SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthor-
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 and Education Act reauthorization. 
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. 
Sec. 115. National Landslide Preparedness Act reauthorization. 
Sec. 116. Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and 
Control Act of 1998. 
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. 
Sec. 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting. 
Sec. 210. National Weather Service workforce. 
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 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. 507. Precipitation forecast improvement program. 
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, 
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 
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 
‘‘(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 
‘‘(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: 
‘‘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 
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— 
‘‘(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 
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 intensity change and projected path 
of hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for 
hurricane 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 
of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023. 
‘‘(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, 
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 
proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAU-
THORIZATION. 
(a) TITLE HEADING.—The Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (enacted as title VIII of the Magnuson-Ste-
vens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthoriza-
tion Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479)) is amended in 
the title heading, by inserting ‘‘RESEARCH,’’ after 
‘‘WARNING,’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—Section 803 of the Tsunami Warn-
ing and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘timeliness 
and’’ before ‘‘accuracy’’; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, 
archived, and made available for operations, re-
search, education, and mitigation activities in ac-
cordance with section 305 of the Weather Research 
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.’’. 
(c) TSUNAMI FORECASTING
AND WARNING PRO-
GRAM.—Section 804 of the Tsunami Warning and Edu-
cation Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, using 
industry and scientific best practices,’’ after 
‘‘operational condition’’; 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘global seismic network’’ and inserting 
‘‘Global Seismic Network’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D), (E), (F), and (G), as subparagraphs 
(E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(D) the global navigation satellite system 
(GNSS) network;’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (6) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(6) ensure data quality and management sys-
tems, support data and metadata access and 
archiving, and support the requirements of the pro-
gram pursuant to the Foundations for Evidence- 
Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 
435) and chapter 31 of title 44, United States 
Code;’’; 
(D) in paragraph (7)— 
(i) by amending the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ‘‘in-
clude a cooperative effort among the Ad-
ministration, the United States Geological 
Survey (USGS), the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA), and 
the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
under which the Director of USGS, the Di-
rector of the NSF, and the Administrator 
of NASA shall—’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) provide reliable and real-time support 
for the GNSS network data streams from NSF, 
NASA, and USGS maintained networks, and 
supplement instrumentation coverage for rapid 
earthquake assessment; 
‘‘(D) assess the data and information re-
lating to warning systems of collaborating agen-
cies for potential utilization in NOAA’s warning 
system, taking into consideration advancement 
in research and technology; 
‘‘(E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami 
notifications and warnings in the USGS Earth-
quake Early Warning System; and 
‘‘(F) incorporate, as practicable, prelimi-
nary analysis or data from the National Earth-
quake Information Center regarding the source 
and magnitude of an offshore earthquake with-
in five minutes of detection;’’; 
(E) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘ and decision support 
aides’’ after ‘‘graphical warning prod-
ucts,’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘-prone’’ after ‘‘tsu-
nami’’; 
(F) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(G) in paragraph (10), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(H) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, 
or other geographic products, in order to best sup-
port, as appropriate, relevant agencies with tsunami 
mitigation and recovery activities.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
(1) and (2), respectively; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Atlantic Ocean, 
including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of 
Mexico, that are determined—’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic 
Oceans, including the Caribbean Sea and 
Gulf of Mexico, that are determined to 
pose significant risks of tsunami for States
and United States territories along the 
coastal areas of such regions; and’’; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
(B); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), 
and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respec-
tively; 
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) TSUNAMI WARNING ALERT LEVEL EVALUA-
TION.—The Administrator, in collaboration with social sci-
entists, emergency personnel, and high-risk communities, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, 
timing, and effectiveness; 
‘‘(2) determine if such alerts produce the de-
sired response and understanding from possible tsu-
nami-prone communities; and 
‘‘(3) if necessary, update the alert level system 
for increased effectiveness.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘responsible for 
Alaska, the continental United States, Ha-
waii, United States territories, and inter-
national entities the Administrator deter-
mines appropriate’’ before the period; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘which is primarily responsible for Alaska 
and the continental United States’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘, which is primarily responsible for Ha-
waii, the Caribbean, and other areas of the 
Pacific not covered by the National Cen-
ter’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
‘‘current,’’ after ‘‘sea level,’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and volcanic eruptions’’ and inserting 
‘‘volcanic eruptions, or other sources’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘buoy data and tidal’’ and inserting ‘‘and 
coastal’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
‘‘Integrated Ocean Observing System of 
the Administration’’ and inserting ‘‘United 
States and global ocean and coastal observ-
ing system’’;
(v) in subparagraph (H), by inserting 
‘‘monitoring needs,’’ after ‘‘response,’’; and 
(vi) by amending subparagraph (I) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(I) Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordi-
nator to coordinate with partners and stake-
holders products and services of the centers 
supported or maintained under paragraph (1).’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) FAIL-SAFE
WARNING
CAPABILITY.—The 
Administrator shall support and maintain fail-safe 
warning capability for the tsunami warning centers 
supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and 
such centers shall conduct at least one service back 
up drill biannually.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) by amending the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ‘‘The 
Administrator shall coordinate with the 
weather forecast offices of the National 
Weather Service, the centers supported or 
maintained under paragraph (1), and such 
national and regional program offices of 
the Administration as the Administrator or
the coordinating committee, as established 
in section 805(b), consider appropriate to 
ensure that regional and local weather 
forecast offices—’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) conduct education and outreach ef-
forts to help prepare coastal communities for 
tsunami hazards.’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in the section heading, by striking 
‘‘UNIFORM’’ and inserting ‘‘STANDARD-
IZED’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘uniform’’ and inserting ‘‘standardized’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘uniform’’ and inserting ‘‘standard-
ized’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon;
(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(vi) 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 
‘‘(v) meeting information security re-
quirements specified in chapter 35 of title 
44, United States Code.’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(7) REPORTING.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this paragraph 
and annually thereafter until such time as all rel-
evant requirements have been satisfied, the Adminis-
trator shall provide to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate an update briefing on 
the progress of the following: 
‘‘(A) Standardizing products and proce-
dures under paragraph (5), including tsunami 
assessments, forecast guidance, and related 
products. 
