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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6093 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 6093

   To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
   weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and 
   prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of 
                 weather data, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2023

 Mr. Lucas (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Weber of 
Texas, Mr. Babin, Mr. Baird, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mrs. Bice, 
Mr. Obernolte, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms. Tenney, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Collins, 
 and Mr. Kean of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
   weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and 
   prediction, 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 Reauthorization Act of 2023'' or the 
``Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023''.
    (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--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
                         INNOVATION ACT OF 2017

Sec. 101. Public safety priority.
Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
                            Experiment (VORTEX).
Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.
Sec. 105. Tsunami warning, education, and research.
Sec. 106. Observing system planning.
Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.
Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization.
Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center.
Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning.
Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities.
Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
Sec. 113. Ocean observations.
Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports.
     TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION

Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation.
Sec. 202. Next generation radar.
Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States.
Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.
Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement 
                            program.
Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation.
Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program.
Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system.
      TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS

Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.
Sec. 305. Clerical amendment.
             TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC

Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.
Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.
Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement.
Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization.
Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments.
Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert 
                            dissemination for hazardous weather or 
                            water events.
Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection.
   TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                               MANAGEMENT

Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water 
                            management.
Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System.
Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program.
Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Sec. 505. National water center.
Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--In this Act, the terms ``seasonal'', ``State'', 
``subseasonal'', ``Under Secretary'', ``weather enterprise'', ``weather 
data'', and ``weather industry'' have the meanings given such terms in 
section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
    (b) Weather Data Defined.--Section 2 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) Weather data.--The term `weather data' means 
        information used to track and predict weather conditions and 
        patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative 
        products from such information.''.

   TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
                         INNOVATION ACT OF 2017

SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.

    Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new sentence: ``The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate 
and timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and 
enhance the national economy by disseminating to the public and core 
partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather 
information and impact-based decision support services.''.

SEC. 102. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING.

    Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry 
out this title the following:
            ``(1) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which--
                    ``(A) $90,000,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                    ``(B) $30,000,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                    ``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                    ``(D) $15,000,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
            ``(2) $156,550,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which--
                    ``(A) $90,900,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                    ``(B) $30,300,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                    ``(C) $20,200,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                    ``(D) $15,150,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
            ``(3) $158,116,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
                    ``(A) $91,809,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                    ``(B) $30,603,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                    ``(C) $20,402,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                    ``(D) $15,302,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
            ``(4) $159,697,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
                    ``(A) $92,727,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                    ``(B) $30,909,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                    ``(C) $20,606,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                    ``(D) $15,455,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                102(b)(4) of this title.
            ``(5) $161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
                    ``(A) $93,654,000 is authorized for weather 
                laboratories and cooperative institutes;
                    ``(B) $31,218,000 is authorized for the United 
                States Weather Research Program;
                    ``(C) $20,812,000 is authorized for tornado, severe 
                storm, and next generation radar research; and
                    ``(D) $15,609,000 is authorized for the joint 
                technology transfer initiative described in section 
                8512(b)(4) of this title.
    ``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out 
this title or the amendments made by this title.''.

SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES 
              EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).

    (a) In General.--Section 103 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read 
as follows:

``SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES 
              EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).

    ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a 
program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and 
information integration from new sources.
    ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be 
to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to 
tornadoes, with a focus on the following:
            ``(1) Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado 
        forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
            ``(2) Optimizing lead time and providing actionable 
        information beyond one hour in advance.
            ``(3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-
        forecast.
    ``(c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall ensure 
the program under subsection (a) periodically examines, tests, and 
evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as 
novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, 
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado 
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
    ``(d) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
            ``(1) Implementing key goals and achieving program 
        milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2019 report, 
        `Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan'.
            ``(2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities, 
        risk communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes.
            ``(3) Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling, 
        and tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of 
        tornadoes on the built and natural environment, and the 
        interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes.
    ``(e) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under 
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 
406, shall--
            ``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast 
        guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather 
        phenomena;
            ``(2) incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as 
        appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and 
        economic sciences;
            ``(3) enhance workforce training on radar interpretation 
        and use of tornado warning systems; and
            ``(4) expand computational resources to support higher-
        resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-
        forecast.
    ``(f) Tornado Rating System.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration 
with local communities and emergency managers, shall--
            ``(1) evaluate the system used as of the date of the 
        enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;
            ``(2) determine whether updates to such system are required 
        to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of 
        tornados; and
            ``(3) if determined necessary, update such system.
    ``(g) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended 
by amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows:

``Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes 
                            Experiment (VORTEX).''.

SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a 
program to improve hurricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings.
    ``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be 
to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and 
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to 
hurricanes, with a focus on the following:
            ``(1) Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid 
        intensification and projected path of hurricanes, including 
        probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.
            ``(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based communication 
        of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges from 
        hurricanes, in coordination with the program established under 
        section 205.
            ``(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform response 
        to prevent the loss of life or property, such as evacuation or 
        shelter in place.
            ``(4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, 
        innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, 
        observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and 
        hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and 
        satellites.
    ``(c) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for 
research, including relating to the following:
            ``(1) Implementing key strategies and following priorities 
        and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's 2019 report `Hurricane Forecast Improvement 
        Program'.
            ``(2) In coordination with the National Science and 
        Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences 
        Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees, 
        improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, and 
        economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk 
        communication, and delivery of information critical for 
        reducing the loss of life or property related to hurricanes.
            ``(3) Improving the physical sciences, operational 
        modeling, and tools related to hurricane formation, the impacts 
        of wind and water-based hurricane hazards on the built and 
        natural environment, and the interaction of hurricanes and 
        tornadoes.
    ``(d) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under 
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 
406, shall--
            ``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research 
        necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast 
        guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather 
        phenomena;
            ``(2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting, 
        as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and 
        economic sciences research; and
            ``(3) expand computational resources to support and improve 
        higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and 
        related weather phenomena.
    ``(e) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.

SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH.

    The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5) of section 804(d) (33 U.S.C. 
        3203(d))--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(F) align the analytic techniques and 
                methodologies of the existing tsunami warning centers 
                supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure 
                seamless continuity of operations and mitigate risk of 
                operational failure by prioritizing investments that 
                include--
                            ``(i) replacing end of life equipment;
                            ``(ii) ensuring product consistency;
                            ``(iii) enabling consistent operational 
                        process for backup capabilities;
                            ``(iv) mitigating existing operational 
                        security risks; and
                            ``(v) meeting information security 
                        requirements specified in chapter 35 of title 
                        44, United States Code.''; and
            (2) by amending section 809 (33 U.S.C. 3207) to read as 
        follows:

``SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``From funds authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this title $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
through 2028.''.

SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING.

    Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) by inserting ``Federal'' before ``observing 
                capabilities''; and
                    (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by inserting ``, including private sector 
                partnerships or commercial acquisition,'' after 
                ``options''; and
                    (B) by striking the period and inserting a 
                semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit 
        analysis, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to 
        fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and 
        gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and
            ``(6) not later than one year after the date of the 
        enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress a report that 
        provides an analysis of the technical, schedule, cost, and cost 
        benefit analyses to place an operational polar-orbiting 
        environmental satellite capability in the early morning orbit 
        to support the weather enterprise and the Administration's 
        mission.''.

SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.

    Section 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``providing data'' 
        and inserting ``comparison to current or experimental 
        commercial system capabilities that provide data'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``, including polar-
        orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,'';
            (3) by striking subsection (d); and
            (4) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).

SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION.

    Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) 
and all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the 
following new subsections:
    ``(b) Computing Research Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration 
        with the Secretary of Energy, shall carry out an initiative, 
        which may leverage Department of Energy high performance 
        computers, cloud computing, or expertise, to run advanced 
        coupled models in order to conduct proof of concept scenarios 
        in comparison with current issued forecasts and models. The 
        Under Secretary and Secretary of Energy shall carry out the 
        initiative through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and 
        consider applications from Federal agencies, National 
        Laboratories, institutions of higher education (as such term is 
        defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001)), nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate 
        entities (or a consortia thereof).
            ``(2) Components.--In carrying out the initiative under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prevent duplication 
        and coordinate research efforts in artificial intelligence, 
        high performance computing, cloud computing, quantum computing, 
        modeling and simulation, machine learning, data assimilation, 
        large scale data analytics, and predictive analysis across the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and may--
                    ``(A) conduct comparative research between National 
                Weather Service issued forecasts and operational models 
                to predictions and models developed to run on high 
                performance computers or with cloud computing 
                resources;
                    ``(B) share relevant modeling system and 
                applications innovations developed through such 
                initiative, including Unified Forecast System-based 
                applications, through community-based activities;
                    ``(C) leverage coordinating activities managed by 
                the National Science and Technology Council, the 
                Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
                Services, and other relevant interagency entities;
                    ``(D) provide sufficient capacity for long-term 
                archive and access of model output to support research 
                and long-term study;
                    ``(E) determine computing decisions based on an 
                agile requirements framework; and
                    ``(F) support the training, recruitment, and 
                retention of the next generation weather, water, and 
                climate computing workforce through incentives and 
                pathways for career development and employment 
                opportunities.
            ``(3) Research security.--The activities authorized under 
        this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with 
        subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, 
        Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of 
        Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
            ``(4) Termination.--The authority under this subsection 
        shall terminate five years after the date of the enactment of 
        this subsection.
    ``(c) Artificial Intelligence Investments.--The Under Secretary 
shall leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning 
technologies to facilitate, optimize, and further leverage advanced 
computing to accomplish critical missions of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming high-
performance and cloud computing infrastructure or systems.
    ``(d) Centers of Excellence.--The Under Secretary may establish 
centers of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artificial 
intelligence and machine learning enabled advanced computing 
capabilities. Each such center may carry out activities that include 
the following:
            ``(1) Leveraging robust public-private partnership models 
        to provide access to training, experience, and long-term 
        development of workforce and infrastructure.
            ``(2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, 
        algorithms, data structures, and other supporting software 
        necessary for specific applications on high performance 
        computing systems.
            ``(3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep 
        machine-learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to 
        address current and future mission challenges.
            ``(4) To the maximum extent practicable, explore quantum 
        computing and related application partnerships with public, 
        private, and academic entities to improve the accuracy and 
        resolution of weather predictions.
    ``(e) Multi-Year Contracts.--The Under Secretary may enter into 
multi-year contracts in accordance with section 3903 of title 41, 
United States Code, and shall ensure compliance with all clauses 
provided in such section to support operational research and 
development related to high performance and cloud computing 
infrastructure or systems.
    ``(f) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection, the Under Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate a report evaluating the following:
            ``(1) The effectiveness of the initiative required under 
        subsection (b), including applied research discoveries and 
        advanced modeling improvements achieved.
            ``(2) A best estimate of the overall value of high-
        resolution probabilistic forecast guidance for hazardous 
        weather or water events (as such term is defined in section 
        406) using a next-generation weather forecast and warning 
        framework.
            ``(3) The needs for cloud computing, quantum computing, or 
        high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination 
        collaboration between the Department of Energy and the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            ``(4) A timeline and guidance for implementation of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) High-resolution numerical weather prediction 
                models.
                    ``(B) Methods for meeting the cloud computing, 
                quantum computing, or high-performance computing, 
                visualization, and dissemination needs identified under 
                paragraph (3).''.

SEC. 109. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER.

    Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (2) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the 
        following new subparagraphs:
                    ``(E) developing community weather research 
                modeling systems that--
                            ``(i) are accessible by the public in 
                        accordance with section 10601 of the James M. 
                        Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 
                        Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and 
                        available for archive and long-term study;
                            ``(ii) meet basic end-user requirements for 
                        running on public computers and networks 
                        located outside of secure National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration information and 
                        technology systems;
                            ``(iii) utilize, whenever appropriate and 
                        cost-effective, innovative strategies and 
                        methods, including cloud-based computing 
                        capabilities, for hosting and management of 
                        part or all of the system described in this 
                        subparagraph;
                            ``(iv) utilize modeling systems that allow 
                        for interoperability with new model components, 
                        modules, and next-generation software and 
                        coding languages;
                            ``(v) allow for open testing and 
                        integration of promising operational model 
                        improvements from the broader community;
                            ``(vi) access as close to a real-time basis 
                        as possible operational data and metadata, 
                        including commercially purchased data for use 
                        in Earth Prediction Innovation Center research 
                        and development testing grounds pursuant to 
                        redistribution restrictions, licensing 
                        agreements, and applicable existing laws and 
                        regulations; and
                            ``(vii) provide supported and portable 
                        versions of the unified forecast system, 
                        including applications for hurricane, space 
                        weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, and 
                        coastal models, that can reproduce current 
                        operational global and regional model 
                        prediction; and
                    ``(F) establishing a National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be maintained 
                by the Administration, a commercial partner, or non-
                profit entity, that consolidates and maintains a 
                publicly available and continuously updated collection 
                of data and metadata used in numerical weather 
                prediction for use in the Earth Prediction Innovation 
                Center's model testing, pursuant to redistribution 
                restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable 
                existing laws and regulations.''.

SEC. 110. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING.

    Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and 
        redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), 
        (2), and (3), respectively;
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite 
Systems and Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain a 
        fleet of Administration space-based observation platforms that 
        provide critical operations-focused data and information to 
        support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
        mission to monitor the global environment in order to protect 
        lives and property from extreme weather and other natural 
        phenomena.
            ``(2) Collaboration.--The Under Secretary shall implement 
        recommendations from the NOAA Observing Systems Council to 
        ensure an appropriate mix of government, academic, commercial 
        sector, and international partnerships in the provision of data 
        and information, including a broadened effort on data 
        acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under section 
        302 when cost effective and beneficial to the Administration.
            ``(3) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that 
        Administration platforms maintained under paragraph (1) 
        prioritize the development of products and services that are 
        tailored to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's mission.
            ``(4) National centers for environmental information.--The 
        Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers for 
        Environmental Information to provide a long-term archive and 
        access to the Administration's national and global data and 
        metadata.''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``2023'' and 
        inserting ``2030''.

SEC. 111. IMPROVING UNCREWED ACTIVITIES.

    Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended by 
striking ``, including commercial observing systems'' and inserting ``, 
including stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such as 
uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide observations of the 
atmosphere and ocean, and other observations, in cooperation with the 
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations''.

SEC. 112. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCING METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Section 402 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8542) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``Advancing Weather Services'' and 
                inserting ``Advancing Meteorological Services (in this 
                section referred to as the `Interagency Council')''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``Committee'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``Council'';
            (2) by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Co-Chairs.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-chairs of 
the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal 
Coordinator for Meteorology.
    ``(c) Further Coordination.--The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are necessary to 
coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with stakeholders 
in the United States weather industry, academic partners, State 
governments, and emergency managers, including by implementing 
mechanisms to encourage and enable the participation of non-Federal 
employees in the functions of the Interagency Council.'';
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(d) Functions.--The Interagency Council shall be the formal 
mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and agencies 
coordinate implementation of policy and practices to ensure United 
States global leadership in meteorological services. In doing so, the 
Interagency Council shall review programs and support relevant weather 
research and forecast innovation activities, as well as other related 
implementation activities, related to Federal meteorological services, 
including by carrying out the following:
            ``(1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological 
        research and service delivery needs, including relating to 
        observations, operational systems, communications, and 
        infrastructure.
            ``(2) Providing recommendations to streamline or 
        consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies in 
        cross-agency activities.
            ``(3) Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes of 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other 
        relevant Federal departments and agencies, including research 
        outcomes related to the relevant recommended key science and 
        applications questions and priorities in the National Academies 
        of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2018 report `Thriving 
        on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth 
        Observation from Space', to understand and predict high-impact 
        weather phenomena.
            ``(4) Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of 
        partnerships with private sector entities to advance 
        meteorological research, communications, and computing in 
        collaboration with the Earth system science, service, and 
        stakeholder communities.
            ``(5) Sharing information regarding meteorological research 
        improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant 
        Federal departments and agencies.
            ``(6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal departments 
        and agencies regarding potential collaborations and expected 
        level of resources needed to maintain and operate the 
        Interagency Council.
            ``(7) Enhancing communication and coordination and 
        promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments and 
        agencies and across the Interagency Council.
            ``(8) Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional 
        and diverse workforce for meteorological research and services.
    ``(e) Data Inventory.--The Interagency Council, in coordination and 
avoidance of duplication with the United States Group on Earth 
Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and archive 
activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, and reusability 
by maintaining a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not 
less frequently than annually for a period of five years beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council 
shall solicit updated information from private sector entities 
identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such data 
shall be made available to member departments and agencies under 
subsection (a).
    ``(f) Coordination Office.--The Interagency Meteorological 
Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council such 
administrative and logistical support as the Interagency Council may 
require, as determined by the co-chairs.
    ``(g) Cost Share.--Member departments and agencies of the 
Interagency Council under subsection (a) may provide reimbursable 
financial support to the Interagency Meteorological Coordinating Office 
to enhance cost-sharing and collaboration related to weather research 
and forecast innovation activities.
    ``(h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Interagency 
Council shall publish a report which identifies among member agencies 
the following:
            ``(1) Federal programs that use meteorological 
        observations, data sources, and capabilities.
            ``(2) Federal programs that acquire such data from private 
        sector entities.
            ``(3) Advancements in meteorological data collection, 
        assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal 
        programmatic operational capabilities.
            ``(4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations, 
        data sources, and capabilities that could be used to better 
        meet Federal programmatic needs.''.
    (b) References.--Any reference to the Interagency Committee for 
Advancing Weather Services in any law, rule, regulation, paper, record, 
map, or other such document of the United States shall be deemed to be 
a reference to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services.

SEC. 113. OCEAN OBSERVATIONS.

    Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(5) Ships of opportunity pilot program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator, in 
                coordination with the heads of relevant Federal 
                departments and agencies, shall, subject to relevant 
                regulations and certifications, establish a pilot 
                program to contract with research or commercial ship 
                operators for data collection and assess the potential 
                costs, benefits, and viability of a global network of 
                ocean and atmospheric observing instruments operating 
                on research or commercial ocean vessels, including in 
                the Arctic, in order to supplement the Integrated 
                Coastal and Ocean Observation System in improving 
                understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their 
                relationships to human activities.
                    ``(B) Standards and specifications.--The 
                Administrator shall ensure that data acquired through 
                the pilot program established pursuant to subparagraph 
                (A) meets the most recent standards and specifications 
                required for observation services and data as published 
                pursuant to subsection (c) of section 302 of the 
                Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
                2017.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than five years after the 
                date of the enactment of this paragraph, the 
                Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Transportation, shall submit to Congress a report on 
                the requirements for a global network of ocean and 
                atmospheric instruments operating on research or 
                commercial ocean vessels for measurement and data 
                transmission.
                    ``(D) Sunset.--This paragraph shall terminate on 
                the earlier of--
                            ``(i) September 30, 2029; or
                            ``(ii) one year after the date on which the 
                        report required under subparagraph (B) is 
                        submitted by the Administrator.''.

SEC. 114. CONSOLIDATION OF REPORTS.

    (a) Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.--
            (1) In general.--The Weather Research and Forecasting 
        Innovation Act of 2017 is amended--
                    (A) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)--
                            (i) in subsection (a), by inserting ``the'' 
                        after ``Director of''; and
                            (ii) by striking subsection (d); and
                    (B) by striking sections 408 through 411 and 
                section 414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as 
                sections 408 and 409, respectively.
            (2) Clerical amendments.--The table of contents in section 
        1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
        2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 408 
        through 414 and inserting the following new items:

``Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.
``Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.''.
    (b) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization 
Act of 1992.--Section 106 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567; 106 Stat. 
4274) is amended by striking subsection (c) (15 U.S.C. 1537).

     TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION

SEC. 201. WEATHER INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall establish a Research, 
Development, Test, and Evaluation Program (in this section referred to 
as the ``Program'') to ensure the continued performance of weather 
radar capabilities, including systems currently being developed, with 
obstructions in the line of sight of such radar.
    (b) Requirements.--In carrying out the Program, the Under 
Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing 
Meteorological Services, shall--
            (1) partner with the private sector, academia, Federal, 
        State, and local government entities, and any other entity the 
        Under Secretary considers appropriate;
            (2) identify, evaluate, and test existing or near-
        commercial technologies and solutions that improve radar 
        coverage and performance, including by mitigating the potential 
        impact of obstructions on weather radar;
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, research additional 
        solutions that could mitigate the effects of obstructions on 
        weather radar, such as--
                    (A) signal processing algorithms;
                    (B) short-term forecasting algorithms to replace 
                contaminated data;
                    (C) the use of dual polarization characteristics in 
                mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather 
                radar; and
                    (D) gap filling radars to provide supplemental or 
                replacement observations in impacted areas; and
            (4) develop, support, or partner with developers to provide 
        commercially viable technical mitigation solutions for 
        obstructions to weather radar capabilities that are compatible 
        with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.
    (c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based 
mitigation solutions:
            (1) Phased array weather radar systems.
            (2) Supplementing or replacing contaminated data with 
        commercial radar data.
            (3) The utilization of data from private sector associated 
        meteorological towers or similar capabilities.
            (4) The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm 
        boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.
            (5) The installation and provision of access to rain 
        gauges.
            (6) Any other technology-based mitigation solution the 
        Under Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by 
        overcoming obstructions, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.
    (d) Report; Recommendation.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
        the enactment of this section and annually thereafter until the 
        Program terminates pursuant to subsection (e), the Under 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        implementation of the Program, including an evaluation of each 
        technology-based mitigation solution identified for priority 
        consideration pursuant to subsection (c), and a recommendation 
        regarding additional identification and testing of new 
        technologies based on such consideration.
            (2) Final recommendation.--Not later than five years after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary 
        shall provide to Congress a recommendation on whether 
        additional research, testing, and development through the 
        Program established under subsection (a) is needed, and a 
        determination of whether a cessation of field research, 
        testing, development and evaluation is appropriate.
    (e) Termination.--The authority of the Under Secretary to carry out 
the Program shall terminate on the earlier of--
            (1) September 30, 2029; or
            (2) one year after the date on which the final 
        recommendation required under subsection (d)(2) is submitted by 
        the Under Secretary.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Beam blockage.--The term ``beam blockage'' means a 
        signal that is partially or fully blocked due to an 
        obstruction.
            (2) Ghost echo.--The term ``ghost echo'' means radar signal 
        reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the 
        proximity of an obstruction.
            (3) Obstruction.--The term ``obstruction'' includes the 
        following:
                    (A) a wind turbine that could limit the 
                effectiveness of a weather radar system;
                    (B) any building that disrupts or limits the 
                effectiveness of a weather radar system; or
                    (C) any other natural or human built structure that 
                affects a weather radar system.

SEC. 202. NEXT GENERATION RADAR.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to 
replace the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather 
Service (``NEXRAD'') system in existence as of the date of the 
enactment of this section.
    (b) Procurement Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to ensure the replacement described in 
subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2040.
    (c) Elements.--The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
            (1) Estimates of quantifiable improvements in radar 
        performance and service delivery, including coverage and 
        accuracy, to be made from replacement of the NEXRAD system 
        referred to in such subsection.
            (2) Development of a digital phased array radar test 
        article designed to test and determine the specifications and 
        requirements for such replacement.
            (3) Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed 
        for the following:
                    (A) Evaluation of commercial radars with the 
                potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.
                    (B) Providing technical assistance for commercial 
                replacement or supplemental radars, including data void 
                filling radars in regions where geographical topography 
                prevents full utilization of conventional systems.
            (4) Consultation and input solicited from meteorologists, 
        emergency managers, and public safety officials regarding the 
        specifications and requirements for the replacement of the 
        NEXRAD system referred in such subsection.
    (d) Radar-as-a-Service.--
            (1) In general.--In order to supplement data voids in radar 
        coverage in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
        section and ensure the continued performance of weather radar 
        capabilities, the Under Secretary may utilize and contract with 
        third party entities to fill such low-level and wide-area radar 
        data voids using diverse weather radars and data assimilation 
        technologies to better detect significant precipitation and 
        severe weather over a greater area across the population.
            (2) Considerations.--In carrying out the activities under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider--
                    (A) utilizing and contracting with third-party 
                entities that have participated in the testbed 
                established in accordance with subsection (c)(3); and
                    (B) weather camera systems and services, including 
                systems and services in consultation with the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, as viable technologies to 
                supplement weather forecasting and prediction needs.
    (e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall provide to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of 
this section.

SEC. 203. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in coordination with the 
Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, in consultation with the United 
States weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance with 
activities implemented through existing regional atmospheric, coastal, 
ocean, and Great Lakes observing systems, shall carry out activities to 
ensure equitable and comprehensive weather observation coverage and 
emergency information sharing in the United States, including relating 
to the following:
            (1) Reviewing areas in the continental United States and 
        the territories that are considered under-observed, 
        underserved, or highly vulnerable for weather phenomenon, 
        including urban and offshore regions, and identifying 
        associated challenges to providing such coverage.
            (2) Increasing weather observations and developing new 
        weather observational capabilities, such as urban heat island 
        mapping campaigns, with respect to under-observed, underserved, 
        or highly vulnerable regions.
            (3) Establishing or supporting testbeds to develop and 
        integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or 
        emergency information sharing tools, such as next generational 
        radars for weather observations, in under-observed, 
        underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
            (4) To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather 
        and water forecasting and climate modeling capabilities for 
        under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable regions.
            (5) Undertaking workforce development efforts for emergency 
        management officials and meteorologists in under-observed, 
        underserved, or highly vulnerable areas, including urban 
        regions, of the United States.
            (6) Using data void filling observations to better resolve 
        extreme rainfall in complex topography.
            (7) Contributing to a national integrated heat health 
        information systems.
    (b) Pilot Program.--In carrying out this section, the Under 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
establish an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that 
accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, water, and 
climate data and impact-based communications in infrastructure and 
emergency management decisions by Federal, State, and local officials.
    (c) Priority.--At least one pilot project under subsection (b) 
shall address key science challenges to using mesonet data in local 
decision making and development of new tools and training for owners 
and operators of critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in 
section 1016(e) of Public Law 107-56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), such as 
dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power 
plants, and transportation networks.

