To establish the Weather Mitigation Operations and Research Board, and for other purposes.

Summary: Weather Mitigation Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2007 - Establishes in the Department of Commerce the Weather Mitigation Advisory and Research Board to promote and fund research and development (R&D), studies, and investigations with respect to: (1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for weather mitigation operations, including tailored computer workstations and software and new observation systems with remote sensors; and (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather mitigation, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and anthropogenic effects).

Establishes within the U.S. Treasury the Weather Mitigation Research and Development Fund. Directs the Board, unless the use of the money is restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, to use amounts in the Fund to: (1) pay its expenses in the administration of this Act; and (2) provide for R&D with respect to weather mitigations by grants to, or contracts or cooperative arrangements with, public or private agencies.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Mitigation Research and 
Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement a 
comprehensive and coordinated national weather mitigation policy and a 
national cooperative Federal and State program of weather mitigation 
research and development.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Weather Mitigation 
        Advisory and Research Board.
            (2) Executive director.--The term ``Executive Director'' 
        means the Executive Director of the Weather Mitigation Advisory 
        and Research Board.
            (3) Research and development.--The term ``research and 
        development'' means theoretical analysis, exploration, 
        experimentation, and the extension of investigative findings 
        and theories of scientific or technical nature into practical 
        application for experimental and demonstration purposes, 
        including the experimental production and testing of models, 
        devices, equipment, materials, and processes.
            (4) Weather mitigation.--The term ``weather mitigation'' 
        means changing or controlling, or attempting to change or 
        control, by artificial methods the natural development of 
        atmospheric cloud forms or precipitation forms which occur in 
        the troposphere. Examples include rain enhancement, snowpack 
        augmentation, and hail suppression.

SEC. 4. WEATHER MITIGATION ADVISORY AND RESEARCH BOARD ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of Commerce 
the Weather Mitigation Advisory and Research Board.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Board shall consist of 11 members 
        appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, of whom--
                    (A) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                American Meteorological Society;
                    (B) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                American Society of Civil Engineers;
                    (C) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                National Academy of Sciences;
                    (D) at least 1 shall be a representative of the 
                National Center for Atmospheric Research of the 
                National Science Foundation;
                    (E) at least 2 shall be representatives of the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the 
                Department of Commerce;
                    (F) at least 1 shall be a representative of 
                institutions of higher education or research 
                institutes; and
                    (G) at least 1 shall be a representative of a State 
                that is currently supporting operational weather 
                mitigation projects.
            (2) Tenure.--A member of the Board serves at the pleasure 
        of the Secretary of Commerce.
            (3) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled in 
        the same manner as the original appointment.
    (b) Advisory Committees.--The Board may establish advisory 
committees to advise the Board and to make recommendations to the Board 
concerning legislation, policies, administration, research, and other 
matters.
    (c) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which all members of the Board have been appointed, the Board shall 
hold its first meeting.
    (d) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
    (f) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Board shall select a Chair and Vice 
Chair from among its members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE BOARD.

    (a) Promotion of Research and Development.--In order to assist in 
expanding the theoretical and practical knowledge of weather 
mitigation, the Board shall promote and fund research and development, 
studies, and investigations with respect to--
            (1) improved forecast and decisionmaking technologies for 
        weather mitigation operations, including tailored computer 
        workstations and software and new observation systems with 
        remote sensors; and
            (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather 
        mitigation, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding 
        operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and 
        anthropogenic effects).
    (b) Financial Assistance.--Unless the use of the money is 
restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, the Board 
shall use amounts in the Weather Mitigation Research and Development 
Fund--
            (1) to pay its expenses in the administration of this Act; 
        and
            (2) to provide for research and development with respect to 
        weather mitigation by grants to, or contracts or cooperative 
        arrangements with, public or private agencies.
    (c) Report.--The Board shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce 
biennially a report on its findings and research results.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE BOARD.

    (a) Studies, Investigations, and Hearings.--The Board may make any 
studies or investigations, obtain any information, and hold any 
hearings necessary or proper to administer or enforce this Act or any 
rules or orders issued under this Act.
    (b) Personnel.--The Board may employ, as provided for in 
appropriations Acts, an Executive Director and other support staff 
necessary to perform duties and functions under this Act.
    (c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Board may cooperate with 
public or private agencies to promote the purposes of this Act.
    (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Board may enter into cooperative 
agreements with the head of any department or agency of the United 
States, an appropriate official of any State or political subdivision 
of a State, or an appropriate official of any private or public agency 
or organization for conducting weather mitigation activities or cloud-
seeding operations.
    (e) Conduct and Contracts for Research and Development.--The 
Executive Director, with the approval of the Board, may conduct and may 
contract for research and development activities relating to the 
purpose described in section 2.

SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH THE WEATHER MITIGATION OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH 
              BOARD.

    The heads of the departments and agencies of the United States and 
the heads of any other public or private agencies and institutions that 
receive research funds from the United States shall, to the extent 
possible, give full support and cooperation to the Board and to 
initiate independent research and development programs that address 
weather mitigations.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--There is established within the Treasury of the 
United States the Weather Mitigation Research and Development Fund, 
which shall consist of amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) 
or received by the Board under subsection (c).
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Board for the purposes of carrying out this Act 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2015. Any sums 
appropriated under this subsection shall remain available, without 
fiscal year limitation, until expended.
    (c) Gifts.--The Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.