S. 914 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty 

An Act 

To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, 

to clarify the authority of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to post-storm assessments, and to require 

the establishment of a National Water Center, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coordinated 

Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN 

OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009 

Sec. 101. Purposes. 

Sec. 102. Definitions. 

Sec. 103. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System. 

Sec. 104. Financing and agreements. 

Sec. 105. Reports to Congress. 

Sec. 106. Public-private use policy. 

Sec. 107. Repeal of independent cost estimate. 

Sec. 108. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 109. Reports and research plans. 

Sec. 110. Strategic research plan. 

Sec. 111. Stakeholder input on monitoring. 

Sec. 112. Research activities. 

TITLE II—NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS 

Sec. 201. Named Storm Event Model and post-storm assessments. 

TITLE III—WATER PREDICTION AND FORECASTING 

Sec. 301. Water prediction and forecasting. 

TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009 

SEC. 101. PURPOSES. 

Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 12302. PURPOSES. 

‘‘The purposes of this subtitle are— 
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‘‘(1) to establish and sustain a national integrated System 

of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems, comprised 

of Federal and non-Federal components coordinated at the 

national level by the Council and at the regional level by 

a network of regional coastal observing systems, and that 

includes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean observation and modeling capabilities, technologies, data management 

systems, communication systems, and product development systems, and is designed to address regional and national needs 

for ocean and coastal information, to gather specific data on 

key ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes variables, and to ensure 

timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these 

data— 

‘‘(A) to the public; 

‘‘(B) to support national defense, search and rescue 

operations, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, 

climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting and production, economic development, ecosystem-based marine, 

coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, public 

safety, and public outreach and education; 

‘‘(C) to promote greater public awareness and stewardship of the Nation’s ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 

resources and the general public welfare; 

‘‘(D) to provide easy access to ocean, coastal, and Great 

Lakes data and promote data sharing between Federal 

and non-Federal sources and promote public data sharing; 

‘‘(E) to enable advances in scientific understanding to 

support the sustainable use, conservation, management, 

and understanding of healthy ocean, coastal, and Great 

Lakes resources to ensure the Nation can respond to 

opportunities to enhance food, economic, and national security; and 

‘‘(F) to monitor and model changes in the oceans and 

Great Lakes, including with respect to chemistry, harmful 

algal blooms, hypoxia, water levels, and other phenomena; 

‘‘(2) to improve the Nation’s capability to measure, track, 

observe, understand, and predict events related directly and 

indirectly to weather and climate, natural climate variability, 

and interactions between the oceanic and atmospheric environments, including the Great Lakes; 

‘‘(3) to sustain, upgrade, and modernize the Nation’s ocean 

and Great Lakes observing infrastructure to detect changes 

and ensure delivery of reliable and timely information; and 

‘‘(4) to authorize activities— 

‘‘(A) to promote basic and applied research to develop, 

test, and deploy innovations and improvements in coastal 

and ocean observation technologies, including advanced 

observing technologies such as unmanned maritime systems needed to address critical data gaps, modeling systems, other scientific and technological capabilities to 

improve the understanding of weather and climate, oceanatmosphere dynamics, global climate change, and the physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of the ocean, coastal, 

and Great Lakes environments; and 

‘‘(B) to conserve healthy and restore degraded coastal 

ecosystems.’’. 
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SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS. 

Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘section 7902’’ and 

inserting ‘‘section 8932’’; 

(2) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘integrated into the System 

and are managed through States, regional organizations, 

universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the private 

sector’’ and inserting ‘‘managed through States, regional 

organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, or 

the private sector and integrated into the System by a regional 

coastal observing system, the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, or the agencies participating in 

the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee’’; 

(3) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows: 

‘‘(6) REGIONAL COASTAL OBSERVING SYSTEM.—The term 

‘regional coastal observing system’ means an organizational 

body that is certified or established by contract or memorandum 

by the lead Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) 

and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal, and private 

interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engaging 

the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and 

improving regional coastal observing systems in order to ensure 

the provision of data and information that meet the needs 

of user groups from the respective regions.’’; and 

(4) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration’’ and inserting ‘‘Administrator’’. 

