboration with the regional associations of 
                such system, including contributions from the 
                private sector, academia, and research 
                institutions to ensure timely and accurate use 
                of ocean and coastal data in regional 
                forecasts; and
                  (C) support increasing use of autonomous, 
                mobile surface, sub-surface, and submarine 
                vehicle ocean and fresh water sensor systems 
                and the infrastructure necessary to share and 
                analyze these data in real-time and feed them 
                into predictive early warning systems.
          [(3)] (2) Existing monitoring and observation-
        capability.--The Under Secretary shall identify 
        degradation of existing monitoring and observation 
        capabilities that could lead to a reduction in forecast 
        quality.
          [(4)] (3) Specifications for new satellite systems or 
        data determined by operational needs.--In developing 
        specifications for any satellite systems or data to 
        follow the Joint Polar Satellite System, Geostationary 
        Operational Environmental Satellites, and any other 
        satellites, in effect on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall ensure 
        the specifications are determined to the extent 
        practicable by the recommendations of the reports under 
        subsection (b) of this section.
  [(b) Independent Study on Future of National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Satellite Systems and Data.--
          [(1) Agreement.--
                  [(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall 
                seek to enter into an agreement with the 
                National Academy of Sciences to perform the 
                services covered by this subsection.
                  [(B) Timing.--The Under Secretary shall seek 
                to enter into the agreement described in 
                subparagraph (A) before September 30, 2018.
          [(2) Study.--
                  [(A) In general.--Under an agreement between 
                the Under Secretary and the National Academy of 
                Sciences under this subsection, the National 
                Academy of Sciences shall conduct a study on 
                matters concerning future satellite data needs.
                  [(B) Elements.--In conducting the study under 
                subparagraph (A), the National Academy of 
                Sciences shall--
                          [(i) develop recommendations on how 
                        to make the data portfolio of the 
                        Administration more robust and cost-
                        effective;
                          [(ii) assess the costs and benefits 
                        of moving toward a constellation of 
                        many small satellites, standardizing 
                        satellite bus design, relying more on 
                        the purchasing of data, or acquiring 
                        data from other sources or methods;
                          [(iii) identify the environmental 
                        observations that are essential to the 
                        performance of weather models, based on 
                        an assessment of Federal, academic, and 
                        private sector weather research, and 
                        the cost of obtaining the environmental 
                        data;
                          [(iv) identify environmental 
                        observations that improve the quality 
                        of operational and research weather 
                        models in effect on the day before the 
                        date of enactment of this Act;
                          [(v) identify and prioritize new 
                        environmental observations that could 
                        contribute to existing and future 
                        weather models; and
                          [(vi) develop recommendations on a 
                        portfolio of environmental observations 
                        that balances essential, quality-
                        improving, and new data, private and 
                        nonprivate sources, and space-based and 
                        Earth-based sources.
                  [(C) Deadline and report.--In carrying out 
                the study under subparagraph (A), the National 
                Academy of Sciences shall complete and transmit 
                to the Under Secretary a report containing the 
                findings of the National Academy of Sciences 
                with respect to the study not later than 2 
                years after the date on which the Administrator 
                enters into an agreement with the National 
                Academy of Sciences under paragraph (1)(A).
          [(3) Alternate organization.--
                  [(A) In general.--If the Under Secretary is 
                unable within the period prescribed in 
                subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) to enter into 
                an agreement described in subparagraph (A) of 
                such paragraph with the National Academy of 
                Sciences on terms acceptable to the Under 
                Secretary, the Under Secretary shall seek to 
                enter into such an agreement with another 
                appropriate organization that--
                          [(i) is not part of the Federal 
                        Government;
                          [(ii) operates as a not-for-profit 
                        entity; and
                          [(iii) has expertise and objectivity 
                        comparable to that of the National 
                        Academy of Sciences.
                  [(B) Treatment.--If the Under Secretary 
                enters into an agreement with another 
                organization as described in subparagraph (A), 
                any reference in this subsection to the 
                National Academy of Sciences shall be treated 
                as a reference to the other organization.
          [(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated, out of funds 
        appropriated to National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
        and Information Service, to carry out this subsection 
        $1,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal years 
        2018 through 2019.]
  (b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite 
Systems and Data.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a 
        fleet of Administration space-based observation 
        platforms that provide critical operations-focused data 
        and information to support the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration's mission to monitor the 
        global environment in order to protect lives and 
        property from extreme weather and other natural 
        phenomena.
          (2) Collaboration.--The Under Secretary shall 
        implement recommendations from the NOAA Observing 
        Systems Council to ensure an appropriate mix of 
        government, academic, commercial sector, and 
        international partnerships in the provision of data and 
        information, including a broadened effort on data 
        acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under 
        section 302 when cost effective and beneficial to the 
        Administration.
          (3) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that 
        Administration platforms maintained under paragraph (1) 
        prioritize the development of products and services 
        that are tailored to meet the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration's mission.
          (4) National centers for environmental information.--
        The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers 
        for Environmental Information to provide a long-term 
        archive and access to the Administration's national and 
        global data and metadata.
  (c) Next Generation Satellite Architecture.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall analyze, 
        test, and plan the procurement of future data sources 
        and satellite architectures, including respective 
        ground system elements, identified in the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Satellite 
        Observing System Architecture Study that--
                  (A) lower the cost of observations used to 
                meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration's mission requirements;
                  (B) disaggregate current satellite systems, 
                where appropriate;
                  (C) include new, value-adding technological 
                advancements; and
                  (D) improve--
                          (i) weather and climate forecasting 
                        and predictions; and
                          (ii) the understanding, management, 
                        and exploration of the ocean.
          (2) Quantitative assessments and partnership 
        authority.--In meeting the requirements described in 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary--
                  (A) may partner with the commercial and 
                academic sectors, non-governmental and not-for-
                profit organizations, and other Federal 
                agencies; and
                  (B) shall, consistent with section 107 of 
                this Act, undertake quantitative assessments 
                for objective analyses, as the Under Secretary 
                considers appropriate, to evaluate relative 
                value and benefits of future data sources and 
                satellite architectures described in paragraph 
                (1).
  (d) Additional Forms of Transaction Authorized.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order 
        to enhance the effectiveness of data, satellite, and 
        other observing systems used by the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration to meet its missions, 
        the Under Secretary may enter into and perform such 
        transaction agreements on such terms as the Under 
        Secretary considers appropriate to carry out--
                  (A) basic, applied, and advanced research 
                projects and ocean exploration missions to meet 
                the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) 
                through (D) of subsection (c)(1); or
                  (B) any other type of project to meet other 
                mission objectives, as determined by the Under 
                Secretary.
          (2) Method and scope.--
                  (A) In general.--A transaction agreement 
                under paragraph (1) shall be limited to 
                research and development activities.
                  (B) Permissible uses.--A transaction 
                agreement under paragraph (1) may be used--
                          (i) for the construction, use, 
                        operation, or procurement of new, 
                        improved, innovative, or value-adding 
                        systems, including satellites, 
                        instrumentation, ground stations, data, 
                        and data processing;
                          (ii) to make determinations on how to 
                        best use existing or planned data, 
                        systems, and assets of the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 
                        and
                          (iii) only when the objectives of the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration cannot be met using a 
                        cooperative research and development 
                        agreement, grants procurement contract, 
                        or cooperative agreement.
          (3) Termination of effectiveness.--The authority 
        provided in this subsection terminates effective 
        September 30, 2030.
  (e) Transparency.--Not later than 60 days after the date that 
a transaction agreement is made under subsection (d), the Under 
Secretary shall make publicly available, in a searchable 
format, on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration all uses of the authority under subsection (d), 
including an estimate of committed National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration resources and the expected benefits 
to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration objectives 
for the transaction agreement, with appropriate redactions for 
proprietary, sensitive, or classified information.
  (f) Reports.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after 
        September 30 of each fiscal year through September 30, 
        [2023] 2030, the Under Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives a report on 
        the use of additional transaction authority by the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during 
        the previous fiscal year.
          (2) Contents.--Each report shall include--
                  (A) for each transaction agreement in effect 
                during the fiscal year covered by the report--
                          (i) an indication of whether the 
                        transaction agreement is a 
                        reimbursable, non-reimbursable, or 
                        funded agreement;
                          (ii) a description of--
                                  (I) the subject and terms;
                                  (II) the parties;
                                  (III) the responsible 
                                National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration line 
                                office;
                                  (IV) the value;
                                  (V) the extent of the cost 
                                sharing among Federal 
                                Government and non-Federal 
                                sources;
                                  (VI) the duration or 
                                schedule; and
                                  (VII) all milestones;
                          (iii) an indication of whether the 
                        transaction agreement was renewed 
                        during the previous fiscal year;
                          (iv) the technology areas in which 
                        research projects were conducted under 
                        that agreement;
                          (v) the extent to which the use of 
                        that agreement--
                                  (I) has contributed to a 
                                broadening of the technology 
                                and industrial base available 
                                for meeting National Oceanic 
                                and Atmospheric Administration 
                                needs; and
                                  (II) has fostered within the 
                                technology and industrial base 
                                new relationships and practices 
                                that support the United States; 
                                and
                          (vi) the total value received by the 
                        Federal Government under that agreement 
                        for that fiscal year; and
                  (B) a list of all anticipated reimbursable, 
                non-reimbursable, and funded transaction 
                agreements for the upcoming fiscal year.
  (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed as limiting the authority of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to use cooperative research and 
development agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or 
cooperative agreements.

[SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA.

  [(a) Data and Hosted Satellite Payloads.--Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter 
into agreements for--
          [(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts 
        with commercial providers; and
          [(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments 
        on cohosted government or private payloads.
  [(b) Strategy.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Commerce, in consultation with the Under Secretary, 
        shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives a 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 United States 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 National Environmental Satellite, 
        Data, and Information Service may enter into multiyear 
        agreements necessary to carry out the strategy 
        developed under this subsection.
  [(c) Pilot Program.--
          [(1) Criteria.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall 
        publish data and metadata standards and specifications 
        for space-based commercial weather data, including 
        radio occultation data, and, as soon as possible, 
        geostationary hyperspectral sounder data.
          [(2) Pilot contracts.--
                  [(A) Contracts.--Not later than 90 days after 
                the date of enactment of this Act, the Under 
                Secretary shall, through an open competition, 
                enter into at least one pilot contract with one 
                or more private sector entities capable of 
                providing data that meet the standards and 
                specifications set by the Under Secretary for 
                providing commercial weather data in a manner 
                that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate 
                and evaluate the data for its use in National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                meteorological models.
                  [(B) Assessment of data viability.--Not later 
                than the date that is 3 years after the date on 
                which the Under Secretary enters into a 
                contract under subparagraph (A), the Under 
                Secretary shall assess and submit to the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
                on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
                of Representatives 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) and the extent to which the 
                pilot program has demonstrated--
                          [(i) the viability of assimilating 
                        the commercially provided data into 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration meteorological models;
                          [(ii) whether, and by how much, the 
                        data add value to weather forecasts; 
                        and
                          [(iii) the accuracy, quality, 
                        timeliness, validity, reliability, 
                        usability, information technology 
                        security, and cost-effectiveness of 
                        obtaining commercial weather data from 
                        private sector providers.
          [(3) Authorization of appropriations.--For each of 
        fiscal years 2019 through 2023, there are authorized to 
        be appropriated for procurement, acquisition, and 
        construction at the National Environmental Satellite, 
        Data, and Information Service, $6,000,000 to carry out 
        this subsection.
  [(d) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under 
subsection (c)(2)(B) demonstrates the ability of commercial 
weather data to meet data and metadata standards and 
specifications published under subsection (c)(1), the Under 
Secretary shall--
          [(1) where appropriate, cost-effective, and feasible, 
        obtain commercial weather data from private sector 
        providers;
          [(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process 
        for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration meteorological space system, consider 
        whether there is a suitable, cost-effective, commercial 
        capability available or that will be available to meet 
        any or all of the observational requirements by the 
        planned operational date of the system;
          [(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial 
        capability is or will be available as described in 
        paragraph (2), determine whether it is in the national 
        interest to develop a governmental meteorological space 
        system; and
          [(4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives a report detailing any determination 
        made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
  [(e) Data Sharing Practices.--The Under Secretary shall 
continue to meet the international meteorological agreements 
into which the Under Secretary has entered, including practices 
set forth through World Meteorological Organization Resolution 
40.

[SEC. 303. UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION.

  [In meeting the requirements under this title, the Under 
Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication between public 
and private sources of data and the corresponding expenditure 
of funds and employment of personnel.]

SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.

  (a) Program Establishment.--The Under Secretary, in 
coordination with the heads of appropriate offices of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain 
a Commercial Data Program to coordinate and execute acquisition 
of weather and environmental data and services from private 
sector entities for operational use.
  (b) Program Elements.--The Under Secretary shall acquire 
satellite, ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, 
remote sensing, or crowd-sourced data and services for 
operational use relating to weather and environmental 
forecasting and modeling. The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
Commercial Data Program coordinates, collaborates, and ensures 
access to data across the Administration, including among the 
following:
          (1) The National Mesonet Program.
          (2) The Aircraft Based Observation Program.
          (3) The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, 
        including existing regional associations.
          (4) The National Integrated Drought Information 
        System, including the National Coordinated Soil 
        Moisture Monitoring Network.
          (5) The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing 
        Program.
          (6) The National Data Buoy Center.
          (7) The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.
          (8) The Ocean Exploration Program.
          (9) Any other program or office the Under Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
  (c) Standards and Specifications.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section and on a 
continuous basis thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish 
data, metadata, and service standards and specifications 
required for acquired observation services and data for use, 
licensing, and attribution to ensure quality, impact, and 
compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.
  (d) Prioritization.--In acquiring commercial data and 
services, the Under Secretary shall prioritize obtaining 
surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and 
ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use 
that participate in the Commercial Data Pilot Program or other 
programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
that acquire commercial data or observations.
  (e) NOAA Observing Systems and Fleet Councils.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        Observing Systems Council and the NOAA Fleet Council 
        (in this subsection referred to as the ``Councils'') to 
        provide strategic recommendations and guidance 
        regarding the prioritization, design, development, 
        acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, performance 
        monitoring, and retiring of major observing systems 
        portfolio components, including related to the 
        acquisition of commercial weather and environmental 
        data and services.
          (2) Line office coordination.--The Councils shall 
        ensure coordination and adherence to uniform policies 
        by providing guidance to all line offices of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration engaged 
        in observing systems portfolio design, technology, 
        development, execution, and operation.
          (3) Committee.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a 
        Committee within the Councils to develop and approve 
        procedural directives, guides, or handbooks relevant to 
        management of data and information, including 
        commercial data, and coordinate data governance and 
        management practices across the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to promote consistent 
        processes.
  (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
        through 2028 to carry out this section.
          (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
        that the Under Secretary should seek to enter into 
        contracts or other appropriate agreements that enable 
        the expenditure, to the maximum extent practicable, of 
        amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
        available in a fiscal year to carry out this section.
  (g) Data and Hosted Payloads.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into 
agreements relating to the following:
          (1) The purchase of weather and environmental data 
        and services through contracts with commercial data and 
        service providers.
          (2) The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted 
        Federal, international, or private space, airborne, 
        maritime, or ground platforms.
  (h) Ombudsman.--The Under Secretary shall establish or 
designate at least one Ombudsman position within the Commercial 
Data Program to implement the recommendations of the Observing 
System Council under subsection (e) related to commercial 
weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. Such 
an Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between commercial data 
and service providers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration with respect to receiving recommendations and 
resolving issues related to engagement, testing, contracting, 
or other areas related to the Administration's efforts to 
acquire commercial weather and environmental data and services.
  (i) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit 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 report evaluating the activities 
and needed authorities related to data governance and 
management practices, including acquisition, collection, 
documentation, quality control, validation, reprocessing, 
storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-term preservation 
activities across all National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.

SEC. 303. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.

  (a) Program Establishment.--Within the Commercial Data 
Program under section 302, there shall be a Commercial Data 
Pilot Program to engage with external partners and providers to 
test and develop shared standards and methodologies for 
quality, use, licensing, and attribution of observation 
services and data, and to ensure quality, impact, and 
compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting. The 
Program is authorized to test and evaluate all sources and 
types of observation services, imagery, products, and data from 
private sector entities, including new and innovative surface-
based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-
based data, metadata, and model components.
  (b) Criteria.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that data 
acquired through the Commercial Data Pilot Program described in 
subsection (a) meets the most recent standards and 
specifications required for observation services and data as 
published pursuant to section 302(c).
  (c) Pilot Contracts.--The Under Secretary shall, through an 
open competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with 
private sector entities capable of providing observation 
services and data referred to in subsection (a) that meet the 
standards and specifications published pursuant to section 
302(c) for so providing such services and data in a manner that 
allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such 
services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration activities.
  (d) Assessment of Viability.--The Under Secretary shall 
annually assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
a summary of the pilot contracts entered into pursuant to 
subsection (c), the extent to which such contracts meet the 
standards and specifications published pursuant to section 
302(c), and any additional information determined necessary 
related to the following:
          (1) The viability of assimilating observation 
        services and data from private sector entities into 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        forecasts and models.
          (2) The expected value added or improvements from 
        such services and data so assimilated into National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and 
        models.
          (3) The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, 
        reliability, usability, information technology 
        security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining 
        observation services and data from private sector 
        entities.
          (4) Steps to integrate within one year such services 
        and data into operational use by the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration or any associated 
        challenges in doing so.
  (e) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under subsection 
(d) demonstrates the ability of commercial services and data to 
meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to 
section 302(c), the Under Secretary shall--
          (1) when cost-effective and feasible, obtain 
        observation services and data from private sector 
        entities through the Commercial Data Program under 
        section 302;
          (2) as early as possible in the acquisition process 
        for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration satellite system, determine whether 
        there is a suitable, cost-effective, commercial 
        capability available or that will be available to meet 
        applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system 
        requirements before completion of the critical design 
        phase of such planned satellite system;
          (3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial 
        capability is or will be available as described in 
        paragraph (2), determine whether and how such 
        capability is in the national interest if developed as 
        a solely governmental system; and
          (4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives a report detailing any determinations 
        made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
  (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized 
to be appropriated pursuant to section 302 to carry out such 
section, not less than 15 percent of such amounts each fiscal 
year are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 304. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.

  (a) In General.--Consistent with other Federal agencies that 
contract and partner with private sector entities, the Under 
Secretary is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter 
into agreements that utilize multiyear contract options. In 
carrying out sections 302 and 303, the Under Secretary shall, 
to the greatest extent possible--
          (1) enter into year-long or multiyear contract 
        options using contracting mechanisms that foster 
        resiliency of datatypes purchased;
          (2) partner and contract with multiple observation 
        service and data providers simultaneously to reduce 
        risks of data gaps and improve mission robustness; and
          (3) utilize authorities, such as additional forms of 
        transaction agreements under section 301, that allow 
        for innovative partnerships with private sector 
        entities.
  (b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this title may be construed 
as infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of 
Federal entities authorized under title 10, United States Code.
  (c) Unnecessary Duplication.--In meeting the requirements 
under this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary 
duplication between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, and 
private sector entities, including relating to corresponding 
expenditures of funds and employment of personnel by--
          (1) coordinating existing activities with other 
        civilian Federal departments and agencies which 
        provide, contract, or partner with private sector 
        entities to acquire, weather and environmental 
        observations and data; and
          (2) coordinating and soliciting weather and 
        environmental observations and data requirements and 
        needs from other civilian Federal departments and 
        agencies to be acquired by the Commercial Data Program 
        under section 302.
  (d) Fair Compensation for Interagency Needs.--The Under 
Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that 
Federal departments and agencies utilizing services and data 
under sections 302 and 303 fairly compensate the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the non-Federal 
entities providing such services or data, as appropriate, for 
use.

SEC. 305. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.

