PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 91 

Public Law 115–25 

115th Congress 

An Act 

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. 

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 ‘‘Weather 

Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017’’. 

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

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 

IMPROVEMENT 

Sec. 101. Public safety priority. 

Sec. 102. Weather research and forecasting innovation. 

Sec. 103. Tornado warning improvement and extension program. 

Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program. 

Sec. 105. Weather research and development planning. 

Sec. 106. Observing system planning. 

Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments. 

Sec. 108. Annual report on computing resources prioritization. 

Sec. 109. United States Weather Research program. 

Sec. 110. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION 

Sec. 201. Improving subseasonal and seasonal forecasts. 

TITLE III—WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION 

Sec. 301. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite and data 

management. 

Sec. 302. Commercial weather data. 

Sec. 303. Unnecessary duplication. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION 

Sec. 401. Environmental Information Services Working Group. 

Sec. 402. Interagency weather research and forecast innovation coordination. 

Sec. 403. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Weather Service exchange program. 

Sec. 404. Visiting fellows at National Weather Service. 

Sec. 405. Warning coordination meteorologists at weather forecast offices of National Weather Service. 

Sec. 406. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of hazardous weather and water events. 

Sec. 407. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All 

Hazards Award Program. 

15 USC 8501 

note. 

Weather 

Research and 

Forecasting 

Innovation Act 

of 2017. 

Apr. 18, 2017 

[H.R. 353] 


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131 STAT. 92 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

Sec. 408. Department of Defense weather forecasting activities. 

Sec. 409. National Weather Service; operations and workforce analysis. 

Sec. 410. Report on contract positions at National Weather Service. 

Sec. 411. Weather impacts to communities and infrastructure. 

Sec. 412. Weather enterprise outreach. 

Sec. 413. Hurricane hunter aircraft. 

Sec. 414. Study on gaps in NEXRAD coverage and recommendations to address 

such gaps. 

TITLE V—TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2017 

Sec. 501. Short title. 

Sec. 502. References to the Tsunami Warning and Education Act. 

Sec. 503. Expansion of purposes of Tsunami Warning and Education Act. 

Sec. 504. Modification of tsunami forecasting and warning program. 

Sec. 505. Modification of national tsunami hazard mitigation program. 

Sec. 506. Modification of tsunami research program. 

Sec. 507. Global tsunami warning and mitigation network. 

Sec. 508. Tsunami science and technology advisory panel. 

Sec. 509. Reports. 

Sec. 510. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 511. Outreach responsibilities. 

Sec. 512. Repeal of duplicate provisions of law. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) SEASONAL.—The term ‘‘seasonal’’ means the time range 

between 3 months and 2 years. 

(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State, a territory, 

or possession of the United States, including a Commonwealth, 

or the District of Columbia. 

(3) SUBSEASONAL.—The term ‘‘subseasonal’’ means the time 

range between 2 weeks and 3 months. 

(4) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means 

the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 

(5) WEATHER INDUSTRY AND WEATHER ENTERPRISE.—The 

terms ‘‘weather industry’’ and ‘‘weather enterprise’’ are interchangeable in this Act, and include individuals and organizations from public, private, and academic sectors that contribute 

to the research, development, and production of weather forecast products, and primary consumers of these weather forecast 

products. 

TITLE I—UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT 

SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY. 

In conducting research, the Under Secretary shall prioritize 

improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and 

warnings for the protection of life and property and for the enhancement of the national economy. 

SEC. 102. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION. 

(a) PROGRAM.—The Assistant Administrator for the Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall conduct a program to 

develop improved understanding of and forecast capabilities for 

atmospheric events and their impacts, placing priority on developing 

more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high 

impact weather events that endanger life and property. 

(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program described in subsection 

(a) shall focus on the following activities: 

15 USC 85012. 

15 USC 85011. 

15 USC 8501. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 93 

(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather 

consistent with section 101, including the boundary layer and 

other processes affecting high impact weather events. 

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

interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high 

impact weather events that endanger life and property. 

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

technologies, and applications to the National Weather Service 

and other appropriate agencies and entities, including the 

United States weather industry and academic partners, related 

to— 

(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and 

other ground-based technologies, including those emphasizing rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary layer and 

lower troposphere, and the use of innovative, dual-polarization, phased-array technologies; 

(B) aerial weather observing systems; 

(C) high performance computing and information technology and wireless communication networks; 

(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems 

and forecasting tools and techniques that improve the forecasting of timing, track, intensity, and severity of high 

impact weather, including through— 

(i) the development of more effective mesoscale 

models; 

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

models; 

(iii) enhanced global weather models; and 

(iv) integrated assessment models; 

(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the 

impact and value of data and observing systems, including 

Observing System Simulation Experiments (as described 

in section 107), Observing System Experiments, and Analyses of Alternatives; 

(F) 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 Director of the National Weather 

Service, and in cooperation with the United States weather 

industry and academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological 

advances into operations of the National Weather Service and 

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

new methods and tools into operations. 

(c) EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program under this 

section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research shall collaborate with and support the 

non-Federal weather research community, which includes 

Collaboration. 


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131 STAT. 94 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

institutions of higher education, private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by making funds available through 

competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. 

(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

not less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research 

and development at the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Research should be made available for the purpose described 

in paragraph (1). 

(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each year, concurrent with the annual 

budget request submitted by the President to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary shall submit 

to Congress a description of current and planned activities under 

this section. 

SEC. 103. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTENSION PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 

the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall 

establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program. 

(b) GOAL.—The goal of such program shall be to reduce the 

loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond 1 hour in advance. 

(c) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, in coordination with the Director 

of the National Weather Service, shall develop a program plan 

that details the specific research, development, and technology 

transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, 

necessary to achieve the program goal. 

(d) ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PLAN SUBMITTAL.—Following completion of the plan, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant 

Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in 

coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service, 

shall, not less frequently than once each year, submit to Congress 

a proposed budget corresponding with the activities identified in 

the plan. 

SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 

the United States weather industry and such academic entities 

as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall maintain a project 

to improve hurricane forecasting. 

(b) GOAL.—The goal of the project maintained under subsection 

(a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts 

and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage 

to the economy, with a focus on— 

(1) improving the prediction of rapid intensification and 

track of hurricanes; 

(2) improving the forecast and communication of storm 

surges from hurricanes; and 

(3) incorporating risk communication research to create 

more effective watch and warning products. 

(c) PROJECT PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, acting through 

the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

Collaboration. 

15 USC 8514. 

Coordination. 

Deadline. 

Coordination. 

Collaboration. 

15 USC 8513. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 95 

and in consultation with the Director of the National Weather 

Service, shall develop a plan for the project maintained under 

subsection (a) that details the specific research, development, and 

technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources 

and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set forth in subsection 

(b). 

SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the 

Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in coordination with the 

Director of the National Weather Service and the Assistant 

Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue 

a research and development and research to operations plan to 

restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather 

prediction and forecasting that— 

(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, 

objectives, and progress of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the program conducted under section 102; 

(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet 

the operational weather mission of the National Weather 

Service to achieve a weather-ready Nation; 

(3) describes how the program will collaborate with stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and academic partners; and 

(4) identifies, through consultation with the National 

Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and 

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

warning processes, including to improve the communication 

of threat information necessary to enable improved severe 

weather planning and decisionmaking on the part of individuals 

and communities. 

SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING. 

The Under Secretary shall— 

(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation 

data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting 

capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent 

practicable; 

(2) consistent with section 107, utilize Observing System 

Simulation Experiments, Observing System Experiments, Analyses of Alternatives, and other appropriate assessment tools 

to ensure continuous systemic evaluations of the observing 

systems, data, and information needed to meet the requirements of paragraph (1), including options to maximize observational capabilities and their cost-effectiveness; 

(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in 

observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under 

paragraph (1); and 

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

under paragraph (3). 

Lists. 

15 USC 8516. 

Consultation. 

Deadlines. 

Coordination. 

15 USC 8515. 


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131 STAT. 96 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the requirements of section 

106, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Research shall undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments, or such other quantitative assessments as the Assistant 

Administrator considers appropriate, to quantitatively assess the 

relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. 

