49–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 114–126 

WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION 

ACT OF 2015 

MAY 19, 2015.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. SMITH of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1561] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom was 

referred the bill (H.R. 1561) to improve the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration’s weather research through a focused 

program of investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and prediction of high 

impact weather events, to expand commercial opportunities for the 

provision of weather data, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and 

recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Committee Statement and Views ........................................................................... 8 

Section-by-Section .................................................................................................... 14 

Explanation of Amendments ................................................................................... 17 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 17 

Application of Law to the Legislative Branch ....................................................... 17 

Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee ...... 17 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 17 

Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................................ 17 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 18 

Federal Advisory Committee Act ............................................................................ 18 

Unfunded Mandate Statement ............................................................................... 18 

Earmark Identification ............................................................................................ 18 

Committee Estimate ................................................................................................ 18 

Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .................... 18 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported ...................................... 20 


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The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 

of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY. 

In accordance with NOAA’s critical mission to provide science, service, and stewardship, the Under Secretary shall prioritize weather research, across all weather 

programs, to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life 

and property and the enhancement of the national economy. 

SEC. 3. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION. 

(a) PROGRAM.—The Assistant Administrator for OAR shall conduct a program to 

develop improved understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric events 

and their impacts, placing priority on developing more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and fore-casts of high impact weather events that endanger life and 

property. 

(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program described in subsection (a) shall focus on 

the following activities: 

(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather consistent with section 2, including the boundary layer and other atmospheric processes affecting 

high impact weather events. 

(2) Improving the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and 

responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property. 

(3) Research and development, and transfer of knowledge, technologies, and 

applications to the NWS and other appropriate agencies and entities, including 

the American weather industry and academic partners, related to— 

(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and other groundbased technologies, including those emphasizing rapid, fine-scale sensing of 

the boundary layer and lower troposphere, and the use of innovative, dualpolarization, phased array technologies; 

(B) aerial weather observing systems; 

(C) high performance computing and information technology and wireless 

communication networks; 

(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems and forecasting tools 

and techniques that improve the forecasting of timing, track, intensity, and 

severity of high impact weather, including through— 

(i) the development of more effective mesoscale models; 

(ii) more effective use of existing, and the development of new, regional and national cloud-resolving models; 

(iii) enhanced global weather models; and 

(iv) integrated assessment models; 

(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the impact and value of 

data and observing systems, including OSSEs (as described in section 8), 

OSEs, and AOAs; 

(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential to accurately characterizing atmospheric composition and predicting meteorological processes, 

including cloud microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric electrification 

processes, to more effectively understand their role in severe weather; and 

(G) additional sources of weather data and information, including commercial observing systems. 

(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly and in coordination 

with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, and in cooperation with the American weather industry and academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into NWS 

operations and to establish a process to sunset outdated and expensive operational methods and tools to enable cost-effective transfer of new methods and 

tools into operations. 

(c) EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program under this section, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall collaborate with and support the non-Federal 

weather research community, which includes institutions of higher education, 

private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by making funds available 

through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. 


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(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that not less than 30 

percent of the funds for weather research and development at OAR should be 

made available for the purpose described in paragraph (1). 

(d) REPORT.—The Under Secretary shall transmit to Congress annually, concurrently with NOAA’s budget request, a description of current and planned activities 

under this section. 

SEC. 4. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the American weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a tornado warning improvement 

and extension program. 

(b) GOAL.—The goal of such program shall be to reduce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond one hour in advance. 

(c) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific research, 

development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources 

and timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal. 

(d) BUDGET FOR PLAN.—Following completion of the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall 

transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget corresponding to the activities 

identified in the plan. 

SEC. 5. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the American weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP). 

(b) GOAL.—The goal of such program shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to 

the economy. 

(c) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that details the specific research, 

development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources 

and timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal. 

(d) BUDGET FOR PLAN.—Following completion of the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall 

transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget corresponding to the activities 

identified in the plan. 

SEC. 6. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. 

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 

thereafter, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant 

Administrators for NWS and NESDIS, shall issue a research and development and 

research to operations plan to restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that— 

(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, objectives, and 

progress of NOAA in carrying out the program conducted under section 3; 

(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, and 

performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather mission of NWS 

to achieve a weather-ready Nation; 

(3) describes how the program will collaborate with stakeholders, including 

the American weather industry and academic partners; and 

(4) identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, 

American weather industry, and academic partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and 

warning processes, including to improve the communication of threat information necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and decisionmaking 

on the part of individuals and communities. 

SEC. 7. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING. 

The Under Secretary shall— 

(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation data requirements 

necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property 

to the maximum extent practicable; 

(2) undertake, using OSSEs, OSEs, AOAs, and other appropriate assessment 

tools, ongoing systematic evaluations of the combination of observing systems, 

data, and information needed to meet the requirements listed under paragraph 


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(1), assessing various options to maximize observational capabilities and their 

cost-effectiveness; 

(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in observing capabilities 

related to the requirements listed under paragraph (1); and 

(4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified under paragraph 

(3). 