  (a) Data Standards.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration 
with the weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent 
and open data and metadata standards to support open science, 
including simple cloud-optimized data formats and application 
programming interfaces that support findability, accessibility, 
usability, and preservability.
  (b) Data Infrastructure.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation 
        with the Chief Information Officer and appropriate 
        program heads, shall consolidate and arrange data 
        infrastructure needs to ensure efficient and effective 
        data transfer between National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration offices by considering the use of 
        commercial cloud technologies, or similar hybrid 
        structures, to host and transmit data and metadata.
          (2) Federal partnerships.--In carrying out paragraph 
        (1), the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of 
        other Federal departments and agencies, including the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
        Department of Energy, the United States Space Force, 
        the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, 
        the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States 
        Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
        the National Science Foundation, and the United States 
        Geological Survey, to collocate data with joint utility 
        and support a transition to cloud architectures, 
        including commercial cloud networks.
          (3) Long term data archive.--The Under Secretary 
        shall ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and 
        stewardship of archival data and metadata acquired 
        through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 
        is conducted within the National Centers for 
        Environmental Information.
  (c) Data Sharing With the Weather Enterprise.--To the 
greatest extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall make 
accessible to members of the weather enterprise that are United 
States persons data not subject to redistribution contract 
permissions and purchased through the Commercial Data Program 
under section 302 or shared through international government 
partners. If purchased data must be assimilated into numerical 
weather prediction models or automated forecast guidance to 
satisfy redistribution contract permissions, the Under 
Secretary shall make accessible without delay to members of the 
weather enterprise that are United States persons the numerical 
weather prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, 
as the case may be.
  (d) Data Assimilation.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
        with the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the 
        National Centers for Environmental Information, and any 
        other offices within the Administration, shall 
        establish a program to test, advance, and implement 
        data assimilation methods, which may include artificial 
        intelligence, machine learning, data pre- and post-
        processing, efficient input and output, and next-
        generation algorithms.
          (2) Data assimilation university consortium.--Through 
        the program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
        Under Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting 
        of institutions of higher education (as such term is 
        defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to address critical research 
        challenges for data assimilation and foster a growing 
        data assimilation workforce. The consortium shall seek 
        to--
                  (A) solve critical research issues for data 
                assimilation through innovative research;
                  (B) increase significantly the number of 
                students, including graduate level and Ph.D. 
                candidates, in data assimilation;
                  (C) utilize modern software and frameworks, 
                such as the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation 
                Integration, to conduct data assimilation 
                research and development and facilitate 
                research to operations efforts;
                  (D) identify and prioritize critical research 
                areas in data assimilation and facilitate 
                operations to research efforts;
                  (E) establish and enable an effective 
                collaboration infrastructure between National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                facilities, such as labs, centers, or joint 
                agency institutes, and the research community, 
                including a mechanism for external partners to 
                host Administration employees; and
                  (F) establish mechanisms to enable all 
                members of the consortium to archive and access 
                data required to support the work under this 
                subsection.
          (3) Coordination.--In carrying out this subsection, 
        the Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration and its associated 
        activities focus on research to operations and 
        operations to research, including by coordinating and 
        collaborating with the Joint Center for Satellite Data 
        Assimilation.
          (4) Data assimilation, management, and sharing 
        practices security.--The activities authorized under 
        this subsection 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 Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et 
        seq.).
  (e) Study on Data Management.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        data of the enactment of this section, the Under 
        Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with a 
        non-Federal entity to conduct a study on matters 
        concerning data practices and management needs at the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 
        conducting the study, the outside entity shall--
                  (A) assess the costs and benefits of current 
                data management needs for observational and 
                operational mission requirements;
                  (B) develop recommendations regarding how to 
                make more robust and cost-effective the data 
                portfolio of the Administration;
                  (C) identify data infrastructure technologies 
                and needs that are essential to the performance 
                of modeling systems of the Administration;
                  (D) assess the sharing needs and practices of 
                the Administration for both internal and 
                external sharing dissemination; and
                  (E) develop recommendations for methods of 
                data infrastructure sharing, including data 
                purchased from the commercial sector.
          (2) Authorization of appropriations.--From amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Commercial Data 
        Program under section 302, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out the study under paragraph (1) 
        $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.

TITLE IV--FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 402. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECAST INNOVATION 
                    COORDINATION.

  (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish an Interagency [Committee] 
Council for [Advancing Weather Services] Advancing 
Meteorological Services (in this section referred to as the 
``Interagency Council'') to improve coordination of relevant 
weather research and forecast innovation activities across the 
Federal Government. The Interagency [Committee] Council shall--
          (1) include participation by the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation 
        Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration 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 of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall take such other steps as 
are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal 
Government with those of the United States weather industry, 
State governments, emergency managers, and academic 
researchers.]
  (b) Co-Chairs.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-
chairs of the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall 
serve as the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.
  (c) Further Coordination.--The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are 
necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal 
Government with stakeholders in the United States weather 
industry, academic partners, State governments, and emergency 
managers, including by implementing mechanisms to encourage and 
enable the participation of non-Federal employees in the 
functions of the Interagency Council.
  (d) Functions.--The Interagency Council shall be the formal 
mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and 
agencies coordinate implementation of policy and practices to 
ensure United States global leadership in meteorological 
services. In doing so, the Interagency Council shall review 
programs and support relevant weather research and forecast 
innovation activities, as well as other related implementation 
activities, related to Federal meteorological services, 
including by carrying out the following:
          (1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological 
        research and service delivery needs, including relating 
        to observations, operational systems, communications, 
        and infrastructure.
          (2) Providing recommendations to streamline or 
        consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies 
        in cross-agency activities.
          (3) Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes 
        of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and 
        other relevant Federal departments and agencies, 
        including research outcomes related to the relevant 
        recommended key science and applications questions and 
        priorities in the National Academies of Sciences, 
        Engineering, and Medicine's 2018 report ``Thriving on 
        Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth 
        Observation from Space'', to understand and predict 
        high-impact weather phenomena.
          (4) Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of 
        partnerships with private sector entities to advance 
        meteorological research, communications, and computing 
        in collaboration with the Earth system science, 
        service, and stakeholder communities.
          (5) Sharing information regarding meteorological 
        research improvement needs and science opportunities 
        across relevant Federal departments and agencies.
          (6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal 
        departments and agencies regarding potential 
        collaborations and expected level of resources needed 
        to maintain and operate the Interagency Council.
          (7) Enhancing communication and coordination and 
        promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments 
        and agencies and across the Interagency Council.
          (8) Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a 
        professional and diverse workforce for meteorological 
        research and services.
  (e) Data Inventory.--The Interagency Council, in coordination 
and avoidance of duplication with the United States Group on 
Earth Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and 
archive activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, 
and reusability by maintaining a data inventory of 
meteorological observations. Not less frequently than annually 
for a period of five years beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council shall 
solicit updated information from private sector entities 
identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such 
data shall be made available to member departments and agencies 
under subsection (a).
  (f) Coordination Office.--The Interagency Meteorological 
Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council 
such administrative and logistical support as the Interagency 
Council may require, as determined by the co-chairs.
  (g) Cost Share.--Member departments and agencies of the 
Interagency Council under subsection (a) may provide 
reimbursable financial support to the Interagency 
Meteorological Coordinating Office to enhance cost-sharing and 
collaboration related to weather research and forecast 
innovation activities.
  (h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the 
Interagency Council shall publish a report which identifies 
among member agencies the following:
          (1) Federal programs that use meteorological 
        observations, data sources, and capabilities.
          (2) Federal programs that acquire such data from 
        private sector entities.
          (3) Advancements in meteorological data collection, 
        assimilation, and forecasting that could improve 
        Federal programmatic operational capabilities.
          (4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological 
        observations, data sources, and capabilities that could 
        be used to better meet Federal programmatic needs.

SEC. 403. OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND NATIONAL 
                    WEATHER SERVICE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

  (a) In general.--The Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather 
Service may establish a program to detail Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research personnel to the National Weather Service 
and National Weather Service personnel to the Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research.
  (b) Goal.--The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting 
innovation through regular, direct interaction between the 
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's world-class 
scientists and the National Weather Service's operational 
staff.
  (c) Elements.--The program shall allow up to 10 Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research staff and National Weather 
Service staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall 
be jointly selected by the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National 
Weather Service.
  [(d) Annual Report.--Not less frequently than once each year, 
the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
a report on participation in such program and shall highlight 
any innovations that come from this interaction.]
  (d) Annual Briefing.--Not less frequently than once each 
year, the Under Secretary shall brief the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives on participation in the program under 
subsection (a) and shall highlight any innovations that come 
from the interaction described in subsection (b).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 406. IMPROVING NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                    COMMUNICATION OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER AND WATER 
                    EVENTS.

  [(a) Purpose of System.--For purposes of the assessment 
required by subsection (b)(1)(A), the purpose of National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing 
watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and water 
events shall be risk communication to the general public that 
informs action to prevent loss of life and property.
  [(b) Assessment of System.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
        shall--
                  [(A) assess the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration system for issuing 
                watches and warnings regarding hazardous 
                weather and water events; and
                  [(B) submit to Congress a report on the 
                findings of the Under Secretary with respect to 
                the assessment conducted under subparagraph 
                (A).
          [(2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph 
        (1)(A) shall include the following:
                  [(A) An evaluation of whether the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system 
                for issuing watches and warnings regarding 
                hazardous weather and water events meets the 
                purpose described in subsection (a).
                  [(B) Development of recommendations for--
                          [(i) legislative and administrative 
                        action to improve the system described 
                        in paragraph (1)(A); and
                          [(ii) such research as the Under 
                        Secretary considers necessary to 
                        address the focus areas described in 
                        paragraph (3).
          [(3) Focus areas.--The assessment required by 
        paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following:
                  [(A) Ways to communicate the risks posed by 
                hazardous weather or water events to the public 
                that are most likely to result in action to 
                mitigate the risk.
                  [(B) Ways to communicate the risks posed by 
                hazardous weather or water events to the public 
                as broadly and rapidly as practicable.
                  [(C) Ways to preserve the benefits of the 
                existing watches and warnings system.
                  [(D) Ways to maintain the utility of the 
                watches and warnings system for Government and 
                commercial users of the system.
          [(4) Consultation.--In conducting the assessment 
        required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary 
        shall--
                  [(A) consult with such line offices within 
                the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration as the Under Secretary considers 
                relevant, including the National Ocean Service, 
                the National Weather Service, and the Office of 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
                  [(B) consult with individuals in the academic 
                sector, including individuals in the field of 
                social and behavioral sciences, and other 
                weather services;
                  [(C) consult with media outlets that will be 
                distributing the watches and warnings;
                  [(D) consult with non-Federal forecasters 
                that produce alternate severe weather risk 
                communication products;
                  [(E) consult with emergency planners and 
                responders, including State and local emergency 
                management agencies, and other government users 
                of the watches and warnings system, including 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the 
                Office of Personnel Management, the Coast 
                Guard, and such other Federal agencies as the 
                Under Secretary determines rely on watches and 
                warnings for operational decisions; and
                  [(F) make use of the services of the National 
                Academy of Sciences, as the Under Secretary 
                considers necessary and practicable, including 
                contracting with the National Research Council 
                to review the scientific and technical 
                soundness of the assessment required by 
                paragraph (1)(A), including the recommendations 
                developed under paragraph (2)(B).
          [(5) Methodologies.--In conducting the assessment 
        required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall 
        use such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers 
        are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, 
        including social and behavioral sciences.
  [(c) Improvements to System.--
          [(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall, based on 
        the assessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), make 
        such recommendations to Congress to improve the system 
        as the Under Secretary considers necessary--
                  [(A) to improve the system for issuing 
                watches and warnings regarding hazardous 
                weather and water events; and
                  [(B) to support efforts to satisfy research 
                needs to enable future improvements to such 
                system.
          [(2) Requirements regarding recommendations.--In 
        carrying out paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary 
        shall ensure that any recommendation that the Under 
        Secretary considers a major change--
                  [(A) is validated by social and behavioral 
                science using a generalizable sample;
                  [(B) accounts for the needs of various 
                demographics, vulnerable populations, and 
                geographic regions;
                  [(C) accounts for the differences between 
                types of weather and water hazards;
                  [(D) responds to the needs of Federal, State, 
                and local government partners and media 
                partners; and
                  [(E) accounts for necessary changes to 
                Federally operated watch and warning 
                propagation and dissemination infrastructure 
                and protocols.
  [(d) Watches and Warnings Defined.--
          [(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), in this section, the terms ``watch'' and 
        ``warning'', with respect to a hazardous weather and 
        water event, mean products issued by the 
        Administration, intended for consumption by the general 
        public, to alert the general public to the potential 
        for or presence of the event and to inform action to 
        prevent loss of life and property.
          [(2) Exception.--ln this section, the terms ``watch'' 
        and ``warning'' do not include technical or specialized 
        meteorological and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or 
        model guidance products.]

SEC. 406. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term 
        ``hazardous weather or water events'' means weather or 
        water events that have a high risk of loss of life or 
        property, including the following:
                  (A) Severe storms, such as hurricanes and 
                short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or 
                hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, 
                including large hail, damaging winds, 
                tornadoes, and flash floods.
                  (B) Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen 
                precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, 
                and snow), or combined effects of freezing or 
                frozen precipitation and strong winds.
                  (C) Other weather hazards, such as extreme 
                heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, 
                high winds, and river, coastal, or lakeshore 
                flooding.
          (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
          (3) Watch; warning.--
                  (A) In general.--The terms ``watch'' and 
                ``warning'', with respect to a hazardous 
                weather or water event, mean products issued by 
                the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, intended for consumption by the 
                general public, to alert the general public to 
                the potential for or presence of such event and 
                to inform action to prevent loss of life or 
                property.
                  (B) Exception.--The terms ``watch'' and 
                ``warning'' do not include technical or 
                specialized meteorological or hydrological 
                forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance 
                products.
  (b) System Communications.--The Under Secretary shall 
maintain and improve the system of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration by which the risks of hazardous 
weather or water events are communicated to the general public, 
with the goal of informing response to prevent loss of life or 
property.
  (c) Hazard Risk Communication Improvement and 
Simplification.--
          (1) In general.--To carry out subsection (b), the 
        Under Secretary shall maintain a social, behavioral, 
        risk, communication, and economic sciences program (in 
        this section referred to as the ``Program''), for the 
        purpose of simplifying and improving the communication 
        of hazardous weather or water events.
          (2) Terminology.--The Program, in coordination with 
        social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic 
        science community and user feedback, shall identify, 
        eliminate, or modify unnecessary, redundant, or 
        confusing terms for communications regarding hazardous 
        weather or water events and add new terminology, as 
        appropriate.
          (3) Communications improvement.--The Program shall 
        improve the form, content, and methods of 
        communications regarding hazardous weather or water 
        events and associated risks to more clearly inform 
        response to prevent the loss of life or property.
          (4) Evaluations.--The Program, in coordination with 
        the performance and evaluation branches of the National 
        Weather Service and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, 
        shall develop metrics for such branches to track and 
        evaluate the degree to which communications regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events inform response.
          (5) Support plan.--The Program shall develop a plan 
        for the purpose of carrying out paragraph (3). Such 
        plan shall be periodically updated and informed by 
        internal and extramural research and the results of the 
        evaluation of communications regarding hazardous 
        weather or water events and associated risks under 
        paragraph (4).
          (6) Methods.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Program shall develop and implement recommendations 
        that--
                  (A) are based on the best and most recent 
                understanding from social, behavioral, 
                economic, risk, and communications science 
                research;
                  (B) are validated by social, behavioral, 
                risk, and communications science, taking into 
                account the importance of methods that support 
                reproduction and replication of scientific 
                studies, use of rigorous statistical analyses, 
                and, as applicable, data analysis supported by 
                artificial intelligence and machine learning 
                technologies;
                  (C) account for the needs of various 
                demographics, vulnerable populations, and 
                geographic regions;
                  (D) account for the differences between 
                various types of hazardous weather or water 
                events;
                  (E) respond to the needs of Federal, State, 
                and local government partners and media 
                partners; and
                  (F) account for necessary changes in the 
                infrastructure, technology, and protocols for 
                developing and disseminating watches and 
                warnings.
          (7) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Program shall coordinate with the following:
                  (A) Federal partners, including National 
                Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and 
                regional integrated sciences and assessments 
                programs.
                  (B) State and local government partners.
                  (C) Tribal governments.
                  (D) Institutions of higher education or a 
                consortia thereof.
                  (E) Media partners.
          (8) Timeliness and consistency.--The Program shall 
        develop best practices and guidance for ensuring timely 
        and consistent communications across public facing 
        platforms that disseminate information related to 
        hazardous weather or water events.
  (d) Hazard Communication Research and Engagement.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain, 
        as appropriate, a program to--
                  (A) modernize the development and 
                communication of risk-based, statistically 
                reliable, probabilistic hazard information, 
                with the goal of informing appropriate 
                responses to hazardous weather or water events; 
                and
                  (B) improve the fundamental social, 
                behavioral, economic, risk, and communication 
                science relating to communications, including 
                by means of collecting voluntary data, 
                regarding hazardous weather or water events.
          (2) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and 
        communicate with States, Tribal governments, 
        localities, and emergency managers regarding research 
        priorities and results.
          (3) Pilot program for tornado hazard communication 
        required.--To further research into communications 
        regarding hazardous weather or water events, the Under 
        Secretary, in coordination with the VORTEX program 
        under section 103 and in collaboration with one or more 
        eligible institutions (or a consortia thereof), shall 
        establish a pilot program for tornado hazard 
        communication to test the effectiveness of implementing 
        research into operations with respect to tornadoes.
          (4) Pilot study for hurricane hazard communication.--
                  (A) In general.--To further research into 
                communications regarding hazardous weather or 
                water events, the Under Secretary, in 
                coordination with the hurricane forecast 
                improvement program under section 104, shall 
                seek to enter into an agreement with an 
                appropriate entity, as determined by the Under 
                Secretary, to conduct a pilot study using a 
                mixed methods approach, such as surveys, focus 
                groups, and interviews, to gather information 
                from hurricane prone population areas regarding 
                the levels of preparedness of such areas for 
                hurricanes or in response to the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's early 
                forecasts and warnings. Such study shall 
                evaluate the following:
                          (i) Possession of disaster supplies.
                          (ii) Evacuation decisions.
                          (iii) Levels of trust of tropical 
                        cyclone information and hurricane path 
                        prediction from various sources.
                          (iv) Access to tropical cyclone and 
                        hurricane warnings in such study 
                        participant's first language.
                          (v) Determination regarding such 
                        study participant's reasoning that may 
                        hinder the ability of such a 
                        participant to evacuate or willingness 
                        to evacuate.
                  (B) Additional criteria.--The pilot study 
                described in subparagraph (A) shall define its 
                methodology and be made publicly available on a 
                website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration.
          (5) Eligible institution defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``eligible institution'' means any 
        of the following:
                  (A) An institution of higher education, 
                nonprofit organization, or other institution 
                located in a jurisdiction eligible to 
                participate in the program under section 113 of 
                the National Science Foundation Authorization 
                Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
                  (B) An institution of higher education, 
                nonprofit organization, or other institution 
                located in proximity to a Weather Forecast 
                Office of the National Weather Service.
  (e) Hurricane Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.--As 
part of the program carried out under subsection (d), the Under 
Secretary shall carry out research and development activities 
to improve how the public receives, interprets, responds to, 
and values hurricane forecasts and warnings. In conducting such 
activities, the Under Secretary shall--
          (1) conduct a comprehensive review of what is known 
        about how the public receives, interprets, responds to, 
        and makes decisions regarding hurricane forecasts and 
        warnings, including--
                  (A) how the connections between weather 
                observations, downstream models, and processes 
                affect the decision tools or products derived 
                from such hurricane forecasts and warnings;
                  (B) how such hurricane forecasts and warnings 
                generated by decision tools and products are 
                used by emergency managers, governments, and 
                other users to benefit the public and 
                stakeholder groups;
                  (C) how past experiences with hurricanes 
                impacts decision making;
                  (D) how the source of such hurricane 
                forecasts and warnings affects interpretation;
                  (E) how tropical cyclone warnings and watches 
                are received and interpreted;
                  (F) how understanding of and response to such 
                hurricane forecasts and warnings vary across 
                demographic groups, including the elderly, 
                people with disabilities, and other vulnerable 
                populations;
                  (G) language barriers; and
                  (H) how understanding and response to such 
                hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across 
                geographic areas, including rural, urban, and 
                suburban areas;
          (2) identify communication data gaps based on the 
        review conducted pursuant to paragraph (1);
          (3) carry out research, including data collection and 
        baseline assessments, in coordination with the 
        hurricane forecast improvement program under section 
        104 to evaluate and quantify the economic value of 
        extending lead times of tropical cyclone and hurricane 
        warnings and watches, including identifying the most 
        effected or vulnerable populations and potential 
        impacts to those populations;
          (4) as part of post-storm surveys and assessments 
        conducted under section 406 of the Weather Act 
        Reauthorization Act of 2023, conduct retrospective or 
        ex ante assessments of previous hurricane forecasts and 
        warnings with improvements to better understand the key 
        components, including expected actions or behavior 
        changes, of the value of the forecasts and warnings 
        provided;
          (5) conduct cost benefit analysis of forecasts and 
        warnings improvement alternatives developed through the 
        hurricane forecast improvement program under section 
        104; and
          (6) conduct risk assessments for pre-, during, and 
        post-storm periods in regions and communities with 
        significant elderly populations, including retirement 
        communities.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 408. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WEATHER FORECASTING ACTIVITIES.

  [Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report analyzing the impacts of the proposed 
Air Force divestiture in the United States Weather Research and 
Forecasting Model, including--
          [(1) the impact on--
                  [(A) the United States weather forecasting 
                capabilities;
                  [(B) the accuracy of civilian regional 
                forecasts;
                  [(C) the civilian readiness for traditional 
                weather and extreme weather events in the 
                United States; and
                  [(D) the research necessary to develop the 
                United States Weather Research and Forecasting 
                Model; and
          [(2) such other analysis relating to the divestiture 
        as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

[SEC. 409. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE; OPERATIONS AND WORKFORCE ANALYSIS.

  [The Under Secretary shall contract or continue to partner 
with an external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of 
National Weather Service operations and workforce.

[SEC. 410. REPORT ON CONTRACT POSITIONS AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

  [(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a report on the use of contractors at the National 
Weather Service for the most recently completed fiscal year.
  [(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include, with respect to the most recently completed fiscal 
year, the following:
          [(1) The total number of full-time equivalent 
        employees at the National Weather Service, 
        disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General 
        Schedule.
          [(2) The total number of full-time equivalent 
        contractors at the National Weather Service, 
        disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General 
        Schedule that most closely approximates their duties.
          [(3) The total number of vacant positions at the 
        National Weather Service on the day before the date of 
        enactment of this Act, disaggregated by each equivalent 
        level of the General Schedule.
          [(4) The five most common positions filled by full-
        time equivalent contractors at the National Weather 
        Service and the equivalent level of the General 
        Schedule that most closely approximates the duties of 
        such positions.
          [(5) Of the positions identified under paragraph (4), 
        the percentage of full-time equivalent contractors in 
        those positions that have held a prior position at the 
        National Weather Service or another entity in National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
          [(6) The average full-time equivalent salary for 
        Federal employees at the National Weather Service for 
        each equivalent level of the General Schedule.
          [(7) The average salary for full-time equivalent 
        contractors performing at each equivalent level of the 
        General Schedule at the National Weather Service.
          [(8) A description of any actions taken by the Under 
        Secretary to respond to the issues raised by the 
        Inspector General of the Department of Commerce 
        regarding the hiring of former National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration employees as contractors at 
        the National Weather Service such as the issues raised 
        in the Investigative Report dated June 2, 2015 (OIG-12-
        0447).
  [(c) Annual Publication.--For each fiscal year after the 
fiscal year covered by the report required by subsection (a), 
the Under Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the 
completion of the fiscal year, publish on a publicly accessible 
Internet website the information described in paragraphs (1) 
through (8) of subsection (b) for such fiscal year.