‘‘(B) Migrating the message generation 
systems of the centers supported or maintained 
under paragraph (1) to the Advanced Weather 
Information Processing Systems, or successor 
systems. 
‘‘(C) The structural reorganization effort, 
if necessary, to align such centers’ organiza-
tional charts. 
‘‘(D) The expected timeline for the full 
completion of standardizing such centers’ prod-
ucts and procedures.’’; 
(6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘detect, measure, 
and’’ after ‘‘used to’’;
(A) by striking ‘‘section 805(d)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 805(b)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and management’’ after 
‘‘data collection’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘deploy-
ment and’’ after ‘‘may include’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘social 
science research’’ and inserting ‘‘social and be-
havioral science research, including data collec-
tion,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (7); and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) develop decision support tools; 
‘‘(6) leverage and prioritize research opportuni-
ties; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.—Not 
later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
this subsection and not less frequently than every 36
months thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services, shall develop a research and development and re-
search to operations plan to improve tsunami detection 
and forecasting capabilities that— 
‘‘(1) identifies and prioritizes research and de-
velopment priorities to satisfy section 804; 
‘‘(2) identifies key research needs for better de-
tecting tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and 
along the coastlines of the United States and its ter-
ritories, improve forecasting of tsunamis that are 
not seismically driven, and other opportunities deter-
mined appropriate; 
‘‘(3) develops plans for transitioning research to 
operations; and 
‘‘(4) identifies collaboration opportunities that 
may further and align tsunami research, develop-
ment, warnings, and operations between the centers 
supported or maintained under section 804, the Na-
tional Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cen-
ter for Tsunami Research, the National Science 
Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, insti-
tutions of higher education, private entities, stake-
holders, and others determined appropriate.’’; 
(f) GLOBAL TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION 
NETWORK.—Section 807(d) of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206(d)) is amended by insert-
ing ‘‘and management’’ after ‘‘data sharing’’; 
(g) TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY 
PANEL.—Section 808(b)(1) of the Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206a(b)(1)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘and behavioral’’ after ‘‘social’’; 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
809 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 
U.S.C. 3207) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 809. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Ad-
ministrator to carry out this title $30,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2024 through 2028, of which— 
‘‘(1) not less than 27 percent of the amount ap-
propriated for each fiscal year shall be for activities 
conducted at the State level under the national tsu-
nami hazard mitigation program under section 805; 
and 
‘‘(2) not less than 8 percent of the amount ap-
propriated shall be for the tsunami research pro-
gram under section 806.’’.
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 
(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 re-
quirements 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 ca-
pability in the early morning orbit to support the 
weather enterprise and the Administration’s mis-
sion.’’. 
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
Section 107 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting 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 ex-
perimental commercial system capabilities that pro-
vide 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 sub-
section (d). 
SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION. 
Section 108 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is 
amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that fol-
lows 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 Depart-
ment of Energy high performance computers, cloud 
computing, or expertise, to run advanced coupled 
models in order to conduct proof of concept sce-
narios in comparison with current issued forecasts 
and models. The Under Secretary and Secretary of 
Energy shall carry out the initiative through a com-
petitive, merit-reviewed process, and consider appli-
cations from Federal agencies, National Labora-
tories, 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 institu-
tions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia 
thereof). 
‘‘(2) COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the initia-
tive under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall 
prevent duplication and coordinate research efforts 
in artificial intelligence, high performance com-
puting, cloud computing, quantum computing, mod-
eling and simulation, machine learning, data assimi-
lation, large scale data analytics, and predictive 
analysis across the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and may— 
‘‘(A) conduct research to compare National 
Weather Service forecast and model outputs to
predictions 
and 
model 
outputs 
developed 
through such initiative; 
‘‘(B) share relevant modeling system and 
applications innovations developed through such 
initiative, including Unified Forecast System- 
based applications, through community-based 
activities, in accordance with section 10601 of 
the James M. Inhofe National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 
8512a); 
‘‘(C) leverage coordinating activities man-
aged 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 sup-
port 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 de-
velopment and employment opportunities.
‘‘(3) RESEARCH SECURITY.—The activities au-
thorized under this section shall be applied in a 
manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the 
Research and Development, Competition, and Inno-
vation 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 Sec-
retary may expand, and where applicable establish, centers 
of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artifi-
cial intelligence and machine learning enabled advanced 
computing capabilities. Each such center may carry out 
activities that include the following: 
‘‘(1) Leveraging robust public-private partner-
ship models to provide access to training, experience,
and long-term development of workforce and infra-
structure. 
‘‘(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, ex-
plore quantum computing and related application 
partnerships with public, private, and academic enti-
ties to improve the accuracy and resolution of weath-
er predictions. 
‘‘(e) MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS.—The Under Sec-
retary 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 operations, research, and development 
related to high performance and cloud computing infra-
structure or systems with an unfunded contingent liability 
in the event of cancellation. 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Under Sec-
retary 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 dis-
coveries 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, visual-
ization, and dissemination collaboration between the 
Department of Energy and the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(4) A timeline and guidance for implementa-
tion of the following: 
‘‘(A) High-resolution numerical weather 
prediction models. 