SEC. 8. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the requirements of section 7, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall undertake OSSEs to quantitatively assess the relative 

value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific 

OSSE evaluations— 

(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing capabilities on— 

(A) global weather prediction; 

(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting; 

(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy; 

(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm outbreaks; and 

(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and 

(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate entities within 

NOAA, other Federal agencies, the American weather industry, and academic 

partners to ensure the technical and scientific merit of OSSE results. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—OSSEs shall quantitatively— 

(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based, suborbital, and in 

situ observing systems on analyses and forecasts, including potential impacts on 

extreme weather events across all parts of the Nation; 

(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; and 

(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various observing systems and 

combinations of observing systems in providing data necessary to protect life 

and property. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—OSSEs— 

(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major Government-owned or 

Government-leased operational observing systems, including polar-orbiting and 

geostationary satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; 

and 

(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new commercially 

provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000. 

(d) PRIORITY OSSES.— 

(1) GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM RADIO OCCULTATION.—Not later 

than December 31, 2015, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall complete 

an OSSE to assess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System 

Radio Occultation. 

(2) GEOSTATIONARY HYPERSPECTRAL SOUNDER GLOBAL CONSTELLATION.—Not 

later than December 31, 2016, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral 

sounder global constellation. 

(e) RESULTS.—Upon completion of all OSSEs, results shall be publicly released 

and accompanied by an assessment of related private and public sector weather 

data sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, and cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 

51, United States Code. 

SEC. 9. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION REPORT. 

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 

thereafter, the NOAA Chief Information Officer, in coordination with the Assistant 

Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall produce and 

make publicly available a report that explains how NOAA intends to— 

(1) continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and 

cost effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather 

prediction mission; 

(2) ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models; 

(3) take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, 

make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to 

operational forecasters, the American weather industry, and partners in academic and government research; and 

(4) use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction. 


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SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA. 

(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 60161 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 

adding at the end the following: ‘‘This prohibition shall not extend to— 

‘‘(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with commercial providers; or 

‘‘(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on cohosted government 

or private payloads.’’. 

(b) STRATEGY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Under Secretary, shall 

transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 

Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate a strategy to enable the procurement of quality commercial weather data. The strategy shall assess the range of commercial opportunities, including public-private partnerships, for obtaining surface-based, aviation-based, and 

space-based weather observations. The strategy shall include the expected cost 

effectiveness of these opportunities as well as provide a plan for procuring data, 

including an expected implementation timeline, from these nongovernmental 

sources, as appropriate. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy shall include— 

(A) an analysis of financial or other benefits to, and risks associated with, 

acquiring commercial weather data or services, including through multiyear 

acquisition approaches; 

(B) an identification of methods to address planning, programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to such approaches, including— 

(i) how standards will be set to ensure that data is reliable and effective; 

(ii) how data may be acquired through commercial experimental or 

innovative techniques and then evaluated for integration into operational use; 

(iii) how to guarantee public access to all forecast-critical data to ensure that the American weather industry and the public continue to 

have access to information critical to their work; and 

(iv) in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States Code, 

methods to address potential termination liability or cancellation costs 

associated with weather data or service contracts; and 

(C) an identification of any changes needed in the requirements development and approval processes of the Department of Commerce to facilitate 

effective and efficient implementation of such strategy. 

(3) AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENTS.—The Assistant Administrator for NESDIS 

may enter into multiyear agreements necessary to carry out the strategy developed under this subsection. 

(c) PILOT PROGRAM.— 

(1) CRITERIA.—Not later than December 31, 2015, NOAA shall publish data 

standards and specifications for space-based commercial weather data. 

(2) PILOT CONTRACT.— 

(A) CONTRACT.—Not later than October 1, 2016, NOAA shall, through an 

open competition, enter into at least one pilot contract with a private sector 

entity capable of providing data that meet the standards and specifications 

set by NOAA to provide commercial weather data in a manner that allows 

NOAA to calibrate and evaluate the data. 

(B) ASSESSMENT OF DATA VIABILITY.—Not later than October 1, 2019, 

NOAA shall transmit to Congress the results of a determination of the extent to which data provided under the contract entered into under subparagraph (A) meet the criteria published under paragraph (1). 

(3) OBTAINING FUTURE DATA.—NOAA shall, to the extent feasible, obtain commercial weather data from private sector providers. 

(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated out of funds made available for procurement, acquisition, and construction at NESDIS, $9,000,000 for carrying out this subsection. 

SEC. 11. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICES WORKING GROUP. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The NOAA Science Advisory Board shall continue to maintain a standing working group named the Environmental Information Services 

Working Group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Working Group’’) to— 

(1) provide advice for prioritizing weather research initiatives at NOAA to 

produce real improvement in weather forecasting; 


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(2) provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or techniques that can 

be found in private industry or the research community that could be incorporated into forecasting at NWS to improve forecasting skill; 

(3) identify opportunities to improve communications between weather forecasters, Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency management personnel, and 

the public; and to improve communications and partnerships among NOAA and 

the private and academic sectors; and 

(4) address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board requests of the 

Working Group. 

