U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1 

59–010 

" ! SENATE 

114TH CONGRESS

2d Session 

REPORT 

2016

114–248 

Calendar No. 455 

SEASONAL FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT 

ACT 

R E P O R T 

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND 

TRANSPORTATION 

ON

S. 1331 

MAY 9, 2016.—Ordered to be printed 


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(II) 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman 

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

MARCO RUBIO, Florida CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri 

KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota 

TED CRUZ, Texas RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut 

DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas ED MARKEY, Massachusetts 

DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska CORY BOOKER, New Jersey 

RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

DEAN HELLER, Nevada JOE MANCHIN, West Virginia 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado GARY PETERS, Michigan 

STEVE DAINES, Montana 

NICK ROSSI, Staff Director 

ADRIAN ARNAKIS, Deputy Staff Director 

REBECCA SEIDEL, General Counsel 

KIM LIPSKY, Democratic Staff Director 

CHRISTOPHER DAY, Democratic Deputy Staff Director 

CLINT ODOM, Democratic General Counsel 


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1 Jeffrey K. Lazo, Rebecca E. Morss, and Julie L. Demuth, ‘‘300 Billion Served: Sources, Perceptions, Uses, and Values of Weather Forecasts,’’ Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 90, no. 6 (June 2009), pp. 785-798, available at journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/ 

2008BAMS2604.1 (accessed November 22, 2013). 

Calendar No. 455 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 114–248 

SEASONAL FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT ACT 

MAY 9, 2016.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. THUNE, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1331] 

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 

which was referred the bill (S. 1331) to help enhance commerce 

through improved seasonal forecasts, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and recommends that the bill 

(as amended) do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of S. 1331, the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement 

Act, is to improve seasonal forecasts, speed research to operations, 

and enhance satellite governance. 

BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

Improved weather forecasts not only reduce the loss of life from 

severe weather conditions, but have broader benefits to the general 

public. It is estimated the collective benefit of weather forecasting 

to the American public was $31.5 billion, compared to the $5.1 billion spent in 2007 on generating weather forecasts in the United 

States. Of the money spent yearly on weather forecasting, a little 

over two-thirds, or $3.4 billion, was spent by Federal agencies.1 Reliable observations and continued research will help to further improve forecasts, and these improvements will likely correspond to 

an even larger benefit for individuals, businesses, and the broader 


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2 National Research Council, Assessment of Intraseasonal to Interannual Climate Prediction 

and Predictability, 2010, available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12878/assessment-ofintraseasonal-to-interannual-climate-prediction-and-predictability (accessed May 14, 2015). 3 National Weather Service, About NOAA’s National Weather Service, available at http:// 

www.weather.gov/about (accessed April 10, 2013). 4The R&D Portfolio Review Task Force, In the Nation’s Best Interest: Making the Most of 

NOAA’s Science Enterprise, Final Report to the NOAA Science Advisory Board, March 27, 2013, 

available at http://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/2013/march/PRTF report final.pdf (accessed April 

10, 2015). 

economy. Weather forecasts for periods beyond two weeks are currently substantially less reliable, but if they were improved have 

the potential to have significant economic and social benefit. For 

example, farmers, ranchers, and water managers all need to make 

decisions on time scales longer than two weeks, and must currently 

do so without the benefit of reliable forecasts.2

Federal Weather Services 

Several line offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are integral to the Federal weather enterprise. Most obviously, the National Weather Service (NWS) is 

charged with providing weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, 

and warnings in order to protect life and property and to enhance 

the Nation’s economy.3 The National Environmental Satellite, 

Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is involved in acquiring 

and managing Federal environmental observing satellites, and it 

operates the data centers that capture and process the information 

from these satellites. Several satellite programs support NWS’s 

operational weather forecasting mission. A third line office at 

NOAA, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), carries out much of the basic research that supports NWS’s operational forecasts. For example, OAR participates in and funds cooperative institutes, which foster collaboration between NOAA scientists and academic institutions. OAR also supports several test 

beds, where NOAA scientists, academics, and forecasters work together to move the state-of-the-art science into operational forecasts (this is part of a process that is sometimes referred to as research-to-operations or R2O). As recognized by a recent NOAA 

Science Advisory Board report, if the basic science developed at the 

agency fails to be applied to the operational goals of NOAA, then 

the agency ‘‘will fail in its mission.’’ 4

The line offices within NOAA work together to collect and transmit weather information, but this intra-agency coordination should 

be strengthened. The work of the National Ocean Service provides 

context for weather products, including information about tides, 

currents, bathymetry, and topography. Furthermore, the Office of 

Marine and Aviation Operations provides the fleet of ships and aircraft piloted by NOAA Commissioned Officers to take measurements integral to NOAA weather missions. 