‘‘(B) Methods for meeting the cloud com-
puting, quantum computing, or high-perform-
ance computing, visualization, and dissemina-
tion needs identified under paragraph (3).’’. 
SEC. 109. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER. 
Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Re-
search 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 re-
search modeling systems that— 
‘‘(i) are accessible by the public in ac-
cordance 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 net-
works 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 inte-
gration of promising operational model im-
provements from the broader community; 
‘‘(vi) access as close to a real-time 
basis as possible operational data and 
metadata, including commercially pur-
chased data for use in Earth Prediction 
Innovation Center research and develop-
ment testing grounds pursuant to redis-
tribution restrictions, licensing agreements, 
and applicable existing laws and regula-
tions; and 
‘‘(vii) provide supported and portable 
versions of the unified forecast system, in-
cluding 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 continu-
ously 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 Fore-
casting 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 fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND DATA.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall 
maintain a fleet of Administration space-based ob-
servation platforms that provide critical operations- 
focused data and information to support the Na-
tional 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 en-
sure 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 Ad-
ministration’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 Weath-
er 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 ob-
servations of the atmosphere and ocean, and other obser-
vations, in cooperation with the Office of Marine and Avia-
tion Operations’’. 
SEC. 112. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCING METE-
OROLOGICAL SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402 of the Weather Re-
search and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8542) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Advancing Weather Serv-
ices’’ 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 govern-
ments, and emergency managers, including by imple-
menting mechanisms to encourage and enable the partici-
pation of non-Federal employees in the functions of the 
Interagency Council.’’; 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Interagency Council shall be 
the formal mechanism by which all relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies coordinate implementation of pol-
icy and practices to ensure United States global leadership 
in meteorological services. In doing so, the Interagency 
Council shall review programs and support relevant weath-
er research and forecast innovation activities, as well as 
other related implementation activities, related to Federal 
meteorological services, including by carrying out the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteoro-
logical research and service delivery needs, including 
relating to observations, operational systems, com-
munications, and infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) Providing recommendations to streamline 
or consolidate activities and develop greater effi-
ciencies 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 depart-
ments and agencies, including research outcomes re-
lated 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 strength-
ening of partnerships with private sector entities to 
advance meteorological research, communications, 
and computing in collaboration with the Earth sys-
tem science, service, and stakeholder communities. 
‘‘(5) Sharing information regarding meteorolog-
ical research improvement needs and science oppor-
tunities across relevant Federal departments and 
agencies. 
‘‘(6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies regarding potential collabo-
rations and expected level of resources needed to 
maintain and operate the Interagency Council. 
‘‘(7) Enhancing communication and coordina-
tion and promoting sharing within relevant Federal 
departments and agencies and across the Inter-
agency 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 ac-
cessibility, interoperability, and reusability by maintaining 
a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not less 
frequently than annually for a period of five years begin-
ning 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 Me-
teorological Coordination Office shall provide to the Inter-
agency Council such administrative and logistical support 
as the Interagency Council may require, as determined by 
the co-chairs. 
‘‘(g) COST SHARE.—Member departments and agen-
cies of the Interagency Council under subsection (a) may 
provide reimbursable financial support to the Interagency 
Meteorological Coordinating Office to enhance cost-shar-
ing and collaboration related to weather research and fore-
cast 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 col-
lection, assimilation, and forecasting that could im-
prove Federal programmatic operational capabilities. 
‘‘(4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological obser-
vations, 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 docu-
ment of the United States shall be deemed to be a ref-
erence to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteoro-
logical 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 fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) SHIPS
OF
OPPORTUNITY
PILOT
PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in 
coordination with the heads of relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall, subject to rel-
evant regulations and certifications, maintain 
pilot programs or projects to contract with re-
search or commercial ship operators for data 
collection and assess the potential costs, bene-
fits, and viability of a global network of ocean 
and atmospheric observing instruments oper-
ating on research or commercial ocean vessels, 
including in the Arctic, in order to supplement 
the Integrated Coastal, Great Lakes, and Ocean 
Observation System in improving understanding 
of coastal and ocean systems and their relation-
ships to human activities. 
‘‘(B) STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS.— 
The Administrator shall ensure that data ac-
quired through the pilot program established 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) meets the most 
recent standards and specifications required for 
observation services and data as published pur-
suant 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 para-
graph, 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 instru-
ments operating on research or commercial 
ocean vessels for measurement and data trans-
mission. 
‘‘(D) SUNSET.—This paragraph shall ter-
minate 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 INNO-
VATION ACT OF 2017.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended— 
(A) in section 102 (15 U.S.C. 8512), by 
striking subsection (d); 
(B) by amending section 105 (15 U.S.C. 
8515) to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN-
NING. 
