(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of 
observation data requirements necessary to ensure 
weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and 
property to the maximum extent practicable; 
(2) undertake, using OSSEs, OSEs, AOAs, and 
other appropriate assessment tools, ongoing system-
atic evaluations of the combination of observing sys-
tems, data, and information needed to meet the re-
quirements listed under paragraph (1), assessing 
various options to maximize observational capabili-
ties and their cost-effectiveness; 
(3) identify current and potential future data 
gaps in observing capabilities related to the require-
ments listed under paragraph (1); and 
(4) determine a range of options to address 
gaps identified under paragraph (3). 
SEC. 8. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the requirements of 
section 7, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall un-
dertake OSSEs to quantitatively assess the relative value 
and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. Tech-
nical and scientific OSSE evaluations— 
(1) may include assessments of the impact of 
observing capabilities on— 
(A) global weather prediction; 
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(B) hurricane track and intensity fore-
casting; 
(C) tornado warning lead times and accu-
racy; 
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local 
storm outbreaks; and 
(E) prediction of storms that have the po-
tential to cause extreme precipitation and flood-
ing lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and 
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other 
appropriate entities within NOAA, other Federal 
agencies, the American weather industry, and aca-
demic partners to ensure the technical and scientific 
merit of OSSE results. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—OSSEs shall quantitatively— 
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed 
space-based, suborbital, and in situ observing sys-
tems on analyses and forecasts, including potential 
impacts on extreme weather events across all parts 
of the Nation; 
(2) evaluate and compare observing system de-
sign options; and 
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of 
various observing systems and combinations of ob-
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serving systems in providing data necessary to pro-
tect life and property. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—OSSEs— 
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition 
of major Government-owned or Government-leased 
operational observing systems, including polar-orbit-
ing and geostationary satellite systems, with a 
lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and 
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of 
any major new commercially provided data with a 
lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000. 
(d) PRIORITY OSSES.— 
(1) GLOBAL
NAVIGATION
SATELLITE
SYSTEM 
RADIO OCCULTATION.—Not later than December 31, 
2015, the Assistant Administrator for OAR shall 
complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from 
Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occulta-
tion. 
(2) GEOSTATIONARY HYPERSPECTRAL SOUND-
ER GLOBAL CONSTELLATION.—Not later than De-
cember 31, 2016, the Assistant Administrator for 
OAR shall complete an OSSE to assess the value of 
data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder 
global constellation. 
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(e) RESULTS.—Upon completion of all OSSEs, re-
sults shall be publicly released and accompanied by an as-
sessment of related private and public sector weather data 
sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, 
and cost effectiveness. Such assessments shall be devel-
oped in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 9. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION REPORT. 
Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the NOAA Chief In-
formation Officer, in coordination with the Assistant Ad-
ministrator for OAR and the Assistant Administrator for 
NWS, shall produce and make publicly available a report 
that explains how NOAA intends to— 
(1) continually support upgrades to pursue the 
fastest, most powerful, and cost effective high per-
formance computing technologies in support of its 
weather prediction mission; 
(2) ensure a balance between the research to 
operations requirements to develop the next genera-
tion of regional and global models as well as highly 
reliable operational models; 
(3) take advantage of advanced development 
concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation 
weather prediction models available in beta-test 
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mode to operational forecasters, the American 
weather industry, and partners in academic and gov-
ernment research; and 
(4) use existing computing resources to improve 
advanced research and operational weather pre-
diction. 
SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL WEATHER DATA. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 60161 of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘This prohibition shall not extend to— 
‘‘(1) the purchase of weather data through con-
tracts with commercial providers; or 
‘‘(2) the placement of weather satellite instru-
ments on cohosted government or private payloads.’’. 
(b) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, in consultation with the Under 
Secretary, shall transmit 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 strategy 
to enable the procurement of quality commercial 
weather data. The strategy shall assess the range of 
commercial opportunities, including public-private 
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