SEC. 204. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish 
an atmospheric river forecast improvement program (in this section 
referred to as the ``program'').
    (b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the 
development and extension of accurate, effective, and actionable 
forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from atmospheric 
rivers, including by--
            (1) establishing quantitative atmospheric river forecast 
        skill metrics that include quantifying the benefits of 
        dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning 
        improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall 
        location, extreme wind and precipitation, and cascading 
        impacts;
            (2) developing an atmospheric river forecast system within 
        the unified forecast system, and advancing next-generation 
        coupled modeling systems, with the capability of providing 
        seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that 
        include forecast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic 
        components;
            (3) advancing scientific understanding of the roles of 
        atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and 
        probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales;
            (4) developing tools and improved forecast products to 
        predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river 
        landfalls and inland penetration over the western United States 
        with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related 
        to perceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmospheric 
        river forecast improvements; and
            (5) enhancing research transition to operations through the 
        Administration's testbeds, including the evaluation of physical 
        and social science, technology, and other research to develop 
        products and services for implementation and use by relevant 
        stakeholders.
    (c) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary 
shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates 
the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as novel 
sensor technologies, observation networks, soil moisture monitoring 
systems, reservoir storage data, observations from crewed or uncrewed 
systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and 
satellites, and data assimilation tools, with respect to the 
improvement of atmospheric river forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
    (d) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that 
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and 
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources, 
limitations, and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the 
program under subsection (b).
    (e) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the 
plan pursuant to subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.

SEC. 205. COASTAL FLOODING AND STORM SURGE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Integrated Ocean Observing System, the United States weather industry, 
and academic partners, shall establish a coastal flooding and storm 
surge forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the 
``program'').
    (b) Goal.--The goal of the program shall be to reduce through the 
development and extension of accurate, effective, actionable, and 
probable forecasts and warnings the loss of life or property from 
coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
    (c) Priority.--In implementing the program, the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize activities that carry out the following:
            (1) Improving understanding and capacity for real-time 
        operational prediction of the ocean's role in coastal flooding, 
        including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.
            (2) Improving the capacity to mitigate or prevent the 
        impacts of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and 
        storm surge events, including by improving the understanding 
        and capacity of coastal communities to perceive, comprehend, 
        and respond to forecast information.
            (3) Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors 
        into models.
            (4) Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, including 
        high tide flooding, and storm surge estimates to complement 
        worst-case scenario estimates, including for use in long-term 
        planning and risk management by States, Tribal governments, 
        localities, and emergency managers in coordination with the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency, as appropriate.
            (5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inundation 
        forecasting that quantify the benefits of dynamical modeling, 
        data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the 
        probabilistic forecast of coastal flooding, including high tide 
        flooding, and storm surge risk and impacts.
            (6) Improving operational regional storm surge and wave 
        prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and 
        messaging.
    (d) Innovative Observations and Modeling.--The Under Secretary 
shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates 
the value of incorporating enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or 
machine learning based prediction systems, and innovative observations, 
such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, 
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of coastal 
flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, 
predictions, and warnings.
    (e) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that 
details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and 
technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and 
timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under 
subsection (b).
    (f) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--After the development of the 
plan pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget 
corresponding with the activities identified in such plan.

SEC. 206. AVIATION WEATHER AND DATA INNOVATION.

    (a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne 
observation program (in this section referred to as the ``program'') 
for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of 
critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather 
enterprise.
    (b) Activities.--The program shall include activities that carry 
out the following:
            (1) Procurement of weather data available from commercial 
        aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.
            (2) Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations 
        that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the 
        Under Secretary.
            (3) Analysis of procured data when incorporated into the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's unified 
        forecast system in order to provide improved forecast 
        information for aircraft.
    (c) Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than 
annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the 
activities described in subsection (b), including and analysis of 
activities that can be complemented by National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration aircraft.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available 
to the Commercial Data Program under section 302 of the Weather 
Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, there is authorized to 
be appropriated up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028 to carry out the program.
    (e) Aviation Weather and Turbulence Forecasting.--The Director of 
the National Weather Service shall include turbulence events, icing 
conditions, or other phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the 
National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center, and deliver 
operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate weather and 
turbulence information for the airspace system and the protection of 
lives and property.
    (f) Coordination.--In carrying out subsection (e), the Director of 
the National Weather Service shall give consideration to 
recommendations from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration in furtherance of section 44720 of title 49, United 
States Code, and improve weather and turbulence forecasting 
capabilities by--
            (1) designating or establishing within the Federal 
        Government an interagency working group to determine weather 
        and environmental data or observation requirements, needs, and 
        potential solutions related to aviation weather and turbulence 
        modeling or forecasting;
            (2) identifying current and future potential data gaps 
        related to turbulence events or phenomena that can--
                    (A) identify or inform route specific flight 
                planning; and
                    (B) be supplemented or filled by commercial 
                aviation tools;
            (3) transitioning research initiatives and pilot programs, 
        including a pilot program of instrumentation for observing 
        greenhouse gases and other atmospheric factors deployed on 
        commercial aircraft and supporting the evaluation of a 
        sustained observing network using such platforms, into 
        operations that improve the forecasting missions of the 
        Aviation Weather Center;
            (4) developing and deploying improved probabilistic 
        aviation weather forecast guidance technology; and
            (5) updating interagency agreements as appropriate, 
        including to address reimbursable agreements.
    (g) Next Generation Aviation Research.--Paragraph (3) of section 
102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 
(15 U.S.C. 8512(b)), is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as 
        subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(F) aviation weather phenomena, including 
                atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve 
                scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for 
                the airspace system;''.

SEC. 207. NESDIS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP TRANSITION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, shall administer broad agency announcements and other 
transactional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an annual or more 
frequent basis, to support a joint venture partnership program that 
allows the Service to prioritize engagement with the private sector, 
academia, and other Federal departments and agencies.
    (b) Transition Program.--To support the development of next-
generation technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and 
instrument design, the Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, shall maintain a program to transition selected awards 
from research and study phases into demonstration. In selecting 
awardees for demonstrations, the Assistant Administrator shall consider 
technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design 
that--
            (1) improve upon the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's satellite architecture;
            (2) have a direct impact on implementing the 
        recommendations of the Administration's 2018 Satellite 
        Observing System Architecture Study, ``Building a Plan for 
        NOAA's 21st Century Satellite Observing System''; and
            (3) meet current or future mission requirements.
    (c) Operational Planning.--In carrying out the transition program 
under subsection (b), the Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall monitor 
demonstration phase progress and plan for promising results that meet 
mission requirements to be transitioned into National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's operational satellite architecture.
    (d) Annual Plan.--The Assistant Administrator of the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service shall submit to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation an annual plan that outlines the 
progress made in the joint venture partnership program under subsection 
(a), the transition program for demonstrations under section (b), and 
transition to operational architecture planning under subsection (c).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and 
Information Service, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 
for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section.

SEC. 208. ADVANCED WEATHER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, acting through the Director 
of the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition 
operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an 
operational cloud-based environment in order to enable a more nimble, 
flexible, and mobile workforce.
    (b) Services.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced 
Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based 
environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based 
decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following 
services:
            (1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, including 
        meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and 
        radar data, for National Weather Service field offices and 
        national centers.
            (2) Acquiring and processing observational data from 
        sensors and local sources.
            (3) Providing an interactive communications system, 
        including the satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant 
        National Weather Service employees and sites.
            (4) Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, 
        ecological, climate, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts 
        in a rapid and highly reliable manner.
    (c) Elements.--The transition strategy developed pursuant to 
subsection (a) may include the following:
            (1) Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, 
        and functional testing activities to facilitate remote 
        evaluation and automated testing.
            (2) Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and 
        non-Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather 
        Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based 
        environment referred to in subsection (a).
            (3) Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a 
        quality user experience.
            (4) Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network 
        operations and support backup functions.
            (5) Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible 
        repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).
            (6) Development and deployment of virtualized systems to 
        replace physical hardware at operational sites.
            (7) Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including 
        hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.
            (8) Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and 
        operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent 
        with the mission and scientific expertise of the 
        Administration.
    (d) Transition Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to ensure the transition strategy described 
in subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2030.
    (e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of 
this section.
    (f) Continued Innovation.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities, sub-
systems, or implementing modeling advancements on the operational 
computing systems of the Administration.

      TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS

SEC. 301. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.

