I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3809 
To waive certain legal requirements to permit the Director of the National 
Weather Service to expeditiously hire for positions that are critical for 
public safety, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 6, 2025 
Mr. FLOOD (for himself, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. SORENSEN, and Mr. 
MOSKOWITZ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To waive certain legal requirements to permit the Director 
of the National Weather Service to expeditiously hire 
for positions that are critical for public safety, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Weather Workforce 
Improvement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
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(1) accurate and timely weather forecasting is 
of vital importance; 
(2) employees of the National Weather Service, 
particularly employees responsible for the regular 
launching of weather balloons, are critical for public 
safety; and 
(3) staffing positions relating to the regular 
launching of weather balloons should be prioritized 
and categorized as critical for public safety. 
SEC. 3. STAFFING FOR POSITIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AT 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 
(a) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.—The Director of the 
National Weather Service may appoint, without regard to 
the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 (other than 
sections 3303, 3307, and 3328 of such chapter) of title 
5, United States Code, qualified candidates to any of the 
following positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and fill 
vacancies at the Service: 
(1) Employees performing public safety mission 
functions, including the following: 
(A) Meteorologists (classification series 
1340). 
(B) General physical scientists (classifica-
tion series 1301). 
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(C) 
Hydrologists 
(classification 
series 
1315). 
(D) Computer specialists (classification se-
ries 334). 
(E) Electronic technicians (classification 
series 856). 
(2) Other positions for which primary respon-
sibilities include equipment operations, maintenance, 
and analysis, information technology, or engineering. 
(b) SUNSET.—The authority under subsection (a) 
shall expire on the earlier of— 
(1) the date that is 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act; or 
(2) the date on which all positions to satisfy to 
critical staffing needs and vacancies have been filled. 
(c) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUBLIC SAFETY 
DESIGNATION.—The Director of the Office of Personal 
Management shall designate the positions specified in sub-
section (a) as pertaining to public safety. 
(d) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PUBLIC SAFETY 
PRIORITY; WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Title I of the Weather Re-
search and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 
U.S.C. 8511 et seq.), is amended— 
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(A) in section 101 (15 U.S.C. 8511), by 
adding at the end the following new sentence: 
‘‘The Under Secretary shall ensure the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration re-
mains focused on providing accurate and timely 
weather forecasts that protect lives and prop-
erty and enhance the national economy by dis-
seminating to the public and core partners 
through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods 
critical weather information and impact-based 
decision support services.’’; 
(B) by redesignating section 110 (15 
U.S.C. 8519), as section 111; and 
(C) by inserting after section 109, the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 110. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORKFORCE AS-
SESSMENT. 
‘‘(a) HIRING ASSESSMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this section and annu-
ally thereafter, the Director of the National Weather 
Service shall submit to the Under Secretary, the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
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ate an assessment of the milestones, timelines, and 
service level expectations required for the hiring and 
timely on-boarding of employees of the National 
Weather Service. 
‘‘(2) 
ELEMENTS.—Each 
assessment 
under 
paragraph (1) may include determinations of the 
number of employees of the National Weather Serv-
ice required at each forecasting office to provide 
services to protect lives and property and enhance 
the national economy in the geographic region of re-
sponsibility. 
‘‘(b) HEALTH AND MORALE ASSESSMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this section and annu-
ally thereafter, the Director of the National Weather 
Service shall submit 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 assessment of med-
ical impacts, including stress and long-term health 
impacts, on employees of the National Weather 
Service, including such employees’ morale, related to 
required rotating shift work. 
‘‘(2) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Na-
tional Weather Service is authorized to enter into a 
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contract with a private sector entity to conduct the 
assessment required under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) 
ELEMENTS.—Each 
assessment 
under 
paragraph (1) may include the following: 
‘‘(A) Options for mitigating the impacts on 
employees identified in each such assessment. 
‘‘(B) Recommendations for improving ben-
efits related to required rotating shift work.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents in section 1(b) of Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by strik-
ing the item relating to section 110 and inserting 
the following new items: 
‘‘Sec. 110. National Weather Service workforce assessment. 
‘‘Sec. 111. Authorization of appropriations.’’. 
Æ 
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