SEC. 103. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM. 

(a) SYSTEM ELEMENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal 

and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) 

is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—Section 12304(b)(3) of such Act 

(33 U.S.C. 3603(b)(3)) is amended by inserting ‘‘for research 

and for use in the development of products to address societal 

needs’’ before the period at the end. 

(b) POLICY OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATION, AND REGIONAL

COORDINATION.—Section 12304(c) of the Integrated Coastal and 

Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)) is 

amended by striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(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 nonFederal assets and identify, in consultation with 

regional coastal observing systems, priorities for 

System observations; 
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‘‘(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— 
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‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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 nonFederal 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 
S. 914—8 

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.’’. 

(c) SYSTEM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 12304(d) of the 

Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 

(33 U.S.C. 3603(d)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or the Interagency Ocean 

Observing Committee.’’ and inserting ‘‘or the Council under 

this subtitle’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (2)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, data sharing,’’ 

after ‘‘data management’’; 

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(C) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 

following: 

‘‘(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, 
S. 914—9 

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.’’; 

(D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ‘‘The Administrator may stagger the terms of the System advisory committee members.’’ before ‘‘Members’’; and 

(E) in paragraph (4)— 

(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee’’; and 

(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘Observing’’ 

and inserting ‘‘Observation’’. 

(d) CIVIL LIABILITY.—Section 12304(e) of the Integrated Coastal 

and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(e)) 

is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘information coordination entity’’ each place 

it appears and inserting ‘‘coastal observing system’’; and 

(2) by striking ‘‘contract, lease, grant, or cooperative agreement under subsection (c)(3)(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘a memorandum 

of agreement of certification under subsection (c)(3)(C)(iii)’’. 

(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Integrated Coastal and 

Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) 

is amended by striking ‘‘regional information coordination entities’’ 

each place it appears and inserting ‘‘regional coastal observing 

systems’’. 

SEC. 104. FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS. 

Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(a)) is amended to read 

as follows: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce may execute 

an agreement, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with 

any State or subdivision thereof, any Federal agency, any public 

or private organization, or any individual to carry out activities 

under this subtitle.’’. 

SEC. 105. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 12307. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than March 30, 2022, and every 

5 years thereafter, the Administrator shall prepare, and the President acting through the Council shall approve and transmit to 

Congress, a report on progress made in implementing this subtitle. 

‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—Each report required under subsection (a) 

shall include— 

‘‘(1) a description of activities carried out under this subtitle 

and the System Plan; 

‘‘(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the System, 

including an evaluation of progress made by the Council to 

achieve the goals identified under the System Plan; 

‘‘(3) the identification of Federal and non-Federal assets 

as determined by the Council that have been integrated into 

the System, including assets essential to the gathering of 

required observation data variables necessary to meet the 

respective missions of Council agencies; 

‘‘(4) a review of procurements, planned or initiated, by 

each department or agency represented on the Council to 

enhance, expand, or modernize the observation capabilities and 

data products provided by the System, including data management and communication subsystems; 

‘‘(5) a summary of the existing gaps in observation infrastructure and monitoring data collection, including— 

‘‘(A) priorities considered by the System advisory committee; 

‘‘(B) the national sea surface current mapping network; 

‘‘(C) coastal buoys; 

‘‘(D) ocean chemistry monitoring; 

‘‘(E) marine sound monitoring; and 

‘‘(F) unmanned maritime systems technology gaps; 

‘‘(6) an assessment regarding activities to integrate Federal 

and non-Federal assets, nationally and on the regional level, 

and discussion of the performance and effectiveness of regional 

coastal observing systems to coordinate regional observation 

operations; 

‘‘(7) a description of benefits of the program to users of 

data products resulting from the System (including the general 

public, industries, scientists, resource managers, emergency 

responders, policy makers, and educators); 

‘‘(8) recommendations, if any, concerning— 

‘‘(A) modifications to the System; and 

‘‘(B) funding levels for the System in subsequent fiscal 

years; and 

‘‘(9) the results of a periodic external independent programmatic audit of the System.’’. 