Other Federal agencies also use NOAA weather products. The 

Coast Guard uses NOAA satellite data extensively, both for weather data and to plan and execute search and rescue missions. The 

Federal Aviation Administration partners with the NWS Aviation 

Weather Center to fund new developments in aviation weather prediction, such as the NextGen weather program to decrease the occurrence of weather-related aviation delays. The Department of Defense operates some of its own weather programs in order to meet 

its specific needs. In particular, the Air Force has been heavily inVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:33 May 10, 2016 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR248.XXX SR248

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5 Jason Samenow, ‘‘Air Force’s plan to drop U.S. forecast system for U.K. model draws criticism,’’ The Washington Post, April 20, 2015, available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ 

capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/04/20/air-force-to-cut-ties-with-u-s-weather-forecast-system-infavor-of-uk-model/ (accessed May 15, 2015). 6Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, available at http://www.ofcm.gov/default.htm (accessed September 4, 2015). 7 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, FY2016 NOAA Budget Summary, 2015, 

available at http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/∼nbo/fy16lbluebook/ 

FY2016BudgetSummary-web.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015). 8 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Satellite and Information Service, 2015, 

available at http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/imageryldata.html (accessed October 16, 2015). 9 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite R-Series, available at http://www.goes-r.gov/ (accessed May 15, 2015). 

volved in weather prediction and satellite procurement, but in the 

last few years it has scaled back its efforts. In April 2015, the Air 

Force announced that it would rely primarily on a United Kingdom 

weather model, instead of a U.S. weather model. The Air Force is 

reported to have made this decision without consulting the other 

armed services or other agencies involved in weather prediction.5

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology was created 

by the Department of Commerce in 1964 to coordinate the meteorological activities of Federal departments and agencies,6 but as demonstrated by the Air Force’s recent decision, there is still often a 

lack of coordination. 

National Weather Service 

The NWS aims to: produce and deliver accurate forecasts; reduce, 

and ultimately eliminate, weather-related fatalities; and improve 

the economic value of weather, water, and climate information. 

NWS data and products form a national information database and 

infrastructure that is used by other government agencies, private 

sector weather services organizations (e.g., The Weather Channel 

and Accuweather), and the public. The NWS collects data from a 

variety of sources, including: Doppler weather radars; satellites operated by NESDIS; data buoys for marine observations; radiosonde 

carried by weather balloons; surface observing systems; and instruments for monitoring space weather and air quality. 

Role of Satellites in Supporting Weather Operations 

Satellites make up approximately 40 percent of the NOAA budget; NESDIS was funded at about $2.2 billion in fiscal year (FY) 

2015.7 Currently, NESDIS, in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Air Force, manages and 

operates a fleet of over 10 weather and environmental monitoring 

satellites.8 These satellites monitor Earth constantly to provide 

data on temperature, sea surface height, cloud cover, and other 

data that inform weather and climate models. Two types of satellites provide most of our weather and climate data: geostationary 

and polar-orbiting satellites. 

The 2 primary and 1 back up Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth’s 

equator and provide coverage of the western hemisphere, taking 

photographic images every 15 minutes. The GOES satellites are 

critical for identifying severe weather, snowstorms, tropical storms, 

and hurricanes. The GOES satellites are also capable of assisting 

in search and rescue activities by locating emergency beacons that 

have been activated by individuals in distress.9 The next generaVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:33 May 10, 2016 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR248.XXX SR248

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10Frank Konkel, ‘‘$11 Billion Next-Gen Weather Satellite Launch Delayed,’’ Nextgov, August 

20, 2015, available at http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/emerging-tech-blog/2015/08/11-billion-next-gen-weather-satellite-launch-delayed/119311/ (accessed September 3, 2015). 11 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Joint Polar Satellite System, available at 

http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/FactSheets/JPSSlOverview.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015). 12 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, FY2016 NOAA Budget Summary, 2015, 

available at http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/∼nbo/fy16lbluebook/ 