[SEC. 411. WEATHER IMPACTS TO COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

  [(a) Review.--
          [(1) In general.--The Director of the National 
        Weather Service shall review existing research, 
        products, and services that meet the specific needs of 
        the urban environment, given its unique physical 
        characteristics and forecasting challenges.
          [(2) Elements.--The review required by paragraph (1) 
        shall include research, products, and services with the 
        potential to improve modeling and forecasting 
        capabilities, taking into account factors including 
        varying building heights, impermeable surfaces, lack of 
        tree canopy, traffic, pollution, and inter-building 
        wind effects.
  [(b) Report and Assessment.--Upon completion of the review 
required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to 
Congress a report on the research, products, and services of 
the National Weather Service, including an assessment of such 
research, products, and services that is based on the review, 
public comment, and recent publications by the National Academy 
of Sciences.]

SEC. [412.]  408. WEATHER ENTERPRISE OUTREACH.

  (a) In general.--The Under Secretary may establish mechanisms 
for outreach to the weather enterprise--
          (1) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast 
        products provided by the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration; and
          (2) to determine the highest priority weather 
        forecast needs of the community described in subsection 
        (b).
  (b) Outreach Community.--In conducting outreach under 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall contact leading 
experts and innovators from relevant stakeholders, including 
the representatives from the following:
          (1) State or local emergency management agencies.
          (2) State agriculture agencies.
          (3) Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the 
        Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
        (25 U.S.C. 5304)) and Native Hawaiians (as defined in 
        section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
          (4) The private aerospace industry.
          (5) The private earth observing industry.
          (6) The operational forecasting community.
          (7) The academic community.
          (8) Professional societies that focus on meteorology.
          (9) Such other stakeholder groups as the Under 
        Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. [413.]  409. HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT.

  (a) Backup Capability.--The Under Secretary shall acquire 
backup for the capabilities of the WP-3D Orion and G-IV 
hurricane aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration that is sufficient to prevent a single point of 
failure.
  (b) Authority to Enter Agreements.--In order to carry out 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall negotiate and enter 
into 1 or more agreements or contracts, to the extent 
practicable and necessary, with governmental and non-
governmental entities.
  (c) Future Technology.--The Under Secretary shall continue 
the development of Airborne Phased Array Radar under the United 
States Weather Research Program.
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal 
years 2017 through 2020, support for implementing subsections 
(a) and (b) is authorized out of funds appropriated to the 
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

[SEC. 414. STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO 
                    ADDRESS SUCH GAPS.

  [(a) Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall complete a study on gaps in the coverage 
        of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National 
        Weather Service (``NEXRAD'').
          [(2) Elements.--In conducting the study required 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  [(A) identify areas in the United States 
                where limited or no NEXRAD coverage has 
                resulted in--
                          [(i) instances in which no or 
                        insufficient warnings were given for 
                        hazardous weather events, including 
                        tornadoes; or
                          [(ii) degraded forecasts for 
                        hazardous weather events that resulted 
                        in fatalities, significant injuries, or 
                        substantial property damage; and
                  [(B) for the areas identified under 
                subparagraph (A)--
                          [(i) identify the key weather effects 
                        for which prediction would improve with 
                        improved radar detection;
                          [(ii) identify additional sources of 
                        observations for high impact weather 
                        that were available and operational for 
                        such areas on the day before the date 
                        of the enactment of this Act, including 
                        dense networks of x-band radars, 
                        Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 
                        (commonly known as ``TDWR''), air 
                        surveillance radars of the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration, and 
                        cooperative network observers;
                          [(iii) assess the feasibility and 
                        advisability of efforts to integrate 
                        and upgrade Federal radar capabilities 
                        that are not owned or controlled by the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration, including radar 
                        capabilities of the Federal Aviation 
                        Administration and the Department of 
                        Defense;
                          [(iv) assess the feasibility and 
                        advisability of incorporating State-
                        operated and other non-Federal radars 
                        into the operations of the National 
                        Weather Service;
                          [(v) identify options to improve 
                        hazardous weather detection and 
                        forecasting coverage; and
                          [(vi) provide the estimated cost of, 
                        and timeline for, each of the options 
                        identified under clause (v).
          [(3) Report.--Upon the completion of the study 
        required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives a report that includes the findings of 
        the Secretary with respect to the study.
  [(b) Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage.--Not later 
than 90 days after the completion of the study under subsection 
(a)(1), the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the 
congressional committees referred to in subsection (a)(3) 
recommendations for improving hazardous weather detection and 
forecasting coverage in the areas identified under subsection 
(a)(2)(A) by integrating additional observation solutions to 
the extent practicable and meteorologically justified and 
necessary to protect public safety.
  [(c) Third-party Consultation Regarding Recommendations to 
Improve Radar Coverage.--The Secretary of Commerce may seek 
reviews by, or consult with, appropriate third parties 
regarding the scientific methodology relating to, and the 
feasibility and advisability of implementing, the 
recommendations submitted under subsection (b), including the 
extent to which warning and forecast services of the National 
Weather Service would be improved by additional observations.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 603. PRECIPITATION FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the United States weather industry, other Federal agencies, and 
academic partners, shall maintain a program to improve 
precipitation forecasting across timescales.
  (b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall 
be to provide more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation 
forecasts across timescales through the development and 
application of a fully coupled Earth system prediction model in 
order to reduce the loss of life or property related to 
precipitation extremes, with a focus on the following:
          (1) Improving the understanding and prediction of 
        precipitation extremes from a variety of weather 
        systems, including atmospheric rivers.
          (2) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations into operational monitoring and 
        forecast systems to improve precipitation forecasts.
          (3) Improving earth system model predictions of 
        precipitation extremes from atmospheric rivers, 
        tropical cyclones, summer-time thunderstorms, winter 
        storms, and other phenomena, in coordination with 
        relevant programs.
          (4) Enhancing research transition to operations 
        through testbeds, including the evaluation of physical 
        and social science, technology, and other research to 
        develop products and services for implementation and 
        use by relevant stakeholders.
          (5) Incorporating social, behavioral, and economic 
        sciences best practices into operations for more 
        effective and actionable watch and warning products 
        that help drive public safety and damage mitigation 
        decisions in coordination with the programs established 
        in accordance with this Act.
          (6) Ensuring data and metadata management processes 
        are in place to support data access and archive for 
        long term research and operations among multiple 
        partners.
  (c) Activities.--In carrying out the program under subsection 
(a), the Under Secretary shall support research-to-operations 
work, including relating to the following:
          (1) Implementing key strategies and following 
        priorities and objectives outlined by the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
        ``Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge Strategy''.
          (2) Improving the physical science, operational 
        modeling and tools, and technology related to better 
        forecasting precipitation extremes across timescales.
          (3) Improving the social, behavioral, risk, 
        communications, and economic sciences related to 
        vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of 
        information critical for reducing the loss of life or 
        property related to extreme precipitation.
          (4) Conducting the research necessary to develop and 
        deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance 
        technology relating to precipitation extremes in 
        operational practice.
          (5) Enhancing the operational capacity of the 
        National Weather Service to deliver decision support 
        for increasing precipitation extremes.
          (6) Expanding computational resources to improve 
        precipitation modeling.
  (d) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with carrying out this section.

SEC. [603.]  604. DEFINITIONS.

   In this title:
          (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means 
        the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
        Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration.
          (2) National academies.--The term ``National 
        Academies'' means the National Academies of Sciences, 
        Engineering, and Medicine.
          (3) United states.--The term ``United States'' means, 
        collectively, each State of the United States, the 
        District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United 
        States, and any other territory or possession of the 
        United States.
                              ----------                              


                   TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT


    TITLE VIII--[TSUNAMI WARNING, AND EDUCATION]--TSUNAMI WARNING, 
RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 803. PURPOSES.

  The purposes of this title are--
          (1) to improve tsunami detection, forecasting, 
        warnings, research, notification, outreach, and 
        mitigation to protect life and property in the United 
        States;
          (2) to enhance and modernize the existing United 
        States Tsunami Warning System to increase the 
        timeliness and accuracy of forecasts and warnings, to 
        ensure full coverage of tsunami threats to the United 
        States with a network of detection assets, and to 
        reduce false alarms;
          (3) to improve and develop standards and guidelines 
        for mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to 
        improve tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, 
        notification, mitigation, resiliency, response, 
        outreach, and recovery;
          (4) to improve research efforts related to improving 
        tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, 
        mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and 
        recovery;
          (5) to improve, increase, and develop uniform 
        standards and guidelines for education and outreach 
        activities and ensure that those receiving tsunami 
        warnings and the at-risk public know what to do when a 
        tsunami is approaching, including the warning signs of 
        locally generated tsunami;
          (6) to provide technical and other assistance to 
        speed international efforts to establish regional 
        tsunami warning systems in vulnerable areas worldwide;
          (7) to foster resilient communities in the face of 
        tsunami and other similar coastal hazards; [and]
          (8) to improve Federal, State, and international 
        coordination for detection, warnings, and outreach for 
        tsunami and other coastal impacts[.]; and
          (9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, 
        archived, and made available for operations, research, 
        education, and mitigation activities in accordance with 
        section 305 of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
        Innovation Act of 2017.

SEC. 804. TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Administrator, through the National 
Weather Service and in consultation with other relevant 
Administration offices, shall operate a program to provide 
tsunami detection, forecasting, and warnings for the Pacific 
and Arctic Ocean regions and for the Atlantic Ocean region, 
including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
  (b) Components.--The program under this section shall--
          (1) include the tsunami warning centers supported or 
        maintained under subsection (d);
          (2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 
        80 percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting 
        of Tsunamis buoy array at operational capacity to 
        optimize data reliability;
          (3) utilize and maintain an array of robust tsunami 
        detection technologies;
          (4) maintain detection equipment in operational 
        condition, using industry and scientific best 
        practices, to fulfill the detection, forecasting, and 
        warning requirements of this title;
          (5) provide tsunami forecasting capability based on 
        models and measurements, including tsunami inundation 
        models and maps for use in increasing the preparedness 
        of communities and safeguarding port and harbor 
        operations, that incorporate inputs, including--
                  (A) the United States and global ocean and 
                coastal observing system;
                  (B) the global Earth observing system;
                  (C) the [global seismic network] Global 
                Seismic Network;
                  (D) the global navigation satellite system 
                (GNSS) network;
                  [(D)] (E) the Advanced National Seismic 
                system;
                  [(E)] (F) tsunami model validation using 
                historical and paleotsunami data;
                  [(F)] (G) digital elevation models and 
                bathymetry; and
                  [(G)] (H) newly developing tsunami detection 
                methodologies using satellites and airborne 
                remote sensing;
          [(6) maintain data quality and management systems to 
        support the requirements of the program;]
          (6) ensure data quality and management systems, 
        support data and metadata access and archiving, and 
        support the requirements of the program pursuant to the 
        Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 
        (Public Law 115-435) and chapter 31 of title 44, United 
        States Code;
          (7) [include a cooperative effort among the 
        Administration, the United States Geological Survey, 
        and the National Science Foundation under which the 
        Director of the United States Geological Survey and the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall--] 
        include a cooperative effort among the Administration, 
        the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 
        and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under which 
        the Director of USGS, the Director of the NSF, and the 
        Administrator of NASA shall--
                  (A) provide rapid and reliable seismic 
                information to the Administrator from 
                international and domestic seismic networks; 
                [and]
                  (B) support seismic stations installed before 
                the date of the enactment of the Tsunami 
                Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 to 
                supplement coverage in areas of sparse 
                instrumentation;
                  (C) provide reliable and real-time support 
                for the GNSS network data streams from NSF, 
                NASA, and USGS maintained networks, and 
                supplement instrumentation coverage for rapid 
                earthquake assessment;
                  (D) assess the data and information relating 
                to warning systems of collaborating agencies 
                for potential utilization in NOAA's warning 
                system, taking into consideration advancement 
                in research and technology;
                  (E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami 
                notifications and warnings in the USGS 
                Earthquake Early Warning System; and
                  (F) incorporate, as practicable, preliminary 
                analysis or data from the National Earthquake 
                Information Center regarding the source and 
                magnitude of an offshore earthquake within five 
                minutes of detection;
          (8) provide a capability for the dissemination of 
        warnings, including graphical warning products, and 
        decision support aides to at-risk States, territories, 
        and tsunami-prone communities through rapid and 
        reliable notification to government officials and the 
        public, including utilization of and coordination with 
        existing Federal warning systems, including the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather 
        Radio All Hazards Program and Wireless Emergency 
        Alerts;
          (9) provide and allow, as practicable, for 
        integration of tsunami detection technologies with 
        other environmental observing technologies and 
        commercial and Federal undersea communications cables; 
        [and]
          (10) include any technology the Administrator 
        considers appropriate to fulfill the objectives of the 
        program under this section[.]; and
          (11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, or other 
        geographic products, in order to best support, as 
        appropriate, relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation 
        and recovery activities.
  (c) Tsunami Warning System.--The program under this section 
shall operate a tsunami warning system that--
          [(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including 
        forecasting tsunami arrival time and inundation 
        estimates, anywhere in the Pacific and Arctic Ocean 
        regions and providing adequate warnings;]
          [(2)] (1) is capable of forecasting and providing 
        adequate warnings, including tsunami arrival time and 
        inundation models where applicable, in areas of [the 
        Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of 
        Mexico, that are determined--] the Pacific, Arctic, and 
        Atlantic Oceans, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf 
        of Mexico, that are determined to pose significant 
        risks of tsunami for States and United States 
        territories along the coastal areas of such regions; 
        and
                  [(A) to be geologically active, or to have 
                significant potential for geological activity; 
                and
                  [(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami for 
                States along the coastal areas of the Atlantic 
                Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and]
          [(3)] (2) supports other international tsunami 
        forecasting and warning efforts.
  (d) Tsunami Warning Alert Level Evaluation.--The 
Administrator, in collaboration with social scientists, 
emergency personnel, and high-risk communities, shall--
          (1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, 
        timing, and effectiveness;
          (2) determine if such alerts produce the desired 
        response and understanding from possible tsunami-prone 
        communities; and
          (3) if necessary, update the alert level system for 
        increased effectiveness.
  [(d)] (e) Tsunami Warning Centers.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator shall support or 
        maintain centers to support the tsunami warning system 
        required by subsection (c) responsible for Alaska, the 
        continental United States, Hawaii, United States 
        territories, and international entities the 
        Administrator determines appropriate. The Centers shall 
        include--
                  (A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, 
                located in Alaska, which is primarily 
                responsible for Alaska and the continental 
                United States;
                  (B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, 
                located in Hawaii[, which is primarily 
                responsible for Hawaii, the Caribbean, and 
                other areas of the Pacific not covered by the 
                National Center]; and
                  (C) any additional forecast and warning 
                centers determined by the National Weather 
                Service to be necessary.
          (2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the 
        centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                  (A) Continuously monitoring data from 
                seismological, deep ocean, coastal sea level, 
                current, and tidal monitoring stations and 
                other data sources as may be developed and 
                deployed.
                  (B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, [and 
                volcanic eruptions] volcanic eruptions, or 
                other sources that have the potential to 
                generate tsunami.
                  (C) Evaluating deep ocean [buoy data and 
                tidal] and coastal monitoring stations for 
                indications of tsunami resulting from 
                earthquakes and other sources.
                  (D) To the extent practicable, utilizing a 
                range of models, including ensemble models, to 
                predict tsunami, including arrival times, 
                flooding estimates, coastal and harbor 
                currents, and duration.
                  (E) Using data from the [Integrated Ocean 
                Observing System of the Administration] United 
                States and global ocean and coastal observing 
                system in coordination with regional 
                associations to calculate new inundation 
                estimates and periodically update existing 
                inundation estimates.
                  (F) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami 
                warning bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, 
                and local government officials and the public.
                  (G) Coordinating with the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program conducted under section 805 
                to ensure ongoing sharing of information 
                between forecasters and emergency management 
                officials.
                  (H) In coordination with the Commandant of 
                the Coast Guard and the Administrator of the 
                Federal Emergency Management Agency, evaluating 
                and recommending procedures for ports and 
                harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, 
                including review of readiness, response, 
                monitoring needs, and communication strategies, 
                and data sharing policies, to the maximum 
                extent practicable.
                  [(I) Making data gathered under this Act and 
                post-warning analyses conducted by the National 
                Weather Service or other relevant 
                Administration offices available to the 
                public.]
                  (I) Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator 
                to coordinate with partners and stakeholders 
                products and services of the centers supported 
                or maintained under paragraph (1).
                  (J) Integrating and modernizing the program 
                operated under this section with advances in 
                tsunami science to improve performance without 
                compromising service.
          [(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The tsunami 
        warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph 
        (1) shall maintain a fail-safe warning capability and 
        perform back-up duties for each other.]
          (3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The Administrator 
        shall support and maintain fail-safe warning capability 
        for the tsunami warning centers supported or maintained 
        under paragraph (1), and such centers shall conduct at 
        least one service back up drill biannually.
          (4) Coordination with national weather service.--[The 
        Administrator shall coordinate with the forecast 
        offices of the National Weather Service, the centers 
        supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such 
        program offices of the Administration as the 
        Administrator or the coordinating committee, as 
        established in section 805(d), consider appropriate to 
        ensure that regional and local forecast offices--] The 
        Administrator shall coordinate with the weather 
        forecast offices of the National Weather Service, the 
        centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), 
        and such national and regional program offices of the 
        Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating 
        committee, as established in section 805(b), consider 
        appropriate to ensure that regional and local weather 
        forecast offices--
                  (A) have the technical knowledge and 
                capability to disseminate tsunami warnings for 
                the communities they serve;
                  (B) leverage connections with local emergency 
                management officials for optimally 
                disseminating tsunami warnings and forecasts; 
                [and]
                  (C) implement mass communication tools in 
                effect on the day before the date of the 
                enactment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, 
                and Research Act of 2017 used by the National 
                Weather Service on such date and newer mass 
                communication technologies as they are 
                developed as a part of the Weather-Ready Nation 
                program of the Administration, or otherwise, 
                for the purpose of timely and effective 
                delivery of tsunami warnings[.]; and
                  (D) conduct education and outreach efforts to 
                help prepare coastal communities for tsunami 
                hazards.
          (5) [Uniform] Standardized operating procedures.--The 
        Administrator shall--
                  (A) develop [uniform] standardized 
                operational procedures for the centers 
                supported or maintained under paragraph (1), 
                including the use of software applications, 
                checklists, decision support tools, and tsunami 
                warning products that have been standardized 
                across the program supported under this 
                section;
                  (B) ensure that processes and products of the 
                warning system operated under subsection (c)--
                          (i) reflect industry best practices 
                        when practicable;
                          (ii) conform to the maximum extent 
                        practicable with internationally 
                        recognized standards for information 
                        technology; and
                          (iii) conform to the maximum extent 
                        practicable with other warning products 
                        and practices of the National Weather 
                        Service;
                  (C) ensure that future adjustments to 
                operational protocols, processes, and warning 
                products--
                          (i) are made consistently across the 
                        warning system operated under 
                        subsection (c); and
                          (ii) are applied in a [uniform] 
                        standardized manner across such warning 
                        system;
                  (D) establish a systematic method for 
                information technology product development to 
                improve long-term technology planning efforts; 
                [and]
                  (E) disseminate guidelines and metrics for 
                evaluating and improving tsunami forecast 
                models[.]; and
                  (F) align the analytic techniques and 
                methodologies of the existing tsunami warning 
                centers supported or maintained under paragraph 
                (1) to ensure seamless continuity of operations 
                and mitigate risk of operational failure by 
                prioritizing investments that include--
                          (i) replacing end of life equipment;
                          (ii) ensuring product consistency;
                          (iii) enabling consistent operational 
                        process for backup capabilities;
                          (iv) mitigating existing operational 
                        security risks; and
                          (v) meeting information security 
                        requirements specified in chapter 35 of 
                        title 44, United States Code.
          (6) Available resources.--The Administrator, through 
        the National Weather Service, shall ensure that 
        resources are available to fulfill the obligations of 
        this Act. This includes ensuring supercomputing 
        resources are available to run, as rapidly as possible, 
        such computer models as are needed for purposes of the 
        tsunami warning system operated under subsection (c).
          (7) Reporting.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this paragraph and annually 
        thereafter until such time as all relevant requirements 
        have been satisfied, the Administrator shall provide to 
        the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate an update 
        briefing on the progress of the following:
                  (A) Standardizing products and procedures 
                under paragraph (5), including tsunami 
                assessments, forecast guidance, and related 
                products.
                  (B) Migrating the message generation systems 
                of the centers supported or maintained under 
                paragraph (1) to the Advanced Weather 
                Information Processing Systems, or successor 
                systems.
                  (C) The structural reorganization effort, if 
                necessary, to align such centers' 
                organizational charts.
                  (D) The expected timeline for the full 
                completion of standardizing such centers' 
                products and procedures.
  [(e)] (f) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--
In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall--
          (1) develop requirements for the equipment used to 
        detect, measure, and forecast tsunami, including--
                  (A) provisions for multipurpose detection 
                platforms;
                  (B) reliability and performance metrics; 
                [and]
                  (C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                requirements for the integration of equipment 
                with other United States and global ocean and 
                coastal observation systems, the global Earth 
                observing system of systems, the global seismic 
                networks, [and the Advanced National Seismic 
                System] the Advanced National Seismic System, 
                and the global navigation satellite system 
                (GNSS); and;
                  (D) ensure research is coordinated with 
                tsunami warning operations;
          (2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer of 
        technology from ongoing research conducted as part of 
        the program supported or maintained under section 6 
        into the program under this section; and
          (3) ensure that the Administration's operational 
        tsunami detection equipment is properly maintained 
        according to industry best practices.
  [(f)] (g) Federal Cooperation.--When deploying and 
maintaining tsunami detection technologies under the program 
under this section, the Administrator shall--
          (1) identify which assets of other Federal agencies 
        are necessary to support such program; and
          (2) work with each agency identified under paragraph 
        (1)--
                  (A) to acquire the agency's assistance; and
                  (B) to prioritize the necessary assets in 
                support of the tsunami forecast and warning 
                program.
  [(g)] (h) Congressional Notifications.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator shall notify the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives within 30 days of--
                  (A) impaired regional forecasting 
                capabilities due to equipment or system 
                failures;
                  (B) significant contractor failures or delays 
                in completing work associated with the tsunami 
                forecasting and warning system; and
                  (C) the occurrence of a significant tsunami 
                warning.
          (2) Contents.--In a case in which notice is submitted 
        under paragraph (1) within 30 days of a significant 
        tsunami warning described in subparagraph (C) of such 
        paragraph, such notice shall include, as appropriate, 
        brief information and analysis of--
                  (A) the [accuracy of the tsunami model used] 
                timeliness and accuracy of the forecast used to 
                issue the warning;
                  (B) the specific deep ocean or other 
                monitoring equipment that detected the 
                incident, as well as the deep ocean or other 
                monitoring equipment that did not detect the 
                incident due to malfunction or other reasons;
                  (C) the effectiveness of the warning 
                communication, including the dissemination of 
                warnings with State, territory, local, and 
                tribal partners in the affected area under the 
                jurisdiction of the National Weather Service; 
                and
                  (D) such other findings as the Administrator 
                considers appropriate.