SEC. 106. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 

Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 12308. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 

‘‘The Council shall maintain a policy that defines processes 

for making decisions about the roles of the Federal Government, 

the States, regional coastal observing systems, the academic community, and the private sector in providing to end-user communities 

environmental information, products, technologies, and services 
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related to the System. The Administrator shall ensure that the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adheres to the 

decision making process developed by the Council regarding the 

roles of the Federal Government, the States, the regional coastal 

observing systems, the academic community, and the private sector 

in providing end-user communities environmental information, data 

products, technologies, and services related to the System.’’. 

SEC. 107. REPEAL OF INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended by 

striking section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 3608). 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 

2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by striking 

the item related to section 12309. 

SEC. 108. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 

System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 12311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 

Commerce to support the integrated oceans observations under 

this subtitle— 

‘‘(1) $48,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

‘‘(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

‘‘(3) $52,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

‘‘(4) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 

‘‘(5) $56,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.’’. 

SEC. 109. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS. 

Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 

And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)) is amended by 

adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY REPORT.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of the enactment of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020, and every 6 years thereafter, the Subcommittee shall transmit to the appropriate 

committees of Congress a report that— 

‘‘(i) is named the ‘Ocean Chemistry Coastal 

Community Vulnerability Assessment’; 

‘‘(ii) identifies gaps in ocean acidification monitoring by public, academic, and private assets in the 

network of regional coastal observing systems; 

‘‘(iii) identifies geographic areas which have gaps 

in ocean acidification research; 

‘‘(iv) identifies United States coastal communities, 

including island communities, fishing communities, 

low-population rural communities, tribal and subsistence communities, and island communities, that may 

be impacted by ocean acidification; 

‘‘(v) identifies impacts of changing ocean carbonate 

chemistry on the communities described in clause (iv), 

including impacts from changes in ocean and coastal 

marine resources that are not managed by the Federal 

Government; 
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‘‘(vi) identifies gaps in understanding of the 

impacts of ocean acidification on economically or 

commercially important species, particularly those 

which support United States commercial, recreational, 

and tribal fisheries and aquaculture; 

‘‘(vii) identifies habitats that may be particularly 

vulnerable to corrosive sea water, including areas 

experiencing multiple stressors such as hypoxia, sedimentation, and harmful algal blooms; 

‘‘(viii) identifies areas in which existing National 

Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 

assets, including unmanned maritime systems, may 

be leveraged as platforms for the deployment of new 

sensors or other applicable observing technologies; 

‘‘(ix) is written in collaboration with Federal agencies responsible for carrying out this subtitle, including 

representatives of— 

‘‘(I) the National Marine Fisheries Service and 

the Office for Coastal Management of the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 

‘‘(II) regional coastal observing systems established under section 12304(c)(4); 

‘‘(III) regional ocean acidification networks; 

and 

‘‘(IV) sea grant programs (as defined in section 

203 of the National Sea Grant College Program 

Act (33 U.S.C. 1122)); and 

‘‘(x) is written in consultation with experts, 

including subsistence users, academia, and stakeholders familiar with the economic, social, ecological, 

geographic, and resource concerns of coastal communities in the United States. 

‘‘(B) FORM OF REPORT.— 

‘‘(i) INITIAL REPORT.—The initial report required 

under subparagraph (A) shall include the information 

described in clauses (i) through (viii) of that subparagraph on a national level. 

‘‘(ii) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Each report required 

under subparagraph (A) after the initial report— 

‘‘(I) may describe the information described 

in clauses (i) through (viii) of that subparagraph 

on a national level; or 

‘‘(II) may consist of separate reports for each 

region of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 

‘‘(iii) REGIONAL REPORTS.—If the Subcommittee 

opts to prepare a report required under subparagraph 

(A) as separate regional reports under clause (ii)(II), 

the Subcommittee shall submit a report for each region 

of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration not less frequently than once during each 6-year 

reporting period. 

