II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 5509 

To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide support to State governments in the production 

by those governments of quadrennial State climate assessments, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 12, 2024 

Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. MARKEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration to provide support to State 

governments in the production by those governments of 

quadrennial State climate assessments, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘State Climate Assess5 ment Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SUPPORT BY NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOS2 PHERIC ADMINISTRATION OF STATE CLI3 MATE ASSESSMENTS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na5 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall pro6 vide support to State governments, and entities and insti7 tutions partnering or collaborating with State govern8 ments under subsection (e), in the production by those 

9 governments, at the election of those governments, of 

10 quadrennial State climate assessments. 

11 (b) SUPPORT REQUIRED.—In providing support 

12 under subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide tech13 nical assistance and data. 

14 (c) CLIMATE ASSESSMENT COORDINATION OFFI15 CER.— 

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

17 Weather Service shall designate not fewer than one 

18 climate assessment coordination officer at each 

19 weather forecast office of the National Weather 

20 Service to coordinate the support required under 

21 subsection (a). 

22 (2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The officer designated 

23 under paragraph (1) shall liaise and collaborate with 

24 State and local governments and entities and institu25 tions partnering or collaborating with State govern26 ments under subsection (e) to facilitate the sharing 


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1 of information and the development of quadrennial 

2 State climate assessments. 

3 (d) ELEMENTS OF ASSESSMENT.—A State govern4 ment that elects to produce a quadrennial State climate 

5 assessment under subsection (a) shall, as a condition of 

6 the receipt of support under that subsection, ensure that 

7 the assessment— 

8 (1) includes an analysis of the effects of global 

9 change on the natural environment, agriculture, en10 ergy production and use, land and water resources, 

11 transportation, human health and welfare, human 

12 social systems, and biological diversity in that State; 

13 (2) includes an analysis of current trends in 

14 global change, both human-induced and natural, and 

15 how those trends impact that State, and a projection 

16 of major trends for the next 25 to 100 years in that 

17 State; and 

18 (3) integrates, evaluates, and interprets the 

19 findings of the assessment and discusses the sci20 entific uncertainties associated with such findings. 

21 (e) COLLABORATION.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State government that 

23 elects to produce a quadrennial State climate assess24 ment under subsection (a) may collaborate or part25 ner with private entities and institutions of higher 


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1 education (or a consortia thereof) in developing and 

2 producing such quadrennial State climate assess3 ment. 

4 (2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION DE5 FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘institution of 

6 higher education’’ has the meaning given that term 

7 in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 

8 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

Æ 


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