Technical and scientific Observing System Simulation Experiment 

evaluations— 

(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing 

capabilities on— 

(A) global weather prediction; 

(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting; 

(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy; 

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

(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to 

cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 

hours to 1 week; and 

(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate 

entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal agencies, the United States weather 

industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and 

scientific merit of results from Observing System Simulation 

Experiments or other appropriate quantitative assessment 

methodologies. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Observing System Simulation Experiments shall quantitatively— 

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

suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather events 

across all parts of the Nation; 

(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; 

and 

(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various 

observing systems and combinations of observing systems in 

providing data necessary to protect life and property. 

(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Observing System Simulation Experiments— 

(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major 

Government-owned or Government-leased operational 

observing systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary 

satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than 

$500,000,000; and 

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

new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more 

than $500,000,000. 

(d) PRIORITY OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.— 

(1) GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM RADIO OCCULTATION.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System 

Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from Global 

Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation. 

(2) GEOSTATIONARY HYPERSPECTRAL SOUNDER GLOBAL CONSTELLATION.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic 

Deadlines. 

Assessments. 

Evaluation. 

15 USC 8517. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 97 

and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System 

Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from a 

geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation. 

(e) RESULTS.—Upon completion of all Observing System Simulation Experiments, the Assistant Administrator shall make available 

to the public the results an assessment of related private and 

public sector weather data sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, and cost-effectiveness. Such assessments shall 

be developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United 

States Code. 

SEC. 108. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPUTING RESOURCES 

PRIORITIZATION. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

Act and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the 

Under Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in 

coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather 

Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that 

explains how the Under Secretary intends— 

(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, 

most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing 

technologies in support of its weather prediction mission; 

(2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations 

requirements to develop the next generation of regional and 

global models as well as highly reliable operational models; 

(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts 

to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction 

models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, 

the United States weather industry, and partners in academic 

and Government research; and 

(4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced 

research and operational weather prediction. 

SEC. 109. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

Section 108 of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567; 15 U.S.C. 313 

note) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 

a semicolon; 

(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting a semicolon; and 

(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: 

‘‘(5) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, not 

less frequently than once each year, a report, including— 

‘‘(A) a list of ongoing research projects; 

‘‘(B) project goals and a point of contact for each project; 

‘‘(C) the five projects related to weather observations, 

short-term weather, or subseasonal forecasts within Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to 

operationalization; 

‘‘(D) for each project referred to in subparagraph (C)— 

‘‘(i) the potential benefit; 

‘‘(ii) any barrier to operationalization; and 

Lists. 

Reports. 

Coordination. 

Public 

information. 

15 USC 8518. 

Public 

information. 


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131 STAT. 98 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

‘‘(iii) the plan for operationalization, including 

which line office will financially support the project 

and how much the line office intends to spend; 

‘‘(6) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service 

to oversee the operationalization of research products developed 

by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 

‘‘(7) develop mechanisms for research priorities of the Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be informed by the 

relevant line offices within the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, the relevant user community, and 

the weather enterprise; 

‘‘(8) develop an internal mechanism to track the progress 

of each research project within the Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to terminate a project 

that is not adequately progressing; 

‘‘(9) develop and implement a system to track whether 

extramural research grant goals were accomplished; 

‘‘(10) provide facilities for products developed by the Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested in operational 

simulations, such as test beds; and 

‘‘(11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather 

Service by facilitating visiting scholars.’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 

(1), by striking ‘‘Not later than 90 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(c) SUBSEASONAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘subseasonal’ means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.’’. 

SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) FISCAL YEARS 2017 AND 2018.—For each of fiscal years 

2017 and 2018, there are authorized to be appropriated to Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research— 

(1) $111,516,000 to carry out this title, of which— 

(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 

and cooperative institutes; and 

(B) $25,758,000 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 102(b)(4). 

(b) LIMITATION.—No additional funds are authorized to carry 

out this title and the amendments made by this title. 

TITLE II—SUBSEASONAL AND 

SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION 

SEC. 201. IMPROVING SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTS. 

Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 

99–198; 15 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 

FINDINGS.—’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘(b) 

POLICY.—’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

15 USC 8519. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 99 

‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Under Secretary, acting through the 

Director of the National Weather Service and the heads of such 

other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, shall— 

‘‘(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, 

reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and 

seasonal temperature and precipitation; 

‘‘(2) leverage existing research and models from the weather 

enterprise to improve the forecasts under paragraph (1); 

‘‘(3) determine and provide information on how the forecasted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact— 

‘‘(A) the number and severity of droughts, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, 

winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant natural disasters; 

‘‘(B) snowpack; and 

‘‘(C) sea ice conditions; and 

‘‘(4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels. 

‘‘(d) COMMUNICATION.—The Director of the National Weather 

Service shall provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) of subsection 

(c) and the information on their impacts under paragraph (3) of 

such subsection to the public, including public and private entities 

engaged in planning and preparedness, such as National Weather 

Service Core partners at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and 

local levels of government. 

‘‘(e) COOPERATION.—The Under Secretary shall build upon 

existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, 

including— 

‘‘(1) by designating research and monitoring activities 

related to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a priority 

in one or more solicitations of the Cooperative Institutes of 

the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 

‘‘(2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System Prediction Capability; and 

‘‘(3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the 

Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the highest priority subseasonal and seasonal forecast needs to enhance 

national security. 

‘‘(f) FORECAST COMMUNICATION COORDINATORS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall foster effective communication, understanding, and use of the forecasts 

by the intended users of the information described in subsection 

(d). This may include assistance to States for forecast communication coordinators to enable local interpretation and planning based on the information. 

‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—For each State that requests assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary may— 

‘‘(A) provide funds to support an individual in that 

State— 

‘‘(i) to serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal 

departments and agencies, the weather enterprise, the 

State, and relevant interests within that State; and 

‘‘(ii) to receive the forecasts and information under 

subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and 

Consultation. 

Public 

information. 


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131 STAT. 100 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

information throughout the State, including to county 

and tribal governments; and 

‘‘(B) require matching funds of at least 50 percent, 

from the State, a university, a nongovernmental organization, a trade association, or the private sector. 

‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—Assistance to an individual State under 

this subsection shall not exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year. 

‘‘(g) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Each Federal department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with 

the Under Secretary in carrying out this section. 

‘‘(h) REPORTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after the date 

of the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting 

Innovation Act of 2017, the Under Secretary shall submit to 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 

the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report, including— 

‘‘(A) an analysis of the how information from the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on subseasonal and seasonal forecasts, as provided under subsection (c), is utilized in public planning and preparedness; 

‘‘(B) specific plans and goals for the continued development of the subseasonal and seasonal forecasts and related 

products described in subsection (c); and 

‘‘(C) an identification of research, monitoring, 

observing, and forecasting requirements to meet the goals 

described in subparagraph (B). 

‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the report under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with relevant 

Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, 

research institutions, and the private sector. 

‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) FOUNDATIONAL FORECAST.—The term ‘foundational 

forecast’ means basic weather observation and forecast data, 

largely in raw form, before further processing is applied. 

‘‘(2) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORE PARTNERS.—The 

term ‘National Weather Service core partners’ means government and nongovernment entities which are directly involved 

in the preparation or dissemination of, or discussions involving, 

hazardous weather or other emergency information put out 

by the National Weather Service. 

‘‘(3) SEASONAL.—The term ‘seasonal’ means the time range 

between 3 months and 2 years. 

‘‘(4) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means a State, a territory, 

or possession of the United States, including a Commonwealth, 

or the District of Columbia. 

‘‘(5) SUBSEASONAL.—The term ‘subseasonal’ means the time 

range between 2 weeks and 3 months. 

‘‘(6) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘Under Secretary’ means 

the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 

‘‘(7) WEATHER INDUSTRY AND WEATHER ENTERPRISE.—The 

terms ‘weather industry’ and ‘weather enterprise’ are interchangeable in this section and include individuals and organizations from public, private, and academic sectors that contribute 

to the research, development, and production of weather forecast products, and primary consumers of these weather forecast 

products. 

Analysis. 


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‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each of fiscal 

years 2017 and 2018, there are authorized out of funds appropriated 

to the National Weather Service, $26,500,000 to carry out the 

activities of this section.’’. 

TITLE III—WEATHER SATELLITE AND 

DATA INNOVATION 

SEC. 301. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

SATELLITE AND DATA MANAGEMENT. 

(a) SHORT-TERM MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVA- TIONS.— (1) MICROSATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall complete 

and operationalize the Constellation Observing System for 

Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate–1 and Climate–2 

(COSMIC) in effect on the day before the date of the 

enactment of this Act— 

(i) by deploying constellations of microsatellites 

in both the equatorial and polar orbits; 

(ii) by integrating the resulting data and research 

into all national operational and research weather forecast models; and 

(iii) by ensuring that the resulting data of National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s COSMIC– 

1 and COSMIC–2 programs are free and open to all 

communities. 

