I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4146 

To establish a comprehensive research program aimed at understanding and 

predicting the natural processes that lead to the formation of tornadoes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 2, 2004 

Mr. CRAMER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Science 

A BILL 

To establish a comprehensive research program aimed at 

understanding and predicting the natural processes that 

lead to the formation of tornadoes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tornado Research Act 

5 of 2004’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TORNADO RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary 

8 of Commerce shall establish a tornado research program 

9 within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra10 tion, to be carried out in coordination with the National 
2 

•HR 4146 IH 

1 Weather Service, the National Aeronautics and Space Ad2 ministration, the National Science Foundation, and any 

3 other appropriate Federal agencies. 

4 (b) PROGRAM DUTIES.—The tornado research pro5 gram established pursuant to subsection (a) shall— 

6 (1) include research aimed at understanding 

7 and predicting the natural processes that lead to the 

8 formation of tornadoes; 

9 (2) identify an array of factors that indicate the 

10 formation of tornadoes; 

11 (3) promote the incorporation of the results of 

12 the research conducted under the program into the 

13 methods used by meteorologists to predict the time 

14 and location of the formation of tornadoes; 

15 (4) provide resources and promote attention to 

16 tornado research areas with the greatest potential 

17 for improving the understanding of the formation of 

18 tornadoes; 

19 (5) maximize the effectiveness of the program 

20 by encouraging collaborative efforts by operational 

21 and research communities in academia and the Fed22 eral Government; and 

23 (6) provide for the awarding of competitive re24 search grants to, and the entering into of coopera25 tive agreements with, institutions of higher edu-
3 

•HR 4146 IH 

1 cation and other research institutions to conduct 

2 peer-reviewed research that may improve the fore3 cast and identification of tornadoes. 

4 SEC. 3. DEFINITION. 

5 For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘institution of 

6 higher education’’ has the meaning given to that term in 

7 section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 

8 U.S.C. 1001). 

9 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

10 There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec11 retary of Commerce for the purpose of carrying out this 

12 Act— 

13 (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; 

14 (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, of which at 

15 least 50 percent shall be for the competitive research 

16 grants and cooperative agreements described in sec17 tion 2(b)(6); and 

18 (3) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 

19 and 2008, of which at least 50 percent each fiscal 

20 year shall be for the competitive research grants and 

21 cooperative agreements described in section 2(b)(6). 

Æ