FY2016BudgetSummary-web.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015). 13Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Top Management Challenges Facing 

the Department of Commerce, Final Report No. OIG-12-003, 2011, available at http:// 

www.oig.doc.gov/OIGPublications/TMC-FY12-OIG-12-003.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013). Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Top Management Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce, Final Report No. OIG-13-003, 2012, available at http://www.oig.doc.gov/ 

OIGPublications/TMC-FY13-OIG-13-003.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013). Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Top Management Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce, Final Report No. OIG-14-002, 2013, available at http://www.oig.doc.gov/OIGPublications/ 

TMC-FY14-OIG-14-002.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013). 

tion GOES satellite was originally scheduled to launch in October 

2015, but has been twice delayed. A new launch date has not been 

finalized, but will likely be in the fall 2016.10

Polar satellites orbit completely around the Earth’s poles from 

about 500 miles above the Earth’s surface, and travel 14 full orbits 

per day. Polar orbiting satellites provide a detailed picture of the 

entire planet, and primarily assist in medium- to long-range weather forecasts (i.e., 5 to 10 days out). Polar-orbiting satellites provide 

a broad range of environmental monitoring data, including global 

sea surface temperature measurements, measurements of temperature and humidity of the atmosphere, information about volcanic 

eruptions, detection of forest fires, and analyses of global vegetation cover.11 NOAA most recently launched a polar orbiting satellite in 2011, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership 

(SNPP). SNPP is the primary operational polar orbiting satellite, 

though currently there are several legacy polar satellites that can 

provide back up in the case of a failure of SNPP. The next generation of polar orbiting satellites is the Joint Polar Satellite System 

(JPSS), which currently includes two satellites, JPSS-1 and 

JPSS-2. JPSS-1 is scheduled to launch in early 2017. Because the 

SNPP satellite’s mission life only extends through 2016 and its design life only extends through 2018, many are concerned about a 

data gap before JPSS becomes operational. The JPSS program received approximately $916 million in appropriations during FY 

2015. The budget request for FY 2016 is $809 million, with an additional $380 million in funding requested for the development of 

a follow on to JPSS-2 and to mitigate potential data gaps among 

SNPP, JPSS-1, and JPSS-2.12

The Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General has 

identified NOAA’s satellite programs as one of the top five management challenges facing the Department in several recent reports.13

Both the JPSS and GOES satellite programs face risks of coverage 

gaps in the future due to cost overruns and schedule delays. While 

NOAA has made some effort to address these concerns, the rate of 

increase in satellite spending has continued to exceed the increase 

in NOAA’s topline budget. 

Seasonal Forecasts 

A scientific challenge for the NWS and other NOAA scientists is 

to improve subseasonal, seasonal, and interannual predictions, 

which look at long-term forecasts for future weeks, months, and 

years. These forecasts are important to public and private decisionVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:33 May 10, 2016 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR248.XXX SR248

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14Frank Morris, ‘‘Got Road Salt? Cities across the country are running out of it,’’ NPR, February 17, 2015, available at http://www.npr.org/2014/02/17/275899324/got-road-salt-cities-acrossthe-country-are-running-out-of-it (accessed April 15, 2015). 15 Brian, McNoldy, ‘‘What happened to hurricane season? And why we should keep forecasting 

it...’’ The Washington Post, September 30, 2013, available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ 

blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/09/30/what-happened-to-hurricane-season-and-why-weshould-keep-forecasting-it/ (accessed December 5, 2013). 16 National Research Council, Assessment of Intraseasonal to Interannual Climate Prediction 

and Predictability, 2010, available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12878/assessment-ofintraseasonal-to-interannual-climate-prediction-and-predictability (accessed May 14, 2015). 17 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, North American Multi-Model Ensemble 

(NMME), available at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/NMME/NMMEldescription.html 

(accessed May 14, 2015). 18 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, National Earth System Prediction Capability, available at http://espc.oar.noaa.gov/ (accessed May 14, 2015). 