(B) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not less frequently than once 

each year until the Under Secretary has completed and 

operationalized the program described in subparagraph (A) 

pursuant to such subparagraph, the Under Secretary shall 

submit to Congress a report on the status of the efforts 

of the Under Secretary to carry out such subparagraph. 

(2) INTEGRATION OF OCEAN AND COASTAL DATA FROM THE

INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM.—In National Weather 

Service Regions where the Director of the National Weather 

Service determines that ocean and coastal data would improve 

forecasts, the Director, in consultation with the Assistant 

Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the 

Assistant Administrator of the National Ocean Service, shall— 

(A) integrate additional coastal and ocean observations, 

and other data and research, from the Integrated Ocean 

Observing System (IOOS) into regional weather forecasts 

to improve weather forecasts and forecasting decision support systems; and 

(B) support the development of real-time data sharing 

products and forecast products in collaboration with the 

regional associations of such system, including contributions from the private sector, academia, and research 

institutions to ensure timely and accurate use of ocean 

and coastal data in regional forecasts. 

(3) EXISTING MONITORING AND OBSERVATION-CAPABILITY.— 

The Under Secretary shall identify degradation of existing monitoring and observation capabilities that could lead to a reduction in forecast quality. 

Consultation. 

15 USC 8531 

note. 


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(4) SPECIFICATIONS FOR NEW SATELLITE SYSTEMS OR DATA

DETERMINED BY OPERATIONAL NEEDS.—In developing specifications for any satellite systems or data to follow the Joint 

Polar Satellite System, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, and any other satellites, in effect on the 

day before the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall ensure the specifications are determined to the 

extent practicable by the recommendations of the reports under 

subsection (b) of this section. 

(b) INDEPENDENT STUDY ON FUTURE OF NATIONAL OCEANIC

AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND

DATA.— (1) AGREEMENT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall seek to 

enter into an agreement with the National Academy of 

Sciences to perform the services covered by this subsection. 

(B) TIMING.—The Under Secretary shall seek to enter 

into the agreement described in subparagraph (A) before 

September 30, 2018. 

(2) STUDY.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Under an agreement between the 

Under Secretary and the National Academy of Sciences 

under this subsection, the National Academy of Sciences 

shall conduct a study on matters concerning future satellite 

data needs. 

(B) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study under 

subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences 

shall— 

(i) develop recommendations on how to make the 

data portfolio of the Administration more robust and 

cost-effective; 

(ii) assess the costs and benefits of moving toward 

a constellation of many small satellites, standardizing 

satellite bus design, relying more on the purchasing 

of data, or acquiring data from other sources or 

methods; 

(iii) identify the environmental observations that 

are essential to the performance of weather models, 

based on an assessment of Federal, academic, and 

private sector weather research, and the cost of 

obtaining the environmental data; 

(iv) identify environmental observations that 

improve the quality of operational and research 

weather models in effect on the day before the date 

of enactment of this Act; 

(v) identify and prioritize new environmental 

observations that could contribute to existing and 

future weather models; and 

(vi) develop recommendations on a portfolio of 

environmental observations that balances essential, 

quality-improving, and new data, private and nonprivate sources, and space-based and Earth-based sources. 

(C) DEADLINE AND REPORT.—In carrying out the study 

under subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences 

shall complete and transmit to the Under Secretary a 

report containing the findings of the National Academy 

of Sciences with respect to the study not later than 2 

Recommendations. 

Assessment. 

Recommendation. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 103 

years after the date on which the Administrator enters 

into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences 

under paragraph (1)(A). 

(3) ALTERNATE ORGANIZATION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—If the Under Secretary is unable 

within the period prescribed in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) to enter into an agreement described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph with the National Academy 

of Sciences on terms acceptable to the Under Secretary, 

the Under Secretary shall seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate organization that— 

(i) is not part of the Federal Government; 

(ii) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and 

(iii) has expertise and objectivity comparable to 

that of the National Academy of Sciences. 

(B) TREATMENT.—If the Under Secretary enters into 

an agreement with another organization as described in 

subparagraph (A), any reference in this subsection to the 

National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a reference to the other organization. 

(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to National 

Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to 

carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal years 2018 through 2019. 

SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA. 

(a) DATA AND HOSTED SATELLITE PAYLOADS.—Notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter 

into agreements for— 

(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with 

commercial providers; and 

(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on 

cohosted government or private payloads. 

(b) STRATEGY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 

consultation with the Under Secretary, shall submit to the 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

of the House of Representatives a strategy to enable the 

procurement of quality commercial weather data. The strategy 

shall assess the range of commercial opportunities, including 

public-private partnerships, for obtaining surface-based, aviation-based, and space-based weather observations. The strategy 

shall include the expected cost-effectiveness of these opportunities as well as provide a plan for procuring data, including 

an expected implementation timeline, from these nongovernmental sources, as appropriate. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy shall include— 

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

risks associated with, acquiring commercial weather data 

or services, including through multiyear acquisition 

approaches; 

(B) an identification of methods to address planning, 

programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to such 

approaches, including— 

Analysis. 

Plan. 

Deadline. 

Consultation. 

Contracts. 

15 USC 8532. 


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(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 forecastcritical data to ensure that the United States weather 

industry and the public continue to have access to 

information critical to their work; and 

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

United States Code, methods to address potential 

termination liability or cancellation costs associated 

with weather data or service contracts; and 

(C) an identification of any changes needed in the 

requirements development and approval processes of the 

Department of Commerce to facilitate effective and efficient 

implementation of such strategy. 

(3) AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENTS.—The Assistant Administrator for National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service may enter into multiyear agreements necessary 

to carry out the strategy developed under this subsection. 

(c) PILOT PROGRAM.— 

(1) CRITERIA.—Not later than 30 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall publish 

data and metadata standards and specifications for space-based 

commercial weather data, including radio occultation data, and, 

as soon as possible, geostationary hyperspectral sounder data. 

(2) PILOT CONTRACTS.— 

(A) CONTRACTS.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall, through 

an open competition, enter into at least one pilot contract 

with one or more private sector entities capable of providing 

data that meet the standards and specifications set by 

the Under Secretary for providing commercial weather data 

in a manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate 

and evaluate the data for its use in National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration meteorological models. 

(B) ASSESSMENT OF DATA VIABILITY.—Not later than 

the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Under 

Secretary enters into a contract under subparagraph (A), 

the Under Secretary shall assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

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

determination of the extent to which data provided under 

the contract entered into under subparagraph (A) meet 

the criteria published under paragraph (1) and the extent 

to which the pilot program has demonstrated— 

(i) the viability of assimilating the commercially 

provided data into National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration meteorological models; 

(ii) whether, and by how much, the data add value 

to weather forecasts; and 

(iii) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and 

cost-effectiveness of obtaining commercial weather data 

from private sector providers. 

Determination. 

Criteria. 

Publication. 

Deadlines. 


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(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each of fiscal 

years 2017 through 2020, there are authorized to be appropriated for procurement, acquisition, and construction at 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information 

Service, $6,000,000 to carry out this subsection. 

(d) OBTAINING FUTURE DATA.—If an assessment under subsection (c)(2)(B) demonstrates the ability of commercial weather 

data to meet data and metadata standards and specifications published under subsection (c)(1), the Under Secretary shall— 

(1) where appropriate, cost-effective, and feasible, obtain 

commercial weather data from private sector providers; 

(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for any 

future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorological space system, consider whether there is a suitable, 

cost-effective, commercial capability available or that will be 

available to meet any or all of the observational requirements 

by the planned operational date of the system; 

(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is 

or will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine 

whether it is in the national interest to develop a governmental 

meteorological space system; and 

(4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report 

detailing any determination made under paragraphs (2) and 

(3). 

(e) DATA SHARING PRACTICES.—The Under Secretary shall continue to meet the international meteorological agreements into 

which the Under Secretary has entered, including practices set 

forth through World Meteorological Organization Resolution 40. 

SEC. 303. UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION. 

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

and employment of personnel. 

TITLE IV—FEDERAL WEATHER 

COORDINATION 

SEC. 401. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SERVICES WORKING 

GROUP. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 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’’)— 

(1) to provide advice for prioritizing weather research initiatives at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

to produce real improvement in weather forecasting; 

(2) to 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 the National Weather Service to improve forecasting skill; 

(3) to identify opportunities to improve— 

15 USC 8541. 

15 USC 8533. 

Reports. 

