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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: 
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‘‘(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 
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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 
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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-
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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-
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