makers, such as farmers, insurance firms, and water resource managers, but reliable long-term forecasts have proved elusive. For example, seasonal predictions of heavy snowstorms in 2014 could 

have prevented the exhaustion of national supplies of road salt, 

which left cities from Kansas to New Jersey scrambling to keep 

their roads safe.14 In addition, NOAA’s seasonal forecast for the 

2013 Atlantic hurricane season overestimated the number of 

named storms in the early part of the season.15

Improved predictions on these longer time-scales require accurate observations and dynamic models that represent the oceans 

and atmosphere.16 Though there is currently no perfect model, improved forecasts have resulted from efforts that average the results 

of multiple existing models. This effort requires researchers to coordinate to ensure the output from their various models is compatible.17 Additionally, an interagency effort, the Earth System Prediction Capability, seeks to coordinate existing forecast efforts on 

all time-scales, from hourly to multi-year.18

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

S. 1331, the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act, as reported, 

would reauthorize and modify NOAA’s Weather Research Program 

in order to better focus NOAA’s research to operations program as 

well as increase the speed with which NOAA research is 

operationalized. It also would enhance NOAA’s satellite governance 

and ensure the best value is sought in procuring future satellites. 

In addition, S. 1331 would improve seasonal-scale forecasts and the 

communication of these forecasts. It would inform a strategy for 

NOAA’s future weather observations by first establishing a Weather Commission to solicit user input to determine the highest priority products that NOAA produces. The bill would then require a 

National Academy of Sciences report to examine strategies to procure observations utilizing the findings of the Weather Commission 

as well as the 2017 study entitled ‘‘Earth Science and Applications 

from Space.’’ NOAA would be required to establish a National 

Water Center and maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement 

Project. Finally, it also would require the Office of Science and 

Technology Policy to establish a Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On April 11, 2015, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate held a hearing entitled ‘‘Weathering 


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the Storm: How Can We Better Communicate Weather to Enhance 

Commerce and Safety?’’ 

S. 1331 was introduced by Senator Thune on May 13, 2015. It 

was cosponsored by Senator Schatz. On May 20, 2015, the Committee met in open Executive Session and, by a voice vote, ordered 

a substitute version of S. 1331 reported favorably. Amendments 

were offered by Senators Booker, Cantwell, Markey, Nelson, Rubio, 

and Udall, all of which were adopted. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the Congressional Budget 

Act of 1974, the Committee provides the following cost estimate, 

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 1331—Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act 

Summary: S. 1331 would authorize appropriations totaling $190 

million over the 2016–2020 period for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand and improve its capabilities for seasonal weather forecasting. The bill also would require 

NOAA to carry out various activities relating to the collection, 

analysis, and dissemination of forecast data. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $172 million 

over the 2016–2020 period. Because enacting S. 1331 would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not 

apply. 

S. 1331 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

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

Estimated Cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 1331 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (environment and 

natural resources). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2016– 

2020 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Seasonal Forecasting Improvement: 

Authorization Level .............................................................. 27 27 27 27 27 133 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 18 23 26 27 27 120 

Weather Research Program: 

Authorization Level .............................................................. 10 10 10 10 10 50 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... 6 9 10 10 10 45 

Other Activities: 

Authorization Level .............................................................. I 2 2 2 0 7 

Estimated Outlays ............................................................... I 2 2 2 * 7 

Total Changes: 

Authorization Level ..................................................... 38 39 39 39 37 190 

Estimated Outlays ...................................................... 25 334 38 39 37 172 

Note: Components do not sum to totals because of rounding. 

* = Less than $500,000. 

Basis of Estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted late in 2015 and that the authorized 

amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated outVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:33 May 10, 2016 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR248.XXX SR248

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lays are based on historical spending patterns for NOAA’s forecasting and research activities. 

S. 1331 would authorize the appropriation of $26.5 million a year 

through 2020 for NOAA to develop and disseminate seasonal temperature and precipitation forecasts. Under the bill, NOAA would 

create an Internet clearinghouse for seasonal forecasts and would 

build upon existing forecasting programs and partnerships with 

other institutions and agencies. The bill also would authorize 

NOAA to award grants to states to receive and distribute forecasts 

and related information. Assuming appropriation of the authorized 

amounts, CBO estimates that carrying out those activities would 

cost $120 million over the 2016–2020 period. 

The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $10 million a 

year through 2020 to create a weather research program. The program would track, evaluate, and support ongoing research projects 

conducted by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates 

that implementing this provision would cost $45 million over the 

2016–2020 period. 

Finally, S. 1331 would authorize the appropriation of $1 million 

a year over the 2017–2019 period for NOAA to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (or a similar organization) to conduct a study of the scope and cost-effectiveness of 

NOAA’ s satellite systems. The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $1 million a year through 2019 to establish a weather 

commission to advise the federal government on weather forecasting. Assuming appropriations of the authorized amounts, CBO 

estimates that implementing these provisions would cost $7 million 

over the 2016–2020 period. 