Determination. 


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(A) communications between weather forecasters, Federal, State, local, tribal, and other emergency management 

personnel, and the public; and 

(B) communications and partnerships among the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 

private and academic sectors; and 

(4) to 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.—Not less frequently than once each year, 

the Working Group shall transmit to the Science Advisory Board 

for submission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made 

by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 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 submit to 

the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

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

the House of Representatives a copy of such report. 

SEC. 402. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECAST 

INNOVATION COORDINATION. 

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

Technology Policy shall establish an Interagency Committee 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, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its constituent elements, the National Science Foundation, and such 

other agencies involved in weather forecasting research as the 

President determines are appropriate; 

(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate 

those needs against budget requests and program initiatives 

across participating offices and agencies; and 

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

(b) CO-CHAIR.—The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall 

serve as a co-chair of this panel. 

(c) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Director of the Office of 

Science and Technology Policy shall take such other steps as are 

necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government 

President. 

Determination. 

15 USC 8542. 


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with those of the United States weather industry, State governments, emergency managers, and academic researchers. 

SEC. 403. OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EXCHANGE PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research and the Director of National Weather Service 

may establish a program to detail Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Research personnel to the National Weather Service and National 

Weather Service personnel to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Research. 

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

innovation through regular, direct interaction between the Office 

of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s world-class scientists and 

the National Weather Service’s operational staff. 

(c) ELEMENTS.—The program shall allow up to 10 Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research staff and National Weather 

Service staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall 

be jointly selected by the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather 

Service. 

(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not less frequently than once each year, 

the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 

a report on participation in such program and shall highlight any 

innovations that come from this interaction. 

SEC. 404. VISITING FELLOWS AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Weather Service 

may establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic 

researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. 

(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 to the National Weather Service. 

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

competitively selected and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 

year. 

SEC. 405. WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGISTS AT WEATHER 

FORECAST OFFICES OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 

(a) DESIGNATION OF WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGISTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Weather 

Service shall designate at least one warning coordination meteorologist at each weather forecast office of the National Weather 

Service. 

(2) NO ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES AUTHORIZED.—Nothing in 

this section shall be construed to authorize or require a change 

in the authorized number of full time equivalent employees 

in the National Weather Service or otherwise result in the 

employment of any additional employees. 

(3) PERFORMANCE BY OTHER EMPLOYEES.—Performance of 

the responsibilities outlined in this section is not limited to 

the warning coordination meteorologist position. 

15 USC 8545. 

15 USC 8544. 

15 USC 8543. 


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(b) PRIMARY ROLE OF WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLO- GISTS.—The primary role of the warning coordination meteorologist 

shall be to carry out the responsibilities required by this section. 

(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), consistent with 

the analysis described in section 409, and in order to increase 

impact-based decision support services, each warning coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) shall— 

(A) be responsible for providing service to the 

geographic area of responsibility covered by the weather 

forecast office at which the warning coordination meteorologist is employed to help ensure that users of products 

of the National Weather Service can respond effectively 

to improve outcomes from weather events; 

(B) liaise with users of products and services of the 

National Weather Service, such as the public, media outlets, users in the aviation, marine, and agricultural communities, and forestry, land, and water management interests, 

to evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products 

and services of the National Weather Service; 

(C) collaborate with such weather forecast offices and 

State, local, and tribal government agencies as the Director 

considers appropriate in developing, proposing, and implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor products and 

services of the National Weather Service to improve the 

usefulness of such products and services; 

(D) ensure the maintenance and accuracy of severe 

weather call lists, appropriate office severe weather policy 

or procedures, and other severe weather or dissemination 

methodologies or strategies; and 

(E) work closely with State, local, and tribal emergency 

management agencies, and other agencies related to disaster management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and 

effective preparedness and response effort. 

(2) OTHER STAFF.—The Director may assign a responsibility 

set forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director 

considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility. 

(d) ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), a warning 

coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) 

may— 

(A) work with a State agency to develop plans for 

promoting more effective use of products and services of 

the National Weather Service throughout the State; 

(B) identify priority community preparedness objectives; 

(C) develop plans to meet the objectives identified 

under paragraph (2); and 

(D) conduct severe weather event preparedness planning and citizen education efforts with and through various 

State, local, and tribal government agencies and other disaster management-related organizations. 

(2) OTHER STAFF.—The Director may assign a responsibility 

set forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director 

considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility. 

(e) PLACEMENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MAN- AGERS.— 

Collaboration. 


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(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, the Director 

of the National Weather Service may place a warning coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) with a State 

or local emergency manager if the Director considers doing 

so is necessary or convenient to carry out this section. 

(2) TREATMENT.—If the Director determines that the placement of a warning coordination meteorologist placed with a 

State or local emergency manager under paragraph (1) is near 

a weather forecast office of the National Weather Service, such 

placement shall be treated as designation of the warning 

coordination meteorologist at such weather forecast office for 

purposes of subsection (a). 

SEC. 406. IMPROVING NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 

ADMINISTRATION COMMUNICATION OF HAZARDOUS 

WEATHER AND WATER EVENTS. 

(a) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.—For purposes of the assessment 

required by subsection (b)(1)(A), the purpose of National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing watches and 

warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events shall be 

risk communication to the general public that informs action to 

prevent loss of life and property. 

(b) ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEM.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall— 

(A) assess the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration system for issuing watches and warnings 

regarding hazardous weather and water events; and 

(B) submit to Congress a report on the findings of 

the Under Secretary with respect to the assessment conducted under subparagraph (A). 

(2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by paragraph 

(1)(A) shall include the following: 

(A) An evaluation of whether the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing 

watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and 

water events meets the purpose described in subsection 

(a). 

(B) Development of recommendations for— 

(i) legislative and administrative action to improve 

the system described in paragraph (1)(A); and 

(ii) such research as the Under Secretary considers 

necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph (3). 

(3) FOCUS AREAS.—The assessment required by paragraph 

(1)(A) shall focus on the following: 

(A) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous 

weather or water events to the public that are most likely 

to result in action to mitigate the risk. 

(B) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous 

weather or water events to the public as broadly and rapidly as practicable. 

(C) Ways to preserve the benefits of the existing 

watches and warnings system. 

(D) Ways to maintain the utility of the watches and 

warnings system for Government and commercial users 

of the system. 

Recommendations. 

Evaluation. 

Reports. 

Deadline. 

Determination. 


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(4) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the assessment required 

by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall— 

(A) consult with such line offices within the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers relevant, including the National Ocean 

Service, the National Weather Service, and the Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 

(B) consult with individuals in the academic sector, 

including individuals in the field of social and behavioral 

sciences, and other weather services; 

(C) consult with media outlets that will be distributing 

the watches and warnings; 

(D) consult with non-Federal forecasters that produce 

alternate severe weather risk communication products; 

(E) consult with emergency planners and responders, 

including State and local emergency management agencies, 

and other government users of the watches and warnings 

system, including the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Coast 

Guard, and such other Federal agencies as the Under Secretary determines rely on watches and warnings for operational decisions; and 

(F) make use of the services of the National Academy 

of Sciences, as the Under Secretary considers necessary 

and practicable, including contracting with the National 

Research Council to review the scientific and technical 

soundness of the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), 

including the recommendations developed under paragraph 

(2)(B). 

(5) METHODOLOGIES.—In conducting the assessment 

required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall use 

such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, including social and 

behavioral sciences. 

(c) IMPROVEMENTS TO SYSTEM.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall, based on the 

assessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), make such recommendations to Congress to improve the system as the Under 

Secretary considers necessary— 

(A) to improve the system for issuing watches and 

warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events; 

and 

(B) to support efforts to satisfy research needs to enable 

future improvements to such system. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS.—In carrying out paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall ensure 

that any recommendation that the Under Secretary considers 

a major change— 

(A) is validated by social and behavioral science using 

a generalizable sample; 

(B) accounts for the needs of various demographics, 

vulnerable populations, and geographic regions; 

(C) accounts for the differences between types of 

weather and water hazards; 

(D) responds to the needs of Federal, State, and local 

government partners and media partners; and 

Recommendations. 


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(E) accounts for necessary changes to Federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination 

infrastructure and protocols. 