(b) COMPOSITION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall be composed of leading experts 

and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social 

science, risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. In 

carrying out this section, the Working Group may organize into subpanels. 

(2) NUMBER.—The Working Group shall be composed of no fewer than 15 

members. Nominees for the Working Group may be forwarded by the Working 

Group for approval by the Science Advisory Board. Members of the Working 

Group may choose a chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by the Science Advisory Board. 

(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Working Group shall transmit annually to the Science 

Advisory Board for submission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made 

by NOAA in adopting the Working Group’s recommendations. The Science Advisory 

Board shall transmit this report to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt 

of such report, the Under Secretary shall transmit it to the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 

SEC. 12. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION COORDINATION. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 

shall establish an Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities 

across the Federal Government. The Interagency Committee shall— 

(1) include participation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, NOAA and its constituent elements, 

the National Science Foundation, and such other agencies involved in weather 

forecasting research as the President determines are appropriate; 

(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate those needs 

against budget requests and program initiatives across participating offices and 

agencies; and 

(3) share information regarding operational needs and forecasting improvements across relevant agencies. 

(b) CO-CHAIR.—The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall serve as a co-chair 

of this panel. 

(c) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Director shall take such other steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with those of the 

American weather industry, State governments, emergency managers, and academic 

researchers. 

SEC. 13. OAR AND NWS EXCHANGE PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program to detail OAR personnel to the NWS and 

NWS personnel to OAR. 

(b) GOAL.—The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting innovation through 

regular, direct interaction between OAR’s world-class scientists and NWS’s operational staff. 

(c) ELEMENTS.—The program shall allow up to 10 OAR staff and NWS staff to 

spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly selected by the Assistant 

Administrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for NWS. 

(d) REPORT.—The Under Secretary shall report annually to the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on participation in 

such program and shall highlight any innovations that come from this interaction. 

SEC. 14. VISITING FELLOWS AT NWS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator for NWS may establish a program 

to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at any of the National Centers 

for Environmental Prediction. 


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(b) GOAL.—This program shall be designed to provide direct interaction between 

forecasters and talented academic and private sector researchers in an effort to 

bring innovation to forecasting tools and techniques available to the NWS. 

(c) SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT.—Such fellows shall be competitively selected 

and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 year. 

SEC. 15. NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS ‘‘MARK TRAIL’’ AWARD PROGRAM. 

(a) PROGRAM.—The Assistant Administrator for NWS is authorized to establish 

the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards ‘‘Mark Trail’’ Award Program. This award 

program shall provide annual awards to honor individuals or organizations that use 

or provide NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to save lives 

and protect property. Individuals or organizations that utilize other early warning 

tools or applications also qualify for this award. 

(b) GOAL.—This award program draws attention to the life-saving work of the 

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards program, as well as emerging tools and applications, that provide real-time warning to individuals and communities of severe 

weather or other hazardous conditions. 

(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.— 

(1) NOMINATIONS.—Nominations for this award shall be made annually by the 

Weather Field Offices to the Assistant Administrator for NWS. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio manufacturers and weather warning tool and application developers, emergency managers and public safety officials may nominate 

individuals and/or organizations to their local Weather Field Offices, but the 

final list of award nominees must come from the Weather Field Offices. 

(2) SELECTION OF AWARDEES.—Annually, the Assistant Administrator for 

NWS shall choose winners of this award whose timely actions, based on NOAA 

weather radio all hazards receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools 

and applications, saved lives and/or property or demonstrated public service in 

support of weather or all hazard warnings. 

(3) AWARD CEREMONY.—The Assistant Administrator for NWS shall establish 

a means of making these awards to provide maximum public awareness of the 

important Weather Radio All Hazards program, and such other warning tools 

and applications as are represented in the awards. 

SEC. 16. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) AOA.—The term ‘‘AOA’’ means an Analysis of Alternatives. 

(2) NESDIS.—The term ‘‘NESDIS’’ means the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. 

(3) NOAA.—The term ‘‘NOAA’’ means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 

(4) NWS.—The term ‘‘NWS’’ means the National Weather Service. 

(5) OAR.—The term ‘‘OAR’’ means the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. 

(6) OSE.—The term ‘‘OSE’’ means an Observing System Experiment. 

(7) OSSE.—The term ‘‘OSSE’’ means an Observing System Simulation Experiment. 

(8) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 

SEC. 17. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) FISCAL YEAR 2015.—There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 

2015— 

(1) $90,800,000 to OAR to carry out this Act, of which— 

(A) $70,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; and 

(B) $20,800,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and 

(2) out of funds made available for research and development at NOAA, an 

additional amount of $16,000,000 for OAR to carry out the joint technology 

transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4). 

(b) FISCAL YEARS 2016 AND 2017.—For each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017, there 

are authorized to be appropriated to OAR— 

(1) $100,000,000 to carry out this Act, of which— 

(A) $80,000,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; and 

(B) $20,000,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and 

(2) an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 3(b)(4). 