‘‘Not later than two years after the date of the enact-
ment of this section and not less frequently than semi-
annually thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through 
the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, and in coordination with the Director of the Na-
tional Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator 
for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue a re-
search and development and research to operations plan 
to maintain United States leadership in numerical weather 
prediction and forecasting that— 
‘‘(1) describes the forecasting skill and tech-
nology goals, objectives, expected budget, and 
progress of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration in carrying out the program con-
ducted under section 102; 
‘‘(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research 
and development activities, data collection and anal-
ysis, predictive modeling, demonstration of potential 
operational forecast application, education, training, 
and performance metrics, weighted to meet the oper-
ational weather and flood-event mission of the Na-
tional Weather Service to achieve a weather-ready 
Nation; 
‘‘(3) describes how the program conducted 
under section 102 will collaborate with Federal 
agencies and departments, international partners, 
and stakeholders, including the United States weath-
er industry and academic partners, and the role of 
each in advancing weather forecasting and commu-
nication; 
‘‘(4) identifies, through consultation with the 
National Science Foundation, the United States 
weather industry, and academic partners, research 
necessary to advance the scientific understanding of 
weather processes and provide information to im-
prove weather warning and forecast systems in the 
United States most effectively; and 
‘‘(5) describes how the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration is advancing community 
weather modeling.’’; 
(C) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)— 
(i) in subsection (a), by inserting 
‘‘the’’ after ‘‘Director of’’; and 
(ii) by amending subsection (d) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL BRIEFING.—Not less frequently than 
once each year, the Under Secretary shall brief the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives on participation 
in the program under subsection (a) and shall highlight
any innovations that come from the interaction described 
in subsection (b).’’; and 
(D) 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 ADMIN-
ISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1992.—The National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization 
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567) is amended— 
(1) in section 106, by striking subsection (c) 
(15 U.S.C. 1537); and 
(2) in section 108 (15 U.S.C. 8520)— 
(A) by striking subsection (b); and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 115. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE PREPAREDNESS ACT RE-
AUTHORIZATION. 
The National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 
3101 et seq.) is amended—
(1) in section 3 (43 U.S.C. 3102)— 
(A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘pro-
tect’’ and inserting ‘‘contribute to protecting’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii), by striking 
‘‘implement’’ and inserting ‘‘disseminate’’; 
(C) in subsection (c)(2), by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(J) The Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration.’’; and 
(D) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2024’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2029’’; and 
(2) in section 5 (43 U.S.C. 3104)— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting 
‘‘and derivative’’ after ‘‘3D elevation’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by insert-
ing ‘‘, process, and integrate’’ after ‘‘ac-
quire’’; 
(B) in subsection (b)(3)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and 
(F), respectively; and 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following:
‘‘(D) the 3D Hydrography Program Work-
ing Group;’’; 
(C) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ‘‘pub-
lically’’ and inserting ‘‘publicly’’; and 
(D) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2024’’ 
and inserting ‘‘2029’’. 
SEC. 116. AMENDMENTS TO HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND 
HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT OF 
1998. 
(a) ASSESSMENTS.—Section 603 of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 
1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (13) and 
(14) as paragraphs (14) and (15); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (12) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(13) the Department of Energy;’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), 
and (i) and redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; 
(3) in subsection (b), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘coastal 
waters including the Great Lakes’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘marine, estuarine, and freshwater sys-
tems’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) examine the causes and ecological con-
sequences of hypoxia on marine and aquatic species 
in their natural environments, and socio-cultural or 
economic costs of hypoxia, including impacts on food 
safety and security;’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(B) through (D) as subparagraphs (D) 
through (F), respectively; 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(A) the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(B) examine the effect of other environmental 
stressors on hypoxia; 
‘‘(C) evaluate alternatives for reducing, miti-
gating, and controlling hypoxia and its environ-
mental impacts;’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), as so redes-
ignated, by inserting ‘‘, social,’’ after ‘‘eco-
logical’’; and 
(v) in subparagraph (E), as so redes-
ignated, by striking ‘‘hypoxia modeling and
monitoring data’’ and inserting ‘‘hypoxia 
modeling, forecasting, and monitoring and 
observation data’’; and 
(4) in subsection (c), as so redesignated, to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(c) ACTION STRATEGY AND SCIENTIFIC ASSESS-
MENT FOR MARINE AND FRESHWATER HARMFUL ALGAL 
BLOOMS.— 
‘‘(1) Not less often than once every 5 years, the 
Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress 
an action strategy, including a scientific assessment, 
of harmful algal blooms in the United States (in this 
Act referred to as the ‘Action Strategy’). Each such 
Action Strategy, including scientific assessment, 
shall examine both marine and freshwater harmful 
algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and 
upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes 
and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater 
lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters. 
‘‘(2) Each Action Strategy under this sub-
section shall— 
‘‘(A) examine the causes and ecological 
consequences, and the socio-cultural or eco-
nomic costs, including impacts food safety and 
security, of harmful algal blooms;
‘‘(B) examine the effect of other environ-
mental stressors on harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(C) examine potential methods to prevent, 
control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and 
the potential ecological, social, cultural, and 
economic costs and benefits of such methods; 
‘‘(D) identify priorities for research needed 
to advance techniques and technologies to de-
tect, predict, monitor, respond to, and minimize 
the occurrence, duration, and severity of harm-
ful algal blooms, including recommendations to 
eliminate significant gaps in harmful algal 
bloom forecasting, monitoring, and observation 
data; 
‘‘(E) evaluate progress made by, and the 
needs of, Task Force activities and actions to 
prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal 
blooms; 
‘‘(F) identify ways to improve coordination 
and prevent unnecessary duplication of effort 
among Federal departments and agencies with 
respect to research on harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(G) include regional chapters relating to 
the requirements described in this paragraph in 
order to highlight geographically and eco-
logically diverse locations with significant eco-
logical, social, cultural, and economic impacts 
from harmful algal blooms; and 
‘‘(H) define methodology used to determine 
ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts 
from harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.’’. 