‘‘(C) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS

DEFINED.—In this paragraph and in paragraph (5), the 

term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

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

Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 

‘‘(5) MONITORING PRIORITIZATION PLAN.—Not later than 180 

days after the date of the submission of the initial report 

under paragraph (4)(A), the Subcommittee shall transmit to 

the appropriate committees of Congress a report that develops 

a plan to deploy new sensors or other applicable observing 

technologies such as unmanned maritime systems— 

‘‘(A) based on such initial report; 

‘‘(B) prioritized by— 

‘‘(i) the threat to coastal economies and ecosystems; 

‘‘(ii) gaps in data; and 

‘‘(iii) research needs; and 

‘‘(C) that leverage existing platforms, where possible.’’. 

SEC. 110. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 

(a) CONTENTS.—Section 12405(b) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(b)) 

is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(10) make recommendations for research to be conducted, 

including in the social sciences and economics, to address the 

key knowledge gaps identified in the Ocean Chemistry Coastal 

Community Vulnerability Assessment conducted under section 

12404(c)(4).’’. 

(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—Section 12405(c) of the Federal Ocean 

Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

3704(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) Research to understand the combined impact of 

changes in ocean chemistry and other stressors, including sediment delivery, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms, on each 

other and on living marine resources, including aquaculture 

and coastal ecosystems. 

‘‘(7) Applied research to identify adaptation strategies for 

species impacted by changes in ocean chemistry including vegetation-based systems, shell recycling, species and genetic diversity, applied technologies, aquaculture methodologies, and 

management recommendations.’’. 

(c) PARTICIPATION.—Section 12405(e) of the Federal Ocean 

Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 

3704(e)) is amended in the first sentence by inserting ‘‘, tribal 

governments, and subsistence users’’ after ‘‘groups’’. 

(d) REVISED STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.—Not later than one 

year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science 

and Technology Council shall submit to Congress a revised strategic 

research plan under section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) that 

includes the matters required by the amendments made by this 

section. 

SEC. 111. STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON MONITORING. 

Section 12406(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 

And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705(a)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
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(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) includes an ongoing mechanism that allows industry 

members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils 

and commissions, non-Federal resource managers, community 

acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific experts to provide input on monitoring needs that are 

necessary to support on the ground management, decision 

making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its 

impacts.’’. 

SEC. 112. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. 

Section 12407(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research 

And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(a) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the National 

Science Foundation shall continue to carry out research activities 

on ocean acidification which shall support competitive, merit-based, 

peer-reviewed proposals for research, observation, and monitoring 

of ocean acidification and its impacts, including— 

‘‘(1) impacts on marine organisms, including species cultured for aquaculture, and marine ecosystems; 

‘‘(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine biogeochemistry; 

‘‘(3) the development of methodologies and technologies 

to evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts; and 

‘‘(4) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems exhibiting 

hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, or sediment delivery, combined 

with changes in ocean chemistry.’’. 

TITLE II—NAMED STORM EVENT 

MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS 

SEC. 201. NAMED STORM EVENT MODEL AND POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS. 

(a) AMENDMENTS TO THE OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

ACT OF 2009.—Section 12312 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3611) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting the following: ‘‘, except that the term 

shall not apply with respect to a State or territory that 

has an operational wind and flood loss allocation system.’’; 

(B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ‘‘sustained’’ before 

‘‘winds’’; and 

(C) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘that threaten any 

portion of a coastal State’’ and inserting ‘‘for which poststorm assessments are conducted’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) in subparagraph (A)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘540 days after the date of 

the enactment of the Consumer Option for an 
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Alternative System to Allocate Losses Act of 2012’’ 

and inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’; and 

(II) by striking ‘‘by regulation’’; 

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘every’’ and 

inserting ‘‘an’’; and 

(iii) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(C) PUBLIC REVIEW.—The Administrator shall seek 

input and suggestions from the public before the Named 

Storm Event Model, or any modification to the Named 

Storm Event Model, takes effect.’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) 

as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; 

(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following: 

‘‘(B) DATA COLLECTION.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Upon identification of a named 

storm under subparagraph (A), and pursuant to the 

protocol established under subsection (c), the Administrator may deploy sensors to enhance the collection 

of covered data in the areas in coastal States that 

the Administrator determines are at the highest risk 

of experiencing geophysical events that would cause 

indeterminate losses. 