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1http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/2011BAMS2928.1 

2For more information on these responsibilities, see: ‘‘To Observe and Protect: How NOAA 

Procures Data for Weather Forecasting,’’ March 28, 2012, http://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-energy-and-environment-hearing-how-noaa-procures-data-weather-forecasting. 3http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/materials-based-on-reports/reports-in-brief/ 

Weather-Services-Report-Brief.pdf. 

(c) LIMITATION.—No additional funds are authorized to carry out this Act, and the 

amendments made by this Act. 

COMMITTEE STATEMENT AND VIEWS

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H.R. 2413 is to improve the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration’s weather research through a focused 

program of investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and prediction of high 

impact weather events, and to expand commercial opportunities for 

the provision of weather data. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Weather impacts American lives, and extreme weather poses significant risks to important parts of the U.S. economy. NOAA has 

traced a rise in weather disasters costing the economy up to $1 billion in damage per weather event, and a recent analysis found that 

substantial parts of the economy are sensitive to weather variability, representing more than three percent of Gross Domestic 

Product and nearly $500 billion a year.1

Recent severe weather events in the United States have underscored the need for timely, accurate, and reliable weather forecasts. 

Within NOAA, the National Weather Service (NWS), the Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) play 

important roles in developing and deploying U.S. weather forecasting capabilities.2 NOAA is joined in this effort by an ever-evolving private sector weather enterprise. The National Academy of 

Sciences emphasized the importance of this partnership, noting 

that ‘‘[p]rivate sector and other organizations provide sensor data, 

weather forecasts, and end-user services to a broad set of customers.’’ 3

Rapid technological advances in computing and other areas such 

as remote sensing and advanced radar hold great promise to improve severe weather prediction, but have yet to be fully exploited. 

This promise was detailed in NOAA’s most recent 20 Year Research 

Vision, which asserted that emphasis on weather research and 

technological development will result in significant benefits to public safety: 

Severe storm and event warnings will save more lives 

and property. The enhanced information delivery systems 

of the future will be well coordinated and able to quickly 

disseminate severe storm and event warnings. The warnings themselves will see dramatic improvements. For example, tornado warning lead times will be on the order of 

one hour, rather than minutes. Technology like phased 

array radar, significant improvements in our underVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR126.XXX HR126

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4http://nrc.noaa.gov/sites/nrc/Documents/Reduced%20file%20size_20%20yr%20Research 

%20Vision.pdf. 5http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/668415.pdf. 

6http://www.napawash.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/NAPA-Final-Report_NOAA-Climate-Service-Study_September-20101.pdf. 7http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Reports/2013/SAB%20R&D%20Portfolio%20Review%20Report 

%20to%20NOAA 20FINAL.pdf. 

standing of meso-scale weather processes, and the development of models that embody this understanding will enable this accomplishment. Improvements in storm surge 

forecasting and increased tsunami monitoring/warning capacity will also greatly minimize loss of life and property 

damage from these hazards.4

Citing ongoing concerns about potential data gaps for NOAA’s 

polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite programs, the Government Accountability Office added NOAA’s satellite programs to its 

High Risk List in 2013. This potential gap in weather satellite coverage and management problems with NOAA’s satellites have been 

the subject of several Science, Space, and Technology Committee 

hearings over many years. The GAO emphasized the potential effects of a gap: 

According to program officials from the Department of 

Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a satellite data gap would result in less 

accurate and timely weather forecasts and warnings of extreme events—such as hurricanes, storm surges and 

floods. Such degradation in forecasts and warnings would 

place lives, property, and our nation’s critical infrastructures in danger. Given the criticality of satellite data to 

weather forecasts, the likelihood of significant gaps, and 

the potential impact of such gaps on the health and safety 

of the U.S. population and economy, we concluded that the 

potential gap in weather satellite data is a high-risk area 

and added it to the High Risk List in 2013.5

In addition, independent reviews of NOAA’s weather research 

portfolio have also recommended a stronger emphasis on moving 

research-to-operations within NOAA’s weather portfolio. In 2010, 

the National Academy of Public Administration stated that OAR 

‘‘provides particularly important institutional glue to support innovation across NOAA.’’ 6 In April 2013, NOAA’s Science Advisory 

Board stated that ‘‘unless . . . science is transitioned into operations . . . NOAA will fail in its mission. NOAA must make certain 

that the intended end use of the scientific information is understood from the start by its researchers working on scientific questions and, ensure that internal as well as external end-user needs 

are incorporated explicitly into the problem formulation.’’ 7

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On March 25, 2015, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology passed H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting 

Innovation Act of 2015 by voice vote. H.R. 1561 is substantially 

similar to last year’s H.R. 2413, the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives 

on April 1, 2014 by voice vote. 


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Informing this legislation, the Environment Subcommittee held a 

hearing on May 23, 2013 entitled ‘‘Restoring U.S. Leadership in 

Weather Forecasting.’’ The purpose of the hearing was to examine 

ways to improve NOAA weather forecasting, and to receive testimony on draft legislation to prioritize weather-related research. 