Pay-As-You-Go Considerations: None. 

Intergovernmental and Private-Sector impact: S. 1331 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

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

and public universities, would benefit from cooperative arrangements and federal grants authorized in the bill. Any costs incurred 

by those entities, including matching contributions, would be incurred voluntarily. 

Estimate Prepared by: Federal costs: Ben Christopher and Jeff 

LaFave; Impact on state, local, and tribal governments: Jon Sperl; 

Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approval by: Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT

In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the legislation, as reported: 

NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED

S. 1331 as reported would not create any new programs or impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not 

subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations. 


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ECONOMIC IMPACT

Enactment of this legislation is not expected to have any inflationary or adverse impact on the Nation’s economy. 

PRIVACY

The bill would not impact the personal privacy of individuals. 

PAPERWORK

S. 1331 would require reports from the Federal Government. The 

Administrator of NOAA would provide to Congress reports on seasonal forecasts, research to operations, urban weather, the findings 

of the Weather Commission, and the impact of the Air Force’s divestiture in the United States Weather Research and Forecasting 

Model. The Administrator also would be required to provide an annual report on research to operations. It also would require a report from the National Water Center and a report from the National Academy of Sciences. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no provisions 

contained in the bill, as reported, meet the definition of congressionally directed spending items under the rule. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title. 

This section would designate the short title of the bill as the 

‘‘Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act.’’ 

Section 2. Improving seasonal forecasts for agriculture and commerce. 

This section would direct NOAA to create usable, reliable, and 

timely seasonal forecasts, and determine the impact of these forecasts on a variety of other weather conditions. In producing these 

forecasts, NOAA would be required to leverage existing research 

and resources; it is not the Committee’s intention that NOAA establishes new programs in order to fulfill this section. NOAA has 

adequate established programs, including existing programs at the 

regional level. Rather, NOAA would focus on providing resources to 

existing programs, coordinating existing activities, and better communicating research and products. This section would require the 

forecasts to be distributed to decision-makers at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of government; the private sector; and the public. In its communication with the private sector, 

NOAA would ensure it is reaching the entire weather enterprise, 

including companies that provide business-to-business weather 

forecasts and products. This section would provide grants to States 

for establishing Forecast Communication Coordinators in each 

State. Many States already have personnel who are effectively 

serving in this role. It is the Committee’s intention that a State 

could use these funds to better support their existing personnel. In 

administering the grants, NOAA would not require States to make 


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a new hire. NOAA also would be required to develop a report on 

how seasonal forecasts are currently used and goals for the further 

development of forecasts and other related products. It is the intention of the Committee that NOAA would focus on developing predictions that have the highest likelihood of providing accurate and 

usable information to the public. 

Section 3. United States Weather Research Program. 

This section would reauthorize the Weather Research Program. 

It would require OAR to annually develop a list of its five weather 

projects closest to operationalization and detail the status of these 

projects and the plan for operationalization of the projects. NOAA 

also would be required to create a list of on-going research projects. 

In creating such a list, NOAA need not detail every component of 

projects. It is sufficient that NOAA list projects that have a total 

budget of over $250,000. This section also would establish teams 

from OAR and the NWS to oversee the operationalization of such 

projects. This section would encourage collaboration and coordination among OAR, the rest of NOAA, and relevant user communities. OAR would be required to develop internal mechanisms to 

ensure projects are progressing and meeting goals. OAR also would 

be required to develop test beds. 

Section 4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite design and management. 

The Committee has serious concerns that costs overruns and 

schedule delays have not only jeopardized the continuity of satellite 

observations, but NOAA itself. The Committee observes that the 

soaring cost of satellite observations is impacting NOAA’s ocean 

and coastal management missions. This section would direct NOAA 

to take actions to manage the expense of environmental observations. NOAA would be allowed to purchase satellite components in 

block buys, rather than individually whenever possible. When assessing bids for satellite components, NOAA also would have to 

consider the overall value of the bid by assessing factors such as 

integration with current systems, continuity, and consistency. 

NOAA would be required to complete and operationalize its equatorial and polar microsatellite constellation; annual update reports 

would be required until NOAA completes this. 