SEC. 805. NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.

  (a) Program Required.--The Administrator, in coordination 
with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency and the heads of such other agencies as the 
Administrator considers relevant, shall conduct a community-
based tsunami hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami 
preparedness and resiliency of at-risk areas in the United 
States and the territories of the United States.
  (b) Coordinating Committee.--In conducting the program under 
this section, the Administrator shall establish a coordinating 
committee comprising representatives of Federal, State, local, 
and tribal government officials. The Administrator may 
establish subcommittees to address region-specific issues. The 
committee shall--
          (1) recommend how funds appropriated for carrying out 
        the program under this section will be allocated;
          (2) ensure that areas described in section 804(c) in 
        the United States and its territories can have the 
        opportunity to participate in the program;
          (3) provide recommendations to the National Weather 
        Service on how to improve the TsunamiReady program, 
        particularly on ways to make communities more tsunami 
        resilient through the use of inundation maps and other 
        mitigation practices; and
          (4) ensure that all components of the program are 
        integrated with ongoing hazard warning and risk 
        management activities, emergency response plans, and 
        mitigation programs in affected areas, including 
        integrating information to assist in tsunami evacuation 
        route planning.
  (c) Program Components.--The Program conducted under 
subsection (a) shall include the following:
          (1) Technical and financial assistance to coastal 
        States, territories, tribes, and local governments to 
        develop and implement activities under this section.
          (2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and 
        mitigation programs into ongoing State-based hazard 
        warning, resilience planning, and risk management 
        activities, including predisaster planning, emergency 
        response, evacuation planning, disaster recovery, 
        hazard mitigation, and community development and 
        redevelopment planning programs in affected areas.
          (3) Coordination with other Federal preparedness and 
        mitigation programs to leverage Federal investment, 
        avoid duplication, and maximize effort.
          (4) Activities to promote the adoption of tsunami 
        resilience, preparedness, warning, and mitigation 
        measures by Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and 
        local governments and nongovernmental entities, 
        including educational and risk communication programs 
        to discourage development in high-risk areas.
          (5) Activities to support the development of regional 
        tsunami hazard and risk assessments. Such regional risk 
        assessments may include the following:
                  (A) The sources, sizes, and other relevant 
                historical data of tsunami in the region, 
                including paleotsunami data.
                  (B) Coastal digital elevation models (DEMs) 
                to support the development of inundation maps.
                  [(B)] (C) Inundation models and maps of 
                critical infrastructure and socioeconomic 
                vulnerability in areas subject to tsunami 
                inundation.
                  [(C)] (D) Maps of evacuation areas and 
                evacuation routes, including, when appropriate, 
                traffic studies that evaluate the viability of 
                evacuation routes.
                  [(D)] (E) Evaluations of the size of 
                populations that will require evacuation, 
                including populations with special evacuation 
                needs.
                  [(E)] (F) Evaluations and technical 
                assistance for vertical evacuation structure 
                planning for communities where models indicate 
                limited or no ability for timely evacuation, 
                especially in areas at risk of near shore 
                generated tsunami.
                  [(F)] (G) Evaluation of at-risk ports and 
                harbors.
                  [(G)] (H) Evaluation of the effect of tsunami 
                currents on the foundations of closely-spaced, 
                coastal high-rise structures.
                  (I) Evaluation of the variation of inundation 
                impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment 
                transport.
                  (J) Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on 
                critical infrastructure (as such term is 
                defined in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 
                (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) and lifelines.
                  (K) High-resolution and high-quality digital 
                elevation models needed for at-risk coastlines, 
                ports, and harbors, particularly for regions 
                not covered by existing inundation maps.
          (6) Activities to promote preparedness in at-risk 
        ports and harbors, including the following:
                  (A) Evaluation and recommendation of 
                procedures for ports and harbors in the event 
                of a distant or near-field tsunami.
                  (B) A review of readiness, response, and 
                communication strategies to ensure coordination 
                and data sharing with the Coast Guard.
          (7) Activities to support the development of 
        community-based outreach and education programs to 
        ensure community readiness and resilience, including 
        the following:
                  (A) The development, implementation, and 
                assessment of technical training and public 
                education programs, including education 
                programs that address unique characteristics of 
                distant and near-field tsunami.
                  (B) The development of decision support 
                tools.
                  (C) The incorporation of social and 
                behavioral science research into community 
                readiness and resilience efforts.
                  (D) The development of evidence-based 
                education guidelines.
          (8) Dissemination of guidelines and standards for 
        community planning, education, and training products, 
        programs, and tools, including--
                  (A) standards for--
                          (i) mapping products;
                          (ii) inundation models; and
                          (iii) effective emergency exercises; 
                        and
                  (B) recommended guidance for at-risk port and 
                harbor tsunami warning, evacuation, and 
                response procedures in coordination with the 
                Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency.
  (d) Authorized Activities.--In addition to activities 
conducted under subsection (c), the program conducted under 
subsection (a) may include the following:
          (1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment 
        research, education, and training to help integrate 
        risk management and resilience objectives with 
        community development planning and policies.
          (2) Risk management training for local officials and 
        community organizations to enhance understanding and 
        preparedness.
          (3) In coordination with the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency, interagency, Federal, State, tribal, 
        and territorial intergovernmental tsunami response 
        exercise planning and implementation in high risk 
        areas.
          (4) Development of practical applications for 
        existing or emerging technologies, such as modeling, 
        remote sensing, geospatial technology, engineering, and 
        observing systems, including the integration of tsunami 
        sensors into Federal and commercial submarine 
        telecommunication cables if practicable.
          (5) Risk management, risk assessment, and resilience 
        data and information services, including--
                  (A) access to data and products derived from 
                observing and detection systems; and
                  (B) development and maintenance of new 
                integrated data products to support risk 
                management, risk assessment, and resilience 
                programs.
          (6) Risk notification systems that coordinate with 
        and build upon existing systems and actively engage 
        decisionmakers, State, local, tribal, and territorial 
        governments and agencies, business communities, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and the media.
  (e) No Preemption With Respect to Designation of At-risk 
Areas.--The establishment of national standards for inundation 
models under this section shall not prevent States, 
territories, tribes, and local governments from designating 
additional areas as being at risk based on knowledge of local 
conditions.
  (f) No New Regulatory Authority.--Nothing in this Act may be 
construed as establishing new regulatory authority for any 
Federal agency.

SEC. 806. TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  (a) In general.--The Administrator shall, in consultation 
with such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, and 
territorial governments, and academic institutions as the 
Administrator considers appropriate, the coordinating committee 
under section [805(d)] 805(b), and the panel under section 
808(a), support or maintain a tsunami research program to 
develop detection, forecast, communication, and mitigation 
science and technology, including advanced sensing techniques, 
information and communication technology, data collection and 
management, analysis, assessment for tsunami tracking and 
numerical forecast modeling, and standards development.
  (b) Responsibilities.--The research program supported or 
maintained under subsection (a) shall--
          (1) consider other appropriate and cost effective 
        solutions to mitigate the impact of tsunami, including 
        the improvement of near-field and distant tsunami 
        detection and forecasting capabilities, which may 
        include deployment and use of a new generation of the 
        Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis array, 
        integration of tsunami sensors into commercial and 
        Federal telecommunications cables, and other real-time 
        tsunami monitoring systems and supercomputer capacity 
        of the Administration to develop a rapid tsunami 
        forecast for all United States coastlines;
          (2) coordinate with the National Weather Service on 
        technology to be transferred to operations;
          (3) conduct [social science research] social and 
        behavioral science research, including data collection, 
        to develop and assess community warning, education, and 
        evacuation materials;
          (4) develop the technical basis for validation of 
        tsunami maps, numerical tsunami models, digital 
        elevation models, and forecasts; [and]
          (5) develop decision support tools;
          (6) leverage and prioritize research opportunities; 
        and
          [(5)] (7) ensure that research and findings are 
        available to the public and the scientific community.
  (c) Research and Development Plan.--Not later than 12 months 
after the date of the enactment of this subsection and not less 
frequently than every 36 months thereafter, the Administrator, 
in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing 
Meteorological Services, shall develop a research and 
development and research to operations plan to improve tsunami 
detection and forecasting capabilities that--
          (1) identifies and prioritizes research and 
        development priorities to satisfy section 804;
          (2) identifies key research needs for better 
        detecting tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and 
        along the coastlines of the United States and its 
        territories, improve forecasting of tsunamis that are 
        not seismically driven, and other opportunities 
        determined appropriate;
          (3) develops plans for transitioning research to 
        operations; and
          (4) identifies collaboration opportunities that may 
        further and align tsunami research, development, 
        warnings, and operations between the centers supported 
        or maintained under section 804, the National Tsunami 
        Hazard Mitigation Program, the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration Center for Tsunami Research, 
        the National Science Foundation, the United States 
        Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management 
        Agency, institutions of higher education, private 
        entities, stakeholders, and others determined 
        appropriate.

SEC. 807. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION NETWORK.

  (a) Support for Development of an International Tsunami 
Warning System.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with 
the Secretary of State and in consultation with such other 
agencies as the Administrator considers relevant, provide 
technical assistance, operational support, and training to the 
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United 
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the 
World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and 
such other international entities as the Administrator 
considers appropriate, as part of the international efforts to 
develop a fully functional global tsunami forecast and warning 
system comprised of regional tsunami warning networks.
  (b) International Tsunami Information Center.--The 
Administrator, through the National Weather Service and in 
consultation with other relevant Administration offices, in 
cooperation with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 
Commission, may operate an International Tsunami Information 
Center to improve tsunami preparedness for all Pacific Ocean 
nations participating in the International Tsunami Warning 
System of the Pacific, and may also provide such assistance to 
other nations participating in a global tsunami warning system 
established through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic 
Commission. As part of its responsibilities around the world, 
the Center may--
          (1) monitor international tsunami warning activities 
        around the world;
          (2) assist member states in establishing national 
        warning systems, and make information available on 
        current technologies for tsunami warning systems;
          (3) maintain a library of materials to promulgate 
        knowledge about tsunami in general and for use by the 
        scientific community; and
          (4) disseminate information, including educational 
        materials and research reports.
  (c) Detection Equipment; Technical Advice and Training.--In 
carrying out this section, the National Weather Service--
          (1) shall give priority to assisting nations in 
        identifying vulnerable coastal areas, creating 
        inundation maps, obtaining or designing real-time 
        detection and reporting equipment, and supporting 
        communication and warning networks and contact points 
        in each vulnerable nation;
          (2) may support a process for transfer of detection 
        and communication technology to affected nations for 
        the purposes of supporting the international tsunami 
        warning system; and
          (3) shall provide technical and other assistance to 
        support international tsunami programs.
  (d) Data-Sharing Requirement.--The National Weather Service, 
when deciding to provide assistance under this section, may 
take into consideration the data sharing and management 
policies and practices of nations proposed to receive such 
assistance, with a goal to encourage all nations to support 
full and open exchange of data.

SEC. 808. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL

  (a) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate an 
existing working group within the Science Advisory Board of the 
Administration to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology 
Advisory Panel to provide advice to the Administrator on 
matters regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional 
preparedness.
  (b) Membership.--
          (1) Composition.--The Panel shall be composed of no 
        fewer than 7 members selected by the Administrator from 
        among individuals from academia or State agencies who 
        have academic or practical expertise in physical 
        sciences, social and behavioral sciences, information 
        technology, coastal resilience, emergency management, 
        or such other disciplines as the Administrator 
        considers appropriate.
          (2) Federal employment.--No member of the Panel may 
        be a Federal employee.
  (c) Responsibilities.--Not less frequently than once every 4 
years, the Panel shall--
          (1) review the activities of the Administration, and 
        other Federal activities as appropriate, relating to 
        tsunami research, detection, forecasting, warning, 
        mitigation, resiliency, and preparation; and
          (2) submit to the Administrator and such others as 
        the Administrator considers appropriate--
                  (A) the findings of the working group with 
                respect to the most recent review conducted 
                under paragraph (1); and
                  (B) such recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the working group 
                considers appropriate to improve Federal 
                tsunami research, detection, forecasting, 
                warning, mitigation, resiliency, and 
                preparation.
  (d) Reports to Congress.--Not less frequently than once every 
4 years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report on the findings and recommendations 
received by the Administrator under subsection (c)(2).

[SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

  [There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
to carry out this title--
          [(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program under section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806;
          [(2) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program under section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806;
          [(3) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program under section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806;
          [(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program under section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806;
          [(5) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami hazard 
                mitigation program under section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806; and
          [(6) $25,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
        through 2021, of which--
                  [(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
                appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for 
                activities conducted at the State level under 
                the tsunami hazard mitigation program under 
                section 805; and
                  [(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
                appropriated shall be for the tsunami research 
                program under section 806.]

SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator 
to carry out this title $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028, of which--
          (1) not less than 27 percent of the amount 
        appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for 
        activities conducted at the State level under the 
        national tsunami hazard mitigation program under 
        section 805; and
          (2) not less than 8 percent of the amount 
        appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program 
        under section 806.

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      INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE XII--NOAA UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM ACT OF 2009

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Subtitle C--Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 12304. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM.