The Committee received testimony from: Mr. Barry Myers, Chief 

Executive Officer of AccuWeather, Inc. and Mr. Jon Kirchner, 

President of GeoOptics, Inc. Witnesses discussed the current 

weather forecasting systems in the U.S. and highlighted opportunities to improve weather forecasting through new technologies. 

The Environment Subcommittee also held a hearing on June 26, 

2013 entitled ‘‘Restoring U.S. Leadership in Weather Forecasting 

Part 2,’’ with the purpose of continuing the discussion of improving 

NOAA’s weather forecasting. The Subcommittee received testimony 

from: The Honorable Kathryn Sullivan, Acting Administrator at 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Dr. Kelvin 

Droegemeier, Vice President for Research, Regents’ Professor for 

Meteorology, Weathernews Chair Emeritus, University of Oklahoma; Dr. William Gail, Chief Technology Officer, Global Weather 

Corporation, President-Elect, American Meteorological Society; and 

Dr. Shuyi Chen, Professor, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami. 

COMMITTEE VIEWS

H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 

of 2015, aims to enhance NOAA’s protection of lives and property 

through a focused program of investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and 

prediction of high impact weather events. 

The bill codifies ongoing research and development activities and 

builds upon funds provided by Congress following Superstorm 

Sandy. The core principle that informs this bill is a firm commitment to restore America’s leadership in numerical weather prediction, forecasting and, risk communication. As Dr. Tom Bogdan, 

President of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 

wrote to the Committee when passing this bill in 2013: ‘‘By key 

measures, U.S. weather forecasting capabilities have slipped behind those of a number of international competitors, including the 

European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan.’’ 

Through prioritization and greater collaboration with the American weather industry and academic partners, H.R. 1561 will result 

in better prediction of high impact weather events. The Committee 

is aware of a long series of reports, including from the National Research Council, the National Academy of Public Administration, 

and the NOAA Science Advisory Board which demonstrate that the 

Federal weather effort at NOAA has ample room for improvement. 

A recurring theme of these reports is that efforts to integrate research into the operational needs of the weather service could be 

much stronger, and that the overall effort at NOAA to consider 

new ideas and techniques from outside the agency needs to be more 

vigorous. 

Throughout H.R. 1561, the Committee gives responsibility to different line offices within NOAA, but requires coordination between 


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these offices. The Committee fully expects that the coordination 

will be real and meaningful, with the goal of improving researchto-operations in a way that improves public safety and efficiency in 

government. The bill directs the Under Secretary of NOAA to 

prioritize weather-related activities across all weather programs, 

especially those that protect American lives and property and enhance our national economy, in all relevant line offices, including 

NWS, OAR, and NESDIS. This provision highlights that improved 

forecasting is of central importance to NOAA’s public safety mission. 

Section 3 codifies and clarifies a NOAA program, led by the Assistant Administrator for OAR, for weather research and forecasting innovation. This program includes a number of elements, 

including accelerated research, development, and deployment of 

critical technologies like next-generation radar and aerial observation systems, new global and national models, advanced high performance computing using graphic processing information technology networks, and quantitative assessment tools for measuring 

the value of data and specific observing systems, as well as a technology transfer initiative between relevant NOAA line offices and 

in collaboration with external partners. In enumerating the elements of the program in subsection (b), the Committee relied upon 

the expert advice of the weather enterprise—particularly suggestions from university and not-for-profit research center scientists— 

to try to capture specific research issues. However, it is not our intent to exclude from consideration other areas of research and development. The Committee’s expectation is that the Assistant Administrator for OAR will develop a program that reflects the full 

range of pertinent research challenges. 

The technology transfer initiative prescribed in subsection (b) 

should be consistent with NOAA’s Weather Ready Nation program, 

build upon the successes of NOAA’s weather-related test beds, include the necessary advanced research data handling and processing, and help to ensure that dedicated resources to support research-to-operations are not diverted. In subsection (3)(b)(4), the 

Committee directs that the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Research establish a technology transfer program 

designed to move the innovations of OAR into the operational work 

of NWS. In carrying out this subsection, the Assistant Administrator should consult closely with the Assistant Administrator for 

Weather Services regarding the value of the science and technology 

to be transitioned, integrated, and implemented into an operational 

environment. Section 3 further encourages extramural research collaboration and establishes the sense of Congress that NOAA should 

provide competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements 

consistent with historic levels. Subsection (c) directs the Assistant 

Administrator of OAR to collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather research community. The bill requires the Under Secretary to transmit, as part of the budget process, a report that 

identifies the activities carried out under this section. 

Building upon the successes of NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program, H.R. 1561 directs the creation of a tornado 

warning improvement program. Following several deadly tornado 

outbreaks in 2013, including in Moore, Oklahoma, the tornado program will focus on extending accurate forecasts and warnings to 


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beyond one hour. The bill also adds language to maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program. Previous language in the 

bill regarding the hurricane program indicated it would be substantially similar to the ongoing Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program. The Committee has addressed this issue by editing language 

to insist that the original HFIP program will be maintained without duplication by other program efforts. 

The bill encourages NOAA to address the loss of U.S. competitiveness in weather forecasting by requiring the annual development of a plan to restore and maintain leadership in numerical 

weather prediction and forecasting. Section 6 goes on to specify 

that one of the elements of the plan will be that it ‘‘identifies and 

prioritizes specific research and development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather mission of NWS.’’ This ensures that the Assistant Administrator for 

Weather Services will have meaningful input into R&D planning 

because the plan must reflect, to some degree, initiatives that are 

tied directly to operational needs. This section also includes a requirement that the agency pay special attention to the social 

science knowledge necessary to turn improved weather forecasting 

skills into communications that will help the public take effective 

steps to be safe. 

In order to address observing system needs and potential data 

gaps, H.R. 1561 also requires NOAA to conduct comprehensive observing system planning. In support of this planning, the Assistant 

Administrator for OAR shall conduct OSSEs prior to major observing system acquisitions or commercial data purchases. The bill 

codifies NOAA’s commitment to complete OSSEs on GNSS Radio 

Occultation and a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation using funds made available in the Superstorm Sandy 

Supplemental. NOAA has informed the Committee that these 

OSSE studies are underway and directs the reports be shared with 

the Committee. The bill directs NOAA to complete the GNSS Radio 

Occultation OSSE by December 31, 2015, and the geostationary 

hyperspectral sounder OSSE by December 31, 2016. The bill provides flexibilities within NOAA’s assessment of observing systems, 

and the OSSE provisions are consistent with NOAA Administrators’ characterization of these experiments as a ‘‘powerful tool’’ to 

‘‘inform our strategies for investing in observation networks’’ and 

‘‘to help determine what new data or technologies will yield the 

best improvement in forecast accuracy.’’ These activities should be 

carried out collaboratively with the Joint Center for Satellite Data 

Assimilation and other relevant bodies. 

Section 10 makes clear that NOAA is not prohibited from purchasing weather data through contracts with commercial providers 

or the placement of weather satellite instruments on government 

or private payloads. The Committee views NOAA’s unwillingness to 

seriously consider all sources of cost-effective, critical weather data, 

including from commercial providers, as short-sighted and with the 

potential to compound future data gaps. To help rectify this resistance to non-NOAA sources of observing data, H.R. 1561 directs the 

Secretary of Commerce to develop and transmit a strategy to enable the procurement of quality commercial weather data, including commercial opportunities for surface-, aviation-, and spacebased observations. The purchase of data from commercial satellite 


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vendors could lead to the best pricing for quality weather data. In 

assessing the range of commercial opportunities and developing the 

strategy of quality commercial weather data, the full range of commercial options must be considered, including FAR and non-FAR 

opportunities, public-private partnerships, commercial service 

agreements, anchor tenancy agreements, and pay on delivery contracts. NASA has provided a model for many of these options, including data purchases and NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services for working with commercial companies cost-effectively to build confidence in commercial capabilities. If the Department of Commerce requires revised authority in order to implement one or more of these options, the strategy should clearly note 

this but it should not be a primary criterion in negatively assessing 

an option. 

Section 10 also establishes a pilot program to enable NOAA to 

purchase and test space-based data from private sector companies. 

The program first directs NOAA to publish data standards and 

specifications for commercial weather data. It also directs NOAA to 

enter into at least one contract with a private sector entity capable 

of providing data that meets the standards and specifications outlined by NOAA. The Committee is aware of various space-based 

weather technologies that can augment and improve NOAAs existing observing systems. Namely, GNSS Radio Occultation and geostationary hyperspectral sounders are key technologies that could 

provide substantial upgrades to our forecasting capabilities. The 

Committee has been informed by numerous sources on the advancements of these technologies and understands that GNSS 

Radio Occultation is the most mature at this time. The bill provides $9 million to carry out the contract(s). This money is authorized out of funds made available from the procurement, acquisition, 

and construction account at NESDIS. 

H.R. 1561 authorizes funding to allow NOAA to carry out a balanced portfolio of research and development related to weather 

forecasting and other areas. Authorization of funds for the joint 

technology transfer initiative enabled by OAR’s Global Systems Division advanced data facility indicates the Committee’s desire to 

ensure that dedicated research-to-operations be preserved in order 

to promote active partnerships between NOAA line offices. The FY 

2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act ‘‘kick-started’’ important 

weather forecasting improvement initiatives by providing initial 

program funding and making possible the procurement of critical 

enabling hardware such as a Global Hawk for the OAR unmanned 

aircraft system research and development program and graphic 

processing unit supercomputing infrastructure for revolutionary 

new model development. The funding authorized by this bill will 

follow through on these initiatives by making possible robust operational base technology development programs for new aerial 

weather observing systems to provide better meteorological data, 

higher performance research computing, accelerated development 

of next generation global and national/regional weather models, 

and an institutionalized OSSE process capability. Dedicated OAR 

funding for the direct transfer of new knowledge, technologies, and 

applications to the NWS and other agencies and entities under a 

‘‘real-time research’’ approach completes this vision. The bill auVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR126.XXX HR126

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thorizes appropriations to be made out of the overall funding for 

operations, research, and facilities at OAR. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION

Section 1. Short title 

This section established the short title as the ‘‘Weather Research 

and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015’’. 