(b) CONSULTATIONS.—Section 102 of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (33 
U.S.C. 4001a) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the coastal’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘Indian tribes,’’; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘local govern-
ments,’’; and 
(4) by striking ‘‘with expertise in coastal zone 
science and management’’ and inserting ‘‘with rel-
evant expertise’’. 
(c) NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HY-
POXIA PROGRAM.—Section 603A of the Harmful Algal 
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 4002) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘predicting,’’ and in-
serting 
‘‘monitoring, 
observing, 
fore-
casting,’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘comprehensive re-
search plan and action strategy under sec-
tion 603B’’ and inserting ‘‘Action Strat-
egy, including scientific assessment, under 
section 603(c)’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period and insert-
ing ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3) the scientific assessment under section 
603(b).’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘ocean 
and Great Lakes’’ and inserting ‘‘marine, estu-
arine, and freshwater systems’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘while 
recognizing each agency is acting under its own 
independent mission and authority’’ before the 
semicolon; 
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘Except as 
provided in subsection (h), the’’ and inserting 
‘‘The’’;
(4) in subsection (e)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) examine, in collaboration with State and 
local entities and Indian Tribes, including island 
communities, low-population rural communities, In-
digenous communities, subsistence communities, 
fisheries, and recreation industries that are most de-
pendent on coastal and water resources that may be 
impacted by marine and freshwater harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia, the causes, ecological con-
sequences, cultural impacts, and social and economic 
costs of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;’’; 
(B) by striking paragraph (3); 
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), 
and (6) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respec-
tively; 
(D) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘to, regional’’ and in-
serting ‘‘to regional’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘agencies’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘entities, and regional coastal observ-
ing systems (as such term is defined in 
section 12330(6) of the Integrated Coastal
and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602(6)))’’; 
(E) in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, 
by inserting ‘‘and communities’’ after ‘‘eco-
systems’’; 
(F) by inserting after paragraph (5) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(6) support sustained observations, including 
through 
peer-reviewed, 
merit-based, 
competitive 
grant funding, to provide State and local entities, 
Indian Tribes, and others access to real-time or near 
real-time observation data for decision-making to 
protect human and ecological health and local econo-
mies;’’; 
(G) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘State 
and local’’ and inserting ‘‘State, local, and Trib-
al’’; and 
(H) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ‘‘trib-
al’’ and inserting ‘‘Tribal’’; 
(5) by amending subsections (f) and (g) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(f) COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.—The Under Secretary 
shall work cooperatively with and avoid duplication of ef-
fort of other agencies on the Task Force, and with and 
of States, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental organiza-
tions concerned with marine and freshwater issues, and 
shall coordinate harmful algal bloom and hypoxia and re-
lated activities and research. 
‘‘(g) FRESHWATER AND ESTUARINE PROGRAM DU-
TIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall— 
‘‘(A) with respect to freshwater aspects of 
the Program, in coordination with the Task 
Force, carry out the duties under subsection (e) 
through the activities required under section 
603C; and 
‘‘(B) with respect to estuarine aspects of 
the Program, coordinate with the Under Sec-
retary to carry out activities required under this 
section. 
‘‘(2) 
NONDUPLICATION.—The 
Administrator 
shall ensure that activities carried out under this 
subsection focus on new approaches to addressing 
freshwater harmful algal blooms and are not dupli-
cative of existing research and development pro-
grams authorized under this Act or any other law.’’; 
and 
(6) by amending subsection (h) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(h) ANTI-DEFICIENCY ACT APPLIED TO HARMFUL 
ALGAL BLOOM SERVICES.—Any services by an officer or 
employee under this title relating to the immediate devel-
opment and dissemination of the Harmful Algal Bloom 
Operational Forecast System of the National Centers for 
Coastal Ocean Science and the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration shall be considered, for pur-
poses of section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, serv-
ices for emergencies involving the safety of human life or 
the protection of property. Such consideration shall only 
apply to areas with active harmful algal blooms during any 
lapse in appropriations beginning on or after the date of 
the enactment of this subsection.’’. 
(d) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 603B of the Harm-
ful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4003) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 603B. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION ACTIVITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) carry out marine, coastal, and Great 
Lakes harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events re-
sponse activities;
‘‘(F) examine the effects of other environ-
mental stressors on harmful algal blooms and 
hypoxia; 
‘‘(G) assess the effects of multiple environ-
mental stressors on living marine resources and 
coastal ecosystems; and 
‘‘(H) evaluate adaptation and mitigation 
strategies to address the impacts of harmful 
algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(4) enhance communication and coordination 
among Federal agencies carrying out marine and 
freshwater harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activi-
ties and research; 
‘‘(5) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
existing resources and expertise available from local 
research universities and institutions; and 
‘‘(6) use cost effective methods in carrying out 
this section. 
‘‘(b) INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVA-
TION SYSTEM.—The collection of monitoring and observ-
ing data under this section shall comply with all data 
standards and protocols developed pursuant to the Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.). Such data shall be made 
available through the system established under that Act.’’.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by 
amending the item relating to section 603B to read 
as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.’’. 
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVI-
TIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 
U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 603B of that Act (33 U.S.C. 4003), as 
amended by subsection (d), the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘SEC. 603C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AC-
TIVITIES. 
‘‘The Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) carry out research on the ecology and 
human health impacts of freshwater harmful algal 
blooms; 
‘‘(2) develop and maintain forecasting and mon-
itoring of, and event response to, freshwater harmful 
algal blooms in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and estu-
aries (including tributaries thereof); 
‘‘(3) enhance communication and coordination 
among Federal agencies carrying out freshwater
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and re-
search; 
‘‘(4) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage 
existing resources and expertise available from local 
research universities and institutions; and 
‘‘(5) use cost effective methods in carrying out 
this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 603B, as 
amended by subsection (e), the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.’’. 