The Administrator of NOAA also would be required to include 

data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System into appropriate 

forecast models since ocean observations are critical for accurately 

predicting weather on all time scales. This section would require 

NOAA to identify degradation of existing monitoring and observation infrastructure that could lead to a reduction in forecast quality. For example, NOAA’s failure to properly maintain buoys in the 

equatorial Pacific Ocean has hindered the agency’s ability to provide El Nin ̃ o forecasts. 

This section also would require future satellites to be designed 

with an operational focus because NOAA has an obligation to provide regular, reliable, robust observations and accurate weather 

forecasts. However, less than half of the instruments from NOAA’s 

next generation polar orbiting satellites will provide data for NWS 

weather models, and even those instruments that are providing 

data will be at a higher resolution than can be effectively utilized 


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by NWS weather models. This section would direct NOAA to enter 

into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the future of NOAA satellite systems and, to the 

extent possible, follow any recommendations in that study and the 

report from the Weather Commission established in section 6. It is 

the Committee’s hope that by actively engaging with the broader 

weather community, NOAA would develop a plan for a future satellite constellation that is more accurate, fiscally sustainable, and 

less fragile. 

Section 5. Designation of Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. 

This section would require the Director of the Office of Science 

and Technology to establish a Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. 

Section 6. Establishment of the Weather Commission. 

This section would establish a weather commission, which would 

provide a report on the highest priority weather forecast needs 

from the user community perspective in order to inform the National Academy of Sciences study mandated by section 4(b) on environmental data needs. The original intent of the Weather Commission was to encourage a robust dialogue by bringing together all 

weather stakeholders, private and public, in an open forum. Because of concerns raised by Federal agencies, the bill was amended 

to remove all government participation in the Weather Commission. It is the Committee’s intention that the category of operational forecasters include those involved in providing business-tobusiness private commercial weather forecasts. NOAA may include 

additional non-government members on the Weather Commission 

that NOAA considers necessary. Such additional members do not 

need to come from the categories outlined in subsection (b)(1)(B). 

For example, NOAA could include representatives from companies 

that provide ground-based observations if the Administrator of 

NOAA considers that viewpoint is needed. 

Section 7. Weather impacts to communities and infrastructure. 

This section would require the NWS to review the resources it 

has to meet the specific needs of high density population center end 

users and provide a plan for how any unmet research, modeling, 

and forecasting needs can be addressed. 

Section 8. Department of Defense weather forecasting activities. 

This section would require NOAA to provide to Congress a report 

on the impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in the United 

States Weather Research and Forecasting Model. 

Section 9. National Weather Service; operations and workforce analysis. 

This section would require the NWS to conduct a baseline analysis of the NWS operations and workforce. 

Section 10. Water resources. 

This section would formally establish a National Water Center. 

The National Water Center may facilitate collaboration across the 

Federal and State governments, make recommendations to improve 

water resource management, improve water resource forecasts, and 


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11 

facilitate the transition of water research into applications. NOAA, 

acting through the National Water Center, would improve operational water resource prediction products and collaborate with, 

and provide decision-support to, relevant Federal and State agencies with respect to total water predictions. The intention of this 

section is to codify existing activities rather than establishing a 

new program: the activities of the National Water Center described 

in this section are consistent with ongoing activities. This section 

would require the National Water Center to submit to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works a report on total water 

predictive capabilities and products and how these capabilities and 

products would be used in the management of civil work projects, 

including the Central and Southern Florida Project and any project 

in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System. 

Section 11. Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project. 

This section would require NOAA to maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting. The goals of the project would be to 

develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in 

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

NOAA also would be required to develop a plan to meet the goals 

of this section. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as 

reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted 

is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985 

[Public Law 99—198] 

SEC. 1762. WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE. 

[15 U.S.C. 313 note] 

ø(a)¿ (a) FINDINGS.— Congress finds that— 

(1) agricultural and silvicultural operations are vulnerable to 

damage from atmospheric conditions that accurate and timely 

reporting of weather information can help prevent; 

(2) the maintenance of current weather and climate analysis 

and information dissemination systems, and Federal, State, 

and private efforts to improve these systems, is essential if agriculture and silviculture are to mitigate damage from atmospheric conditions; 

(3) agricultural and silvicultural weather services at the Federal level should be maintained with joint planning between 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 

Department of Agriculture; and 

(4) efforts should be made, involving user groups, weather 

and climate information providers, and Federal and State governments, to expand the use of weather and climate information in agriculture and silviculture. 