    The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is 
amended by striking section 302 (15 U.S.C. 8532) and inserting the 
following new section:

``SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Establishment.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
with the heads of appropriate offices of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain a Commercial Data Program to 
obtain weather and environmental data and services from private sector 
entities for operational use.
    ``(b) Program Elements.--The Under Secretary shall acquire 
satellite, ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote 
sensing, or crowd-sourced data and services for operational use 
relating to weather and environmental forecasting and modeling. The 
Under Secretary shall ensure the Commercial Data Program coordinates, 
collaborates, and shares data purchases and data needs across the 
Administration, including among the following:
            ``(1) The National Mesonet Program.
            ``(2) The Aircraft Based Observation Program.
            ``(3) The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, 
        including existing regional associations.
            ``(4) The National Integrated Drought Information System, 
        including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring 
        Network.
            ``(5) The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.
            ``(6) The National Data Buoy Center.
            ``(7) The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.
            ``(8) The Ocean Exploration Program.
            ``(9) Any other program or office the Under Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(c) Standards and Specifications.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this section and on a continuous basis 
thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish data, metadata, and 
service standards and specifications required for acquired observation 
services and data for use, licensing, and attribution to ensure 
quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.
    ``(d) Prioritization.--The Under Secretary shall prioritize 
obtaining surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and 
ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use that 
participate in the Commercial Data Pilot Program of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    ``(e) Observing Systems Council.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Observing 
        Systems Council (in this subsection referred to as the 
        `Council') to provide strategic recommendations, guidance, and 
        consent regarding the prioritization, design, development, 
        acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, performance monitoring, and 
        retiring of major observing systems portfolio components, 
        including related to the acquisition of commercial weather and 
        environmental data and services.
            ``(2) Line office coordination.--All line offices and 
        programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        engaged in observing systems portfolio design, technology, 
        development, execution, and operation shall seek guidance and 
        consent from the Council to ensure coordination and adherence 
        to uniform policies.
            ``(3) Data governance committee.--The Under Secretary shall 
        maintain a Data Governance Committee within the Council. The 
        Committee shall develop and approve procedural directives, 
        guides, or handbooks relevant to management of data and 
        information, including commercial data, and coordinate data 
        governance and management practices across the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration to promote consistent processes.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
        carry out this section.
            ``(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
        the Under Secretary should seek to enter into contracts or 
        other appropriate agreements that enable the expenditure, to 
        the maximum extent practicable, of amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated or otherwise made available in a fiscal year to 
        carry out this section.
    ``(g) Data and Hosted Payloads.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements 
relating to the following:
            ``(1) The purchase of weather and environmental data and 
        services through contracts with commercial data and service 
        providers.
            ``(2) The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted 
        Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime, 
        or ground platforms.
    ``(h) Ombudsman.--The Under Secretary shall establish or designate 
at least one Ombudsman position within the Office of Research, 
Transition, and Applications to implement the recommendations of the 
Observing System Council under subsection (e) related to commercial 
weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. Such an 
Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between commercial data and service 
providers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with 
respect to receiving recommendations and resolving issues related to 
engagement, testing, contracting, or other areas related to the 
Administration's efforts to acquire commercial weather and 
environmental data and services.
    ``(i) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the activities and 
needed authorities related to data governance and management practices, 
including acquisition, collection, documentation, quality control, 
validation, reprocessing, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-
term preservation activities across all National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.''.

SEC. 302. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.

    The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is 
amended by striking section 303 (15 U.S.C. 8533) and inserting the 
following new section:

``SEC. 303. COMMERCIAL DATA PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program Establishment.--Within the Commercial Data Program 
under section 302, there shall be a Commercial Data Pilot Program to 
engage with external partners and providers to test and develop shared 
standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, and 
attribution of observation services and data, and to ensure quality, 
impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, 
meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting. The Program is 
authorized to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation 
services, imagery, products, and data from private sector entities, 
including new and innovative surface-based, airborne-based, space-
based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and model 
components.
    ``(b) Criteria.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that data 
acquired through the Commercial Data Pilot Program described in 
subsection (a) meets the most recent standards and specifications 
required for observation services and data as published pursuant to 
section 302(c).
    ``(c) Pilot Contracts.--The Under Secretary shall, through an open 
competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with private sector 
entities capable of providing observation services and data referred to 
in subsection (a) that meet the standards and specifications published 
pursuant to section 302(c) for so providing such services and data in a 
manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such 
services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration activities.
    ``(d) Assessment of Viability.--The Under Secretary shall annually 
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 a summary of the pilot 
contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (c), the extent to which 
such contracts meet the standards and specifications published pursuant 
to section 302(c), and any additional information determined necessary 
related to the following:
            ``(1) The viability of assimilating observation services 
        and data from private sector entities into National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
            ``(2) The expected value added or improvements from such 
        services and data so assimilated into National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.
            ``(3) The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, 
        reliability, usability, information technology security, and 
        cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data 
        from private sector entities.
            ``(4) Steps to integrate within one year such services and 
        data into operational use by the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration or any associated challenges in 
        doing so.
    ``(e) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under subsection (d) 
demonstrates the ability of commercial services and data to meet the 
standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(c), the 
Under Secretary shall--
            ``(1) when cost-effective and feasible, obtain observation 
        services and data from private sector entities through the 
        Commercial Data Program under section 302;
            ``(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for 
        any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        satellite system, determine whether there is a suitable, cost-
        effective, commercial capability available or that will be 
        available to meet applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system 
        requirements before completion of the critical design phase of 
        such planned satellite system;
            ``(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability 
        is or will be available as described in paragraph (2), 
        determine whether and how such capability is in the national 
        interest if developed as a solely governmental 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 determinations made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts authorized to 
be appropriated pursuant to section 302 to carry out such section, not 
less than 15 percent of such amounts each fiscal year are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 303. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.

    Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 304. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND AVOIDANCE OF DUPLICATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Consistent with other Federal agencies that 
contract and partner with private sector entities, the Under Secretary 
is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter into agreements 
that utilize multiyear contract options. In carrying out sections 302 
and 303, the Under Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible--
            ``(1) enter into year-long or multiyear contract options 
        using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of 
        datatypes purchased;
            ``(2) partner and contract with multiple observation 
        service and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of 
        data gaps and improve mission robustness; and
            ``(3) utilize authorities, such as additional forms of 
        transaction agreements under section 301, that allow for 
        innovative partnerships with private sector entities.
    ``(b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this title may be construed as 
infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of Federal entities 
authorized under title 10, United States Code.
    ``(c) Unnecessary Duplication.--In meeting the requirements under 
this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication 
between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other Federal 
departments and agencies, and private sector entities, including 
relating to corresponding expenditures of funds and employment of 
personnel by--
            ``(1) coordinating existing activities with other civilian 
        Federal departments and agencies which provide, contract, or 
        partner with private sector entities to acquire, weather and 
        environmental observations and data; and
            ``(2) coordinating and soliciting weather and environmental 
        observations and data requirements and needs from other 
        civilian Federal departments and agencies to be acquired by the 
        Commercial Data Program under section 302.
    ``(d) Fair Compensation for Interagency Needs.--The Under 
Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that Federal 
departments and agencies utilizing services and data under sections 302 
and 303 fairly compensate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, or the non-Federal entities providing such services or 
data, as appropriate, for use.''.

SEC. 304. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.

    Title III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017, as amended by section 303 of this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 305. DATA ASSIMILATION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING PRACTICES.

    ``(a) Data Standards.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with 
the weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent and open 
data and metadata standards to support open science, including simple 
cloud-optimized data formats and application programming interfaces 
that support findability, accessibility, usability, and preservability.
    ``(b) Data Infrastructure.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in consultation 
        with the Chief Information Officer and appropriate program 
        heads, shall consolidate and arrange data infrastructure needs 
        to ensure efficient and effective data transfer between 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices by 
        considering the use of commercial cloud technologies, or 
        similar hybrid structures, to host and transmit data and 
        metadata.
            ``(2) Federal partnerships.--In carrying out paragraph (1), 
        the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of other Federal 
        departments and agencies, including the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United 
        States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United 
        States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United 
        States Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
        National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological 
        Survey, to collocate data with joint utility and support a 
        transition to cloud architectures, including commercial cloud 
        networks.
            ``(3) Long term data archive.--The Under Secretary shall 
        ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and stewardship 
        of archival data and metadata acquired through the Commercial 
        Data Program under section 302 is conducted within the National 
        Centers for Environmental Information.
    ``(c) Data Sharing With the Weather Enterprise.--To the greatest 
extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall make accessible to 
members of the weather enterprise that are United States persons data 
not subject to redistribution contract permissions and purchased 
through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 or shared through 
international government partners. If purchased data must be 
assimilated into numerical weather prediction models or automated 
forecast guidance to satisfy redistribution contract permissions, the 
Under Secretary shall make accessible without delay to members of the 
weather enterprise that are United States persons the numerical weather 
prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, as the case may 
be.
    ``(d) Data Assimilation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary, in coordination 
        with the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the 
        National Centers for Environmental Information, and any other 
        offices within the Administration, shall establish a program to 
        test, advance, and implement data assimilation methods, which 
        may include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data 
        pre- and post-processing, efficient input and output, and next-
        generation algorithms.
            ``(2) Data assimilation university consortium.--Through the 
        program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the Under 
        Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting of 
        institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in 
        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001)) to address critical research challenges for data 
        assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce. 
        The consortium shall seek to--
                    ``(A) solve critical research issues for data 
                assimilation through innovative research;
                    ``(B) increase significantly the number of 
                students, including graduate level and Ph.D. 
                candidates, in data assimilation;
                    ``(C) utilize modern software and frameworks, such 
                as the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration, 
                to conduct data assimilation research and development 
                and facilitate research to operations efforts;
                    ``(D) identify and prioritize critical research 
                areas in data assimilation and facilitate operations to 
                research efforts;
                    ``(E) establish and enable an effective 
                collaboration infrastructure between National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration facilities, such as 
                labs, centers, or joint agency institutes, and the 
                research community, including a mechanism for external 
                partners to host Administration employees; and
                    ``(F) establish mechanisms to enable all members of 
                the consortium to archive and access data required to 
                support the work under this subsection.
            ``(3) Coordination.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration and its associated activities focus 
        on research to operations and operations to research, including 
        by coordinating and collaborating with the Joint Center for 
        Satellite Data Assimilation.
    ``(e) Study on Data Management.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the data of 
        the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall seek 
        to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal entity to conduct 
        a study on matters concerning data practices and management 
        needs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
        In conducting the study, the outside entity shall--
                    ``(A) assess the costs and benefits of current data 
                management needs for observational and operational 
                mission requirements;
                    ``(B) develop recommendations regarding how to make 
                more robust and cost-effective the data portfolio of 
                the Administration;
                    ``(C) identify data infrastructure technologies and 
                needs that are essential to the performance of modeling 
                systems of the Administration;
                    ``(D) assess the sharing needs and practices of the 
                Administration for both internal and external sharing 
                dissemination; and
                    ``(E) develop recommendations for methods of data 
                infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from 
                the commercial sector.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--From amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Commercial Data Program 
        under section 302, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out the study under paragraph (1) $1,000,000, to remain 
        available until expended.''.