(f) NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HY-
POXIA OBSERVING NETWORK.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 606 of the Harmful 
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act 
of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4005) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 606. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OBSERVING 
NETWORK. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, acting 
through the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science 
(referred to in this section as ‘NCCOS’) and the Inte-
grated Ocean Observing System (referred to in this section 
as ‘IOOS’) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, shall integrate Federal, State, regional, and 
local observing capabilities to establish a national network 
of harmful algal bloom observing systems for the moni-
toring, detection, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms 
by leveraging the capacity of IOOS regional associations, 
including through the incorporation of emerging tech-
nologies and new data integration methods, such as artifi-
cial intelligence. 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.— In carrying out subsection 
(a), the IOOS Program Office shall— 
‘‘(1) coordinate with NCCOS regarding obser-
vations, data integration, and information dissemi-
nation; and 
‘‘(2) establish a Harmful Algal Bloom Data As-
sembly Center to integrate, disseminate, and provide 
a central architecture to support ecological fore-
casting.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by 
amending the item relating to section 606 to read as 
follows: 
‘‘Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.’’. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—Section 609 of the Harmful Algal 
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 
(33 U.S.C. 4008) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘means the 
comprehensive research plan and action strategy es-
tablished under section 603B’’ and inserting ‘‘means 
the action strategy, including scientific assessment, 
for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms es-
tablished under section 603(c)’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), to read as follows: 
‘‘(3) APPROPRIATE
FEDERAL
OFFICIAL.—The 
term ‘appropriate Federal official’ means— 
‘‘(A) in the case of marine systems or 
Great Lakes hypoxia or harmful algal bloom 
event, including those in estuarine areas, the 
Under Secretary; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or 
harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator, 
in consultation with the Under Secretary.’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (9); 
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), 
(7), and (8) as paragraphs (6), (7), (8), (10), and 
(11); 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing new paragraphs: 
‘‘(4) HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM; 
HARMFUL 
ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA EVENT.—
‘‘(A) HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM.—The term 
‘harmful algal bloom’ means marine or fresh-
water 
algae 
or 
macroalgae, 
including 
Sargassum, that proliferate to high concentra-
tions, resulting in nuisance conditions or harm-
ful impacts on marine and freshwater eco-
systems, communities, or human health through 
the production of toxic compounds or other bio-
logical, chemical, or physical impacts of the 
algae outbreak. 
‘‘(B) HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM
AND
HY-
POXIA EVENT.—The term ‘harmful algal bloom 
and hypoxia event’ means the occurrence of a 
harmful algal bloom or hypoxia as a result of 
a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined 
cause. 
‘‘(5) HARMFUL
ALGAL
BLOOM
OR
HYPOXIA 
EVENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.—The term ‘harmful algal 
bloom or hypoxia event of significance’ means a 
harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event that has had 
or will likely have significant detrimental environ-
mental, economic, social, subsistence use, or public 
health impacts.’’; 
(6) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated—
(A) by striking ‘‘aquatic’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine or freshwater’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘resident’’ and inserting 
‘‘marine or freshwater’’; and 
(7) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so re-
designated, the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(9) SUBSISTENCE
USE.—The term ‘subsist-
ence use’ means the customary and traditional use 
of fish, wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or ma-
rine resources by any individual or community to 
meet personal or family needs, including essential 
economic, nutritional, or cultural applications.’’. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
610 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research 
and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4009) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Under Secretary to carry out this title 
$27,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—The Under Secretary 
is authorized to make a direct non-expenditure transfer 
of funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to sub-
section (a) to the head of any Federal department or agen-
cy, with the concurrence of such head, to carry out, as 
appropriate, relevant provisions of this title.’’. 
(i) NATIONAL LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM; HARM-
FUL ALGAL BLOOM OR HYPOXIA EVENT OF SIGNIFI-
CANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Harmful Algal Bloom 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 
U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 611. NATIONAL LEVEL INCUBATOR PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with research universities and institutions, shall es-
tablish a national level incubator program to increase the 
number of available control strategies and technologies re-
lating to harmful algal blooms. Such incubator shall estab-
lish a framework for preliminary assessments of novel 
harmful algal bloom prevention, mitigation, and control 
technologies in order to determine the potential for effec-
tiveness and scalability. 
‘‘(b) OPERATION.—The incubator established under 
subsection (a) shall provide merit-based funding for harm-
ful algal bloom control strategies and technologies that 
eliminate or reduce through biological, chemical, or phys-
ical means the levels of harmful algae and associated tox-
ins. 
‘‘(c) DATABASE.—The incubator established under 
subsection (a) shall include a database to catalog the li-
censing and permitting requirements, economic costs, fea-
sibility, effectiveness, and scalability of both novel and es-
tablished prevention, control, and mitigation measures. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITIZATION.—In carrying out the incubator 
established under subsection (a), the Under Secretary 
shall prioritize proposed activities that would, to the max-
imum extent practicable— 
‘‘(1) protect key habitats for fish and wildlife; 
‘‘(2) maintain biodiversity; 
‘‘(3) protect public health; 
‘‘(4) protect coastal resources of national, his-
torical, and cultural significance; or 
‘‘(5) seek to partially or fully benefit commu-
nities of color, low-income communities, Indian 
Tribes or Indigenous communities, and rural com-
munities.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–383) is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 610 the 
following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 611. National level incubator program.’’.