(d) WATCHES AND WARNINGS DEFINED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), in 

this section, the terms ‘‘watch’’ and ‘‘warning’’, with respect 

to a hazardous weather and water event, mean products issued 

by the Administration, intended for consumption by the general 

public, to alert the general public to the potential for or presence 

of the event and to inform action to prevent loss of life and 

property. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—ln this section, the terms ‘‘watch’’ and 

‘‘warning’’ do not include technical or specialized meteorological 

and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products. 

SEC. 407. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

WEATHER READY ALL HAZARDS AWARD PROGRAM. 

(a) PROGRAM.—The Director of the National Weather Service 

is authorized to establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program. This 

award program shall provide annual awards to honor individuals 

or organizations that use or provide National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration 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 lifesaving work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready 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 Director 

of the National Weather Service. Broadcast meteorologists, 

weather radio manufacturers and weather warning tool and 

application developers, emergency managers, and public safety 

officials may nominate individuals 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 Director of 

the National Weather Service shall choose winners of this 

award whose timely actions, based on National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards 

receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools and 

applications, saved lives or property, or demonstrated public 

service in support of weather or all hazard warnings. 

(3) AWARD CEREMONY.—The Director of the National 

Weather Service shall establish a means of making these 

awards to provide maximum public awareness of the importance of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Weather Radio, and such other warning tools and applications 

as are represented in the awards. 

15 USC 8546. 


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SEC. 408. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE WEATHER FORECASTING ACTIVITIES. 

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report analyzing the impacts of the proposed Air Force 

divestiture in the United States Weather Research and Forecasting 

Model, including— 

(1) the impact on— 

(A) the United States weather forecasting capabilities; 

(B) the accuracy of civilian regional forecasts; 

(C) the civilian readiness for traditional weather and 

extreme weather events in the United States; and 

(D) the research necessary to develop the United States 

Weather Research and Forecasting Model; and 

(2) such other analysis relating to the divestiture as the 

Under Secretary considers appropriate. 

SEC. 409. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE; OPERATIONS AND 

WORKFORCE ANALYSIS. 

The Under Secretary shall contract or continue to partner 

with an external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of 

National Weather Service operations and workforce. 

SEC. 410. REPORT ON CONTRACT POSITIONS AT NATIONAL WEATHER 

SERVICE. 

(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit 

to Congress a report on the use of contractors at the National 

Weather Service for the most recently completed fiscal year. 

(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection (a) shall 

include, with respect to the most recently completed fiscal year, 

the following: 

(1) The total number of full-time equivalent employees 

at the National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General Schedule. 

(2) The total number of full-time equivalent contractors 

at the National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General Schedule that most closely approximates their duties. 

(3) The total number of vacant positions at the National 

Weather Service on the day before the date of enactment of 

this Act, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General 

Schedule. 

(4) The five most common positions filled by full-time 

equivalent contractors at the National Weather Service and 

the equivalent level of the General Schedule that most closely 

approximates the duties of such positions. 

(5) Of the positions identified under paragraph (4), the 

percentage of full-time equivalent contractors in those positions 

that have held a prior position at the National Weather Service 

or another entity in National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration. 

(6) The average full-time equivalent salary for Federal 

employees at the National Weather Service for each equivalent 

level of the General Schedule. 

15 USC 8547. 

Contracts. 

Analysis. 

Deadline. 

Reports. 


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(7) The average salary for full-time equivalent contractors 

performing at each equivalent level of the General Schedule 

at the National Weather Service. 

(8) A description of any actions taken by the Under Secretary to respond to the issues raised by the Inspector General 

of the Department of Commerce regarding the hiring of former 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees 

as contractors at the National Weather Service such as the 

issues raised in the Investigative Report dated June 2, 2015 

(OIG–12–0447). 

(c) ANNUAL PUBLICATION.—For each fiscal year after the fiscal 

year covered by the report required by subsection (a), the Under 

Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the completion of 

the fiscal year, publish on a publicly accessible Internet website 

the information described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (b) for such fiscal year. 

SEC. 411. WEATHER IMPACTS TO COMMUNITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. 

(a) REVIEW.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Weather 

Service shall review existing research, products, and services 

that meet the specific needs of the urban environment, given 

its unique physical characteristics and forecasting challenges. 

(2) ELEMENTS.—The review required by paragraph (1) shall 

include research, products, and services with the potential to 

improve modeling and forecasting capabilities, taking into 

account factors including varying building heights, impermeable 

surfaces, lack of tree canopy, traffic, pollution, and interbuilding wind effects. 

(b) REPORT AND ASSESSMENT.—Upon completion of the review 

required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to 

Congress a report on the research, products, and services of the 

National Weather Service, including an assessment of such 

research, products, and services that is based on the review, public 

comment, and recent publications by the National Academy of 

Sciences. 

SEC. 412. WEATHER ENTERPRISE OUTREACH. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary may establish mechanisms for outreach to the weather enterprise— 

(1) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products 

provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and 

(2) to determine the highest priority weather forecast needs 

of the community described in subsection (b). 

(b) OUTREACH COMMUNITY.—In conducting outreach under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall contact leading experts and 

innovators from relevant stakeholders, including the representatives 

from the following: 

(1) State or local emergency management agencies. 

(2) State agriculture agencies. 

(3) Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian 

Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 

5304)) and Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 6207 of 

the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

7517)). 

(4) The private aerospace industry. 

Contracts. 

Determination. 

Assessment. 

15 USC 8548. 

Deadline. 

Web posting. 


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(5) The private earth observing industry. 

(6) The operational forecasting community. 

(7) The academic community. 

(8) Professional societies that focus on meteorology. 

(9) Such other stakeholder groups as the Under Secretary 

considers appropriate. 

SEC. 413. HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT. 

(a) BACKUP CAPABILITY.—The Under Secretary shall acquire 

backup for the capabilities of the WP–3D Orion and G–IV hurricane 

aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

that is sufficient to prevent a single point of failure. 

(b) AUTHORITY TO ENTER AGREEMENTS.—In order to carry out 

subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall negotiate and enter into 

1 or more agreements or contracts, to the extent practicable and 

necessary, with governmental and non-governmental entities. 

(c) FUTURE TECHNOLOGY.—The Under Secretary shall continue 

the development of Airborne Phased Array Radar under the United 

States Weather Research Program. 

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For each of fiscal 

years 2017 through 2020, support for implementing subsections 

(a) and (b) is authorized out of funds appropriated to the Office 

of Marine and Aviation Operations. 

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

(a) STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 

complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation 

Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (‘‘NEXRAD’’). 

(2) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study required under 

paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 

(A) identify areas in the United States where limited 

or no NEXRAD coverage has resulted in— 

(i) instances in which no or insufficient warnings 

were given for hazardous weather events, including 

tornadoes; or 

(ii) degraded forecasts for hazardous weather 

events that resulted in fatalities, significant injuries, 

or substantial property damage; and 

(B) for the areas identified under subparagraph (A)— 

(i) identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection; 

(ii) identify additional sources of observations for 

high impact weather that were available and operational for such areas on the day before the date of 

the enactment of this Act, including dense networks 

of x-band radars, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 

(commonly known as ‘‘TDWR’’), air surveillance radars 

of the Federal Aviation Administration, and cooperative network observers; 

(iii) assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts 

to integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities 

that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar 

capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration and 

the Department of Defense; 

Assessment. 

Deadline. 

15 USC 8549. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 115 

(iv) assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars 

into the operations of the National Weather Service; 

(v) identify options to improve hazardous weather 

detection and forecasting coverage; and 

(vi) provide the estimated cost of, and timeline 

for, each of the options identified under clause (v). 

(3) REPORT.—Upon the completion of the study required 

under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 

House of Representatives a report that includes the findings 

of the Secretary with respect to the study. 

(b) RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE RADAR COVERAGE.—Not 

later than 90 days after the completion of the study under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the 

congressional committees referred to in subsection (a)(3) recommendations for improving hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage in the areas identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) 

by integrating additional observation solutions to the extent practicable and meteorologically justified and necessary to protect public 

safety. 

(c) THIRD-PARTY CONSULTATION REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS

TO IMPROVE RADAR COVERAGE.—The Secretary of Commerce may 

seek reviews by, or consult with, appropriate third parties regarding 

the scientific methodology relating to, and the feasibility and advisability of implementing, the recommendations submitted under subsection (b), including the extent to which warning and forecast 

services of the National Weather Service would be improved by 

additional observations. 

TITLE V—TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2017 

SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Tsunami Warning, Education, 

and Research Act of 2017’’. 