SEC. 305. CLERICAL AMENDMENT.

    The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items 
relating to sections 302 and 303 and inserting the following new items:

``Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.
``Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
``Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
``Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.''.

             TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC

SEC. 401. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term 
        ``hazardous weather or water events'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 406 of the Weather Research and 
        Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 
        Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this Act.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) NOAA weather radio.--The term ``NOAA Weather Radio'' 
        means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
        Weather Radio All Hazards network.
            (4) Public cloud.--The term ``public cloud'' means an 
        information technology model in which service providers make 
        computing services, including compute and storage and develop-
        and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand 
        to organizations and individuals over the public internet or 
        other means that allows for the widest dissemination of 
        information.
            (5) Watch; warning.--The terms ``watch'' and ``warning'' 
        have the meanings given such terms in section 406 of the 
        Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public 
        Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 of this 
        Act.

SEC. 402. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 406 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 406. HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENT RISK COMMUNICATION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Hazardous weather or water events.--The term 
        `hazardous weather or water events' means weather or water 
        events that have a high risk of loss of life or property, 
        including the following:
                    ``(A) Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-
                fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic 
                events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, 
                damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.
                    ``(B) Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen 
                precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and 
                snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen 
                precipitation and strong winds.
                    ``(C) Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat 
                or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and 
                river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.
            ``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            ``(3) Watch; warning.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The terms `watch' and `warning', 
                with respect to a hazardous weather or water event, 
                mean products issued by the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by 
                the general public, to alert the general public to the 
                potential for or presence of such event and to inform 
                action to prevent loss of life or property.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The terms `watch' and `warning' 
                do not include technical or specialized meteorological 
                or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance 
                products.
    ``(b) System Communications.--The Under Secretary shall maintain 
and improve the system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration by which the risks of hazardous weather or water events 
are communicated to the general public, with the goal of informing 
response to prevent loss of life or property.
    ``(c) Hazard Risk Communication Improvement and Simplification.--
            ``(1) In general.--To carry out subsection (b), the Under 
        Secretary shall maintain a social, behavioral, risk, 
        communication, and economic sciences program (in this section 
        referred to as the `Program'), for the purpose of simplifying 
        and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water 
        events.
            ``(2) Terminology.--The Program, in coordination with 
        social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic science 
        community and user feedback, shall identify, eliminate, or 
        modify unnecessary, redundant, or confusing terms for 
        communications regarding hazardous weather or water events and 
        add new terminology, as appropriate.
            ``(3) Communications improvement.--The Program shall 
        improve the form, content, and methods of communications 
        regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated 
        risks to more clearly inform response to prevent the loss of 
        life or property.
            ``(4) Evaluations.--The Program, in coordination with the 
        performance and evaluation branches of the National Weather 
        Service and Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, shall develop 
        metrics for such branches to track and evaluate the degree to 
        which communications regarding hazardous weather or water 
        events inform response.
            ``(5) Support plan.--The Program shall develop a plan for 
        the purpose of carrying out paragraph (3). Such plan shall be 
        periodically updated and informed by internal and extramural 
        research and the results of the evaluation of communications 
        regarding hazardous weather or water events and associated 
        risks under paragraph (4).
            ``(6) Methods.--In carrying out this section, the Program 
        shall develop and implement recommendations that--
                    ``(A) are based on the best and most recent 
                understanding from social, behavioral, economic, risk, 
                and communications science research;
                    ``(B) are validated by social, behavioral, risk, 
                and communications science, taking into account the 
                importance of methods that support reproduction and 
                replication of scientific studies, use of rigorous 
                statistical analyses, and, as applicable, data analysis 
                supported by artificial intelligence and machine 
                learning technologies;
                    ``(C) account for the needs of various 
                demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic 
                regions;
                    ``(D) account for the differences between various 
                types of hazardous weather or water events;
                    ``(E) respond to the needs of Federal, State, and 
                local government partners and media partners; and
                    ``(F) account for necessary changes in the 
                infrastructure, technology, and protocols for 
                developing and disseminating watches and warnings.
            ``(7) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Program shall coordinate with the following:
                    ``(A) Federal partners, including National 
                Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional 
                integrated sciences and assessments programs.
                    ``(B) State and local government partners.
                    ``(C) Tribal governments.
                    ``(D) Institutions of higher education or a 
                consortia thereof.
                    ``(E) Media partners.
            ``(8) Timeliness and consistency.--The Program shall 
        develop best practices and guidance for ensuring timely and 
        consistent communications across public facing platforms that 
        disseminate information related to hazardous weather or water 
        events.''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item 
relating to section 406 to read as follows:

``Sec. 406. Hazardous Weather or Water Event Risk Communication.''.

SEC. 403. HAZARD COMMUNICATION RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT.

    Section 406 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act 
of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 109), as amended by section 402 
of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(d) Hazard Communication Research and Engagement.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall maintain, as 
        appropriate, a program to--
                    ``(A) modernize the development and communication 
                of risk-based, statistically reliable, probabilistic 
                hazard information, with the goal of informing 
                appropriate responses to hazardous weather or water 
                events; and
                    ``(B) improve the fundamental social, behavioral, 
                economic, risk, and communication science relating to 
                communications, including by means of collecting 
                voluntary data, regarding hazardous weather or water 
                events.
            ``(2) Coordination.--In carrying out the program under 
        paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and 
        communicate with States, Tribal governments, localities, and 
        emergency managers regarding research priorities and results.
            ``(3) Pilot program for tornado hazard communication 
        required.--To further research into communications regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events, the Under Secretary, in 
        coordination with the VORTEX program under section 103 and in 
        collaboration with one or more eligible institutions (or a 
        consortia thereof), shall establish a pilot program for tornado 
        hazard communication to test the effectiveness of implementing 
        research into operations with respect to tornadoes.
            ``(4) Eligible institution defined.--In this subsection, 
        the term `eligible institution' means any of the following:
                    ``(A) An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
                organization, or other institution located in a 
                jurisdiction eligible to participate in the program 
                under section 113 of the National Science Foundation 
                Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
                    ``(B) An institution of higher education, nonprofit 
                organization, or other institution located in proximity 
                to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather 
                Service.''.

SEC. 404. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Improvement of NWS Instant Messaging Service.--The Director of 
the National Weather Service shall improve the instant messaging 
service used by personnel of the National Weather Service by 
implementing, not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-
shelf communications solution that replaces the instant messaging 
service commonly referred to as ``NWSChat''.
    (b) Requirements.--The communications solution implemented under 
this section shall--
            (1) be hosted on the public cloud; and
            (2) satisfy requirements set forth by the Director to 
        ensure such solution--
                    (A) best accommodates future growth;
                    (B) performs successfully with increased numbers of 
                users;
                    (C) is easy to use for the majority of users; and
                    (D) is similar to systems already in commercial 
                use.
    (c) Funding.--From amounts made available for Operations, Research, 
and Facilities, the Director of the National Weather Service shall 
allocate up to $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 405. NOAA WEATHER RADIO MODERNIZATION.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable, expand coverage of the NOAA Weather Radio and ensure its 
reliability. In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary 
shall--
            (1) maintain support for existing systems serving areas not 
        covered by or having poor quality cellular service;
            (2) ensure consistent maintenance and operations 
        monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site 
        equipment and antennas;
            (3) enhance the ability to amplify Non-Weather Emergency 
        Messages via NOAA Weather Radio as necessary; and
            (4) acquire additional transmitters as required to expand 
        coverage to rural and underserved communities, units of the 
        National Park System, and National Recreation Areas.
    (b) Modernization Initiative.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
the Under Secretary shall enhance NOAA Weather Radio to ensure its 
capabilities and coverage remain valuable to the public. In carrying 
out this section, the Under Secretary shall--
            (1) upgrade telecommunications infrastructure to accelerate 
        the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based 
        communications over non-copper media;
            (2) accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather 
        Interactive Processing System, or the relevant system 
        successors, to implement partial county notifications and 
        alerts;
            (3) consult with relevant stakeholders, including the 
        private sector, to enhance accessibility and usability of NOAA 
        Weather Radio data and feeds;
            (4) develop options, including satellite backup capability 
        and commercial provider partnerships, for NOAA Weather Radio 
        continuity in the event of Weather Forecast Office outages;
            (5) research and develop alternative options, including 
        microwave capabilities, to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals 
        to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet 
        protocol capability; and
            (6) transition critical applications to the Integrated 
        Dissemination Program, or the relevant program successors.
    (c) Priority.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended 
in accordance with the assessment under subsection (d) to maximize 
accessibility, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the 
United States.
    (d) Assessment for Management and Distribution.--Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio. In 
conducting such assessment, the Under Secretary shall take into 
consideration and provide recommendations regarding the following:
            (1) The need for continuous, adequate, and operational 
        real-time broadcasts of the NOAA Weather Radio in both urban 
        and rural areas.
            (2) Solicited inputs from relevant stakeholders on the 
        compatibility of NOAA Weather Radio data for third party 
        platforms that provide online services, such as websites and 
        mobile device applications, or deliver NOAA Weather Radio 
        access.
            (3) Existing or new management systems that promote 
        consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather 
        Radio.
            (4) The ability of NOAA to aggregate real time broadcast 
        feeds at one or more central locations.
            (5) Effective interagency coordination.
            (6) The potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or 
        geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio.
            (7) Any other function the Under Secretary determines 
        necessary.