(j) HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OR HYPOXIA EVENT OF 
SIGNIFICANCE.—Section 9(g) of the National Integrated 
Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 
(33 U.S.C. 4010(g)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘The appro-
priate Federal official may waive the non-Fed-
eral share requirements of this subsection if 
such official determines no reasonable means 
are available through which the recipient of the 
Federal share can meet the non-Federal share 
requirement.’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) CONTRACT, GRANT, AND
COOPERA-
TIVE
AGREEMENT
AUTHORITY.—The Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmos-
phere may enter into agreements and grants 
with States, Indian Tribes, local governments, 
or other entities to pay for or reimburse costs 
incurred for the purposes of supporting the de-
termination of and assessing the environmental, 
economic, social, subsistence use, and public
health effects of a harmful algal bloom or hy-
poxia event of significance.’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘, leader-
ship official of an affected Indian Tribe, the execu-
tive official of the District of Columbia, or a terri-
tory or possession of the United States, including 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, and Amer-
ican Samoa, if affected’’ after ‘‘State’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) FUNDING AUTHORITY.—To carry out this 
subsection, notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, there is authorized to be appropriated from the 
amounts made available to the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere $2,000,000, 
to remain available until expended.’’. 
(k) PROTECT
FAMILIES
FROM
TOXIC
ALGAL 
BLOOMS.—Section 128 of the Water Resources Develop-
ment Act of 2020 (33 U.S.C. 610 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection:
‘‘(e) HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM TECHNOLOGIES.—In 
carrying out the demonstration program under subsection 
(a), the Secretary may enter into agreements with water 
and irrigation districts located in the focus areas described 
in subsections (c) and (d) for the use or sale of any new 
technologies developed under the program to expedite the 
removal of harmful algal blooms in such areas.’’. 
TITLE II—ENHANCING FEDERAL 
WEATHER FORECASTING AND 
INNOVATION 
SEC. 201. WEATHER INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERA-
TION. 
(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 Eval-
uation Program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’) to ensure the continued performance of weather 
radar capabilities, including systems currently being devel-
oped, with interferences 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 ap-
propriate; 
(2) identify, evaluate, and test existing or near- 
commercial technologies and solutions that improve 
radar coverage and performance, including by miti-
gating the potential impact of interferences on 
weather radar; 
(3) to the maximum extent practicable, research 
additional solutions that could mitigate the effects of 
interferences on weather radar, such as— 
(A) signal processing algorithms; 
(B) short-term forecasting algorithms to 
replace contaminated data; 
(C) the use of dual polarization character-
istics in mitigating the effects of wind turbines 
on weather radar; and 
(D) gap filling radars to provide supple-
mental or replacement observations in impacted 
areas; and 
(4) develop, support, or partner with developers 
to provide commercially viable technical mitigation 
solutions for interferences to weather radar capabili-
ties that are compatible with the operational require-
ments of the weather radar systems.
(c) PRIORITY.—In carrying out subsection (b), the 
Under Secretary shall prioritize consideration of the fol-
lowing 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 capabili-
ties. 
(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 solu-
tion the Under Secretary determines could improve 
radar coverage by overcoming interferences, 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 implemen-
tation 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 identi-
fication 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 Con-
gress a recommendation on whether additional re-
search, testing, and development through the Pro-
gram established under subsection (a) is needed, and 
a determination of whether a cessation of field re-
search, testing, development and evaluation is appro-
priate. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Under Sec-
retary 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 block-
age’’ means a signal that is partially or fully blocked 
due to an interference.
(2) GHOST
ECHO.—The term ‘‘ghost echo’’ 
means radar signal reflectivity or velocity return er-
rors in radar data due to the proximity of an inter-
ference. 
(3) INTERFERENCE.—The term ‘‘interference’’ 
includes the following: 
(A) a wind turbine that could limit the ef-
fectiveness 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 de-
velop 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 Sec-
retary shall take such actions as may be necessary to en-
sure the replacement described in subsection (a) is com-
pleted 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 sub-
section. 
(2) Development of a digital phased array radar 
test article designed to test and determine the speci-
fications 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 com-
mercial replacement or supplemental radars, in-
cluding data void filling radars in regions where 
geographical topography prevents full utilization 
of conventional systems. 
(4) Consultation and input solicited from mete-
orologists, emergency managers, and public safety 
officials regarding the specifications and require-
ments for the replacement of the NEXRAD system 
referred in such subsection.
(5) Prioritized locations for initial deployment 
of the replacement system described in subsection 
(a) that will replace the NEXRAD system. 
(6) Expected locations of such replacement sys-
tem described in subsection (a), including sites lo-
cated more than 75 miles away from an existing 
NEXRAD station and additional appropriate loca-
tions. 
(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 con-
tinued 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 ac-
tivities 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 sub-
section (c)(3), the National Mesonet Program, 
or Cooperative Research and Development 
Agreements; and 
(B) weather camera systems and services, 
including systems and services in consultation 
with the Federal Aviation Administration, as 
viable technologies to supplement weather fore-
casting 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 Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 203. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, in consultation with the United States 
weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance 
with activities implemented through existing regional at-
mospheric, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing sys-
tems, shall carry out activities to ensure equitable and 
comprehensive weather observation coverage and emer-
gency 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 pro-
viding such coverage. 
(2) Increasing weather observations and devel-
oping 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 de-
velop and integrate new weather, water, and climate 
observation or emergency information sharing tools, 
such as next generational or supplemental radars for 
weather observations, in under-observed, under-
served, or highly vulnerable regions. 