SEC. 502. REFERENCES TO THE TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION 

ACT. 

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title 

an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment 

to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall 

be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the 

Tsunami Warning and Education Act enacted as title VIII of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 

Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479; 33 U.S.C. 3201 

et seq.). 

SEC. 503. EXPANSION OF PURPOSES OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT. 

Section 803 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘research,’’ after 

‘‘warnings,’’; 

(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

33 USC 3201 

note. 

Tsunami 

Warning, 

Education, and 

Research Act 

of 2017. 

Deadline. 


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131 STAT. 116 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

‘‘(2) to enhance and modernize the existing United States 

Tsunami Warning System to increase the accuracy of forecasts 

and warnings, to ensure full coverage of tsunami threats to 

the United States with a network of detection assets, and 

to reduce false alarms;’’; 

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

‘‘(3) to improve and develop standards and guidelines for 

mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to improve tsunami 

detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation, resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;’’; 

(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (8), respectively; 

(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 

‘‘(4) to improve research efforts related to improving tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation, 

resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;’’; 

(6) in paragraph (5), as redesignated— 

(A) by striking ‘‘and increase’’ and inserting ‘‘, increase, 

and develop uniform standards and guidelines for’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘, including the warning signs of locally 

generated tsunami’’ after ‘‘approaching’’; 

(7) in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by striking ‘‘, 

including the Indian Ocean; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 

and 

(8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesignated, the 

following: 

‘‘(7) to foster resilient communities in the face of tsunami 

and other similar coastal hazards; and’’. 

SEC. 504. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI FORECASTING AND WARNING 

PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 

3203(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, 

and Gulf of Mexico region’’ and inserting ‘‘Atlantic Ocean region, 

including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico’’. 

(b) COMPONENTS.—Subsection (b) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 

3203(b)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘established’’ and inserting 

‘‘supported or maintained’’; 

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs (8) through (10), respectively; 

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively; 

(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 80 

percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of 

Tsunamis buoy array at operational capacity to optimize data 

reliability;’’. 

(5) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph (3), to read as follows: 

‘‘(5) provide tsunami forecasting capability based on models 

and measurements, including tsunami inundation models and 

maps for use in increasing the preparedness of communities 

and safeguarding port and harbor operations, that incorporate 

inputs, including— 

‘‘(A) the United States and global ocean and coastal 

observing system; 


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‘‘(B) the global Earth observing system; 

‘‘(C) the global seismic network; 

‘‘(D) the Advanced National Seismic system; 

‘‘(E) tsunami model validation using historical and 

paleotsunami data; 

‘‘(F) digital elevation models and bathymetry; and 

‘‘(G) newly developing tsunami detection methodologies 

using satellites and airborne remote sensing;’’; 

(6) by amending paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (3), to read as follows: 

‘‘(7) include a cooperative effort among the Administration, 

the United States Geological Survey, and the National Science 

Foundation under which the Director of the United States 

Geological Survey and the Director of the National Science 

Foundation shall— 

‘‘(A) provide rapid and reliable seismic information to 

the Administrator from international and domestic seismic 

networks; and 

‘‘(B) support seismic stations installed before the date 

of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, and 

Research Act of 2017 to supplement coverage in areas 

of sparse instrumentation;’’; 

(7) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘, including graphical warning products,’’ after ‘‘warnings’’; 

(B) by inserting ‘‘, territories,’’ after ‘‘States’’; and 

(C) by inserting ‘‘and Wireless Emergency Alerts’’ after 

‘‘Hazards Program’’; and 

(8) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— 

(A) by inserting ‘‘provide and’’ before ‘‘allow’’; and 

(B) by inserting ‘‘and commercial and Federal undersea 

communications cables’’ after ‘‘observing technologies’’. 

(c) TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM.—Subsection (c) of section 804 

(33 U.S.C. 3203(c)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(c) TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM.—The program under this section shall operate a tsunami warning system that— 

‘‘(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including forecasting 

tsunami arrival time and inundation estimates, anywhere in 

the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and providing adequate 

warnings; 

‘‘(2) is capable of forecasting and providing adequate 

warnings, including tsunami arrival time and inundation 

models where applicable, in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, 

including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are 

determined— 

‘‘(A) to be geologically active, or to have significant 

potential for geological activity; and 

‘‘(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami for States 

along the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean 

Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and 

‘‘(3) supports other international tsunami forecasting and 

warning efforts.’’. 

(d) TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERS.—Subsection (d) of section 804 

(33 U.S.C. 3203(d)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(d) TSUNAMI WARNING CENTERS.— 


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131 STAT. 118 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall support or 

maintain centers to support the tsunami warning system 

required by subsection (c). The Centers shall include— 

‘‘(A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, located 

in Alaska, which is primarily responsible for Alaska and 

the continental United States; 

‘‘(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located in 

Hawaii, which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the 

Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not covered by 

the National Center; and 

‘‘(C) any additional forecast and warning centers determined by the National Weather Service to be necessary. 

‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities of the centers 

supported or maintained under paragraph (1) shall include 

the following: 

‘‘(A) Continuously monitoring data from seismological, 

deep ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal monitoring stations 

and other data sources as may be developed and deployed. 

‘‘(B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic 

eruptions that have the potential to generate tsunami. 

‘‘(C) Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and tidal monitoring stations for indications of tsunami resulting from 

earthquakes and other sources. 

‘‘(D) To the extent practicable, utilizing a range of 

models, including ensemble models, to predict tsunami, 

including arrival times, flooding estimates, coastal and 

harbor currents, and duration. 

‘‘(E) Using data from the Integrated Ocean Observing 

System of the Administration in coordination with regional 

associations to calculate new inundation estimates and 

periodically update existing inundation estimates. 

‘‘(F) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami warning bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, and local government officials and the public. 

‘‘(G) Coordinating with the tsunami hazard mitigation 

program conducted under section 805 to ensure ongoing 

sharing of information between forecasters and emergency 

management officials. 

‘‘(H) In coordination with the Commandant of the Coast 

Guard and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, evaluating and recommending procedures for ports and harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, 

including review of readiness, response, and communication 

strategies, and data sharing policies, to the maximum 

extent practicable. 

‘‘(I) Making data gathered under this Act and postwarning analyses conducted by the National Weather 

Service or other relevant Administration offices available 

to the public. 

‘‘(J) Integrating and modernizing the program operated 

under this section with advances in tsunami science to 

improve performance without compromising service. 

‘‘(3) FAIL-SAFE WARNING CAPABILITY.—The tsunami warning 

centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) shall 

maintain a fail-safe warning capability and perform back-up 

duties for each other. 

Coordination. 

Coordination. 

Evaluation. 

Evaluation. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 119 

‘‘(4) COORDINATION WITH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.— The Administrator shall coordinate with the forecast offices 

of the National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such program offices of the 

Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating committee, as established in section 805(d), consider appropriate 

to ensure that regional and local forecast offices— 

‘‘(A) have the technical knowledge and capability to 

disseminate tsunami warnings for the communities they 

serve; 

‘‘(B) leverage connections with local emergency 

management officials for optimally disseminating tsunami 

warnings and forecasts; and 

‘‘(C) implement mass communication tools in effect on 

the day before the date of the enactment of the Tsunami 

Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 used by 

the National Weather Service on such date and newer 

mass communication technologies as they are developed 

as a part of the Weather-Ready Nation program of the 

Administration, or otherwise, for the purpose of timely 

and effective delivery of tsunami warnings. 

‘‘(5) UNIFORM OPERATING PROCEDURES.—The Administrator 

shall— 

‘‘(A) develop uniform operational procedures for the 

centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), 

including the use of software applications, checklists, decision support tools, and tsunami warning products that 

have been standardized across the program supported 

under this section; 

‘‘(B) ensure that processes and products of the warning 

system operated under subsection (c)— 

‘‘(i) reflect industry best practices when practicable; 

‘‘(ii) conform to the maximum extent practicable 

with internationally recognized standards for information technology; and 

‘‘(iii) conform to the maximum extent practicable 

with other warning products and practices of the 

National Weather Service; 

‘‘(C) ensure that future adjustments to operational 

protocols, processes, and warning products— 

‘‘(i) are made consistently across the warning 

system operated under subsection (c); and 

‘‘(ii) are applied in a uniform manner across such 

warning system; 

‘‘(D) establish a systematic method for information 

technology product development to improve long-term technology planning efforts; and 

‘‘(E) disseminate guidelines and metrics for evaluating 

and improving tsunami forecast models. 

