I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 353 
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather 
research through a focused program of investment on affordable and 
attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling capabili-
ties to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting and pre-
diction of high impact weather events, to expand commercial opportuni-
ties for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2017 
Mr. LUCAS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration’s weather research through a focused program 
of investment on affordable and attainable advances in 
observational, computing, and modeling capabilities to 
support substantial improvement in weather forecasting 
and prediction of high impact weather events, to expand 
commercial opportunities for the provision of weather 
data, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS
Service, shall develop a program plan that details the spe-
cific research, development, and technology transfer activi-
ties, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, nec-
essary to achieve the program goal. 
(d) ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PLAN SUBMITTAL.—Fol-
lowing completion of the plan, the Under Secretary, acting 
through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and At-
mospheric Research and in coordination with the Director 
of the National Weather Service, shall, not less frequently 
than once each year, submit to Congress a proposed budg-
et corresponding with the activities identified in the plan. 
SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and such 
academic entities as the Administrator considers appro-
priate, shall maintain a project to improve hurricane fore-
casting. 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of the project maintained under 
subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hur-
ricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of 
life, injury, and damage to the economy, with a focus on— 
(1) improving the prediction of rapid inten-
sification and track of hurricanes; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS
(2) improving the forecast and communication 
of storm surges from hurricanes; and 
(3) incorporating risk communication research 
to create more effective watch and warning products. 
(c) PROJECT PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, 
acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research and in consultation with the 
Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop 
a plan for the project maintained under subsection (a) 
that details the specific research, development, and tech-
nology transfer activities, as well as corresponding re-
sources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set 
forth in subsection (b). 
SEC. 105. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN-
NING. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and not less frequently than once each year 
thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the As-
sistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Re-
search 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS
to restore and maintain United States leadership in nu-
merical weather prediction and forecasting that— 
(1) describes the forecasting skill and tech-
nology goals, objectives, and progress of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 
carrying out the program conducted under section 
102; 
(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research 
and development activities, and performance metrics, 
weighted to meet the operational weather mission of 
the National Weather Service to achieve a weather- 
ready Nation; 
(3) describes how the program will collaborate 
with stakeholders, including the United States 
weather industry and academic partners; and 
(4) identifies, through consultation with the Na-
tional Science Foundation, the United States weath-
er industry, and academic partners, research nec-
essary to enhance the integration of social science 
knowledge into weather forecast and warning proc-
esses, including to improve the communication of 
threat information necessary to enable improved se-
vere weather planning and decisionmaking on the 
part of individuals and communities. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING. 
The Under Secretary shall— 
(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of 
observation data requirements necessary to ensure 
weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and 
property to the maximum extent practicable; 
(2) consistent with section 107, utilize Observ-
ing System Simulation Experiments, Observing Sys-
tem Experiments, Analyses of Alternatives, and 
other appropriate assessment tools to ensure contin-
uous systemic evaluations of the observing systems, 
data, and information needed to meet the require-
ments of paragraph (1), including options to maxi-
mize observational capabilities and their cost-effec-
tiveness; 
(3) identify current and potential future data 
gaps in observing capabilities related to the require-
ments listed under paragraph (1); and 
(4) determine a range of options to address 
gaps identified under paragraph (3). 
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the requirements of 
section 106, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research shall undertake Observing System 
Simulation Experiments, or such other quantitative as-
sessments as the Assistant Administrator considers appro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS
priate, to quantitatively assess the relative value and bene-
fits of observing capabilities and systems. Technical and 
scientific Observing System Simulation Experiment eval-
uations— 
(1) may include assessments of the impact of 
observing capabilities on— 
(A) global weather prediction; 
(B) hurricane track and intensity fore-
casting; 
(C) tornado warning lead times and accu-
racy; 
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local 
storm outbreaks; and 
(E) prediction of storms that have the po-
tential to cause extreme precipitation and flood-
ing lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and 
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other 
appropriate entities within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, other Federal agencies, 
the United States weather industry, and academic 
partners to ensure the technical and scientific merit 
of results from Observing System Simulation Ex-
periments or other appropriate quantitative assess-
ment methodologies. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:31 Jan 06, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.IH
H353
ebenthall on DSK30MX082PROD with BILLS