tories, the private sector, and end-users in order to evalu-
ate the accuracy and usability of technology, models, fire 
weather products and services, and other research to accel-
erate the implementation, transition to operations, and use 
of new capabilities by the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, Federal and land management 
agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. 
(b) RESOURCES.—In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration may not transfer or reprogram any funds, 
detail any personnel, or make use of any infrastructure 
from cooperative institutes of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration in existence as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act for the fire weather testbed es-
tablished under subsection (a). 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2026 through 2029 to carry out this section. 
SEC. 6. INCIDENT METEOROLOGIST WORKFORCE. 
(a) WORKFORCE AND TRAINING ASSESSMENT.—Not 
later than six months after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
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Science, and Transportation of the Senate the results of 
an assessment of National Weather Service workforce and 
training challenges for Incident Meteorologists, and a 
roadmap for overcoming such challenges. Such assessment 
shall take into consideration information technology sup-
port, logistical and administrative operations, anticipated 
weather and climate conditions, and feedback from rel-
evant stakeholders, and shall include, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, an identification by the National Weather 
Service of the following: 
(1) The expected number of Incident Meteorolo-
gists needed over the next five years. 
(2) Potential hiring authorities necessary to 
overcome any identified workforce and training chal-
lenges. 
(3) Alternative services or assistance options 
the National Weather Service could provide to meet 
operational needs. 
(b) OVERTIME PAY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any premium pay for serv-
ices performed by Incident Meteorologists of the Na-
tional Weather Service that are determined by the 
Secretary of Commerce to be primarily related to 
emergency wildland fire suppression activities shall 
be disregarded in calculating the aggregate of such 
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employee’s basic pay and premium pay for purposes 
of a limitation under section 5547 of title 5, United 
States Code, or under any other provision of law. 
(2) RATES.—Section 5542(a)(5) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, the 
National Weather Service,’’ after ‘‘Interior’’. 
SEC. 7. RESEARCH ON WILDLAND FIRE COMMUNICATIONS 
AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) PUBLIC
SAFETY
RESEARCH.—Not later 
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Director, acting through the head of the 
Public Safety and Communications Research Divi-
sion and in consultation with the Fire Research Di-
vision and technology manufacturers, shall carry out 
research on the following: 
(A) Public safety communication coordina-
tion standards among Federal, State, Tribal, 
and local wildland firefighters, fire management 
response officials, and member agencies. 
(B) Improving and integrating existing 
communications systems to transmit secure 
real-time data, alerts, and advisories to and 
from fire management response officials and 
wildland firefighters. 
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(2) FIELD TESTING AND MEASUREMENT OF IN-
FORMATION
DISSEMINATION
AND
TECHNOLOGY.— 
The Public Safety and Communications Research 
Division, in consultation with the Fire Research Di-
vision and member agencies, shall conduct both live 
and virtual field testing of equipment, software, and 
other technologies to determine current times of in-
formation dissemination and develop standards for 
the delivery of useful and secure real-time data 
among member agencies, fire management response 
officials, and wildland firefighters, based on findings 
from research under paragraph (1). 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall develop 
and publish recommendations to improve public safe-
ty communication coordination standards among 
wildland first responders and fire management re-
sponse officials. 
(2) TRANSMITTAL.—The Director shall trans-
mit the recommendations under paragraph (1) to 
the Office of Management and Budget and the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy for member 
agencies to implement. 
(3) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report con-
taining the recommendations published under 
paragraph (1). 
(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the publication of the Di-
rector’s recommendations under paragraph (1), 
the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a re-
port on the extent to which member agencies 
have implemented such recommendations. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
(2) MEMBER
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘member 
agency’’ means a member agency of the National 
Interagency Fire Center, including the Bureau of In-
dian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National 
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