(4) To the maximum extent practicable, ad-
vancing weather and water forecasting and climate 
modeling capabilities for under-observed, under-
served, or highly vulnerable regions. 
(5) Undertaking workforce development efforts 
for emergency management officials and meteorolo-
gists in under-observed, underserved, or highly vul-
nerable areas, including urban regions, of the United 
States. 
(6) Using data void filling observations to bet-
ter 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 sub-
section (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 crit-
ical 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 facili-
ties, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks.
SEC. 204. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS FORECAST IMPROVEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and aca-
demic partners, shall establish an atmospheric river fore-
cast improvement program (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘program’’). 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program shall be to re-
duce 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 prob-
abilistic forecasts of landfall location, extreme wind 
and precipitation, and cascading impacts; 
(2) developing an atmospheric river forecast 
system within the unified forecast system, and ad-
vancing next-generation coupled modeling systems, 
with the capability of providing seasonal to short- 
range atmospheric river forecasts that include fore-
cast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic com-
ponents; 
(3) advancing scientific understanding of the 
roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to sea-
sonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at 
subseasonal and seasonal scales; 
(4) developing tools and improved forecast 
products to predict periods of active or inactive at-
mospheric river landfalls and inland penetration over 
the western United States with a focus on address-
ing stakeholder and public needs related to per-
ceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmos-
pheric 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, de-
velopment, data acquisition, and technology transfer ac-
tivities, as well as corresponding resources, limitations, 
and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the pro-
gram 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 annu-
ally, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding 
with the activities identified in such plan. 
SEC. 205. COASTAL FLOODING AND STORM SURGE FORE-
CAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration 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 re-
duce 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 pre-
vent 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, in-
cluding high tide flooding, and storm surge esti-
mates to complement worst-case scenario estimates, 
including for use in long-term planning and risk 
management by States, Tribal governments, local-
ities, and emergency managers in coordination with 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as ap-
propriate. 
(5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inun-
dation forecasting that quantify the benefits of dy-
namical 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 observa-
tions, such as novel sensor technologies, observation net-
works, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instru-
ments 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, de-
velopment, data acquisition, and technology transfer ac-
tivities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, 
necessary to achieve the goal of the program under sub-
section (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 annu-
ally, 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 enter-
prise. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The program shall include activi-
ties 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 ob-
servations that provide spatial and temporal density, 
as determined by the Under Secretary. 
(3) Analysis of procured data when incor-
porated 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 sub-
section (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 Fore-
casting 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 FORE-
CASTING.—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 sys-
tem 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 Fed-
eral Government an interagency working group to 
determine weather and environmental data or obser-
vation 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 commer-
cial aviation tools; 
(3) transitioning research initiatives and pilot 
programs, including a pilot program of instrumenta-
tion for observing greenhouse gases and other at-
mospheric factors deployed on commercial aircraft 
and supporting the evaluation of a sustained observ-
ing network using such platforms, into operations 
that improve the forecasting missions of the Aviation 
Weather Center;
(4) developing and deploying improved prob-
abilistic aviation weather forecast guidance tech-
nology; and 
(5) updating interagency agreements as appro-
priate, including to address reimbursable agree-
ments. 
(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 fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) aviation weather phenomena, includ-
ing atmospheric composition and turbulence, to 
improve scientific understanding and forecast 
capabilities for the airspace system;’’. 
(h) AVIATION INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.—The 
Under Secretary shall ensure the Aviation Weather Center 
is able, to the maximum extent possible, to disseminate 
in a timely manner full resolution aviation weather data, 
forecasts, and information to meet the needs of aviation 
users.
SEC. 207. NESDIS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP TRANSI-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator of 
the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa-
tion Service, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall ad-
minister broad agency announcements and other trans-
actional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an an-
nual 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 develop-
ment of next-generation technologies, missions, data sys-
tems, spacecraft, and instrument design, the Assistant Ad-
ministrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
and Information Service, in consultation with the Admin-
istrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, shall maintain a program to transition selected 
awards from research and study phases into demonstra-
tion. In selecting awardees for demonstrations, the Assist-
ant Administrator shall consider technologies, missions, 
data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design that— 
(1) improve upon the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration’s satellite architecture;
(2) have a direct impact on implementing the 
recommendations of the Administration’s 2018 Sat-
ellite Observing System Architecture Study, ‘‘Build-
ing a Plan for NOAA’s 21st Century Satellite Ob-
serving System’’; and 
(3) meet current or future mission require-
ments. 
(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 demonstra-
tion phase progress and plan for promising results that 
meet mission requirements to be transitioned into Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s oper-
ational satellite architecture. 
(d) ANNUAL PLAN.—The Assistant Administrator of 
the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa-
tion 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 pro-
gram under subsection (a), the transition program for 
demonstrations under section (b), and transition to oper-
ational 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 fis-
cal 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 Ad-
vanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an oper-
ational 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 fol-
lowing services: 
(1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, in-
cluding meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, 
satellite, and radar data, for National Weather Serv-
ice 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 employ-
ees 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 sub-
section (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, eval-
uation, and operationalization of forecast and warn-
ing products, consistent with the mission and sci-
entific 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 Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this sec-
tion. 
(f) CONTINUED INNOVATION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion may be construed as prohibiting the development of 
new forecast capabilities, sub-systems, or implementing
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6093 
AN ACT 
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s weather research, support im-
provements in weather forecasting and pre-
diction, expand commercial opportunities for the 
provision of weather data, and for other pur-
poses.