ø(b)¿ (b) POLICY.— It, therefore, is declared to be the policy of 

Congress that it is in the public interest to maintain an active Federal involvement in providing agricultural and silvicultural weathVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:33 May 10, 2016 Jkt 059010 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR248.XXX SR248

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er and climate information and that efforts should be made, among 

users of this information and among private providers of this information, to improve use of this information. 

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

Weather Service and other appropriate programs in the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall— 

(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of seasonal temperature and precipitation; 

(2) leverage existing research and models from the academic 

sector 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, heatwaves, coastal inundation, winter 

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

(B) snowpack; and 

(C) sea ice conditions; 

(4) provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels; and 

(5) develop an Internet clearinghouse with the forecasts of 

seasonal temperature and precipitation and other relevant seasonal forecasts and products produced by the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal and State departments and agencies, and the academic sector. 

(d) COMMUNICATION.—The Under Secretary shall provide the forecasts and the information on their impacts under subsection (c) to 

the public, including public and private entities engaged in planning and preparedness, including— 

(1) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and 

local levels of government; 

(2) the private sector; and 

(3) the public. 

(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 seasonal forecasts as a priority in 1 or more Cooperative Institute solicitations; 

(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 

seasonal forecast needs to enhance national security. 

(f) FORECAST COMMUNICATION COORDINATORS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall provide grants 

to States, including territories, for each State to have a forecast 

communication coordinator to receive and disseminate the forecasts and information under subsection (c). Applications for 

grants under this subsection shall be submitted in such form 

and manner, and contain such information, as the Under Secretary prescribes. 

(2) REQUIREMENTS.—For each State that requests assistance 

under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall— 


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

to— 

(i) serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, the academic sector, the State, and 

relevant interests within that State; and 

(ii) receive the forecasts and information under subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and information throughout the State, including county and tribal 

governments; 

(B) provide 1 grant for the purpose described in paragraph (1); and 

(C) require matching funds from the State, a university, 

a non-governmental organization, trade association, or the 

private sector. 

(3) LIMITATION.—Each grant under this subsection shall not 

exceed $100,000. 

(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 

enactment of the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act, the 

Under Secretary shall transmit 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 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 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) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to 

be appropriated to carry out this section $26,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020. 

(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) SEASONAL.—The term ‘‘seasonal’’ means the time range between 2 weeks and 2 years. 

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

the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 


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NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1992 

[Public Law 102—567] 

SEC. 108. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

[15 U.S.C. 313 note] 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation 

with the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, 

and Technology through the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences, shall establish a United States Weather Research 

Program to— 

(1) increase benefits to the Nation from the substantial investment in modernizing the public weather warning and forecast system in the United States; 

(2) improve local and regional weather forecasts and warnings; 

(3) address critical weather-related scientific issuesø; and¿; 

(4) coordinate governmental, university, and private-sector 

effortsø.¿; 

(5) provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 

Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an annual report, including— 

(A) a list of on-going research projects, including project 

goals and a point of contact for each project; and 

(B) the 5 projects related to observations, weather, or seasonal-scale forecasts within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to operationalization, 

including for each project— 

(i) the potential benefit; 

(ii) any barrier to operationalization; and 

(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 within the National Weather Service; 

(7) develop mechanisms for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s research priorities to be informed by both the 

relevant line offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the relevant user community, and the 

weather enterprise, including by exchanging detailees between 

the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the line offices; 

(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) for extramural research funded, the Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research shall develop and implement a system to 

track whether the grant’s goals were accomplished; 


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(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. 

(b) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—øNot later than 90 days after the 

date of enactment of this Act, the¿ The Secretary of Commerce, in 

cooperation with the Committee on Earth and Environmental 

Sciences, shall prepare 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 a 

plan for implementation of the United States Weather Research 

Program which shall — 

(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year the 

plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal weather 

research which most effectively advance the scientific understanding of weather processes and provide information to improve weather warning and forecast systems in the United 

States; 

(2) describe specific activities, including research activities, 

data collection and data analysis requirements, predictive modeling, participation in international research efforts, demonstration of potential operational forecast applications, and 

education and training required to achieve such goals and priorities; and 

(3) set forth the role of each Federal agency and department 

to be involved in the United States Weather Research Program, identifying and addressing, as appropriate, relevant programs and activities of the Federal agencies and departments 

that would contribute to such Program. 

Æ 


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