SEC. 406. POST-STORM SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall continue to perform one 
or more post-storm surveys and assessments following every hazardous 
weather or water event determined by the Under Secretary to be of 
sufficient societal importance to warrant a post-event survey and 
assessment.
    (b) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall coordinate with 
Federal, State, local and Tribal governments, private entities, and 
relevant institutions of higher education (or a consortia thereof) when 
conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section to 
optimize data collection, sharing, integration, archiving, and access, 
as appropriate for research needs.
    (c) Data Availability.--The Under Secretary shall make the 
appropriate data obtained from each post-storm survey and assessment 
conducted under this section available to the public as soon as 
practicable after conducting each such survey and assessment.
    (d) Improvement.--In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary 
shall--
            (1) examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems 
        in data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments 
        conducted under this section;
            (2) identify gaps in and update tactics and procedures to 
        enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from 
        post-storm surveys and assessments;
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number 
        of post-storm community impact studies, including--
                    (A) surveying-individual responses;
                    (B) conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk 
                evaluations;
                    (C) evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation 
                activity; and
                    (D) gathering survivability statistics; and
            (4) as appropriate, integrate community-based, social, 
        behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences elements 
        into existing post-storm surveys and assessments, including 
        relating to efficacy of forecast and warning information, 
        barriers to action, and messaging challenges.
    (e) Support for Employees.--The Under Secretary shall provide 
training, resources, and access to professional counseling to support 
the emotional and mental health and well-being of employees conducting 
post-storm surveys and assessments under this section.
    (f) Exemption.--Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during 
the conduct of a survey or assessment authorized under subsection (a).

SEC. 407. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON ALERT 
              DISSEMINATION FOR HAZARDOUS WEATHER OR WATER EVENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 540 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
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 examines the information 
technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, specifically regarding 
the system for timely public notification via alerts and updates 
regarding hazardous weather or water events.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) An analysis of the information technology 
        infrastructure of the National Weather Service, including 
        software and hardware capabilities and limitations, including 
        an examination of server and data storage methods, broadband, 
        data management, and data sharing.
            (2) An identification of secondary and tertiary fail-safes 
        for the timely distribution to the public of notifications via 
        alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.
            (3) A process analysis to determine the source and extent 
        to which public notifications via alerts and updates regarding 
        hazardous weather or water events have been delayed and an 
        identification of possible improvements or corrective measures 
        to address latency in the notification process.
            (4) An assessment of whether collaboration with other 
        Federal offices, States, or private entities could reduce 
        delays in notifications to the public.
            (5) A description of actions being undertaken to better 
        identify critical steps in public notification via alerts and 
        updates for hazardous weather or water events that may be 
        vulnerable to disruption or failure in the event of 
        communication, technologic, or computational failure.
            (6) The geographical differences in availability and 
        effectiveness of rural systems, including an estimated number 
        of rural areas affected by unreliable or unavailable accurate 
        systems and barriers to obtain or upgrade such systems.

SEC. 408. DATA COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION.

    (a) Data Collection.--The Under Secretary may collect social, 
behavioral, and economic data, including Federal communication and 
related public response to hazardous weather or water events. Where 
appropriate, the Under Secretary shall encourage use of secondary data, 
purchase data, or partner with the private sector.
    (b) Data Management.--The Under Secretary shall establish a central 
repository system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration for social, behavioral, and economic data related to the 
communication of and related public response to hazardous weather or 
water events, including data developed or received pursuant to this 
title.
    (c) Protection of Data.--The Under Secretary shall ensure that all 
data collected and managed by the Administration is done within with 
all legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations and in accordance 
with chapter 31 of title 44, United States Code, and the Federal 
Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-435).
    (d) Digital Watermarking.--The Under Secretary shall develop 
methods to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with online 
public notifications of hazardous weather or water events, such as 
developing digital watermarks.

   TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
                               MANAGEMENT

SEC. 501. WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE AND WATER 
              MANAGEMENT.

    Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
    ``(h) Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting Pilot Projects.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Under Secretary shall establish 
        not fewer than two pilot projects, in accordance with paragraph 
        (2), within the U.S. Weather Research Program of the Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Research office of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to support improved subseasonal to 
        seasonal precipitation forecasts for the following:
                    ``(A) Water management in the western United 
                States.
                    ``(B) Agriculture in the central United States.
            ``(2) Objectives.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
        Under Secretary shall ensure the following:
                    ``(A) A pilot project under subparagraph (A) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to 
                improving forecasts and developing related products for 
                water management in the western United States, 
                including the following:
                            ``(i) Improving operational model 
                        resolution, both horizontal and vertical, to 
                        resolve issues associated with mountainous 
                        terrain, such as intensity of precipitation and 
                        relative fraction of rain versus snow 
                        precipitation.
                            ``(ii) Improving fidelity in the 
                        operational modeling of the atmospheric 
                        boundary layer in mountainous regions.
                            ``(iii) Resolving challenges in predicting 
                        winter atmospheric circulation and storm 
                        tracks, including periods of blocked versus 
                        unblocked flow over the eastern North Pacific 
                        Ocean and western United States.
                            ``(iv) Utilizing outcomes from the 
                        Atmospheric Rivers Forecast Improvement Program 
                        as authorized in section 204 of the Weather Act 
                        Reauthorization Act of 2023 to produce 
                        operational tools and services.
                            ``(v) Improving the quality and temporal 
                        and spatial resolution of observations and 
                        accurate operational modeling of air-sea 
                        interactions, and the influence of oceans on 
                        subseasonal and seasonal forecasting.
                    ``(B) A pilot project under subparagraph (B) of 
                paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to 
                improving forecasts and developing related products for 
                agriculture in the central United States, including the 
                following:
                            ``(i) Improving the quality and temporal 
                        and spatial resolution of observations and 
                        accurate operational modeling of the land 
                        surface and hydrologic cycle, including soil 
                        moisture and flash drought processes.
                            ``(ii) Improving fidelity in the 
                        operational modeling of warm season 
                        precipitation processes.
                            ``(iii) Understanding and predicting large-
                        scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that 
                        occur in spring and summer.
            ``(3) Activities.--A pilot project under this subsection 
        shall include activities that carry out the following:
                    ``(A) Best implement recommendations of the 
                National Weather Service's 2020 Report, entitled 
                `Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans 
                for the Twenty-First Century'.
                    ``(B) Achieve measurable objectives for operational 
                forecast improvement.
                    ``(C) Engage with, and leverage the resources of, 
                institutions of higher education (as such term is 
                defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or a consortia thereof, and 
                entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration in existence as of the date of the 
                enactment of this subsection, including Regional 
                Climate Centers and the National Centers for 
                Environmental Information.
                    ``(D) Are carried out in coordination with the 
                Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National 
                Weather Service.
            ``(4) Sunset.--The authority under this subsection shall 
        terminate on the date that is five years after the date of the 
        enactment of this subsection.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
carry out the activities under this section.''.