Section 2. Public safety priority 

This section directs the Under Secretary of the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Administrator) to 

prioritize weather research across all weather programs, including 

weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of lives 

and property. 

Section 3. Weather research and forecasting innovation 

Section 3 directs the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), in consultation with the Assistant Administrator of the Weather Service, to undertake a 

weather research program and directs the Assistant Administrator 

to place priority on developing more accurate, timely, and effective 

warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property. Section 3 further defines the specific program 

elements to include advanced radar, aerial systems, computing/ 

modeling, and Observing System Stimulation Experiments (OSSE) 

and codifies a longstanding joint OAR-National Weather Service 

(NWS) tech transfer program, moving its funding from NWS. Finally, this section also directs NOAA to support weather research 

through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. 

Section 4. Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program 

This section establishes a Tornado Warning Improvement and 

Extension Program focused on developing and extending accurate 

tornado forecasts and warnings beyond one hour in order to reduce 

loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy. 

Section 5. Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program 

Section 5 maintains the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program focused on extending accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy. 

Section 6. Weather research and development planning 

Section 6 requires NOAA to develop a prioritized weather research plan to guide activities authorized under the Act and restore 

U.S. leadership in weather modeling, prediction, and forecasting. 

The section requires the plan to also identify, through consultation 

with the National Science Foundation, the research necessary to integrate social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning 

processes. 

Section 7. Observing system planning 

Section 7 directs NOAA to maintain a list of observation data requirements and systematically evaluate the combination of systems 


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necessary to meet such requirements. This section further directs 

NOAA to identify current and potential future data gaps in observing capabilities and develop a range of options to address any identified gaps. 

Section 8. Observing system simulation experiments 

This section directs NOAA to undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) to quantitatively assess the relative 

value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. This section identifies specific instances when an OSSE must be performed. 

Section 8 specifies that OSSEs shall be conducted prior to acquisition of government owned or leased operational observing systems. 

Section 9. Computing resources prioritization report 

Section 9 directs NOAA to issue a plan that explains how it intends to: (1) aggressively pursues the fastest, most powerful, and 

cost effective high performance computing technologies in support 

of its weather prediction mission; (2) ensure a balance between the 

research to operations requirements; (3) take advantage of advanced development concepts; and (4) use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction. 

Section 10. Commercial weather data 

This section clarifies restrictions in existing law prohibiting the 

sale of weather satellite systems to the private sector do not extend 

to the purchase of weather data through contracts with commercial 

providers or the placement of instruments on private payloads. 

This section requires the Secretary of Commerce to transmit a 

strategy that assesses the range of commercial opportunities for obtaining both surface-based and space-based weather observations. 

The strategy shall include an analysis of financial or other benefits, 

methods to address planning and budgeting, and identification of 

the changes needed to facilitate effective implementation of such 

strategy. This section also establishes a pilot program for providing 

commercial weather data. The program directs NOAA to enter into 

a contract or contracts with private sector entities to provide data 

under criteria determined by NOAA. The Pilot Project authorizes, 

out of funds made available to NOAA’s Satellite Office, $9,000,000 

to carry out the contract or contracts entered into for providing 

commercial weather data. 

Section 11. The Environmental Information Services Working 

Group 

Section 11 tasks NOAA’s already-established Environmental Information Services Working Group to provide advice for prioritizing 

weather research initiatives at NOAA and identify emerging technologies. The Working Group shall be composed of leading experts 

and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering. 

The Working Group will transmit an annual report to the Undersecretary. The Undersecretary will relay such reports to the Committee. 


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Section 12. Interagency weather research and innovation coordination 

This section requires the Director of the Office of Science and 

Technology Policy to establish an Interagency Committee for Advancing Weather Services. The Committee will improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities 

across the federal government. 

Section 13. Visiting OAR Researchers Program 

Section 13 grants the Assistant Administrator for OAR the authority to establish a program to detail OAR researchers to NWS. 

If OAR establishes the program, it allows between five and fifteen 

OAR staff to spend up to one year on detail to the NWS to allow 

for productive interaction to improve forecasting capabilities. The 

Undersecretary shall submit an annual report to the Science Committee detailing the program participation and highlighting any innovations that come from this interaction. 

Section 14. Visiting fellows at NWS 

This section allows the Assistant Administrator for NWS to establish a program to host post-doctoral fellows and academic researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. 

Section 15. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards ‘‘Mark Trail’’ Award 

Program 

Section 15 reinstates a previously established program that honors individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA Weather 

Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters. The nominations for 

this honor shall be made by the Weather Services’ field offices. The 

Assistant Administrator for the Weather Service shall choose the 

winners, and make the public aware of the honors. This program 

costs no money to carry out. 