‘‘(6) AVAILABLE RESOURCES.—The Administrator, through 

the National Weather Service, shall ensure that resources are 

available to fulfill the obligations of this Act. This includes 

ensuring supercomputing resources are available to run, as 

rapidly as possible, such computer models as are needed for 

purposes of the tsunami warning system operated under subsection (c).’’. 


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131 STAT. 120 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

(e) TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY; MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES.— Subsection (e) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(e)) is amended to 

read as follows: 

‘‘(e) TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY; MAINTENANCE AND

UPGRADES.—In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall— 

‘‘(1) develop requirements for the equipment used to forecast tsunami, including— 

‘‘(A) provisions for multipurpose detection platforms; 

‘‘(B) reliability and performance metrics; and 

‘‘(C) to the maximum extent practicable, requirements 

for the integration of equipment with other United States 

and global ocean and coastal observation systems, the 

global Earth observing system of systems, the global 

seismic networks, and the Advanced National Seismic 

System; 

‘‘(2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer of technology from ongoing research conducted as part of the program 

supported or maintained under section 6 into the program 

under this section; and 

‘‘(3) ensure that the Administration’s operational tsunami 

detection equipment is properly maintained.’’. 

(f) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—Subsection (f) of section 804 (33 

U.S.C. 3203(f)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(f) FEDERAL COOPERATION.—When deploying and maintaining 

tsunami detection technologies under the program under this section, the Administrator shall— 

‘‘(1) identify which assets of other Federal agencies are 

necessary to support such program; and 

‘‘(2) work with each agency identified under paragraph 

(1)— 

‘‘(A) to acquire the agency’s assistance; and 

‘‘(B) to prioritize the necessary assets in support of 

the tsunami forecast and warning program.’’. 

(g) UNNECESSARY PROVISIONS.—Section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203) 

is further amended— 

(1) by striking subsection (g); 

(2) by striking subsections (i) through (k); and 

(3) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g). 

(h) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATIONS.—Subsection (g) of section 

804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(g)), as redesignated by subsection (g)(3), is 

amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; 

(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 

by paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The Administrator’’ and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator’’; 

(3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (3)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph 

(2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph 

(2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 

and’’; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(C) the occurrence of a significant tsunami warning.’’; 

and 

Plan. 

Requirements. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 121 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—In a case in which notice is submitted 

under paragraph (1) within 30 days of a significant tsunami 

warning described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, such 

notice shall include, as appropriate, brief information and analysis of— 

‘‘(A) the accuracy of the tsunami model used; 

‘‘(B) the specific deep ocean or other monitoring equipment that detected the incident, as well as the deep ocean 

or other monitoring equipment that did not detect the 

incident due to malfunction or other reasons; 

‘‘(C) the effectiveness of the warning communication, 

including the dissemination of warnings with State, territory, local, and tribal partners in the affected area under 

the jurisdiction of the National Weather Service; and 

‘‘(D) such other findings as the Administrator considers 

appropriate.’’. 

SEC. 505. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION 

PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 805(a) (33 U.S.C. 3204(a)) is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.—The Administrator, in coordination 

with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency and the heads of such other agencies as the Administrator 

considers relevant, shall conduct a community-based tsunami 

hazard mitigation program to improve tsunami preparedness and 

resiliency of at-risk areas in the United States and the territories 

of the United States.’’. 

(b) NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM.—Section 

805 (33 U.S.C. 3204) is amended by striking subsections (c) and 

(d) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(c) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—The Program conducted under 

subsection (a) shall include the following: 

‘‘(1) Technical and financial assistance to coastal States, 

territories, tribes, and local governments to develop and implement activities under this section. 

‘‘(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and mitigation 

programs into ongoing State-based hazard warning, resilience 

planning, and risk management activities, including predisaster 

planning, emergency response, evacuation planning, disaster 

recovery, hazard mitigation, and community development and 

redevelopment planning programs in affected areas. 

‘‘(3) Coordination with other Federal preparedness and 

mitigation programs to leverage Federal investment, avoid 

duplication, and maximize effort. 

‘‘(4) Activities to promote the adoption of tsunami resilience, 

preparedness, warning, and mitigation measures by Federal, 

State, territorial, tribal, and local governments and nongovernmental entities, including educational and risk communication 

programs to discourage development in high-risk areas. 

‘‘(5) Activities to support the development of regional tsunami hazard and risk assessments. Such regional risk assessments may include the following: 

‘‘(A) The sources, sizes, and other relevant historical 

data of tsunami in the region, including paleotsunami data. 

Coordination. 

Coordination. 

Deadline. 


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131 STAT. 122 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

‘‘(B) Inundation models and maps of critical infrastructure and socioeconomic vulnerability in areas subject to 

tsunami inundation. 

‘‘(C) Maps of evacuation areas and evacuation routes, 

including, when appropriate, traffic studies that evaluate 

the viability of evacuation routes. 

‘‘(D) Evaluations of the size of populations that will 

require evacuation, including populations with special 

evacuation needs. 

‘‘(E) Evaluations and technical assistance for vertical 

evacuation structure planning for communities where 

models indicate limited or no ability for timely evacuation, 

especially in areas at risk of near shore generated tsunami. 

‘‘(F) Evaluation of at-risk ports and harbors. 

‘‘(G) Evaluation of the effect of tsunami currents on 

the foundations of closely-spaced, coastal high-rise structures. 

‘‘(6) Activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports 

and harbors, including the following: 

‘‘(A) Evaluation and recommendation of procedures for 

ports and harbors in the event of a distant or near-field 

tsunami. 

‘‘(B) A review of readiness, response, and communication strategies to ensure coordination and data sharing 

with the Coast Guard. 

‘‘(7) Activities to support the development of communitybased outreach and education programs to ensure community 

readiness and resilience, including the following: 

‘‘(A) The development, implementation, and assessment 

of technical training and public education programs, 

including education programs that address unique 

characteristics of distant and near-field tsunami. 

‘‘(B) The development of decision support tools. 

‘‘(C) The incorporation of social science research into 

community readiness and resilience efforts. 

‘‘(D) The development of evidence-based education 

guidelines. 

‘‘(8) Dissemination of guidelines and standards for community planning, education, and training products, programs, and 

tools, including— 

‘‘(A) standards for— 

‘‘(i) mapping products; 

‘‘(ii) inundation models; and 

‘‘(iii) effective emergency exercises; and 

‘‘(B) recommended guidance for at-risk port and harbor 

tsunami warning, evacuation, and response procedures in 

coordination with the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

‘‘(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—In addition to activities conducted under subsection (c), the program conducted under subsection (a) may include the following: 

‘‘(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment research, 

education, and training to help integrate risk management 

and resilience objectives with community development planning 

and policies. 

Review. 

Evaluation. 

Recommendation. 

Procedures. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 123 

‘‘(2) Risk management training for local officials and 

community organizations to enhance understanding and 

preparedness. 

‘‘(3) In coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, interagency, Federal, State, tribal, and territorial 

intergovernmental tsunami response exercise planning and 

implementation in high risk areas. 

‘‘(4) Development of practical applications for existing or 

emerging technologies, such as modeling, remote sensing, 

geospatial technology, engineering, and observing systems, 

including the integration of tsunami sensors into Federal and 

commercial submarine telecommunication cables if practicable. 

‘‘(5) Risk management, risk assessment, and resilience data 

and information services, including— 

‘‘(A) access to data and products derived from observing 

and detection systems; and 

‘‘(B) development and maintenance of new integrated 

data products to support risk management, risk assessment, and resilience programs. 

‘‘(6) Risk notification systems that coordinate with and 

build upon existing systems and actively engage decisionmakers, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments and 

agencies, business communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the media. 

‘‘(e) NO PREEMPTION WITH RESPECT TO DESIGNATION OF ATRISK AREAS.—The establishment of national standards for inundation models under this section shall not prevent States, territories, 

tribes, and local governments from designating additional areas 

as being at risk based on knowledge of local conditions. 

‘‘(f) NO NEW REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this Act 

may be construed as establishing new regulatory authority for 

any Federal agency.’’. 

(c) REPORT ON ACCREDITATION OF TSUNAMIREADY PROGRAM.— 

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 

a report on which authorities and activities would be needed to 

have the TsunamiReady program of the National Weather Service 

accredited by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program. 