‘‘(ii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—If the Administrator 

takes action under clause (i), that action may not be 

construed as indicating that a post-storm assessment 

will be developed for any coastal State in which that 

action is taken. 

‘‘(C) IDENTIFICATION OF INDETERMINATE LOSSES IN

COASTAL STATES.—Not later than 30 days after the first 

date on which sustained winds of not less than 39 miles 

per hour are measured in a coastal State during a named 

storm identified under subparagraph (A), the Secretary 

of Homeland Security shall notify the Administrator with 

respect to the existence of any indeterminate losses in 

that coastal State resulting from that named storm.’’; 

(iii) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated— 

(I) by striking ‘‘identification of a named storm 

under subparagraph (A)’’ and inserting ‘‘confirmation of indeterminate losses identified under 

subparagraph (C) with respect to a named storm’’; 

and 

(II) by striking ‘‘assessment for such named 

storm’’ and inserting ‘‘assessment for each coastal 

State that suffered such indeterminate losses as 

a result of the named storm’’; 

(iv) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated— 

(I) by striking ‘‘an identification of a named 

storm is made under subparagraph (A)’’ and 

inserting ‘‘any indeterminate losses are identified 

under subparagraph (C)’’; and 

(II) by striking ‘‘for such storm under subparagraph (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘under subparagraph (D) 

for any coastal State that suffered such indeterminate losses’’; and 

(v) by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(F) SEPARATE POST-STORM ASSESSMENTS FOR A SINGLE

NAMED STORM.— 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may conduct 

a separate post-storm assessment for each coastal State 

in which indeterminate losses are identified under 

subparagraph (C). 

‘‘(ii) TIMELINE.—If the Administrator conducts a 

separate post-storm assessment under clause (i), the 

Administrator shall complete the assessment based on 

the dates of actions that the Administrator takes under 

subparagraph (D).’’; and 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘540 days after the 

date of the enactment of the Consumer Option for an 

Alternative System to Allocate Losses Act of 2012’’ and 

inserting ‘‘December 31, 2020’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, in the discretion 

of the Administrator,’’ after ‘‘of sensors as may’’; and 

(C) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ‘‘and expend’’ 

after ‘‘receive’’. 

(b) AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE ACT

OF 1968.—Section 1337 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 

1968 (42 U.S.C. 4057) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting the following: ‘‘, except that the term 

shall not apply with respect to a State or territory that 

has an operational wind and flood loss allocation system.’’; 

and 

(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘sustained’’ after 

‘‘maximum’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘establish by rule’’ 

and inserting ‘‘publish for comment in the Federal Register’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting after ‘‘Elevation 

Certificate’’ the following: ‘‘, or other data or information 

used to determine a property’s current risk of flood, as 

determined by the Administrator,’’; 

(3) in subsection (c)(3)(A)(i), by striking ‘‘the issuance of 

the rule establishing the COASTAL Formula’’ and inserting 

‘‘publication of the COASTAL Formula in the Federal Register 

as required by subsection (b)(1)’’; 

(4) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘section 12312(b)(2)(C)’’ 

and inserting ‘‘section 12312(b)(2)(E)’’; 

(5) in subsection (h)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘that issues a standard flood insurance 

policy under the national flood insurance program’’ after 

‘‘company’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘or the COASTAL Formula’’ and 

inserting ‘‘, the COASTAL Formula, or any other loss 

allocation or post-storm assessment arising under the laws 

or ordinances of any State’’; 

(6) in subsection (i), by striking ‘‘after the date on which 

the Administrator issues the rule establishing the COASTAL 

Formula under subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘60 days after 
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publication of the COASTAL Formula in the Federal Register 

as required by subsection (b)(1)’’; and 

(7) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

be construed to create a cause of action under this Act.’’. 

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— 

(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. 

(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. 

(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 
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Service National Centers for Environmental Prediction, 

National Weather Service River Forecast Centers, and 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices. 

(c) 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. 

(e) 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. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.