I 
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. MCCOR-
MICK, Mr. COLLINS, and Mr. KEAN of New Jersey) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology 
A BILL 
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration’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 Representa-
tives 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 Reauthor-
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ization 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. 
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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 manage-
ment. 
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 en-
terprise’’, ‘‘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 para-
graph (6); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) WEATHER
DATA.—The term ‘weather 
data’ means information used to track and predict 
weather conditions and patterns, including forecasts, 
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observations, and derivative products from such in-
formation.’’. 
TITLE I—REAUTHORIZATION OF 
THE 
WEATHER 
RESEARCH 
AND FORECASTING INNOVA-
TION ACT OF 2017 
SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY. 
Section 101 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting 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 pro-
viding 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 infor-
mation and impact-based decision support services.’’. 
SEC. 102. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORE-
CASTING. 
Section 110 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting 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 
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and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, of 
which— 
‘‘(A) $90,000,000 is authorized for weath-
er laboratories and cooperative institutes; 
‘‘(B) $30,000,000 is authorized for the 
United States Weather Research Program; 
‘‘(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for tor-
nado, 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 weath-
er laboratories and cooperative institutes; 
‘‘(B) $30,300,000 is authorized for the 
United States Weather Research Program; 
‘‘(C) $20,200,000 is authorized for tor-
nado, severe storm, and next generation radar 
research; and 
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‘‘(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 weath-
er laboratories and cooperative institutes; 
‘‘(B) $30,603,000 is authorized for the 
United States Weather Research Program; 
‘‘(C) $20,402,000 is authorized for tor-
nado, 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 weath-
er laboratories and cooperative institutes; 
‘‘(B) $30,909,000 is authorized for the 
United States Weather Research Program; 
‘‘(C) $20,606,000 is authorized for tor-
nado, severe storm, and next generation radar 
research; and 
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‘‘(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 weath-
er laboratories and cooperative institutes; 
‘‘(B) $31,218,000 is authorized for the 
United States Weather Research Program; 
‘‘(C) $20,812,000 is authorized for tor-
nado, 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 author-
ized 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 Re-
search and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8513) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN 
TORNADOES EXPERIMENT (VORTEX). 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and aca-
demic partners, shall maintain a program for rapidly im-
proving tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, in-
cluding forecaster training in radar interpretation and in-
formation integration from new sources. 
‘‘(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program under sub-
section (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 action-
able information beyond one hour in advance. 
‘‘(3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to 
warn-on-forecast. 
‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE OBSERVATIONS.—The Under Sec-
retary shall ensure the program under subsection (a) peri-
odically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incor-
porating innovative observations, such as novel sensor 
technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial 
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aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the im-
provement 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 pro-
gram milestones to the maximum extent practicable 
as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric 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, behav-
ioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences re-
garding vulnerabilities, risk communication, and de-
livery 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 envi-
ronment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurri-
canes. 
‘‘(e) WARNINGS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Under Secretary, in coordination with the program estab-
lished under section 406, shall— 
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‘‘(1) conduct and transition to operations the 
research necessary to develop and deploy prob-
abilistic 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 inter-
pretation 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 Sec-
retary, in collaboration with local communities and emer-
gency 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 sys-
tem. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL BUDGET.—The Under Secretary shall, 
not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a 
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proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this sec-
tion.’’. 
(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 PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 104 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and aca-
demic partners, shall maintain a program to improve hur-
ricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings. 
‘‘(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program under sub-
section (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurri-
cane forecasts, predictions, and warnings in order to re-
duce the loss of life or property related to hurricanes, with 
a focus on the following: 
‘‘(1) Improving the understanding and pre-
diction of rapid intensification and projected path of 
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hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for hurri-
cane hazard mapping. 
‘‘(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based 
communication of inland flooding, compound flood-
ing, and storm surges from hurricanes, in coordina-
tion with the program established under section 205. 
‘‘(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, com-
munication, 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 appro-
priate, 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 re-
port ‘Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program’. 
‘‘(2) In coordination with the National Science 
and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral 
Sciences Subcommittee and other relevant inter-
agency committees, improving the social, behavioral, 
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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, oper-
ational modeling, and tools related to hurricane for-
mation, the impacts of wind and water-based hurri-
cane 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 estab-
lished under section 406, shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct and transition to operations the 
research necessary to develop and deploy prob-
abilistic weather forecast guidance technology relat-
ing 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 
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proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this sec-
tion.’’. 
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 para-
graph (1) to ensure seamless continuity of oper-
ations 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 
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‘‘(v) meeting information security re-
quirements 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 Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘Federal’’ before ‘‘observ-
ing 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 
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