[House Report 118-49]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress    }                                      {     Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                      {     118-49

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



 
            ADVANCED WEATHER MODEL COMPUTING DEVELOPMENT ACT

                                _______
                                

  May 5, 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. 1715]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 1715) to direct the Department of 
Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
to conduct collaborative research in order to advance numerical 
weather and climate prediction in the United States, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     1
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Legislative History..............................................     2
Committee Views..................................................     3
Section-by-Section...............................................     3
Committee Consideration..........................................     4
Roll Call Votes..................................................     4
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch.....................     6
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the 
  Committee......................................................     6
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     6
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     6
Federal Advisory Committee Act...................................     6
Unfunded Mandate Statement.......................................     6
Earmark Identification...........................................     6
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     6
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures     7
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     7

                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    The purpose of this bill is to authorize the collaborative 
research partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy 
(DOE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA). H.R. 1715 directs DOE and NOAA to conduct collaborative 
research to advance numerical weather and climate prediction in 
the United States. This legislation also establishes a joint 
DOE and NOAA initiative to support advanced modeling on high-
performance computers, with a five-year sunset. It also directs 
the Secretary and Administrator to submit reports to Congress 
on these activities.
    H.R. 1715 was introduced by Representative Max Miller (R-
OH), with Representative Ross (D-NC) as the original cosponsor. 
Additional cosponsors include Mr. Jackson (D-NC) and Ms. Lee 
(D-PA).

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    DOE and NOAA have an established history of partnering to 
address a range of weather and climate focused research 
activities. Through the National Climate-Computing Research 
Center (NCRC) established in 2009 NOAA has been able to 
accelerate the development and deployment of its four major 
modeling configurations: weather and subseasonal-to-seasonal 
forecasting (SHiELD), seasonal-to-multidecadal forecasting 
(SPEAR), high-resolution-ocean-based climate modeling (CM4), 
and Earth system modeling (ESM4).
    In January of 2021, DOE and NOAA formally agreed to renew 
their strategic partnership for another five years and fund a 
series of new projects including updating the advanced 
computers capability. As they continue working together on 
future challenges, these agencies can help improve storm 
forecasting accuracy, climate modeling, weather modeling. In 
addition, leveraging DOE's high-performance computing 
capabilities can improve NOAA's forecasting and advance DOE's 
machine learning and related advanced scientific computing 
abilities. As international competition grows and new 
opportunities for government-wide coordination and 
collaboration emerge, there is a need to strengthen these types 
of interagency research partnerships and preserve them for the 
next generation. While several DOE and NOAA research 
collaboration initiatives have been formalized through various 
laws and agreements, this legislation would provide a more 
comprehensive authorization of this important research 
relationship.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    On March 8, 2023, Chairman Frank Lucas presiding, the House 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing 
titled, ``Innovation through Collaboration: The Department of 
Energy's Role in the U.S. Research Ecosystem'' to examine the 
role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the federal 
research enterprise by exploring interagency research 
partnerships between DOE and the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), among 
others.
    Witnesses:
     Dr. Harriet Kung, Deputy Director for Science 
Programs in the Office of Science, the U.S. Department of 
Energy
     Mr. James L. Reuter, Associate Administrator for 
the Space Technology Mission Directorate, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration
     Dr. Michael C. Morgan, Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
     Dr. Sean L. Jones, Assistant Director for the 
Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, the National 
Science Foundation
    On March 22, 2023, Representative Max Miller (R-OH) 
introduced H.R. 1715, with Representative Ross (D-NC) as the 
original cosponsor.
    On March 29, 2023, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology met to consider H.R. 1715. Chairman Lucas moved that 
Committee favorably report the bill, H.R. 1715, without 
amendment, to the House of Representatives with the 
recommendation that the bill be approved. The motion was agreed 
to by a vote of 36-0.

                            COMMITTEE VIEWS

    The Committee recognizes the partnership between DOE and 
NOAA as critical to human health and safety. The Committee 
intends that the activities authorized in this legislation be 
cross-cutting in nature, involving all relevant program offices 
at DOE and the NOAA. The Committee also intends for the 
research and development activities authorized in this 
legislation to build from existing activities at both agencies 
and make use of the DOE's unique computing capabilities and 
user facilities.
    The intention and expected effect of this legislation is 
not to displace NOAA's weather forecasting workforce. NOAA has 
carried out research activities that are consistent with the 
authorized activities in this bill for decades. Any further 
advancements in forecasting capabilities resulting from this 
research will not replace the necessary contributions made by 
National Weather Service forecasters when preparing forecasts 
informaed by those model results, based on their scientific 
training, expertise, and experience oversight from the agency's 
forecasting experts in reviewing forecasts for the accuracy 
before being issued to the public.

                           SECTION-BY-SECTION

Section 1. Short title

    This section establishes that this legislation may be 
referred to as the ``Advanced Weather Model Computing 
Development Act''.

Section 2. Definitions

    In this section the terms ``Department'', ``National 
Laboratory'', ``Secretary'', and ``Administrator'' are defined.

Section 3. Department of Energy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration research and development coordination

    Directs the Secretary of Energy and the NOAA Administrator 
to carry out collaborative research and development activities 
in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing 
focused on the advancement of climate models and operational 
numerical weather prediction relevant to agency missions, 
through a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate 
interagency agreement. Directs the Secretary and the 
Administrator to, in carrying out these activities, conduct 
collaborative research in modeling and data analytics, explore 
options for performance portability of the optimized weather 
model codes, develop methods to accommodate large data sets of 
weather and climate information, and support the maintenance of 
and improvements to scientific computing infrastructure. 
Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, a report detailing: 
coordination activities carried out under this section, 
collaborative research achievements, and potential 
opportunities to expand technical capabilities, among other 
areas.

Section 4. Climate and weather prediction on high performance computers 
        initiative

    Authorizes the Administrator to, in collaboration with the 
Secretary, carry out an initiative, which may leverage DOE high 
performance computers or expertise, to run advanced models to 
conduct proof of concept scenarios in comparison with current 
issued forecasts and models. Requires that the authority under 
this section terminate five years after the date of enactment 
of this section.

Section 5. Research security

    Requires that the activities authorized under this Act 
shall be applied in a manner consistent with the research 
security provisions under subtitle D of title VI of the 
Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act 
(enacted as division B of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Public Law 
117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.)).

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On March 29, 2023, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 1715, without 
amendment, by roll call vote, 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. 1715 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

    In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the goal of 
H.R. 1715 is to provide for interagency cooperation between DOE 
and NOAA regarding collaborative research and development 
activities carried out through the use of artificial 
intelligence and high-performance computing mechanisms. These 
activities will focus on the advancement of climate models and 
operational numerical weather predictions relevant to agency 
missions. This legislation includes a reporting requirement to 
ensure that the goals of Congress and the Committee are met in 
continuing fashion.

                    DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII, the Committee 
finds that no provision of H.R. 1715 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. 1715 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. 1715 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.

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