  (a) Establishment.--The President, acting through the 
Council, shall establish a National Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System to fulfill the purposes set forth in 
section 12302 of this subtitle and the System Plan and to 
fulfill the Nation's international obligations to contribute to 
the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and the Global 
Ocean Observing System.
  (b) System Elements.--
          (1) In general.--In order to fulfill the purposes of 
        this subtitle, the System shall be national in scope 
        and consist of--
                  (A) Federal assets to fulfill national and 
                international observation missions and 
                priorities;
                  (B) non-Federal assets, including a network 
                of regional coastal observing systems 
                identified under subsection (c)(4), to fulfill 
                regional and national observation missions and 
                priorities;
                  (C) observing, modeling, data management, and 
                communication systems for the timely 
                integration and dissemination of data and 
                information products from the System, including 
                reviews of data collection procedures across 
                regions and programs to make recommendations 
                for data collection standards across the System 
                to meet national ocean, coastal, and Great 
                Lakes observation, applied research, and 
                weather forecasting needs;
                  (D) a product development system to transform 
                observations into products in a format that may 
                be readily used and understood; and
                  (E) a research and development program 
                conducted under the guidance of the Council, 
                consisting of--
                          (i) basic and applied research and 
                        technology development--
                                  (I) to improve understanding 
                                of coastal and ocean systems 
                                and their relationships to 
                                human activities; and
                                  (II) to ensure improvement of 
                                operational assets and 
                                products, including related 
                                infrastructure, observing 
                                technologies such as unmanned 
                                maritime systems, and 
                                information and data processing 
                                and management technologies;
                          (ii) an advanced observing technology 
                        development program to fill gaps in 
                        technology;
                          (iii) large scale computing resources 
                        and research to advance modeling of 
                        ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
                        processes;
                          (iv) models to improve regional 
                        weather forecasting capabilities and 
                        regional weather forecasting products; 
                        and
                          (v) reviews of data collection 
                        procedures across regions and programs 
                        to make recommendations for data 
                        collection standards across the System 
                        to meet national ocean, coastal, and 
                        Great Lakes observation, applied 
                        research, and weather forecasting 
                        needs.
          (2) Enhancing administration and management.--The 
        head of each Federal agency that has administrative 
        jurisdiction over a Federal asset shall support the 
        purposes of this subtitle and may take appropriate 
        actions to enhance internal agency administration and 
        management to better support, integrate, finance, and 
        utilize observation data, products, and services 
        developed under this section to further its own agency 
        mission and responsibilities.
          (3) Availability of data.--The head of each Federal 
        agency that has administrative jurisdiction over a 
        Federal asset shall make available data that are 
        produced by that asset and that are not otherwise 
        restricted for integration, management, and 
        dissemination by the System for research and for use in 
        the development of products to address societal needs.
          (4) Non-federal assets.--Non-Federal assets shall be 
        coordinated, as appropriate, by the Interagency Ocean 
        Observing Committee or by regional coastal observing 
        systems.
          (5) Ships of opportunity pilot program.--
                  (A) In general.--The Administrator, in 
                coordination with the heads of relevant Federal 
                departments and agencies, shall, subject to 
                relevant regulations and certifications, 
                maintain pilot programs or projects to contract 
                with research or commercial ship operators for 
                data collection and assess the potential costs, 
                benefits, and viability of a global network of 
                ocean and atmospheric observing instruments 
                operating on research or commercial ocean 
                vessels, including in the Arctic, in order to 
                supplement the Integrated Coastal, Great Lakes, 
                and Ocean Observation System in improving 
                understanding of coastal and ocean systems and 
                their relationships to human activities.
                  (B) Standards and specifications.--The 
                Administrator shall ensure that data acquired 
                through the pilot program established pursuant 
                to subparagraph (A) meets the most recent 
                standards and specifications required for 
                observation services and data as published 
                pursuant to subsection (c) of section 302 of 
                the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation 
                Act of 2017.
                  (C) Report.--Not later than five years after 
                the date of the enactment of this paragraph, 
                the Administrator, in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Transportation, shall submit to 
                Congress a report on the requirements for a 
                global network of ocean and atmospheric 
                instruments operating on research or commercial 
                ocean vessels for measurement and data 
                transmission.
                  (D) Sunset.--This paragraph shall terminate 
                on the earlier of--
                          (i) September 30, 2029; or
                          (ii) one year after the date on which 
                        the report required under subparagraph 
                        (B) is submitted by the Administrator.
  (c) Policy Oversight, Administration, and Regional 
Coordination.--
          (1) Council functions.--The Council shall serve as 
        the policy and coordination oversight body for all 
        aspects of the System. In carrying out its 
        responsibilities under this subtitle, the Council 
        shall--
                  (A) approve and adopt comprehensive System 
                budgets developed and maintained by the 
                Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to 
                support System operations, including operations 
                of both Federal and non-Federal assets;
                  (B) ensure coordination of the System with 
                other domestic and international earth 
                observing activities including the Global Ocean 
                Observing System and the Global Earth Observing 
                System of Systems, and provide, as appropriate, 
                support for and representation on United States 
                delegations to international meetings on 
                coastal and ocean observing programs; and
                  (C) encourage coordinated intramural and 
                extramural research and technology development, 
                and a process to transition developing 
                technology and methods into operations of the 
                System.
          (2) Interagency ocean observation committee.--
                  (A) Establishment.--The Council shall 
                establish or designate a committee, which shall 
                be known as the ``Interagency Ocean Observation 
                Committee''.
                  (B) Duties.--The Interagency Ocean 
                Observation Committee shall--
                          (i) prepare annual and long-term 
                        plans for consideration and approval by 
                        the Council for the integrated design, 
                        operation, maintenance, enhancement, 
                        and expansion of the System to meet the 
                        objectives of this subtitle and the 
                        System Plan;
                          (ii) develop and transmit to 
                        Congress, along with the budget 
                        submitted by the President to Congress 
                        pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 
                        31, United States Code, an annual 
                        coordinated, comprehensive budget--
                                  (I) to operate all elements 
                                of the System identified in 
                                subsection (b); and
                                  (II) to ensure continuity of 
                                data streams from Federal and 
                                non-Federal assets;
                          (iii) establish requirements for 
                        observation data variables to be 
                        gathered by both Federal and non-
                        Federal assets and identify, in 
                        consultation with regional coastal 
                        observing systems, priorities for 
                        System observations;
                          (iv) establish and define protocols 
                        and standards for System data 
                        processing, management, collection, 
                        configuration standards, formats, and 
                        communication for new and existing 
                        assets throughout the System network;
                          (v) develop contract requirements for 
                        each regional coastal observing 
                        system--
                                  (I) to establish eligibility 
                                for integration into the 
                                System;
                                  (II) to ensure compliance 
                                with all applicable standards 
                                and protocols established by 
                                the Council; and
                                  (III) to ensure that regional 
                                observations are integrated 
                                into the System on a sustained 
                                basis;
                          (vi) identify gaps in observation 
                        coverage or needs for capital 
                        improvements of both Federal assets and 
                        non-Federal assets;
                          (vii) subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations, establish through 1 or 
                        more Federal agencies participating in 
                        the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                        Committee, in consultation with the 
                        System advisory committee established 
                        under subsection (d), a competitive 
                        matching grant or other programs--
                                  (I) to promote intramural and 
                                extramural research and 
                                development of new, innovative, 
                                and emerging observation 
                                technologies including testing 
                                and field trials; and
                                  (II) to facilitate the 
                                migration of new, innovative, 
                                and emerging scientific and 
                                technological advances from 
                                research and development to 
                                operational deployment;
                          (viii) periodically--
                                  (I) review the System Plan; 
                                and
                                  (II) submit to the Council 
                                such recommendations as the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee may have for 
                                improvements to the System 
                                Plan;
                          (ix) ensure collaboration among 
                        Federal agencies participating in the 
                        Interagency Ocean Observation 
                        Committee; and
                          (x) perform such additional duties as 
                        the Council may delegate.
          (3) Lead federal agency.--
                  (A) In general.--The National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration shall function as 
                the lead Federal agency for the implementation 
                and administration of the System.
                  (B) Consultation required.--In carrying out 
                this paragraph, the Administrator shall consult 
                with the Council, the Interagency Ocean 
                Observation Committee, other Federal agencies 
                that maintain portions of the System, and the 
                regional coastal observing systems.
                  (C) Requirements.--In carrying out this 
                paragraph, the Administrator shall--
                          (i) establish and operate an 
                        Integrated Ocean Observing System 
                        Program Office within the National 
                        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                        that--
                                  (I) utilizes, to the extent 
                                necessary, personnel from 
                                Federal agencies participating 
                                in the Interagency Ocean 
                                Observation Committee; and
                                  (II) oversees daily 
                                operations and coordination of 
                                the System;
                          (ii) implement policies, protocols, 
                        and standards approved by the Council 
                        and delegated by the Interagency Ocean 
                        Observation Committee;
                          (iii) promulgate program guidelines--
                                  (I) to certify and integrate 
                                regional associations into the 
                                System; and
                                  (II) to provide regional 
                                coastal and ocean observation 
                                data that meet the needs of 
                                user groups from the respective 
                                regions;
                          (iv) have the authority to enter into 
                        and oversee contracts, leases, grants, 
                        or cooperative agreements with non-
                        Federal assets, including regional 
                        coastal observing systems, to support 
                        the purposes of this subtitle on such 
                        terms as the Administrator deems 
                        appropriate;
                          (v) implement and maintain a merit-
                        based, competitive funding process to 
                        support non-Federal assets, including 
                        the development and maintenance of a 
                        national network of regional coastal 
                        observing systems, and develop and 
                        implement a process for the periodic 
                        review and evaluation of the regional 
                        associations;
                          (vi) provide opportunities for 
                        competitive contracts and grants for 
                        demonstration projects to design, 
                        develop, integrate, deploy, maintain, 
                        and support components of the System;
                          (vii) establish and maintain 
                        efficient and effective administrative 
                        procedures for the timely allocation of 
                        funds among contractors, grantees, and 
                        non-Federal assets, including regional 
                        coastal observing systems;
                          (viii) develop and implement a 
                        process for the periodic review and 
                        evaluation of the regional coastal 
                        observing systems;
                          (ix) formulate an annual process by 
                        which gaps in observation coverage or 
                        needs for capital improvements of 
                        Federal assets and non-Federal assets 
                        of the System are--
                                  (I) identified by the 
                                regional associations described 
                                in the System Plan, the 
                                Administrator, or other members 
                                of the System; and
                                  (II) submitted to the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee;
                          (x) develop and be responsible for a 
                        data management and communication 
                        system, in accordance with standards 
                        and protocols established by the 
                        Interagency Ocean Observation 
                        Committee, by which all data collected 
                        by the System regarding ocean and 
                        coastal waters of the United States 
                        including the Great Lakes, are 
                        processed, stored, integrated, and made 
                        available to all end-user communities;
                          (xi) not less frequently than once 
                        each year, submit to the Interagency 
                        Ocean Observation Committee a report on 
                        the accomplishments, operational needs, 
                        and performance of the System to 
                        contribute to the annual and long-term 
                        plans prepared pursuant to paragraph 
                        (2)(B)(i);
                          (xii) develop and periodically update 
                        a plan to efficiently integrate into 
                        the System new, innovative, or emerging 
                        technologies that have been 
                        demonstrated to be useful to the System 
                        and which will fulfill the purposes of 
                        this subtitle and the System Plan; and
                          (xiii) work with users and regional 
                        associations to develop products to 
                        enable real-time data sharing for 
                        decision makers, including with respect 
                        to weather forecasting and modeling, 
                        search and rescue operations, corrosive 
                        seawater forecasts, water quality 
                        monitoring and communication, and 
                        harmful algal bloom forecasting.
          (4) Regional coastal observing systems.--
                  (A) In general.--A regional coastal observing 
                system described in the System Plan as a 
                regional association may not be certified or 
                established under this subtitle unless it--
                          (i) has been or shall be certified or 
                        established by contract or agreement by 
                        the Administrator;
                          (ii) meets--
                                  (I) the certification 
                                standards and compliance 
                                procedure guidelines issued by 
                                the Administrator; and
                                  (II) the information needs of 
                                user groups in the region while 
                                adhering to national standards;
                          (iii) demonstrates an organizational 
                        structure, that under funding 
                        limitations is capable of--
                                  (I) gathering required System 
                                observation data;
                                  (II) supporting and 
                                integrating all aspects of 
                                coastal and ocean observing and 
                                information programs within a 
                                region; and
                                  (III) reflecting the needs of 
                                State, local, and tribal 
                                governments, commercial 
                                interests, and other users and 
                                beneficiaries of the System and 
                                other requirements specified 
                                under this subtitle and the 
                                System Plan;
                          (iv) identifies--
                                  (I) gaps in observation 
                                coverage needs for capital 
                                improvements of Federal assets 
                                and non-Federal assets of the 
                                System; and
                                  (II) other recommendations to 
                                assist in the development of 
                                the annual and long-term plans 
                                prepared pursuant to paragraph 
                                (2)(B)(i) and transmits such 
                                information to the Interagency 
                                Ocean Observation Committee 
                                through the Program Office 
                                established under paragraph 
                                (3)(C)(i);
                          (v) develops and operates under a 
                        strategic plan that will ensure the 
                        efficient and effective administration 
                        of programs and assets to support daily 
                        data observations for integration into 
                        the System, pursuant to the standards 
                        approved by the Council;
                          (vi) works cooperatively with 
                        governmental and nongovernmental 
                        entities at all levels to identify and 
                        provide information products of the 
                        System for multiple users within the 
                        service area of the regional coastal 
                        observing system; and
                          (vii) complies with all financial 
                        oversight requirements established by 
                        the Administrator, including 
                        requirements relating to audits.
                  (B) Participation.--For the purposes of this 
                subtitle, employees of Federal agencies are 
                permitted to be members of the governing body 
                for the regional coastal observing systems and 
                may participate in the functions of the 
                regional coastal observing systems.
  (d) System Advisory Committee.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish or 
        designate a System advisory committee, which shall 
        provide advice as may be requested by the Administrator 
        or the Council under this subtitle
          (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the System advisory 
        committee is to advise the Administrator and the 
        Interagency Ocean Observing Committee on--
                  (A) administration, operation, management, 
                and maintenance of the System, including 
                integration of Federal and non-Federal assets 
                and data management, data sharing, and 
                communication aspects of the System, and 
                fulfillment of the purposes set forth in 
                section 12302;
                  (B) expansion and periodic modernization and 
                upgrade of technology components of the System;
                  (C) identification of end-user communities, 
                their needs for information provided by the 
                System, and the System's effectiveness in 
                disseminating information to end-user 
                communities and the general public;
                  (D) additional priorities, including--
                          (i) a national surface current 
                        mapping network designed to improve 
                        fine scale sea surface mapping using 
                        high frequency radar technology and 
                        other emerging technologies to address 
                        national priorities, including Coast 
                        Guard search and rescue operation 
                        planning and harmful algal bloom 
                        forecasting and detection that--
                                  (I) is comprised of existing 
                                high frequency radar and other 
                                sea surface current mapping 
                                infrastructure operated by 
                                national programs and regional 
                                coastal observing systems;
                                  (II) incorporates new high 
                                frequency radar assets or other 
                                fine scale sea surface mapping 
                                technology assets, and other 
                                assets needed to fill gaps in 
                                coverage on United States 
                                coastlines; and
                                  (III) follows a deployment 
                                plan that prioritizes closing 
                                gaps in high frequency radar 
                                infrastructure in the United 
                                States, starting with areas 
                                demonstrating significant sea 
                                surface current data needs, 
                                especially in areas where 
                                additional data will improve 
                                Coast Guard search and rescue 
                                models;
                          (ii) fleet acquisition for unmanned 
                        maritime systems for deployment and 
                        data integration to fulfill the 
                        purposes of this subtitle;
                          (iii) an integrative survey program 
                        for application of unmanned maritime 
                        systems to the real-time or near real-
                        time collection and transmission of sea 
                        floor, water column, and sea surface 
                        data on biology, chemistry, geology, 
                        physics, and hydrography;
                          (iv) remote sensing and data 
                        assimilation to develop new analytical 
                        methodologies to assimilate data from 
                        the System into hydrodynamic models;
                          (v) integrated, multi-State 
                        monitoring to assess sources, movement, 
                        and fate of sediments in coastal 
                        regions;
                          (vi) a multi-region marine sound 
                        monitoring system to be--
                                  (I) planned in consultation 
                                with the Interagency Ocean 
                                Observation Committee, the 
                                National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration, the 
                                Department of the Navy, and 
                                academic research institutions; 
                                and
                                  (II) developed, installed, 
                                and operated in coordination 
                                with the National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration, the 
                                Department of the Navy, and 
                                academic research institutions; 
                                and
                  (E) any other purpose identified by the 
                Administrator or the Council.
          (3) Members.--
                  (A) In general.--The System advisory 
                committee shall be composed of members 
                appointed by the Administrator. Members shall 
                be qualified by education, training, and 
                experience to evaluate scientific and technical 
                information related to the design, operation, 
                maintenance, or use of the System, or use of 
                data products provided through the System.
                  (B) Terms of service.--The Administrator may 
                stagger the terms of the System advisory 
                committee members. Members shall be appointed 
                for 3-year terms, renewable once. A vacancy 
                appointment shall be for the remainder of the 
                unexpired term of the vacancy, and an 
                individual so appointed may subsequently be 
                appointed for 2 full 3-year terms if the 
                remainder of the unexpired term is less than 1 
                year.
                  (C) Chairperson.--The Administrator shall 
                designate a chairperson from among the members 
                of the System advisory committee.
                  (D) Appointment.--Members of the System 
                advisory committee shall be appointed as 
                special Government employees for purposes of 
                section 202(a) of title 18, United States Code.
          (4) Administrative Provisions.--
                  (A) Reporting.--The System advisory committee 
                shall report to the Administrator, as 
                appropriate.
                  (B) Administrative support.--The 
                Administrator shall provide administrative 
                support to the System advisory committee.
                  (C) Meetings.--The System advisory committee 
                shall meet at least once each year, and at 
                other times at the call of the Administrator, 
                the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, or 
                the chairperson.
                  (D) Compensation and expenses.--Members of 
                the System advisory committee shall not be 
                compensated for service on that Committee, but 
                may be allowed travel expenses, including per 
                diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
                subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
                States Code.
                  (E) Expiration.--Section 1013 of title 5, 
                United States Code, shall not apply to the 
                System advisory committee.
  (e) Civil Liability.--For purposes of determining liability 
arising from the dissemination and use of observation data 
gathered pursuant to this section, any non-Federal asset or 
regional coastal observing system incorporated into the System 
by a memorandum of agreement of certification under subsection 
(c)(3)(C)(iii) that is participating in the System shall be 
considered to be part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. Any employee of such a non-Federal asset or 
regional coastal observing system, while operating within the 
scope of his or her employment in carrying out the purposes of 
this subtitle, with respect to tort liability, is deemed to be 
an employee of the Federal Government.
  (f) Limitation.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed 
to invalidate existing certifications, contracts, or agreements 
between regional coastal observing systems and other elements 
of the System.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  1992




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE I--NOAA ATMOSPHERIC AND SATELLITE PROGRAMS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 106. DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS.

  (a)

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  [(c) Needs Assessment for Data Management, Archival, and 
Distribution.--(1) Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act and at least biennially thereafter, the 
Secretary of Commerce shall complete an assessment of the 
adequacy of the environmental data and information systems of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 
conducting such an assessment, the Secretary shall take into 
consideration the need to--
          [(A) provide adequate capacity to manage, archive, 
        and disseminate environmental data and information 
        collected and processed, or expected to be collected 
        and processed, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration and other appropriate departments and 
        agencies;
          [(B) establish, develop, and maintain information 
        bases, including necessary management systems, which 
        will promote consistent, efficient, and compatible 
        transfer and use of data;
          [(C) develop effective interfaces among the 
        environmental data and information systems of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 
        other appropriate departments and agencies;
          [(D) develop and use nationally accepted formats and 
        standards for data collected by various national and 
        international sources; and
          [(E) integrate and interpret data from different 
        sources to produce information that can be used by 
        decisionmakers in developing policies that effectively 
        respond to national and global environmental concerns.
  [(2) Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act and biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall develop and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a 
comprehensive plan, based on the assessment under paragraph 
(1), to modernize and improve the environmental data and 
information systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. The report shall--
          [(A) set forth modernization and improvement 
        objectives for the 10-year period beginning with the 
        year in which the plan is submitted, including facility 
        requirements and critical new technological components 
        that would be necessary to meet the objectives set 
        forth;
          [(B) propose specific agency programs and activities 
        for implementing the plan;
          [(C) identify the data and information management, 
        archival, and distribution responsibilities of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with 
        respect to other Federal departments and agencies and 
        international organizations, including the role of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with 
        respect to large data systems like the Earth Observing 
        System Data and Information System; and
          [(D) provide an implementation schedule and estimate 
        funding levels necessary to achieve modernization and 
        improvement objectives.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 108. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation 
with the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, 
and Technology through the Committee on Earth and Environmental 
Sciences, shall establish a United States Weather Research 
Program to--
          (1) increase benefits to the Nation from the 
        substantial investment in modernizing the public 
        weather warning and forecast system in the United 
        States;
          (2) improve local and regional weather forecasts and 
        warnings;
          (3) address critical weather-related scientific 
        issues;
          (4) coordinate governmental, university, and private-
        sector efforts;
          (5) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives, not less frequently than once each 
        year, a report, including--
                  (A) a list of ongoing research projects;
                  (B) project goals and a point of contact for 
                each project;
                  (C) the five projects related to weather 
                observations, short-term weather, or 
                subseasonal forecasts within Office of Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Research that are closest to 
                operationalization;
                  (D) for each project referred to in 
                subparagraph (C)--
                          (i) the potential benefit;
                          (ii) any barrier to 
                        operationalization; and
                          (iii) the plan for 
                        operationalization, including which 
                        line office will financially support 
                        the project and how much the line 
                        office intends to spend;
          (6) establish teams with staff from the Office of 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National 
        Weather Service to oversee the operationalization of 
        research products developed by the Office of Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Research;
          (7) develop mechanisms for research priorities of the 
        Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be 
        informed by the relevant line offices within the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
        relevant user community, and the weather enterprise;
          (8) develop an internal mechanism to track the 
        progress of each research project within the Office of 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to 
        terminate a project that is not adequately progressing;
          (9) develop and implement a system to track whether 
        extramural research grant goals were accomplished;
          (10) provide facilities for products developed by the 
        Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested 
        in operational simulations, such as test beds;
          (11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office 
        of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National 
        Weather Service by facilitating visiting scholars; and
          (12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction 
        Innovation Center as described in section 102(b)(2) of 
        the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
        2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(2)).
  [(b) Implementation Plan.--The Secretary of Commerce, in 
cooperation with the Committee on Earth and Environmental 
Sciences, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a plan for implementation of the United States 
Weather Research Program which shall--
          [(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in 
        the year the plan is submitted, the goals and 
        priorities for Federal weather research which most 
        effectively advance the scientific understanding of 
        weather processes and provide information to improve 
        weather warning and forecast systems in the United 
        States;
          [(2) describe specific activities, including research 
        activities, data collection and data analysis 
        requirements, predictive modeling, participation in 
        international research efforts, demonstration of 
        potential operational forecast applications, and 
        education and training required to achieve such goals 
        and priorities; and
          [(3) set forth the role of each Federal agency and 
        department to be involved in the United States Weather 
        Research Program, identifying and addressing, as 
        appropriate, relevant programs and activities of the 
        Federal agencies and departments that would contribute 
        to such Program.]
  [(c)] (b) Subseasonal Defined.--In this section, the term 
``subseasonal'' means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 
months.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                  NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 3. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, 
to be known as the ``National Landslide Hazards Reduction 
Program'' (referred to in this section as the ``program'')--
          (1) to identify and understand landslide hazards and 
        risks;
          (2) to reduce losses from landslides;
          (3) to protect communities at risk of landslide 
        hazards; and
          (4) to help improve communication and emergency 
        preparedness, including by coordinating with 
        communities and entities responsible for infrastructure 
        that are at risk of landslide hazards.
  (b) Description of Program.--
          (1) Program activities.--The Secretary, in 
        coordination with the Interagency Coordinating 
        Committee on Landslide Hazards established by 
        subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Committee'') and in coordination with existing 
        activities of the United States Geological Survey and 
        other Federal agencies, shall--
                  (A) identify, map, assess, and research 
                landslide hazards;
                  (B) respond to landslide events; and
                  (C) in coordination with State offices, units 
                of local government, territories, and Indian 
                tribes--
                          (i) establish working groups with 
                        State offices, units of local 
                        government, territories, and Indian 
                        tribes to identify regional and local 
                        priorities for researching, 
                        identifying, mapping, and assessing 
                        landslide hazards; and
                          (ii) develop and implement landslide 
                        hazard guidelines for--
                                  (I) geologists;
                                  (II) geological and 
                                geotechnical engineers;
                                  (III) emergency management 
                                personnel; and
                                  (IV) land use and other 
                                decisionmakers.
          (2) National strategy.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years 
        thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
        Committee, shall develop and publish a national 
        strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduction, and 
        response in the United States (including territories), 
        which shall include--
                  (A) goals and priorities for the program;
                  (B) priorities for data acquisition, 
                research, communications, and risk management 
                on landslides and landslide hazards across 
                relevant Federal agencies; and
                  (C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall 
                take into consideration national disaster 
                preparedness, response, and recovery 
                frameworks, to carry out the national strategy, 
                including details about the programs, projects, 
                and budgets that will be used to implement the 
                national strategy.
          (3) National landslide hazards database.--In carrying 
        out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with 
        State offices, units of local government, territories, 
        and Indian tribes, shall develop and maintain a 
        publicly accessible national landslide hazard and risk 
        inventory database to compile, maintain, standardize, 
        and evaluate data regarding--
                  (A) landslide hazards and risks;
                  (B) the impact of landslides on--
                          (i) health and safety;
                          (ii) the economy and infrastructure; 
                        and
                          (iii) the environment;
                  (C) landslide hazard stabilization; and
                  (D) reduction of losses from landslides.
          (4) Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for 
        communities.--In carrying out the program, the 
        Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of the 
        Army, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, and 
        the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and in 
        consultation with State offices, units of local 
        government, territories, and Indian tribes, shall 
        develop and disseminate--
                  (A) landslide planning and risk reduction 
                guidance, guidelines, maps, tools, and training 
                materials to help inform State, territorial, 
                local, and Tribal governments and 
                decisionmakers with respect to--
                          (i) the use and implementation of 
                        landslide hazard assessments;
                          (ii) the applied use of the database 
                        developed under paragraph (3);
                          (iii) reducing losses from 
                        landslides; and
                          (iv) resources available for 
                        communities working to improve 
                        landslide hazard preparedness; and
                  (B) landslide preparedness curricula and 
                training modules for--
                          (i) State, territorial, local, and 
                        Tribal officials;
                          (ii) Federal, State, territorial, 
                        local, and Tribal emergency managers; 
                        and
                          (iii) the National Guard.
          (5) Debris flow early warning system.--In carrying 
        out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with 
        the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, shall expand the early warning system for 
        debris flow by--
                  (A) expanding the early warning system for 
                post-wildfire debris flow to include recently 
                burned areas across the western United States;
                  (B) developing procedures with State, 
                territorial, local, and Tribal governments to 
                monitor stormwater drainage in areas with high 
                debris flow risk; and
                  (C) identifying high-risk debris flow areas, 
                such as recently burned land and potential 
                lahar hazard areas.
          (6) Emergency response activities.--In carrying out 
        the program, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
        States offices, units of local government, territories, 
        and Indian tribes, shall establish and support 
        emergency response procedures for the rapid deployment 
        of Federal scientists, equipment, and services to areas 
        impacted by a significant landslide event--
                  (A) to support emergency response efforts and 
                improve the safety of emergency responders;
                  (B) to improve data collection; and
                  (C) to conduct research to advance the 
                understanding of the causes, impacts, and 
                reduction of landslide hazards and risks.
  (c) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide 
Hazards.--
          (1) In general.--There is established a committee, to 
        be known as the ``Interagency Coordinating Committee on 
        Landslide Hazards''.
          (2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of 
        the following members (or their designees):
                  (A) The Secretary, who shall serve as 
                Chairperson of the Committee.
                  (B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
                  (C) The Secretary of the Army.
                  (D) The Secretary of Commerce.
                  (E) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
                  (F) The Secretary of Transportation.
                  (G) The Director of the National Science 
                Foundation.
                  (H) The Director of the Office of Science and 
                Technology Policy.
                  (I) The Director of the Office of Management 
                and Budget.
          (3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call 
        of the Chairperson.
          (4) Purpose and duties.--The Committee shall--
                  (A) advise and oversee the program;
                  (B) facilitate communication and coordination 
                across Federal agencies in the planning, 
                management, budgeting, and execution of 
                landslide activities; and
                  (C) support the development and execution of 
                the national strategy under subsection (b)(2), 
                including by--
                          (i) supporting the development of 
                        national goals and priorities for the 
                        national strategy;
                          (ii) articulating Federal agency 
                        roles, responsibilities, and resources 
                        for carrying out the national strategy; 
                        and
                          (iii) overseeing the implementation 
                        of the national strategy.
  (d) Advisory Committee.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory committee, to be known as the ``Advisory 
        Committee on Landslides'' (referred to in this 
        subsection as the ``Advisory Committee'').
          (2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be 
        composed of not fewer than 11 members--
                  (A) of whom none may be an individual 
                described in any of subparagraphs (A) through 
                (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, United 
                States Code; and
                  (B) who shall be representatives of--
                          (i) States, including State 
                        geological organizations;
                          (ii) territories, including 
                        territorial geological organizations;
                          (iii) Indian tribes, including Tribal 
                        geological organizations;
                          (iv) research institutions and 
                        institutions of higher education that 
                        are qualified--
                                  (I) to provide advice 
                                regarding landslide hazard and 
                                risk reduction; and
                                  (II) to represent related 
                                scientific, architectural, 
                                engineering, and planning 
                                disciplines;
                          (v) industry standards development 
                        organizations; and
                          (vi) State, territorial, local, and 
                        Tribal emergency management agencies.
          (3) Recommendations.--
                  (A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall 
                submit to the Committee recommendations for the 
                implementation of the program, including 
                recommendations regarding--
                          (i) landslide hazard and risk 
                        reduction and planning;
                          (ii) tools for communities;
                          (iii) research; and
                          (iv) such other topics as the 
                        Advisory Committee determines 
                        appropriate.
                  (B) Consideration.--The Secretary and the 
                agency heads described in subparagraphs (B) 
                through (I) of subsection (c)(2) shall take 
                into consideration any recommendation of the 
                Advisory Committee submitted under subparagraph 
                (A).
  (e) Grant Programs.--
          (1) Cooperative landslide hazard mapping and 
        assessment program.--
                  (A) In general.--Subject to appropriations, 
                the Secretary may--
                          (i) provide grants, on a competitive 
                        basis, to State, territorial, local, 
                        and Tribal governments to research, 
                        map, assess, and collect data on 
                        landslide hazards within the 
                        jurisdictions of those governments; and
                          (ii) accept and use funds received 
                        from other Federal and non-Federal 
                        partners to advance the purposes of the 
                        program.
                  (B) Priority.--
                          (i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        consult annually with the Committee, 
                        States, units of local government, 
                        territories, and Indian tribes to 
                        establish priorities for the grant 
                        program under this paragraph.
                          (ii) Funding prioritization.--In 
                        providing grants under this paragraph, 
                        the Secretary shall give priority to 
                        projects--
                                  (I) that will achieve the 
                                greatest landslide hazard and 
                                risk reduction;
                                  (II) that reflect the goals 
                                and priorities of the national 
                                strategy established under 
                                subsection (b)(2)(A);
                                  (III) not less than 50 
                                percent of the total cost of 
                                which is matched by non-Federal 
                                sources; and
                                  (IV) that include acquisition 
                                of enhanced elevation data 
                                consistent with the 3D 
                                Elevation Program.
                  (C) Requirement.--If the Secretary elects to 
                provide grants under subparagraph (A)(i), the 
                Secretary shall publish on a publicly available 
                website a description of--
                          (i) the grants; and
                          (ii) the findings made from those 
                        grants.
          (2) National landslide research grants.--
                  (A) In general.--To advance the goals and 
                priorities of the national strategy established 
                under subsection (b)(2)(A), subject to 
                appropriations, the Director of the National 
                Science Foundation (referred to in this 
                paragraph as the ``Director'') may provide 
                grants to eligible entities for landslide 
                research, including research on--
                          (i) the causes, mechanisms, triggers, 
                        hydrology, and geology of landslides;
                          (ii) ways to reduce landslide hazards 
                        and risks to minimize loss of life and 
                        property, including landslide hazard 
                        and risk communication, perception, 
                        decisionmaking, tools, and 
                        technologies; and
                          (iii) other goals and priorities of 
                        the national strategy established under 
                        subsection (b)(2)(A).
                  (B) Eligible entities.--The Director shall 
                determine whether an entity is eligible to 
                receive a grant under this paragraph.
                  (C) Requirements.--In providing grants under 
                this paragraph, the Director shall--
                          (i) ensure that the grants are 
                        provided on a competitive basis;
                          (ii) consider grant applications 
                        submitted by eligible entities that 
                        have developed the application in 
                        partnership with 1 or more State 
                        geological surveys; and
                          (iii) publish on a publicly available 
                        website a description of--
                                  (I) the grants; and
                                  (II) the findings made from 
                                those grants.
  (f) Biennial Report.--Through calendar year 2030, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a biennial report, including 
a description of, with respect to the 2-calendar-year period 
preceding the date of the report--
          (1) the goals and accomplishments of the Committee in 
        carrying out the national strategy developed under 
        subsection (b)(2);
          (2) the results of the activities of the Committee 
        under this section; and
          (3) the extent to which any recommendations of the 
        Advisory Committee under subsection (d)(3)(A) have been 
        implemented.
  (g) Significant Events.--Not later than 1 year after a 
significant landslide event in the United States (including 
territories) occurs, the Secretary shall publish on a publicly 
available website--
          (1) a description of the landslide event and the 
        implications of the event on communities, including 
        life and property;
          (2) recommendations on how the identification of the 
        landslide risk could have been improved prior to the 
        event;
          (3) a description of the effectiveness of any warning 
        and risk communication, including the dissemination of 
        warnings by State, territorial, local, and Tribal 
        partners in the affected area;
          (4) recommendations to improve risk identification, 
        reduction, and communication to landowners and units of 
        local government;
          (5) recommendations to improve landslide hazard 
        preparedness and emergency response activities under 
        this section; and
          (6) such other findings as the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
  (h) Funding.--For each of fiscal years [2021 through 2024] 
2024 through 2028--
          (1) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        United States Geological Survey, $25,000,000 to carry 
        out this section;
          (2) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        National Science Foundation, $11,000,000 to carry out 
        this section; and
          (3) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        $1,000,000 to carry out this section.
  (i) Derivation of Funds.--Funds to carry out the activities 
under this section shall be derived from amounts authorized to 
be appropriated that are enacted after the date of the 
enactment of this section.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


    HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT OF 1998


TITLE VI--HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 603. ASSESSMENTS.

  (a) Establishment of Inter-Agency Task Force.--The 
President, through the Committee on Environment and Natural 
Resources of the National Science and Technology Council, shall 
establish an Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms 
and Hypoxia. The Task Force shall consist of a representative 
from--
          (1) the Department of Commerce (who shall serve as 
        Chairman of the Task Force);
          (2) the Environmental Protection Agency;
          (3) the Department of Agriculture;
          (4) the Department of the Interior;
          (5) the Department of the Navy;
          (6) the Department of Health and Human Services;
          (7) the National Science Foundation;
          (8) the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration;
          (9) the Food and Drug Administration;
          (10) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
          (11) the Council on Environmental Quality;
          (12) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
          (13) the Department of Energy;
          [(13)] (14) the Army Corps of Engineers; and
          [(14)] (15) other Federal agencies as the President 
        considers appropriate.
  [(b) Assessment of Harmful Algal Blooms.--
          [(1) Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this title, the Task Force, in cooperation 
        with the coastal States, Indian tribes, and local 
        governments, industry (including agricultural 
        organizations), academic institutions, and non-
        governmental organizations with expertise in coastal 
        zone management, shall complete and submit to the 
        Congress an assessment which examines the ecological 
        and economic consequences of harmful algal blooms, 
        alternatives for reducing, mitigating, and controlling 
        harmful algal blooms, and the social and economic costs 
        and benefits of such alternatives.
          [(2) The assessment shall--
                  [(A) identify alternatives for preventing 
                unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal 
                agencies and departments with respect to 
                harmful algal blooms; and
                  [(B) provide for Federal cooperation and 
                coordination with and assistance to the coastal 
                States, Indian tribes, and local governments in 
                the prevention, reduction, management, 
                mitigation, and control of harmful algal blooms 
                and their environmental and public health 
                impacts.
  [(c) Assessment of Hypoxia.--
          [(1) Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this title, the Task Force, in cooperation 
        with the States, Indian tribes, local governments, 
        industry, agricultural, academic institutions, and non-
        governmental organizations with expertise in watershed 
        and coastal zone management, shall complete and submit 
        to the Congress an assessment which examines the 
        ecological and economic consequences of hypoxia in 
        United States coastal waters, alternatives for 
        reducing, mitigating, and controlling hypoxia, and the 
        social and economic costs and benefits of such 
        alternatives.
          [(2) The assessment shall--
                  [(A) establish needs, priorities, and 
                guidelines for a peer-reviewed, inter-agency 
                research program on the causes, 
                characteristics, and impacts of hypoxia;
                  [(B) identify alternatives for preventing 
                unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal 
                agencies and departments with respect to 
                hypoxia; and
                  [(C) provide for Federal cooperation and 
                coordination with and assistance to the States, 
                Indian tribes, and local governments in the 
                prevention, reduction, management, mitigation, 
                and control of hypoxia and its environmental 
                impacts.
  [(d) Report to Congress on Harmful Algal Bloom Impacts.--
          [(1) Development.--Not later than 12 months after the 
        date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
        Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004, the President, in 
        consultation with the chief executive officers of the 
        States, shall develop and submit to the Congress a 
        report that describes and evaluates the effectiveness 
        of measures described in paragraph (2) that may be 
        utilized to protect environmental and public health 
        from impacts of harmful algal blooms. In developing the 
        report, the President shall consult with the Task 
        Force, the coastal States, Indian tribes, local 
        governments, appropriate industries (including 
        fisheries, agriculture, and fertilizer), academic 
        institutions, and nongovernmental organizations with 
        expertise in coastal zone science and management, and 
        also consider the scientific assessments developed 
        under this Act.
          [(2) Requirements.--The report shall--
                  [(A) review techniques for prediction of the 
                onset, course, and impacts of harmful algal 
                blooms including evaluation of their accuracy 
                and utility in protecting environmental and 
                public health and provisions for their 
                development;
                  [(B) identify innovative research and 
                development methods for the prevention, 
                control, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms 
                and provisions for their development; and
                  [(C) include incentive-based partnership 
                approaches regarding subparagraphs (A) and (B) 
                where practicable.
          [(3) Publication and opportunity for comment.--At 
        least 90 days before submitting the report to the 
        Congress, the President shall cause a summary of the 
        proposed plan to be published in the Federal Register 
        for a public comment period of not less than 60 days.
          [(4) Federal assistance.--The Secretary of Commerce, 
        in coordination with the Task Force and to the extent 
        of funds available, shall provide for Federal 
        cooperation with and assistance to the coastal States, 
        Indian tribes, and local governments regarding the 
        measures described in paragraph (2), as requested.
  [(e) Local and Regional Scientific Assessments.--
          [(1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce, in 
        coordination with the Task Force and appropriate State, 
        Indian tribe, and local governments, to the extent of 
        funds available, shall provide for local and regional 
        scientific assessments of hypoxia and harmful algal 
        blooms, as requested by States, Indian tribes, and 
        local governments, or for affected areas as identified 
        by the Secretary. If the Secretary receives multiple 
        requests, the Secretary shall ensure, to the extent 
        practicable, that assessments under this subsection 
        cover geographically and ecologically diverse locations 
        with significant ecological and economic impacts from 
        hypoxia or harmful algal blooms. The Secretary shall 
        establish a procedure for reviewing requests for local 
        and regional assessments. The Secretary shall ensure, 
        through consultation with Sea Grant Programs, that the 
        findings of the assessments are communicated to the 
        appropriate State, Indian tribe, and local governments, 
        and to the general public.
          [(2) Purpose.--Local and regional assessments shall 
        examine--
                  [(A) the causes and ecological consequences, 
                and the economic cost, of hypoxia or harmful 
                algal blooms in that area;
                  [(B) potential methods to prevent, control, 
                and mitigate hypoxia or harmful algal blooms in 
                that area and the potential ecological and 
                economic costs and benefits of such methods; 
                and
                  [(C) other topics the Task Force considers 
                appropriate.]
  [(f)] (b) Scientific Assessments of Hypoxia.--(1) Not less 
than once every 5 years the Task Force shall complete and 
submit to the Congress a scientific assessment of hypoxia in 
United States [coastal waters including the Great Lakes] 
marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. The first such 
assessment shall be completed not less than 24 months after the 
date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Amendments Act of 2004.
  (2) The assessments under this subsection shall--
          [(A) examine the causes and ecological consequences, 
        and the economic costs, of hypoxia;]
          (A) examine the causes and ecological consequences of 
        hypoxia on marine and aquatic species in their natural 
        environments, and socio-cultural or economic costs of 
        hypoxia, including impacts on food safety and security;
          (B) examine the effect of other environmental 
        stressors on hypoxia;
          (C) evaluate alternatives for reducing, mitigating, 
        and controlling hypoxia and its environmental impacts;
          [(B)] (D) describe the potential ecological, social, 
        and economic costs and benefits of possible policy and 
        management actions for preventing, controlling, and 
        mitigating hypoxia;
          [(C)] (E) evaluate progress made by, and the needs 
        of, Federal research programs on the causes, 
        characteristics, and impacts of hypoxia, including 
        recommendations of how to eliminate significant gaps in 
        [hypoxia modeling and monitoring data] hypoxia 
        modeling, forecasting, and monitoring and observation 
        data; and
          [(D)] (F) identify ways to improve coordination and 
        to prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among 
        Federal agencies and departments with respect to 
        research on hypoxia.
  [(g) Scientific Assessments of Marine and Freshwater Harmful 
Algal Blooms.--Not less than once every 5 years the Task Force 
shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific assessment 
of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal waters and 
freshwater systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine 
and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the 
Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater 
lakes and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes 
or rivers and migrate to coastal waters.
  [(h) National Scientific Research, Development, 
Demonstration, and Technology Transfer Plan on Reducing Impacts 
From Harmful Algal Blooms.--(1) Not later than 12 months after 
the date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Amendments Act of 2004, the Task Force shall develop and submit 
to Congress a plan providing for a comprehensive and 
coordinated national research program to develop and 
demonstrate prevention, control, and mitigation methods to 
reduce the impacts of harmful algal blooms on coastal 
ecosystems (including the Great Lakes), public health, and the 
economy.
  [(2) The plan shall--
          [(A) establish priorities and guidelines for a 
        competitive, peer reviewed, merit based interagency 
        research, development, demonstration, and technology 
        transfer program on methods for the prevention, 
        control, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms;
          [(B) identify ways to improve coordination and to 
        prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal 
        agencies and departments with respect to the actions 
        described in paragraph (1); and
          [(C) include to the maximum extent practicable 
        diverse institutions, including Historically Black 
        Colleges and Universities and those serving large 
        proportions of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian 
        Pacific Americans, and other underrepresented 
        populations.
  [(3) The Secretary of Commerce, in conjunction with other 
appropriate Federal agencies, shall establish a research, 
development, demonstration, and technology transfer program 
that meets the priorities and guidelines established under 
paragraph (2)(A). The Secretary shall ensure, through 
consultation with Sea Grant Programs, that the results and 
findings of the program are communicated to State, Indian 
tribe, and local governments, and to the general public.
  [(i) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date the 
Action Strategy is submitted under section 603B, the Under 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that describes--
          [(1) the proceedings of the annual Task Force 
        meetings;
          [(2) the activities carried out under the Program, 
        including the regional and subregional parts of the 
        Action Strategy;
          [(3) the budget related to the activities under 
        paragraph (2);
          [(4) the progress made on implementing the Action 
        Strategy; and
          [(5) any need to revise or terminate research and 
        activities under the Program.]
  (c) Action Strategy and Scientific Assessment for Marine and 
Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms.--
          (1) Not less often than once every five years, the 
        Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress an 
        action strategy, including a scientific assessment, of 
        harmful algal blooms in the United States (in this Act 
        referred to as the ``Action Strategy''). Each such 
        Action Strategy, including scientific assessment, shall 
        examine both marine and freshwater harmful algal 
        blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper 
        reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and 
        rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes or 
        rivers and migrate to coastal waters.
          (2) Each Action Strategy under this subsection 
        shall--
                  (A) examine the causes and ecological 
                consequences, and the socio-cultural or 
                economic costs, including impacts on food 
                safety and security, of harmful algal blooms;
                  (B) examine the effect of other environmental 
                stressors on harmful algal blooms;
                  (C) examine potential methods to prevent, 
                control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and 
                the potential ecological, social, cultural, and 
                economic costs and benefits of such methods;
                  (D) identify priorities for research needed 
                to advance techniques and technologies to 
                detect, predict, monitor, respond to, and 
                minimize the occurrence, duration, and severity 
                of harmful algal blooms, including 
                recommendations to eliminate significant gaps 
                in harmful algal bloom forecasting, monitoring, 
                and observation data;
                  (E) evaluate progress made by, and the needs 
                of, Task Force activities and actions to 
                prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal 
                blooms;
                  (F) identify ways to improve coordination and 
                prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among 
                Federal departments and agencies with respect 
                to research on harmful algal blooms; and
                  (G) include regional chapters relating to the 
                requirements described in this paragraph in 
                order to highlight geographically and 
                ecologically diverse locations with significant 
                ecological, social, cultural, and economic 
                impacts from harmful algal blooms.

SEC. 603A. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA PROGRAM.

