(D) evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of 
physical fire weather forecasting information 
for each incident included in the survey and as-
sessment; and 
(E) assess and refine performance meas-
ures, as needed. 
(b) SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENTS FOLLOWING INDI-
VIDUAL WILDFIRE EVENTS.—The Under Secretary may 
conduct surveys and assessments following individual wild-
fire events as the Under Secretary determines necessary. 
(c) GOAL.—In carrying out activities under this sec-
tion, the Under Secretary shall seek to increase the num-
ber of post-wildfire community impact studies, including 
by surveying individual and collective responses and incor-
porating other applicable topics of social science research. 
(d) ANNUAL BRIEFING.—Not less frequently than 
once each year, the Under Secretary shall provide a brief-
ing to the appropriate committees of Congress that pro-
vides— 
(1) an overview of the fire season; and 
(2) an outlook for the fire season for the com-
ing year. 
(e) COORDINATION.—In conducting any survey or as-
sessment under this section, the Under Secretary shall co-
ordinate with Federal, State, and local partners, Tribal 
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governments, private entities, and such institutions of 
higher education as the Under Secretary considers rel-
evant in order to— 
(1) improve operations and collaboration; and 
(2) optimize data collection, sharing, integra-
tion, assimilation, and dissemination. 
(f) DATA AVAILABILITY.—The Under Secretary shall 
make the data and findings obtained from each assess-
ment conducted under this section available to the public 
in an accessible digital format as soon as practicable after 
conducting the assessment. 
(g) SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.—The Under Secretary 
shall make best efforts to incorporate the results and rec-
ommendations of each assessment conducted under this 
section into the research and development plan and oper-
ations of the Administration. 
SEC. 10. INCIDENT METEOROLOGIST SERVICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary shall es-
tablish and maintain an Incident Meteorologist Service 
within the National Weather Service (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Service’’). 
(b) INCLUSION OF EXISTING INCIDENT METEOROLO-
GISTS.—The Service shall include— 
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(1) the incident meteorologists of the Adminis-
tration as of the date of this enactment of this Act; 
and 
(2) such incident meteorologists of the Adminis-
tration as may be appointed after such date. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Service shall provide— 
(1) on-site impact-based decision support serv-
ices to Federal, State, Tribal government, and local 
government emergency response agencies preceding, 
during, and following wildland fires or other events 
that threaten life or property, including high-impact 
and extreme weather events; and 
(2) support to Federal, State, Tribal govern-
ment, and local government decision makers, part-
ners, and stakeholders for seasonal planning. 
(d) DEPLOYMENT.—The Service shall be deployed— 
(1) as determined by the Under Secretary; or 
(2) at the request of the head of another Fed-
eral agency. 
(e) STAFFING AND RESOURCES.—In establishing and 
maintaining the Service, the Under Secretary shall iden-
tify, acquire, and maintain adequate levels of staffing and 
resources to meet user needs. 
(f) SYMBOL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary may— 
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(A) create, adopt, and publish in the Fed-
eral Register a symbol for the Service; and 
(B) restrict the use of such symbol as ap-
propriate. 
(2) USE
OF
SYMBOL.—The Under Secretary 
may authorize the use of a symbol adopted under 
this subsection by any individual or entity as the 
Under Secretary considers appropriate. 
(3) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Under Sec-
retary may award contracts for the creation of sym-
bols under this subsection. 
(4) OFFENSE.—It shall be unlawful for any 
person— 
(A) to represent themselves as an official 
of the Service absent the designation or ap-
proval of the Under Secretary; 
(B) to manufacture, reproduce, or other-
wise use any symbol adopted by the Under Sec-
retary under this subsection, including to sell 
any item bearing such a symbol, unless author-
ized by the Under Secretary; or 
(C) to violate any regulation promulgated 
by the Secretary under this subsection. 
(g) SUPPORT FOR INCIDENT METEOROLOGISTS.— 
The Under Secretary shall provide resources, access to 
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real-time fire weather forecasts, training, administrative 
and logistical support, and access to professional coun-
seling or other forms of support as the Under Secretary 
considers appropriate for the betterment of the emotional 
and mental health and well-being of incident meteorolo-
gists and other employees of the Administration involved 
with response to high-impact and extreme fire weather 
events. 
SEC. 11. AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM. 
(a) JOINT ASSESSMENT AND PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in col-
laboration with the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration and the Secretary of De-
fense, shall— 
(A) conduct an assessment of resources, 
personnel, procedures, and activities necessary 
to maximize the functionality and utility of the 
automated surface observing system of the 
United States that identifies— 
(i) key system upgrades needed to im-
prove observation quality and utility for 
weather forecasting, aviation safety, and 
other users; 
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