SEC. 506. MODIFICATION OF TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

Section 806 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended— 

(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The 

Administrator shall’’ and all that follows through ‘‘establish 

or maintain’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, in consultation 

with such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, and territorial 

governments, and academic institutions as the Administrator considers appropriate, the coordinating committee under section 805(d), 

and the panel under section 808(a), support or maintain’’; 

(2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), by 

striking ‘‘and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical 

forecast modeling. Such research program shall—’’ and 

inserting the following: ‘‘assessment for tsunami tracking and 

numerical forecast modeling, and standards development. 

Consultation. 

Coordination. 


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131 STAT. 124 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The research program supported or 

maintained under subsection (a) shall—’’; and 

(3) in subsection (b), as designated by paragraph (2)— 

(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) consider other appropriate and cost effective solutions 

to mitigate the impact of tsunami, including the improvement 

of near-field and distant tsunami detection and forecasting 

capabilities, which may include use of a new generation of 

the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis array, 

integration of tsunami sensors into commercial and Federal 

telecommunications cables, and other real-time tsunami monitoring systems and supercomputer capacity of the Administration to develop a rapid tsunami forecast for all United States 

coastlines;’’; 

(B) in paragraph (3)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘include’’ and inserting ‘‘conduct’’; 

and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); 

(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 

‘‘(4) develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami 

maps, numerical tsunami models, digital elevation models, and 

forecasts; and’’; and 

(E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph 

(C), by striking ‘‘to the scientific community’’ and inserting 

‘‘to the public and the scientific community’’. 

SEC. 507. GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION NETWORK. 

Section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended— 

(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: 

‘‘(a) SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM.—The Administrator shall, in coordination 

with the Secretary of State and in consultation with such other 

agencies as the Administrator considers relevant, provide technical 

assistance, operational support, and training to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and such other international entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, as 

part of the international efforts to develop a fully functional global 

tsunami forecast and warning system comprised of regional tsunami 

warning networks.’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘shall’’ each place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘may’’; and 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘establishing’’ and 

inserting ‘‘supporting’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘establish’’ and inserting ‘‘support’’; 

and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘establishing’’ and inserting ‘‘supporting’’. 

SEC. 508. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Act is further amended— 

(1) by redesignating section 808 (33 U.S.C. 3207) as section 

809; and 

Coordination. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 125 

(2) by inserting after section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) the 

following: 

‘‘SEC. 808. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL. 

‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Administrator shall designate an 

existing working group within the Science Advisory Board of the 

Administration to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology 

Advisory Panel to provide advice to the Administrator on matters 

regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness. 

‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

‘‘(1) COMPOSITION.—The Panel shall be composed of no 

fewer than 7 members selected by the Administrator from 

among individuals from academia or State agencies who have 

academic or practical expertise in physical sciences, social 

sciences, information technology, coastal resilience, emergency 

management, or such other disciplines as the Administrator 

considers appropriate. 

‘‘(2) FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.—No member of the Panel may 

be a Federal employee. 

‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Not less frequently than once every 

4 years, the Panel shall— 

‘‘(1) review the activities of the Administration, and other 

Federal activities as appropriate, relating to tsunami research, 

detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, resiliency, and 

preparation; and 

‘‘(2) submit to the Administrator and such others as the 

Administrator considers appropriate— 

‘‘(A) the findings of the working group with respect 

to the most recent review conducted under paragraph (1); 

and 

‘‘(B) such recommendations for legislative or administrative action as the working group considers appropriate 

to improve Federal tsunami research, detection, forecasting, 

warning, mitigation, resiliency, and preparation. 

‘‘(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not less frequently than once 

every 4 years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 

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

Representatives a report on the findings and recommendations 

received by the Administrator under subsection (c)(2).’’. 

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

in section 1(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479; 

120 Stat. 3575) is amended by striking the item relating to section 

808 and inserting the following: 

‘‘Sec. 808. Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel. 

‘‘Sec. 809. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 

SEC. 509. REPORTS. 

(a) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF TSUNAMI WARNING AND

EDUCATION ACT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the Tsunami Warning 

and Education Act enacted as title VIII of the MagnusonRecommendations. 

Recommendations. 

Review. 

33 USC 3206a. 


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131 STAT. 126 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.), 

as amended by this Act. 

(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 

include the following: 

(A) A detailed description of the progress made in 

implementing sections 804(d)(6), 805(b), and 806(b)(4) of 

the Tsunami Warning and Education Act the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479; 33 U.S.C. 3201 

et seq.). 

(B) A description of the ways that tsunami warnings 

and warning products issued by the Tsunami Forecasting 

and Warning Program established under section 804 of 

the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203), 

as amended by this Act, may be standardized and streamlined with warnings and warning products for hurricanes, 

coastal storms, and other coastal flooding events. 

(b) REPORT ON NATIONAL EFFORTS THAT SUPPORT RAPID

RESPONSE FOLLOWING NEAR-SHORE TSUNAMI EVENTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall jointly, in coordination with 

the Director of the United States Geological Survey, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Chief 

of the National Guard Bureau, and the heads of such other 

Federal agencies as the Administrator considers appropriate, 

submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 

on the national efforts in effect on the day before the date 

of the enactment of this Act that support and facilitate rapid 

emergency response following a domestic near-shore tsunami 

event to better understand domestic effects of earthquake 

derived tsunami on people, infrastructure, and communities 

in the United States. 

(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 

include the following: 

(A) A description of scientific or other measurements 

collected on the day before the date of the enactment of 

this Act to quickly identify and quantify lost or degraded 

infrastructure or terrestrial formations. 

(B) A description of scientific or other measurements 

that would be necessary to collect to quickly identify and 

quantify lost or degraded infrastructure or terrestrial 

formations. 

(C) Identification and evaluation of Federal, State, 

local, tribal, territorial, and military first responder and 

search and rescue operation centers, bases, and other facilities as well as other critical response assets and infrastructure, including search and rescue aircraft, located within 

near-shore and distant tsunami inundation areas on the 

day before the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(D) An evaluation of near-shore tsunami response plans 

in areas described in subparagraph (C) in effect on the 

day before the date of the enactment of this Act, and 

how those response plans would be affected by the loss 

of search and rescue and first responder infrastructure 

described in such subparagraph. 

Evaluation. 

Evaluation. 

Coordination. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 131 STAT. 127 

(E) A description of redevelopment plans and reports 

in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 

of this Act for communities in areas that are at highrisk for near-shore tsunami, as well identification of States 

or communities that do not have redevelopment plans. 

(F) Recommendations to enhance near-shore tsunami 

preparedness and response plans, including recommended 

responder exercises, predisaster planning, and mitigation 

needs. 

(G) Such other data and analysis information as the 

Administrator and the Secretary of Homeland Security consider appropriate. 

(3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of Congress’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation and the Committee on Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 

(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 

the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. 

SEC. 510. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

Section 809 of the Act, as redesignated by section l08(a)(1) 

of this Act, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(2) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at the end 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(6) $25,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, 

of which— 

‘‘(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted 

at the State level under the tsunami hazard mitigation 

program under section 805; and 

‘‘(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated 

shall be for the tsunami research program under section 

806.’’. 

SEC. 511. OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITIES. 

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, in coordination with State and local emergency 

managers, shall develop and carry out formal outreach activities 

to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of resilient communities. Outreach activities may include— 

(1) the development of outreach plans to ensure the close 

integration of tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under section 804(d) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203(d)), as amended by this Act, with 

local Weather Forecast Offices of the National Weather Service 

and emergency managers; 

(2) working with appropriate local Weather Forecast Offices 

to ensure they have the technical knowledge and capability 

to disseminate tsunami warnings to the communities they 

serve; and 

(3) evaluating the effectiveness of warnings and of coordination with local Weather Forecast Offices after significant tsunami events. 

Evaluation. 

Coordination. 

33 USC 3208. 

Definition. 

Analysis. 

Recommendations. 


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131 STAT. 128 PUBLIC LAW 115–25—APR. 18, 2017 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 353: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

Jan. 9, considered and passed House. 

Mar. 29, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Apr. 4, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

SEC. 512. REPEAL OF DUPLICATE PROVISIONS OF LAW. 

(a) REPEAL.—The Tsunami Warning and Education Act enacted 

by Public Law 109–424 (120 Stat. 2902) is repealed. 

(b) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may be construed 

to repeal, or affect in any way, the Tsunami Warning and Education 

Act enacted as title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 

109–479; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.). 

Approved April 18, 2017. 

33 USC 3201 

note. 

33 USC 3201 and 

note, 3202–3207. 


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