  (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Under Secretary, acting 
through the Task Force, shall maintain and enhance a national 
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program, including--
          (1) a statement of objectives, including 
        understanding, detecting, [predicting,] monitoring, 
        observing, forecasting, controlling, mitigating, and 
        responding to marine and freshwater harmful algal bloom 
        and hypoxia events; [and]
          (2) the [comprehensive research plan and action 
        strategy under section 603B.] the Action Strategy, 
        including scientific assessment, under section 603(c); 
        and
          (3) the scientific assessment under section 603(b).
  (b) Periodic Revision.--The Task Force shall periodically 
review and revise the Program, as necessary.
  (c) Task Force Functions.--The Task Force shall--
          (1) coordinate interagency review of the objectives 
        and activities of the Program;
          (2) expedite the interagency review process by 
        ensuring timely review and dispersal of required 
        reports and assessments under this title;
          (3) support the implementation of the Action 
        Strategy, including the coordination and integration of 
        the research of all Federal programs, including [ocean 
        and Great Lakes] marine, estuarine, and freshwater 
        systems science and management programs and centers, 
        that address the chemical, biological, and physical 
        components of marine and freshwater harmful algal 
        blooms and hypoxia;
          (4) support the development of institutional 
        mechanisms and financial instruments to further the 
        objectives and activities of the Program;
          (5) review the Program's distribution of Federal 
        funding to address the objectives and activities of the 
        Program while recognizing each agency is acting under 
        its own independent mission and authority;
          (6) promote the development of new technologies for 
        predicting, monitoring, and mitigating harmful algal 
        bloom and hypoxia conditions; and
          (7) establish such interagency working groups as it 
        considers necessary.
  (d) Lead Federal Agency.--[Except as provided in subsection 
(h), the] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
shall have primary responsibility for administering the 
Program.
  (e) Program Duties.--In administering the Program, the Under 
Secretary shall--
          (1) promote the Program, including to local and 
        regional stakeholders through the establishment and 
        maintenance of a publicly accessible Internet website 
        that provides information as to Program activities 
        completed under this section;
          [(2) prepare work and spending plans for implementing 
        the research and activities identified under the Action 
        Strategy;
          [(3) administer peer-reviewed, merit-based, 
        competitive grant funding--
                  [(A) to maintain and enhance baseline 
                monitoring programs established by the Program;
                  [(B) to support the projects maintained and 
                established by the Program;
                  [(C) to address the research and management 
                needs and priorities identified in the Action 
                Strategy; and
                  [(D) to accelerate the utilization of 
                effective methods of intervention and 
                mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, 
                and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia 
                events;]
          (2) examine, in collaboration with State and local 
        entities and Indian Tribes, including island 
        communities, low-population rural communities, 
        Indigenous communities, subsistence communities, 
        fisheries, and recreation industries that are most 
        dependent on coastal and water resources that may be 
        impacted by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms 
        and hypoxia, the causes, ecological consequences, 
        cultural impacts, and social and economic costs of 
        harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          [(4)] (3) coordinate with, and work cooperatively to 
        provide technical assistance [to, regional] to 
        regional, State, tribal, and local government 
        [agencies] entities, and regional coastal observing 
        systems (as such term is defined in section 12330(6) of 
        the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
        of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602(6))) and programs that address 
        marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          [(5)] (4) coordinate with the Secretary of State to 
        support international efforts on marine and freshwater 
        harmful algal bloom and hypoxia information sharing, 
        research, prediction, mitigation, control, and response 
        activities;
          [(6)] (5) identify additional research, development, 
        and demonstration needs and priorities relating to 
        monitoring, prevention, control, mitigation, and 
        response to marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms 
        and hypoxia, including methods and technologies to 
        protect the ecosystems and communities affected by 
        marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          (6) support sustained observations, including through 
        peer-reviewed, merit-based, competitive grant funding, 
        to provide State and local entities, Indian Tribes, and 
        others access to real-time or near real-time 
        observation data for decision-making to protect human 
        and ecological health and local economies;
          (7) integrate, coordinate, and augment existing 
        education and extension programs to improve public 
        understanding and awareness of the causes, impacts, 
        intervention, and mitigation efforts for marine and 
        freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          (8) facilitate and provide resources to train [State 
        and local] State, local, and Tribal coastal and water 
        resource managers in the methods and technologies for 
        monitoring, preventing, controlling, and mitigating 
        marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          (9) support regional efforts to control and mitigate 
        outbreaks through--
                  (A) communication of the contents of the 
                Action Strategy and maintenance of online data 
                portals for other information about harmful 
                algal blooms and hypoxia to State, [tribal] 
                Tribal, and local stakeholders; and
                  (B) overseeing the development, review, and 
                periodic updating of the Action Strategy;
          (10) convene at least 1 meeting of the Task Force 
        each year; and
          (11) perform such other tasks as may be delegated by 
        the Task Force.
  [(f) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Activities.--The Under Secretary shall--
          [(1) maintain and enhance the existing competitive 
        programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration relating to harmful algal blooms and 
        hypoxia;
          [(2) carry out marine and Great Lakes harmful algal 
        bloom and hypoxia events response activities;
          [(3) develop and enhance, including with respect to 
        infrastructure, which shall include unmanned systems, 
        as necessary, critical observations, monitoring, 
        modeling, data management, information dissemination, 
        and operational forecasts relevant to harmful algal 
        blooms and hypoxia events;
          [(4) enhance communication and coordination among 
        Federal agencies carrying out marine and freshwater 
        harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and 
        research;
          [(5) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
        existing resources and expertise available from local 
        research universities and institutions;
          [(6) increase the availability to appropriate public 
        and private entities of--
                  [(A) analytical facilities and technologies;
                  [(B) operational forecasts; and
                  [(C) reference and research materials;
          [(7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        Act; and
          [(8) develop contingency plans for the long-term 
        monitoring of hypoxia.
  [(g) Cooperative Efforts.--The Under Secretary shall work 
cooperatively and avoid duplication of effort with other 
offices, centers, and programs within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, other agencies on the Task Force, 
and States, tribes, and nongovernmental organizations concerned 
with marine and freshwater issues to coordinate harmful algal 
bloom and hypoxia (and related) activities and research.
  [(h) Freshwater.--With respect to the freshwater aspects of 
the Program, the Administrator, through the Task Force, shall 
carry out the duties otherwise assigned to the Under Secretary 
under this section, except the activities described in 
subsection (f).
          [(1) Participation.--The Administrator's 
        participation under this section shall include--
                  [(A) research on the ecology and impacts of 
                freshwater harmful algal blooms; and
                  [(B) forecasting and monitoring of and event 
                response to freshwater harmful algal blooms in 
                lakes, rivers, estuaries (including their 
                tributaries), and reservoirs.
          [(2) Nonduplication.--The Administrator shall ensure 
        that activities carried out under this title focus on 
        new approaches to addressing freshwater harmful algal 
        blooms and are not duplicative of existing research and 
        development programs authorized by this title or any 
        other law.]
  (f) Cooperative Efforts.--The Under Secretary shall work 
cooperatively with and avoid duplication of effort of other 
agencies on the Task Force, and with and of States, Indian 
tribes, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with marine 
and freshwater issues, and shall coordinate harmful algal bloom 
and hypoxia and related activities and research.
  (g) Freshwater and Estuarine Program Duties.--
          (1) In general.--The Administrator, in coordination 
        with the Task Force, shall carry out the duties under 
        subsection (e) for freshwater and estuarine aspects of 
        the Program through the activities authorized under 
        section 603C.
          (2) Nonduplication.--The Administrator shall ensure 
        that activities carried out under this subsection focus 
        on new approaches to addressing freshwater harmful 
        algal blooms and are not duplicative of existing 
        research and development programs authorized under this 
        Act or any other law.
  (h) Anti-Deficiency Act Applied to Harmful Algal Bloom 
Services.--Any services by an officer or employee under this 
title relating to the immediate development and dissemination 
of the Harmful Algal Bloom Operational Forecast System of the 
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be considered, for 
purposes of section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 
services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or 
the protection of property. Such consideration shall only apply 
to areas with active harmful algal blooms during any lapse in 
appropriations beginning on or after the date of the enactment 
of this subsection.
  (i) Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.--The 
collection of monitoring and observation data under this title 
shall comply with all data standards and protocols developed 
pursuant to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.). Such data shall be made 
available through the system established under that Act.

[SEC. 603B. COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN AND ACTION STRATEGY.

  [(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Under Secretary, through 
the Task Force, shall develop and submit to Congress a 
comprehensive research plan and action strategy to address 
marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. The 
Action Strategy shall identify--
          [(1) the specific activities to be carried out by the 
        Program and the timeline for carrying out those 
        activities;
          [(2) the roles and responsibilities of each Federal 
        agency in the Task Force in carrying out the activities 
        under paragraph (1); and
          [(3) the appropriate regions and subregions requiring 
        specific research and activities to address harmful 
        algal blooms and hypoxia.
  [(b) Regional Focus.--The regional and subregional parts of 
the Action Strategy shall identify--
          [(1) regional priorities for ecological, economic, 
        and social research on issues related to the impacts of 
        harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          [(2) research, development, and demonstration 
        activities needed to develop and advance technologies 
        and techniques for minimizing the occurrence of harmful 
        algal blooms and hypoxia and improving capabilities to 
        detect, predict, monitor, control, mitigate, respond 
        to, and remediate harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          [(3) ways to reduce the duration and intensity of 
        harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including deployment 
        of response technologies in a timely manner;
          [(4) research and methods to address human health 
        dimensions of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
          [(5) mechanisms, including the potential costs and 
        benefits of those mechanisms, to protect ecosystems 
        that may be or have been affected by harmful algal 
        bloom and hypoxia events;
          [(6) mechanisms by which data, information, and 
        products may be transferred between the Program and the 
        State, tribal, and local governments and research 
        entities;
          [(7) communication and information dissemination 
        methods that State, tribal, and local governments may 
        undertake to educate and inform the public concerning 
        harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and
          [(8) roles that Federal agencies may have to assist 
        in the implementation of the Action Strategy, including 
        efforts to support local and regional scientific 
        assessments under section 603(e).
  [(c) Utilizing Available Studies and Information.--In 
developing the Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall 
utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program 
activities, including--
          [(1) those carried out under existing law; and
          [(2) other relevant peer-reviewed and published 
        sources.
  [(d) Development of the Action Strategy.--In developing the 
Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall, as appropriate--
          [(1) coordinate with--
                  [(A) State coastal management and planning 
                officials;
                  [(B) tribal resource management officials; 
                and
                  [(C) water management and watershed officials 
                from both coastal States and noncoastal States 
                with water sources that drain into water bodies 
                affected by harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; 
                and
          [(2) consult with--
                  [(A) public health officials;
                  [(B) emergency management officials;
                  [(C) science and technology development 
                institutions;
                  [(D) economists;
                  [(E) industries and businesses affected by 
                marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and 
                hypoxia;
                  [(F) scientists with expertise concerning 
                harmful algal blooms or hypoxia from academic 
                or research institutions; and
                  [(G) other stakeholders.
  [(e) Federal Register.--The Under Secretary shall publish the 
Action Strategy in the Federal Register.
  [(f) Periodic Revision.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
and consultation with the individuals and entities under 
subsection (d), shall periodically review and revise the Action 
Strategy prepared under this section, as necessary.]

SEC. 603B. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall--
          (1) carry out marine, coastal, and Great Lakes 
        harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events response 
        activities;
          (2) develop and enhance operational harmful algal 
        bloom observing and forecasting programs, including 
        operational observations and forecasting, monitoring, 
        modeling, data management, and information 
        dissemination;
          (3) maintain and enhance peer-reviewed, merit-based, 
        competitive grant funding relating to harmful algal 
        blooms and hypoxia to--
                  (A) maintain and enhance baseline monitoring 
                programs established by the Program;
                  (B) support the projects maintained and 
                established by the Program;
                  (C) address the research and management needs 
                and priorities identified in the Action 
                Strategy under section 603(c);
                  (D) accelerate the utilization of effective 
                methods of intervention and mitigation to 
                reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of 
                harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events;
                  (E) identify opportunities to improve 
                monitoring of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia, 
                with a particular focus on coastal waters that 
                may affect fisheries, public health, or 
                subsistence harvest;
                  (F) examine the effects of other 
                environmental stressors on harmful algal blooms 
                and hypoxia;
                  (G) assess the effects of multiple 
                environmental stressors on living marine 
                resources and coastal ecosystems; and
                  (H) evaluate adaptation and mitigation 
                strategies to address the impacts of harmful 
                algal blooms and hypoxia;
          (4) enhance communication and coordination among 
        Federal agencies carrying out marine and freshwater 
        harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and 
        research;
          (5) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
        existing resources and expertise available from local 
        research universities and institutions; and
          (6) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        section.
  (b) Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.--The 
collection of monitoring and observing data under this section 
shall comply with all data standards and protocols developed 
pursuant to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.). Such data shall be made 
available through the system established under that Act.

SEC. 603C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

  The Administrator shall--
          (1) carry out research on the ecology and human 
        health impacts of freshwater harmful algal blooms;
          (2) develop and maintain forecasting and monitoring 
        of, and event response to, freshwater harmful algal 
        blooms in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and estuaries 
        (including tributaries thereof);
          (3) enhance communication and coordination among 
        Federal agencies carrying out freshwater harmful algal 
        bloom and hypoxia activities and research;
          (4) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
        existing resources and expertise available from local 
        research universities and institutions; and
          (5) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        section.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


[SEC. 606. GREAT LAKES HYPOXIA AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.

  [(a) Integrated Assessment.--Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Task Force, in 
accordance with the authority under section 603, shall complete 
and submit to the Congress and the President an integrated 
assessment that examines the causes, consequences, and 
approaches to reduce hypoxia and harmful algal blooms in the 
Great Lakes, including the status of and gaps within current 
research, monitoring, management, prevention, response, and 
control activities by--
          [(1) Federal agencies;
          [(2) State agencies;
          [(3) regional research consortia;
          [(4) academia;
          [(5) private industry; and
          [(6) nongovernmental organizations.
  [(b) Plan.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
        Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014, 
        the Task Force shall develop and submit to the Congress 
        a plan, based on the integrated assessment under 
        subsection (a), for reducing, mitigating, and 
        controlling hypoxia and harmful algal blooms in the 
        Great Lakes.
          [(2) Contents.--The plan shall--
                  [(A) address the monitoring needs identified 
                in the integrated assessment under subsection 
                (a);
                  [(B) develop a timeline and budgetary 
                requirements for deployment of future assets;
                  [(C) identify requirements for the 
                development and verification of Great Lakes 
                hypoxia and harmful algal bloom models, 
                including--
                          [(i) all assumptions built into the 
                        models; and
                          [(ii) data quality methods used to 
                        ensure the best available data are 
                        utilized; and
                  [(D) describe efforts to improve the 
                assessment of the impacts of hypoxia and 
                harmful algal blooms by--
                          [(i) characterizing current and past 
                        biological conditions in ecosystems 
                        affected by hypoxia and harmful algal 
                        blooms; and
                          [(ii) quantifying effects, including 
                        economic effects, at the population and 
                        community levels.
          [(3) Requirements.--In developing the plan, the Task 
        Force shall--
                  [(A) coordinate with State and local 
                governments;
                  [(B) consult with representatives from 
                academic, agricultural, industry, and other 
                stakeholder groups, including relevant Canadian 
                agencies;
                  [(C) ensure that the plan complements and 
                does not duplicate activities conducted by 
                other Federal or State agencies;
                  [(D) identify critical research for reducing, 
                mitigating, and controlling hypoxia events and 
                their effects;
                  [(E) evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based 
                partnership approaches;
                  [(F) ensure that the plan is technically 
                sound and cost effective;
                  [(G) utilize existing research, assessments, 
                reports, and program activities;
                  [(H) publish a summary of the proposed plan 
                in the Federal Register at least 180 days prior 
                to submitting the completed plan to Congress; 
                and
                  [(I) after submitting the completed plan to 
                Congress, provide biennial progress reports on 
                the activities toward achieving the objectives 
                of the plan.]

SEC. 606. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OBSERVING NETWORK.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, acting through the 
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the 
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall integrate 
Federal, State, regional, and local observing capabilities to 
establish a national network of harmful algal bloom observing 
systems for the monitoring, detection, and forecasting of 
harmful algal blooms by leveraging the capacity of IOOS 
regional associations, including through the incorporation of 
emerging technologies and new data integration methods, such as 
artificial intelligence.
  (b) Coordination.-- In carrying out subsection (a), the IOOS 
Program Office shall--
          (1) coordinate with NCCOS regarding observations, 
        data integration, and information dissemination; and
          (2) establish a Harmful Algal Bloom Data Assembly 
        Center to integrate, disseminate, and provide a central 
        architecture to support ecological forecasting.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 609. DEFINITIONS.

  In this title:
          (1) Action strategy.--The term ``Action Strategy'' 
        [means the comprehensive research plan and action 
        strategy established under section 603B] means the 
        action strategy, including scientific assessment, for 
        marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms established 
        under section 603(c).
          (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means 
        the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency.
          [(3) Harmful algal bloom.--The term ``harmful algal 
        bloom'' means marine and freshwater phytoplankton that 
        proliferate to high concentrations, resulting in 
        nuisance conditions or harmful impacts on marine and 
        aquatic ecosystems, coastal communities, and human 
        health through the production of toxic compounds or 
        other biological, chemical, and physical impacts of the 
        algae outbreak.]
          (3) Appropriate federal official.--The term 
        ``appropriate Federal official'' means--
                  (A) in the case of marine systems or Great 
                Lakes hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, 
                including those in estuarine areas, the Under 
                Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
                Atmosphere; and
                  (B) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or 
                harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator of 
                the Environmental Protection Agency, in 
                consultation with the Under Secretary of 
                Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
          (4) Harmful algal bloom; harmful algal bloom and 
        hypoxia event.--
                  (A) Harmful algal bloom.--The term ``harmful 
                algal bloom'' means marine or freshwater algae 
                or macroalgae, including Sargassum, that 
                proliferate to high concentrations, resulting 
                in nuisance conditions or harmful impacts on 
                marine and freshwater ecosystems, communities, 
                or human health through the production of toxic 
                compounds or other biological, chemical, or 
                physical impacts of the algae outbreak.
                  (B) Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event.--
                The term ``harmful algal bloom and hypoxia 
                event'' means the occurrence of a harmful algal 
                bloom or hypoxia as a result of a natural, 
                anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.
          (5) Harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event of 
        significance.--The term ``harmful algal bloom or 
        hypoxia event of significance'' means a harmful algal 
        bloom or hypoxia event that has had or will likely have 
        significant detrimental environmental, economic, 
        social, subsistence use, or public health impacts.
          [(4)] (6) Hypoxia.--The term ``hypoxia'' means a 
        condition where low dissolved oxygen in [aquatic] 
        marine or freshwater systems causes stress or death to 
        [resident] marine or freshwater organisms.
          [(5)] (7) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the 
        national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program 
        established under section 603A.
          (8) Subsistence use.--The term ``subsistence use'' 
        means the customary and traditional use of fish, 
        wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or marine 
        resources by any individual or community to meet 
        personal or family needs, including essential economic, 
        nutritional, or cultural applications.
          [(6)] (9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of 
        the several States of the United States, the District 
        of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
        Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth 
        of the Northern Mariana Islands, any other territory or 
        possession of the United States, and any Indian tribe.
          [(7)] (10) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means 
        the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and 
        Hypoxia under section 603(a).
          [(8)] (11) Under secretary.--The term ``Under 
        Secretary'' means the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
        Oceans and Atmosphere.
          [(9) United states coastal waters.--The term ``United 
        States coastal waters'' includes the Great Lakes.]

SEC. 610. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  [(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Under Secretary to carry out sections 603A and 603B 
$20,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018, and 
$20,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.]
  (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
the Under Secretary to carry out this title $27,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
  (b) Extramural Research Activities.--The Under Secretary 
shall ensure that a substantial portion of funds appropriated 
pursuant to subsection (a) that are used for research purposes 
are allocated to extramural research activities. For each 
fiscal year, the Under Secretary shall publish a list of all 
grant recipients and the amounts for all of the funds allocated 
for research purposes, specifying those allocated for 
extramural research activities.
  (c) Transfer Authority.--The Under Secretary is authorized to 
make a direct non-expenditure transfer of funds authorized to 
be appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) to the head of any 
Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of such 
head, to carry out, as appropriate, relevant provisions of this 
title.

SEC. 611. NATIONAL LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
research universities and institutions, shall establish a 
national level incubator program to increase the number of 
available control strategies and technologies relating to 
harmful algal blooms. Such incubator shall establish a 
framework for preliminary assessments of novel harmful algal 
bloom prevention, mitigation, and control technologies in order 
to determine the potential for effectiveness and scalability.
  (b) Operation.--The incubator under subsection (a) shall 
provide merit-based funding for harmful algal bloom control 
strategies and technologies that eliminate or reduce through 
biological, chemical, or physical means the levels of harmful 
algae and associated toxins.
  (c) Database.--The incubator under subsection (a) shall 
include a database to catalog the licensing and permitting 
requirements, economic costs, feasibility, effectiveness, and 
scalability of both novel and established prevention, control, 
and mitigation measures.
  (d) Prioritization.--In carrying out the incubator under 
subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall prioritize proposed 
activities that would, to the maximum extent practicable--
          (1) protect key habitats for fish and wildlife;
          (2) maintain biodiversity;
          (3) protect public health;
          (4) protect coastal resources of national, 
        historical, and cultural significance; or
          (5) seek to partially or fully benefit communities of 
        color, low-income communities, Indian Tribes or 
        Indigenous communities, and rural communities.
                              ----------                              


         HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2004


TITLE I--HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2004

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 102. RETENTION OF TASK FORCE.

  Section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
and Control Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 1451 nt) is amended by 
striking subsection (e). In developing the assessments, 
reports, and plans under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Act of 1998, the Task Force shall consult 
with [the coastal] States, Indian tribes, and local 
governments, and appropriate industries (including fisheries, 
agriculture, and fertilizer), academic institutions, and 
nongovernmental organizations [with expertise in coastal zone 
science and management] with relevant expertise.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                 COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1998




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
     * * * * * * *

               title vi--harmful algal blooms and hypoxia

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Findings.
Sec. 603. Assessments.
Sec. 603A. National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.
[Sec. 603B. Comprehensive research plan and action strategy.]
Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.
Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.
Sec. 604. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
Sec. 605. South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
[Sec. 606. Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.]
Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.
Sec. 607. Protection of States' rights.
Sec. 608. Effect on other Federal authority.
Sec. 609. Definitions.
Sec. 610. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 611. National level incubator program.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


    SECTION 9 OF THE NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2018


SEC. 9. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL.