SEC. 502. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought 
Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
                        ``and'' after the semicolon; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
                        new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) incorporates flash drought research and tools 
                to enhance timely response;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (6)--
                            (i) by inserting ``(including ecological 
                        drought)'' after ``drought'' each place it 
                        appears; and
                            (ii) by striking the period and inserting a 
                        semicolon; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(7) advance and deploy next generation technologies 
        related to drought and related publicly available data, such as 
        monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting capabilities 
        utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud 
        technologies; and
            ``(8) utilize observational networks, including the 
        National Weather Service cooperative observer program, and 
        refine drought indicators across a variety of spatial and 
        temporal scales for decision-support products by optimizing 
        data and resources from across the Federal Government, 
        including snowpack, soil moisture, groundwater, and rapid 
        intensification data.'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) in partnership with the National Mesonet Program, 
        establish memoranda of understanding to provide coordinated, 
        high-quality, nationwide drought information for the public 
        good, including integrated soil moisture information in 
        accordance with the 2021 report, `A Strategy for the National 
        Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network'.''; and
            (3) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Modeling Update.--The Under Secretary, in partnership with 
National Integrated Drought Information System and the Climate 
Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, shall undertake an 
effort to transition existing drought products to probabilistic 
forecasts and incorporate new and improved dynamical and statistical 
forecast modeling tools.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 4 of the National 
Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d note) 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available 
to Operations, Research, and Facilities of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section the following:
            ``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
            ``(2) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2025.
            ``(3) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            ``(4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.
            ``(5) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.''.

SEC. 503. NATIONAL MESONET PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--The Under Secretary shall maintain the National 
Mesonet Program (in this section referred to as the ``Program''). The 
Program shall--
            (1) obtain observations in all geographic environments to 
        improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for 
        atmospheric and water events, with a prioritization on 
        leveraging available commercial, academic, and other non-
        Federal environmental data to enhance coordination across the 
        private, public, and academic sectors of the United States 
        weather enterprise; and
            (2) establish memoranda of understanding with networks 
        outside of the scope of the Program.
    (b) Program Elements.--The Program shall carry out the following 
activities:
            (1) Improve environmental observations used by the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather 
        Service to support baseline forecasts, including nowcasts, and 
        warnings that protect the Nation's citizens, businesses, 
        military, and government agencies, and enable such individuals 
        and entities to operate in safe, efficient, and orderly 
        manners.
            (2) When demonstrably cost effective and meeting or 
        exceeding agency data quality standards, leverage existing 
        networks of environmental monitoring stations, including 
        supplemental radar systems, to increase the quantity and 
        density of environmental observations and data available to the 
        Administration.
            (3) Establish means to integrate greater density and type 
        of environmental observations into the Program on an annual 
        basis, including by encouraging local and regional networks of 
        environmental monitoring stations, in situ sensor networks and 
        satellite constellations to participate in the Program.
            (4) Yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to 
        improve numerical weather prediction performance, including 
        regarding subseasonal to seasonal timescales.
            (5) Provide the critical technical and administrative 
        infrastructure needed to facilitate rapid integration and 
        sustained use of new and emerging networks of environmental 
        monitoring stations anticipated in coming years from non-
        Federal sources.
            (6) Expand and enhance environmental observational networks 
        in the roadway environment to provide real-time road weather 
        and surface conditions for surface transportation and related 
        economic sectors.
            (7) Identify available terrestrial or marine environmental 
        data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the 
        understanding of air-sea interactions.
            (8) Support the National Weather Service in reaching its 
        target of a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through 
        better predictive model algorithms driven by increasingly 
        effective observations.
            (9) Coordinate with existing Administration data used for 
        forecasts, including data from the National Environmental 
        Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Integrated Ocean 
        Observing System, the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing 
        Program, the National Data Buoy Center, and the National Ocean 
        Service.
            (10) Identify and communicate to the Office of Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Research and other partners priorities of research 
        and development needed to advance observations in the Program.
            (11) Support the National Coordinated Soil Moisture 
        Monitoring Network in acquiring soil moisture and related data 
        to support the development of decision-support products and 
        other information services.
    (c) Financial and Technical Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--In furtherance of the Program, the Under 
        Secretary may, to the extent amounts are made available, award 
        up to 15 percent of the Program's annual appropriations for 
        financial assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic 
        entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade equipment and 
        capacity of mesonet systems. Financial assistance under this 
        subsection may be made in coordination with and in addition to 
        awards from other Federal agencies.
            (2) Agreements.--Before receiving financial assistance 
        under paragraph (1), the State, Tribal, private, or academic 
        entity seeking financial assistance under this subsection shall 
        enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide 
        data to the Program, subject to verification by the Program of 
        the relative operational value and evaluation of the cost of 
        such data, for use in weather prediction, severe weather 
        warnings, and emergency response.
            (3) Assistance and other support.--The Under Secretary may 
        provide technical assistance, project implementation support, 
        and guidance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities 
        seeking financial assistance under this subsection. The Under 
        Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for 
        maintenance of monitoring stations in underrepresented or 
        remote areas of the country where it is financially unfeasible 
        for one entity to operate such stations without such 
        assistance.
            (4) Terms.--In providing financial assistance under this 
        subsection, the Under Secretary shall establish terms to ensure 
        that each State, Tribal, private, or academic entity that 
        receives financial assistance under this subsection receives a 
        level of Federal support commensurate with the quality and 
        other characteristics of the data to be provided.
            (5) Determination.--A State, Tribal, private, or academic 
        entity may receive financial assistance under this subsection 
        only if the Under Secretary determines such entity shall 
        provide sufficient non-Federal financial support and full 
        maintenance to maintain the quality of the mesonet system and 
        associated data standards required by the Program for a period 
        of not less than five years.
            (6) Priority.--The Under Secretary shall prioritize 
        providing assistance under paragraph (1) to at least one entity 
        in an underrepresented or remote area.
    (d) Advisory Committee.--
            (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
        Program has an active advisory committee of subject matter 
        experts to make recommendations to the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration on the identification, 
        implementation, procurement, and tracking of data needed to 
        supplement the Program, and recommend improvements, expansions, 
        and acquisitions of available data. The Under Secretary may 
        designate an existing Federal advisory committee, subcommittee, 
        or working group, including, if appropriate, the Science 
        Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, to carry out this subsection.
            (2) Academic expertise.--The advisory committee under 
        paragraph (1), in consultation with the Program, shall include 
        expertise from one or more institutions of higher education (as 
        such term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to assist the advisory committee to 
        identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships, 
        regional or subregional consortia, and collaborative methods 
        that would expand the number of participants and volume of data 
        in the Program.
    (e) Regular Reporting.--The Under Secretary shall provide regular 
briefings, not less than twice annually, to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on all Program 
activities. Such briefings shall include information relating to the 
following:
            (1) Efforts to implement the activities described in 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant 
        to subsection (c).
            (3) Efforts to address recommendations received from the 
        advisory committee under subsection (d).
            (4) The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal 
        and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data 
        needs.
            (5) Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation 
        data by States and regions of the United States.
            (6) Any other topic the Under Secretary determines 
        relevant.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--From amounts made available 
to the National Weather Service, the Under Secretary, to carry out this 
section, shall allocate up to the following amounts for each specified 
fiscal year:
            (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
            (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
            (3) $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
            (4) $68,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.
            (5) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.

SEC. 504. NATIONAL COORDINATED SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING NETWORK.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United States Geological 
Survey, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and 
departments, shall support the development, deployment, and maintenance 
of soil moisture monitoring networks by managing the National 
Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network (in this section referred 
to as the ``Network'') within the National Integrated Drought 
Information System.
    (b) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network 
includes activities that carry out the following:
            (1) Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.
            (2) Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data 
        sources.
            (3) Supporting research necessary to develop or improve 
        soil moisture monitoring products at a national scale.
            (4) Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in 
        situ and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations 
        across the United States.
            (5) Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the 
        private sector.
            (6) Engaging with the citizen science community.
            (7) Developing, releasing, and promoting new, nationwide 
        point-based and gridded soil moisture data products that meet 
        the needs of diverse end-user groups.
            (8) Supporting community building and outreach to the 
        network of individuals engaged with soil moisture information 
        delivery, from data provision to end-user decision making.

SEC. 505. NATIONAL WATER CENTER.

    Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act 
of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 10371) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
                        inserting ``as a component of the National 
                        Centers for Environmental Prediction'' after 
                        ``center'';
                            (ii) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (iii) in clause (ii), by striking the 
                        period and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following new 
                        clause:
                            ``(iii) to provide service backup 
                        capabilities and additional mission support 
                        services for River Forecast Centers.''.
                            (v) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end 
                        the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Serving as the primary Center for 
                collaboration and coordination of the National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration's water research and 
                operational activities with existing Federal centers 
                and networks, including the Department of Agriculture, 
                the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, 
                the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency.'';
            (2) by striking subsection (b) and redesignating 
        subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (b) through (d) 
        respectively; and
            (3) by amending subsection (c), as so redesignated, to read 
        as follows:
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to 
carry out this section.''.

SEC. 506. SATELLITE TRANSFERS REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Commerce 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 describing the Department of Commerce's authorities, policies, 
and Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any 
portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of 
Commerce to any other Federal department or agency. The report shall 
also include the following:
            (1) A description of the process for decommissioning a 
        Department of Commerce operational weather satellite, any 
        existing agreements related to transfers of weather satellites, 
        whether decommissioned or not, and any reimbursable agreements 
        related to the transfer of physical property or the operation 
        of Department of Commerce weather satellites on behalf of any 
        other Federal department or agency.
            (2) A summary of any Department of Commerce plans for 
        potential transfer of existing or future weather satellite 
        systems to any other Federal department or agency.
                                 <all>
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