Section 16. Definitions 

This section provides definitions for terms in the bill. 

Section 17. Authorization of appropriations 

Section 17 authorizes $90.8 million for Fiscal Year 2015 to carry 

out the weather research program established under section 3. It 

further specifies that out of the $90.8 million provided in this section, $70.0 million is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes and $20.8 million is authorized for weather and 

air chemistry research programs. It also authorizes for FY 2015, 

$16 million to carry out the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 3. 

For FY2016 and FY2017, the section authorizes $100 million to 

carry out the weather research program established under section 

3. It further specifies that out of the $100 million provided in this 

section, $80 million is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes and $20 million is authorized for weather and 

air chemistry research programs. Finally, this section also authorizes $20 million annually to carry out the joint technology transfer 

initiative described in section 3. No additional funds are authorized 

to carry out this Act, and the amendments made by this Act. 


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EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

An amendment offered by Mr. Beyer to add ‘‘Federal, State, local, 

and tribal’’ to the emergency management personnel that the Environmental Information Services Working Group seeks to have better communication with, in addition to weather forecasters and the 

public was adopted. 

An amendment offered by Mr. Grayson: to strike ‘‘Warning’’ and 

insert ‘‘Forecast’’ into the section 5 title was adopted. This language helps clarify that the program does not duplicate current 

hurricane research efforts at NOAA. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 25, 2015, the Committee met in open session and ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 1561, as amended, by voice 

vote, a quorum being present. 

APPLICATION OF LAW TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104–1 requires a description of 

the application of this bill to the legislative branch where the bill 

relates to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services and accommodations. This bill improves the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather research 

through a focused program of investment on affordable and attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and 

prediction of high impact weather events, and to expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data. As such this 

bill does not relate to employment or access to public services and 

accommodations. 

STATEMENT OF OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF

THE COMMITTEE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause (2)(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

H.R. 1561 would direct the Under Secretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Administrator) to 

prioritize weather research across all weather programs, including 

weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of lives 

and property. 

DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

No provision of H.R. 1561 establishes or reauthorizes a program 

of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 


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DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1561 does not direct 

the completion of any specific rule makings within the meaning of 

5 U.S.C. 551. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT

The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish or 

authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within the 

definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b). 

UNFUNDED MANDATE STATEMENT

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded Mandate 

Reform Act, P.L. 104–4) requires a statement as to whether the 

provisions of the reported include unfunded mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has received a letter 

from the Congressional Budget Office included herein. 

EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

H.R. 1561 does not include any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI. 

COMMITTEE ESTIMATE

Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 

1561. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its 

report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of 

the Congressional Budget Act. 

BUDGET AUTHORITY AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST

ESTIMATE

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to requirements 

of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for 

H.R. 1561 from the Director of Congressional Budget Office: 

MAY 12, 2015. 

Hon. LAMAR SMITH, 

Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015. 


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If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 1561—Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 

2015 

Summary: H.R. 1561 would authorize the appropriation of $120 

million for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve forecasting of severe weather events. The bill also would authorize 

NOAA to carry out various other activities related to weather forecasting and research. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $240 million 

over the 2016–2020 period. Enacting H.R. 1561 would not affect direct spending or revenues, therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 

not apply. 

H.R. 1561 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Public entities, such as weather and emergency response agencies 

and public universities, would benefit from cooperative arrangements and federal grants authorized in the bill for research and 

weather-related activities. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1561 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2016– 

2020 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level ....................................................................... 120 120 0 0 0 240 

Estimated Outlays ........................................................................ 78 102 38 18 4 240 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted near the end of 2015 and that the authorized 

amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for NOAA programs. 

Although funds have probably been appropriated in fiscal year 

2015 to conduct certain activities authorized under the bill, CBO 

cannot identify those amounts because NOAA has not provided information regarding the amounts of appropriated funds allocated to 

those activities. 

H.R. 1561 would authorize the appropriation of $120 million a 

year over the 2016–2017 period for NOAA to develop a program to 

improve forecasting of severe weather events. Under the bill, 

NOAA would use those funds to purchase equipment and conduct 

research to improve the agency’s forecasting capabilities and warning systems and enter into a contract with at least one private-sector entity to provide commercial weather data. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that impleVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR126.XXX HR126

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menting the program would cost $240 million over the 2016–2020 

period. 

Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1561 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Public entities, such as weather and emergency response 

agencies and public universities, would benefit from cooperative arrangements and federal grants authorized in the bill for research 

and weather-related activities. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on 

state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italic 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

TITLE 51, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle VI—Earth Observations 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 601—LAND REMOTE SENSING POLICY 

* * * * * * * 

Subchapter VI—Prohibition of Commercialization 

of Weather Satellites 

* * * * * * * 

§ 60161. Prohibition 

Neither the President nor any other official of the Government 

shall make any effort to lease, sell, or transfer to the private sector, 

or commercialize, any portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of Commerce or any successor agency. This 

prohibition shall not extend to— 

(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with commercial providers; or 

(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on cohosted 

government or private payloads. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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