  (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 
2017''.
  (b) References to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Research and Control Act of 1998.--Except as otherwise 
expressly provided, wherever in this section an amendment or 
repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, 
a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
to be made to a section or other provision of the Harmful Algal 
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 
4001 et seq.).
  (c) Inter-Agency Task Force.--Section 603(a) (33 U.S.C. 
4001(a)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;
          (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph 
        (14); and
          (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
          ``(13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and''.
  (d) Scientific Assessments of Freshwater Harmful Algal 
Blooms.--Section 603 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended--
          (1) by striking subsection (f);
          (2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and 
        (j) as subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), 
        respectively; and
          (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
  ``(g) Scientific Assessments of Marine and Freshwater Harmful 
Algal Blooms.--Not less than once every 5 years the Task Force 
shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific assessment 
of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal waters and 
freshwater systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine 
and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the 
Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater 
lakes and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes 
or rivers and migrate to coastal waters.''.
  (e) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.--
          (1) Program duties.--Section 603A(e) (33 U.S.C. 
        4002(e)) is amended--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, 
                including to local and regional stakeholders 
                through the establishment and maintenance of a 
                publicly accessible Internet website that 
                provides information as to Program activities 
                completed under this section'' after 
                ``Program'';
                  (B) in paragraph (3)--
                          (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
                          (ii) in subparagraph (C), by 
                        inserting ``and'' after the semicolon 
                        at the end; and
                          (iii) by adding at the end the 
                        following:
                  ``(D) to accelerate the utilization of 
                effective methods of intervention and 
                mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, 
                and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia 
                events;'';
                  (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and work 
                cooperatively with'' and inserting ``, and work 
                cooperatively to provide technical assistance 
                to,''; and
                  (D) in paragraph (7)--
                          (i) by inserting ``and extension'' 
                        after ``existing education''; and
                          (ii) by inserting ``intervention,'' 
                        after ``awareness of the causes, 
                        impacts,''.
          (2) National oceanic and atmospheric administration 
        activities.--Section 603A(f) (33 U.S.C. 4002(f)) is 
        amended--
                  (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, which 
                shall include unmanned systems,'' after 
                ``infrastructure'';
                  (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at 
                the end;
                  (C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the 
                period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                and
                  (D) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this 
        Act; and
          ``(8) develop contingency plans for the long-term 
        monitoring of hypoxia.''.
  (f) Consultation Required.--Section 102 of the Harmful Algal 
Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 4001a) is 
amended by striking ``the amendments made by this title'' and 
inserting ``the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Act of 1998''.
  (g) Hypoxia or Harmful Algal Bloom of National 
Significance.--
          (1) Relief.--
                  (A) In general.--Upon a determination under 
                paragraph (2) that there is an event of 
                national significance, the appropriate Federal 
                official is authorized to make sums available 
                to the affected State or local government for 
                the purposes of assessing and mitigating the 
                detrimental environmental, economic, 
                subsistence use, and public health effects of 
                the event of national significance.
                  (B) Federal share.--The Federal share of the 
                cost of any activity carried out under this 
                paragraph for the purposes described in 
                subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50 percent of 
                the cost of that activity. The appropriate 
                Federal official may waive the non-Federal 
                share requirements of this subsection if such 
                official determines no reasonable means are 
                available through which the recipient of the 
                Federal share can meet the non-Federal share 
                requirement.
                  (C) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, an appropriate Federal 
                official may accept donations of funds, 
                services, facilities, materials, or equipment 
                that the appropriate Federal official considers 
                necessary for the purposes described in 
                subparagraph (A). Any funds donated to an 
                appropriate Federal official under this 
                paragraph may be expended without further 
                appropriation and without fiscal year 
                limitation.
                  (D) Contract, grant, and cooperative 
                agreement authority.--The Under Secretary may 
                enter into agreements and grants with States, 
                Indian Tribes, local governments, or other 
                entities to pay for or reimburse costs incurred 
                for the purposes of supporting the 
                determination of and assessing the 
                environmental, economic, social, subsistence 
                use, and public health effects of a harmful 
                algal bloom or hypoxia event of significance.
          (2) Determinations.--
                  (A) In general.--At the discretion of an 
                appropriate Federal official, or at the request 
                of the Governor of an affected State, 
                leadership official of an affected Indian 
                Tribe, the executive official of the District 
                of Columbia, or a territory or possession of 
                the United States, including Puerto Rico, the 
                Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
                Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust 
                Territories of the Pacific Islands, and 
                American Samoa, if affected, an appropriate 
                Federal official shall determine whether a 
                hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event is an 
                event of national significance.
                  (B) Considerations.--In making a 
                determination under subparagraph (A), the 
                appropriate Federal official shall consider the 
                toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the 
                severity of the hypoxia, its potential to 
                spread, the economic impact, the relative size 
                in relation to the past 5 occurrences of 
                harmful algal blooms or hypoxia events that 
                occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and the 
                geographic scope, including the potential to 
                affect several municipalities, to affect more 
                than 1 State, or to cross an international 
                boundary.
          (3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                  (A) Appropriate federal official.--The term 
                ``appropriate Federal official'' means--
                          (i) in the case of a marine or 
                        coastal hypoxia or harmful algal bloom 
                        event, the Under Secretary of Commerce 
                        for Oceans and Atmosphere; and
                          (ii) in the case of a freshwater 
                        hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, 
                        the Administrator of the Environmental 
                        Protection Agency.
                  (B) Event of national significance.--The term 
                ``event of national significance'' means a 
                hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event that has 
                had or will likely have a significant 
                detrimental environmental, economic, 
                subsistence use, or public health impact on an 
                affected State.
                  (C) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event.--
                The term ``hypoxia or harmful algal bloom 
                event'' means the occurrence of hypoxia or a 
                harmful algal bloom as a result of a natural, 
                anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.
          (4) Funding authority.--To carry out this subsection, 
        notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated from the amounts made 
        available to the Under Secretary $2,000,000, to remain 
        available until expended.
  (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 609(a) (33 
U.S.C. 4009(a)) is amended by inserting ``, and $20,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023'' before the period at 
the end.
                              ----------                              


                WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2020




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
DIVISION AA--WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2020

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 128. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a 
demonstration program to determine the causes of, and implement 
measures to effectively detect, prevent, treat, and eliminate, 
harmful algal blooms associated with water resources 
development projects.
  (b) Consultation; Use of Existing Data and Program 
Authorities.--In carrying out the demonstration program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
          (1) consult with the heads of appropriate Federal and 
        State agencies; and
          (2) make maximum use of existing Federal and State 
        data and ongoing programs and activities of Federal and 
        State agencies, including the activities of the 
        Secretary carried out through the Engineer Research and 
        Development Center pursuant to section 1109 of the 
        Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (33 U.S.C. 610 
        note).
  (c) Focus Areas.--In carrying out the demonstration program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall undertake program 
activities related to harmful algal blooms in--
          (1) the Great Lakes;
          (2) the tidal and inland waters of the State of New 
        Jersey, including Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey;
          (3) the coastal and tidal waters of the State of 
        Louisiana;
          (4) the waterways of the counties that comprise the 
        Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California;
          (5) the Allegheny Reservoir Watershed, New York;
          (6) Lake Okeechobee, Florida;
          (7) the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers, Florida;
          (8) Lake Sidney Lanier, Georgia;
          (9) Rio Grande River Basin, Colorado, New Mexico, and 
        Texas;
          (10) lakes and reservoirs in the State of Ohio;
          (11) the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries;
          (12) Detroit Lake, Oregon;
          (13) Ten Mile Lake, Oregon; and
          (14) the coastal waters of the United States Virgin 
        Islands.
  (d) Additional Focus Areas.--In addition to the areas 
described in subsection (c), in carrying out the demonstration 
program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall undertake 
program activities related to harmful algal blooms at any 
Federal reservoir located in the Upper Missouri River Basin or 
the North Platte River Basin, at the request and expense of 
another Federal agency.
  (e) Harmful Algal Bloom Technologies.--In carrying out the 
demonstration program under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
enter into agreements with water and irrigation districts 
located in the focus areas described in subsections (c) and (d) 
for the use or sale of any new technologies developed under the 
program to expedite the removal of harmful algal blooms in such 
areas.
  [(e)] (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $25,000,000 to 
carry out this section. Such sums shall remain available until 
expended.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


                       FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE XVII--RELATED AND MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subtitle G--Miscellaneous

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



             weather and climate information in agriculture

  Sec. 1762. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
          (1) agricultural and silvicultural operations are 
        vulnerable to damage from atmospheric conditions that 
        accurate and timely reporting of weather information 
        can help prevent;
          (2) the maintenance of current weather and climate 
        analysis and information dissemination systems, and 
        Federal, State, and private efforts to improve these 
        systems, is essential if agriculture and silviculture 
        are to mitigate damage from atmospheric conditions;
          (3) agricultural and silvicultural weather services 
        at the Federal level should be maintained with joint 
        planning between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration and the Department of Agriculture; and
          (4) efforts should be made, involving user groups, 
        weather and climate information providers, and Federal 
        and State governments, to expand the use of weather and 
        climate information in agriculture and silviculture.
  (b) Policy.--It, therefore, is declared to be the policy of 
Congress that it is in the public interest to maintain an 
active Federal involvement in providing agricultural and 
silvicultural weather and climate information and that efforts 
should be made, among users of this information and among 
private providers of this information, to improve use of this 
information.
  (c) Functions.--The Under Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the National Weather Service and the heads of such 
other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, 
shall--
          (1) collect and utilize information in order to make 
        usable, reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of 
        subseasonal and seasonal temperature and precipitation;
          (2) leverage existing research and models from the 
        weather enterprise to improve the forecasts under 
        paragraph (1);
          (3) determine and provide information on how the 
        forecasted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact--
                  (A) the number and severity of droughts, 
                fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat 
                waves, coastal inundation, winter storms, high 
                impact weather, or other relevant natural 
                disasters;
                  (B) snowpack; and
                  (C) sea ice conditions; and
          (4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the 
        forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under 
        paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional 
        levels.
  (d) Communication.--The Director of the National Weather 
Service shall provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) of 
subsection (c) and the information on their impacts under 
paragraph (3) of such subsection to the public, including 
public and private entities engaged in planning and 
preparedness, such as National Weather Service Core partners at 
the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of 
government.
  (e) Cooperation.--The Under Secretary shall build upon 
existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, 
including--
          (1) by designating research and monitoring activities 
        related to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a 
        priority in one or more solicitations of the 
        Cooperative Institutes of the Office of Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Research;
          (2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System 
        Prediction Capability; and
          (3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and 
        the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the 
        highest priority subseasonal and seasonal forecast 
        needs to enhance national security.
  (f) Forecast Communication Coordinators.--
          (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall foster 
        effective communication, understanding, and use of the 
        forecasts by the intended users of the information 
        described in subsection (d). This shall include 
        assistance to States for forecast communication 
        coordinators to enable local interpretation and 
        planning based on the information.
          (2) Requirements.--For each State that requests 
        assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary 
        may--
                  (A) provide funds to support an individual in 
                that State--
                          (i) to serve as a liaison among the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration, other Federal 
                        departments and agencies, the weather 
                        enterprise, the State, and relevant 
                        interests within that State; and
                          (ii) to receive the forecasts and 
                        information under subsection (c) and 
                        disseminate the forecasts and 
                        information throughout the State, 
                        including to county and tribal 
                        governments; and
                  (B) require matching funds of at least 50 
                percent, from the State, a university, a 
                nongovernmental organization, a trade 
                association, or the private sector.
          (3) Limitation.--Assistance to an individual State 
        under this subsection shall not exceed $100,000 in a 
        fiscal year.
  (g) Cooperation from Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal 
department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the 
Under Secretary in carrying out this section.
  [(h) Reports.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the 
        date of the enactment of the Weather Research and 
        Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, the Under Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives a report, including--
                  [(A) an analysis of the how information from 
                the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration on subseasonal and seasonal 
                forecasts, as provided under subsection (c), is 
                utilized in public planning and preparedness;
                  [(B) specific plans and goals for the 
                continued development of the subseasonal and 
                seasonal forecasts and related products 
                described in subsection (c); and
                  [(C) an identification of research, 
                monitoring, observing, and forecasting 
                requirements to meet the goals described in 
                subparagraph (B).
          [(2) Consultation.--In developing the report under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with 
        relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local 
        government agencies, research institutions, and the 
        private sector.]
  (h) Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting Pilot Projects.--
          (1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall 
        establish not fewer than two pilot projects, in 
        accordance with paragraph (2), within the U.S. Weather 
        Research Program of the Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Research office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to support improved subseasonal to 
        seasonal precipitation forecasts for the following:
                  (A) Water management in the western United 
                States.
                  (B) Agriculture in the central United States.
          (2) Objectives.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Under Secretary shall ensure the following:
                  (A) A pilot project under subparagraph (A) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges 
                to improving forecasts and developing related 
                products for water management in the western 
                United States, including the following:
                          (i) Improving operational model 
                        resolution, both horizontal and 
                        vertical, to resolve issues associated 
                        with mountainous terrain, such as 
                        intensity of precipitation and relative 
                        fraction of rain versus snow 
                        precipitation.
                          (ii) Improving fidelity in the 
                        operational modeling of the atmospheric 
                        boundary layer in mountainous regions.
                          (iii) Resolving challenges in 
                        predicting winter atmospheric 
                        circulation and storm tracks, including 
                        periods of blocked versus unblocked 
                        flow over the eastern North Pacific 
                        Ocean and western United States.
                          (iv) Utilizing outcomes from the 
                        Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement 
                        Program as authorized in section 204 of 
                        the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 
                        2023 to produce operational tools and 
                        services.
                          (v) Improving the quality and 
                        temporal and spatial resolution of 
                        observations and accurate operational 
                        modeling of air-sea interactions, and 
                        the influence of oceans on subseasonal 
                        and seasonal forecasting.
                  (B) A pilot project under subparagraph (B) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges 
                to improving forecasts and developing related 
                products for agriculture in the central United 
                States, including the following:
                          (i) Improving the quality and 
                        temporal and spatial resolution of 
                        observations and accurate operational 
                        modeling of the land surface and 
                        hydrologic cycle, including soil 
                        moisture and flash drought processes.
                          (ii) Improving fidelity in the 
                        operational modeling of warm season 
                        precipitation processes.
                          (iii) Understanding and predicting 
                        large-scale upper-level dynamical flow 
                        anomalies that occur in spring and 
                        summer.
          (3) Activities.--A pilot project under this 
        subsection shall include activities that carry out the 
        following:
                  (A) Best implement recommendations of the 
                National Weather Service's 2020 Report, 
                entitled ``Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting 
                Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First 
                Century''.
                  (B) Achieve measurable objectives for 
                operational forecast improvement.
                  (C) Engage with, and leverage the resources 
                of, institutions of higher education (as such 
                term is defined in section 101 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or a 
                consortia thereof, and entities within the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                in existence as of the date of the enactment of 
                this subsection, including Regional Climate 
                Centers and the National Centers for 
                Environmental Information.
                  (D) Are carried out in coordination with the 
                Assistant Administrator for the Office of 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the 
                Director of the National Weather Service.
          (4) Sunset.--The authority under this subsection 
        shall terminate on the date that is five years after 
        the date of the enactment of this subsection.
  (i) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Foundational forecast.--The term ``foundational 
        forecast'' means basic weather observation and forecast 
        data, largely in raw form, before further processing is 
        applied.
          (2) National Weather Service core partners.--The term 
        ``National Weather Service core partners'' means 
        government and nongovernment entities which are 
        directly involved in the preparation or dissemination 
        of, or discussions involving, hazardous weather or 
        other emergency information put out by the National 
        Weather Service.
          (3) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means the time 
        range between 3 months and 2 years.
          (4) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, a 
        territory, or possession of the United States, 
        including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
          (5) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means the 
        time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
          (6) Under Secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' 
        means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and 
        Atmosphere.
          (7) Weather industry and weather enterprise.--The 
        terms ``weather industry'' and ``weather enterprise'' 
        are interchangeable in this section and include 
        individuals and organizations from public, private, and 
        academic sectors that contribute to the research, 
        development, and production of weather forecast 
        products, and primary consumers of these weather 
        forecast products.
  [(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this 
section--
          [(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
          [(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
          [(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021;
          [(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
          [(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.]
  (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
through 2028 to carry out the activities under this section.
  (k) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts made available to carry out 
this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or 
otherwise made available to the National Weather Service.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              


       NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2006




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 3. NIDIS PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, through the National 
Weather Service and other appropriate weather and climate 
programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, shall establish a National Integrated Drought 
Information System to better inform and provide for more timely 
decisionmaking to reduce drought related impacts and costs.
  (b) System Functions.--The National Integrated Drought 
Information System shall--
          (1) provide an effective drought early warning system 
        that--
                  (A) collects and integrates information on 
                the key indicators of drought and drought 
                impacts, including precipitation, soil 
                moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to 
                make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of 
                drought and assessments of the severity of 
                drought conditions and impacts; [and]
                  (B) provides such information, forecasts, and 
                assessments on both national and regional 
                levels; and
                  (C) incorporates flash drought research and 
                tools to enhance timely response;
          (2) communicate drought forecasts, drought 
        conditions, and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to 
        public and private entities engaged in drought planning 
        and preparedness, including--
                  (A) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, 
                State, tribal, and local levels of government;
                  (B) the private sector; and
                  (C) the public;
          (3) provide timely data, information, and products 
        that reflect local, regional, watershed, and State 
        differences in drought conditions;
          (4) coordinate, and integrate, through interagency 
        agreements as practicable, Federal research and 
        monitoring in support of a drought early warning 
        information system;
          (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment 
        programs and partnerships, including forecast 
        communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, 
        and improvements in seasonal precipitation and 
        temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, 
        and low flow water prediction; [and]
          (6) continue ongoing research and monitoring 
        activities related to drought (including ecological 
        drought), including research activities relating to the 
        prediction, length, severity, and impacts of drought 
        (including ecological drought) and the role of extreme 
        weather events and climate variability in drought 
        (including ecological drought) [.];
          (7) advance and deploy next generation technologies 
        related to drought and related publicly available data, 
        such as monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting 
        capabilities utilizing artificial intelligence, machine 
        learning, and cloud technologies; and
          (8) utilize observational networks, including the 
        National Weather Service cooperative observer program 
        and State or regional hydrological monitoring projects, 
        and refine drought indicators across a variety of 
        spatial and temporal scales for decision-support 
        products by optimizing data and resources from across 
        the Federal Government, including snowpack, soil 
        moisture, groundwater, and rapid intensification data.
  (c) Partnerships.--The National Integrated Drought 
Information System may--
          (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought 
        monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under 
        Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, 
        cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and 
        decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A);
          (2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic 
        cooperative partnerships to assist with National 
        Integrated Drought Information System functions; [and]
          (3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring 
        by citizen scientists, including by developing best 
        practices to facilitate maximum data integration[.]; 
        and
          (4) in partnership with the National Mesonet Program, 
        establish memoranda of understanding to provide 
        coordinated, high-quality, nationwide drought 
        information for the public good, including integrated 
        soil moisture information in accordance with the 2021 
        report, ``A Strategy for the National Coordinated Soil 
        Moisture Monitoring Network''.
  (d) Consultation.--The Under Secretary shall consult with 
relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government 
agencies, research institutions, and the private sector in the 
development and sustainment of the National Integrated Drought 
Information System.
  (e) Cooperation From Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal 
agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary 
in carrying out this Act.
  [(f) Soil Moisture.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Under Secretary, acting 
through the National Integrated Drought Information System, 
shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil 
moisture monitoring network.]
  (f) Modeling Update.--The Under Secretary, in partnership 
with National Integrated Drought Information System and the 
Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, 
shall undertake an effort to transition existing drought 
products to probabilistic forecasts and incorporate new and 
improved dynamical and statistical forecast modeling tools.

[SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  From amounts made available to Operations, Research, and 
Facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section the following:
          (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
          (2) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
          (3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
          (4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
          (5) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
                              ----------                              


        COORDINATED OCEAN OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2020




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
              TITLE III--WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING

SEC. 301. WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING.

  (a) National Water Center.--
          (1) Establishment.--
                  (A) In general.--The Under Secretary of 
                Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall 
                establish a center as a component of the 
                National Centers for Environmental Prediction--
                          (i) to serve as the research and 
                        operational center of excellence for 
                        hydrologic analyses, forecasting, and 
                        related decision support services 
                        within the National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration and the 
                        National Weather Service; [and]
                          (ii) to facilitate collaboration 
                        across Federal and State departments 
                        and agencies, academia, and the private 
                        sector on matters relating to water 
                        resources[.]; and
                          (iii) to provide service backup 
                        capabilities and additional mission 
                        support services for River Forecast 
                        Centers.
                  (B) Designation.--The center established 
                under subparagraph (A) shall be known as the 
                ``National Water Center''.
          (2) Functions.--The functions of the National Water 
        Center shall include the following:
                  (A) Improving understanding of water 
                resources, stakeholder needs regarding water 
                resources, and identifying science and services 
                gaps relating to water resources.
                  (B) Developing and implementing advanced 
                water resources modeling capabilities.
                  (C) Facilitating the transition of hydrologic 
                research into operations.
                  (D) Delivering analyses, forecasts, and 
                inundation information and guidance for all 
                hydrologic events in the United States, 
                including flash flooding, riverine flooding, 
                and water resources outlooks.
                  (E) In coordination with warning coordination 
                meteorologists, providing decision-support 
                services to inform emergency management and 
                water resources decisions.
                  (F) Serving as the primary Center for 
                collaboration and coordination of the National 
                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's water 
                research and operational activities with 
                existing Federal centers and networks, 
                including the Department of Agriculture, the 
                Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of 
                Reclamation, the United States Geological 
                Survey, and the Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency.
  [(b) National Instructions.--
          [(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, 
        acting through the Director of the National Weather 
        Service, shall make public an operations and services 
        policy directive for the National Water Center.
          [(2) Contents.--The directive required by paragraph 
        (1) shall include national instructions to perform the 
        functions of the National Water Center, including the 
        following:
                  [(A) Operational staff responsibilities.
                  [(B) Guidelines for content, format, and 
                provision of hydrologic and inundation products 
                developed by the National Water Center.
                  [(C) Procedures for cooperation and 
                coordination between the National Water Center, 
                the National Weather Service National Centers 
                for Environmental Prediction, National Weather 
                Service River Forecast Centers, and National 
                Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices. ]
  [(c)] (b) Total Water Prediction.--The Under Secretary, 
acting through the Director of the Office of Water Prediction 
of the National Weather Service, shall--
          (1) initiate and lead research and development 
        activities to develop operational water resource 
        prediction and related decision support products;
          (2) collaborate with, and provide decision support 
        regarding total water prediction to--
                  (A) the relevant Federal agencies represented 
                on the National Science and Technology Council, 
                Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, 
                and Sustainability and the Subcommittee on 
                Disaster Reduction;
                  (B) State water resource agencies; and
                  (C) State and local emergency management 
                agencies; and
          (3) in carrying out the responsibilities described in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2), collaboratively develop 
        capabilities necessary for total water predictive 
        capacity, including observations, modeling, data 
        management, supercomputing, social science, and 
        communications.
  [(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this 
section amounts as follows:
          [(1) $44,500,000 for fiscal year 2021.
          [(2) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.
          [(3) $45,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.
          [(4) $46,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. ]
  (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
through 2028 to carry out this section.
  [(e)] (d) Derivation of Funds.--Funds to carry out this 
section shall be derived from amounts authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Weather Service and the National 
Ocean Service that are enacted after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

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