I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1561 
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 
MARCH 24, 2015 
Mr. LUCAS (for himself, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. SMITH of 
Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. STEWART, and Mr. 
ROHRABACHER) 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 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY. 
In accordance with NOAA’s critical mission to pro-
vide science, service, and stewardship, the Under Sec-
retary shall prioritize weather research, across all weather 
programs, to improve weather data, forecasts, and warn-
ings for the protection of life and property and the en-
hancement of the national economy. 
SEC. 3. WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVA-
TION. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Assistant Administrator for 
OAR shall conduct a program to develop improved under-
standing of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric 
events and their impacts, placing priority on developing 
more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and fore- 
casts of high impact weather events that endanger life and 
property. 
(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The program described 
in subsection (a) shall focus on the following activities: 
(1) Improving the fundamental understanding 
of weather consistent with section 2, including the 
boundary layer and other atmospheric processes af-
fecting high impact weather events. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(i) the development of more effective 
mesoscale models; 
(ii) more effective use of existing, and 
the development of new, regional and na-
tional cloud-resolving models; 
(iii) enhanced global weather models; 
and 
(iv) integrated assessment models; 
(E) quantitative assessment tools for meas-
uring the impact and value of data and observ-
ing systems, including OSSEs (as described in 
section 8), OSEs, and AOAs; 
(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions 
essential to accurately characterizing atmos-
pheric composition and predicting meteorolog-
ical processes, including cloud microphysical, 
precipitation, and atmospheric electrification 
processes, to more effectively understand their 
role in severe weather; and 
(G) additional sources of weather data and 
information, including commercial observing 
systems. 
(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out 
jointly and in coordination with the Assistant Ad-
ministrator for NWS, and in cooperation with the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
American weather industry and academic partners, 
to ensure continuous development and transition of 
the latest scientific and technological advances into 
NWS operations and to establish a process to sunset 
outdated and expensive operational methods and 
tools to enable cost-effective transfer of new methods 
and tools into operations. 
(c) EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Assistant Administrator for 
OAR shall collaborate with and support the non- 
Federal weather research community, which includes 
institutions of higher education, private entities, and 
nongovernmental organizations, by making funds 
available through competitive grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements. 
(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that not less than 30 percent of the funds 
for weather research and development at OAR 
should be made available for the purpose described 
in paragraph (1). 
(d) REPORT.—The Under Secretary shall transmit to 
Congress annually, concurrently with NOAA’s budget re-
quest, a description of current and planned activities 
under this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 4. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT AND EXTEN-
SION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the American weather industry and academic 
partners, shall establish a tornado warning improvement 
and extension program. 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of such program shall be to re-
duce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes 
through the development and extension of accurate, effec-
tive, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warn-
ings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond one 
hour in advance. 
(c) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Adminis-
trator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Admin-
istrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that de-
tails the specific research, development, and technology 
transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and 
timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal. 
(d) BUDGET FOR PLAN.—Following completion of 
the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in coordi-
nation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall 
transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget cor-
responding to the activities identified in the plan. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. HURRICANE WARNING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the American weather industry and academic 
partners, shall establish a hurricane warning improvement 
program. 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of such program shall be to de-
velop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warn-
ings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage 
to the economy. 
(c) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Adminis-
trator for OAR, in consultation with the Assistant Admin-
istrator for NWS, shall develop a program plan that de-
tails the specific research, development, and technology 
transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and 
timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal. 
(d) BUDGET FOR PLAN.—Following completion of 
the plan, the Assistant Administrator for OAR, in con-
sultation with the Assistant Administrator for NWS, shall 
transmit annually to Congress a proposed budget cor-
responding to the activities identified in the plan. 
SEC. 6. WEATHER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN-
NING. 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Assistant Admin-
istrator for OAR, in coordination with the Assistant Ad-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
ministrators for NWS and NESDIS, shall issue a research 
and development and research to operations plan to re-
store and maintain United States leadership in numerical 
weather prediction and forecasting that— 
(1) describes the forecasting skill and tech-
nology goals, objectives, and progress of NOAA in 
carrying out the program conducted under section 3; 
(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research 
and development activities, and performance metrics, 
weighted to meet the operational weather mission of 
NWS to achieve a weather-ready Nation; 
(3) describes how the program will collaborate 
with stakeholders, including the American weather 
industry and academic partners; and 
(4) identifies, through consultation with the Na-
tional Science Foundation, American weather indus-
try, and academic partners, research necessary to 
enhance the integration of social science knowledge 
into weather forecast and warning processes, includ-
ing to improve the communication of threat informa-
tion necessary to enable improved severe weather 
planning and decisionmaking on the part of individ-
uals and communities. 
SEC. 7. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING. 
The Under Secretary shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
20:27 Mar 31, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1561.IH
H1561
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS