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odically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incor-
porating innovative observations, such as novel sensor 
technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial 
aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the im-
provement of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings. 
‘‘(d) ACTIVITIES.—The Under Secretary shall award 
grants for research, including relating to the following: 
‘‘(1) Implementing key goals and achieving pro-
gram milestones to the maximum extent practicable 
as outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration’s 2019 report, ‘Tornado 
Warning Improvement and Extension Program 
Plan’. 
‘‘(2) In coordination with the National Science 
and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral 
Sciences Subcommittee, improving the social, behav-
ioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences re-
garding vulnerabilities, risk communication, and de-
livery of information critical for reducing the loss of 
life or property related to tornadoes. 
‘‘(3) Improving the physical sciences, computer 
modeling, and tools related to tornado formation, the 
impacts of tornadoes on the built and natural envi-
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ronment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurri-
canes. 
‘‘(e) WARNINGS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Under Secretary, in coordination with the program estab-
lished under section 406, shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct and transition to operations the 
research necessary to develop and deploy prob-
abilistic weather forecast guidance technology for 
tornadoes and related weather phenomena; 
‘‘(2) incorporate into tornado modeling and 
forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, 
communication, and economic sciences; 
‘‘(3) enhance workforce training on radar inter-
pretation and use of tornado warning systems; and 
‘‘(4) expand computational resources to support 
higher-resolution modeling to advance the capability 
for warn-on-forecast. 
‘‘(f) TORNADO RATING SYSTEM.—The Under Sec-
retary, in collaboration with local communities and emer-
gency managers, shall— 
‘‘(1) evaluate the system used as of the date of 
the enactment of this section to rate the severity of 
tornadoes; 
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‘‘(2) determine whether updates to such system 
are required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect 
the severity of tornados; and 
‘‘(3) if determined necessary, update such sys-
tem. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL BUDGET.—The Under Secretary shall, 
not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a 
proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this sec-
tion.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by amending the item 
relating to section 103 to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 
(VORTEX).’’. 
SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
Section 104 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and aca-
demic partners, shall maintain a program to improve hur-
ricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings. 
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‘‘(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program under sub-
section (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurri-
cane forecasts, predictions, and warnings in order to re-
duce the loss of life or property related to hurricanes, with 
a focus on the following: 
‘‘(1) Improving the understanding and pre-
diction of rapid intensity change and projected path 
of hurricanes, including probabilistic methods for 
hurricane hazard mapping. 
‘‘(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based 
communication of inland flooding, compound flood-
ing, and storm surges from hurricanes, in coordina-
tion with the program established under section 205 
of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023. 
‘‘(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, com-
munication, and economic sciences to clearly inform 
response to prevent the loss of life or property, such 
as evacuation or shelter in place. 
‘‘(4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appro-
priate, innovative observations, such as novel sensor 
technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed 
or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on 
commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites. 
‘‘(c) ACTIVITIES.—The Under Secretary shall award 
grants for research, including relating to the following: 
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‘‘(1) Implementing key strategies and following 
priorities and objectives outlined by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2019 re-
port ‘Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program’. 
‘‘(2) In coordination with the National Science 
and Technology Council’s Social and Behavioral 
Sciences Subcommittee and other relevant inter-
agency committees, improving the social, behavioral, 
risk, communications, and economic sciences related 
to vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery 
of information critical for reducing the loss of life or 
property related to hurricanes. 
‘‘(3) Improving the physical sciences, oper-
ational modeling, and tools related to hurricane for-
mation, the impacts of wind and water-based hurri-
cane hazards on the built and natural environment, 
and the interaction of hurricanes and tornadoes. 
‘‘(d) WARNINGS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Under Secretary, in coordination with the program estab-
lished under section 406, shall— 
‘‘(1) conduct and transition to operations the 
research necessary to develop and deploy prob-
abilistic weather forecast guidance technology relat-
ing to hurricanes and related weather phenomena; 
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‘‘(2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and 
forecasting, as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, 
communication, and economic sciences research; and 
‘‘(3) expand computational resources to support 
and improve higher-resolution operational modeling 
of hurricanes and related weather phenomena. 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL BUDGET.—The Under Secretary shall, 
not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a 
proposed budget corresponding with carrying out this sec-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAU-
THORIZATION. 
(a) TITLE HEADING.—The Tsunami Warning and 
Education Act (enacted as title VIII of the Magnuson-Ste-
vens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthoriza-
tion Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479)) is amended in 
the title heading, by inserting ‘‘RESEARCH,’’ after 
‘‘WARNING,’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—Section 803 of the Tsunami Warn-
ing and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘timeliness 
and’’ before ‘‘accuracy’’; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
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(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, 
archived, and made available for operations, re-
search, education, and mitigation activities in ac-
cordance with section 305 of the Weather Research 
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.’’. 
(c) TSUNAMI FORECASTING
AND WARNING PRO-
GRAM.—Section 804 of the Tsunami Warning and Edu-
cation Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘, using 
industry and scientific best practices,’’ after 
‘‘operational condition’’; 
(B) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘global seismic network’’ and inserting 
‘‘Global Seismic Network’’; 
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(D), (E), (F), and (G), as subparagraphs 
(E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; and 
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(C) the following new subparagraph: 
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‘‘(D) the global navigation satellite system 
(GNSS) network;’’; 
(C) by amending paragraph (6) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(6) ensure data quality and management sys-
tems, support data and metadata access and 
archiving, and support the requirements of the pro-
gram pursuant to the Foundations for Evidence- 
Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– 
435) and chapter 31 of title 44, United States 
Code;’’; 
(D) in paragraph (7)— 
(i) by amending the matter preceding 
subparagraph (A) to read as follows: ‘‘in-
clude a cooperative effort among the Ad-
ministration, the United States Geological 
Survey (USGS), the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration (NASA), and 
the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
under which the Director of USGS, the Di-
rector of the NSF, and the Administrator 
of NASA shall—’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; and 
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(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(C) provide reliable and real-time support 
for the GNSS network data streams from NSF, 
NASA, and USGS maintained networks, and 
supplement instrumentation coverage for rapid 
earthquake assessment; 
‘‘(D) assess the data and information re-
lating to warning systems of collaborating agen-
cies for potential utilization in NOAA’s warning 
system, taking into consideration advancement 
in research and technology; 
‘‘(E) incorporate, as practicable, tsunami 
notifications and warnings in the USGS Earth-
quake Early Warning System; and 
‘‘(F) incorporate, as practicable, prelimi-
nary analysis or data from the National Earth-
quake Information Center regarding the source 
and magnitude of an offshore earthquake with-
in five minutes of detection;’’; 
(E) in paragraph (8)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘ and decision support 
aides’’ after ‘‘graphical warning prod-
ucts,’’; and 
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(ii) by inserting ‘‘-prone’’ after ‘‘tsu-
nami’’; 
(F) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(G) in paragraph (10), by striking the pe-
riod and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(H) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(11) update tsunami inundation maps, models, 
or other geographic products, in order to best sup-
port, as appropriate, relevant agencies with tsunami 
mitigation and recovery activities.’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking paragraph (1) and redesig-
nating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
(1) and (2), respectively; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking ‘‘the Atlantic Ocean, 
including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of 
Mexico, that are determined—’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic 
Oceans, including the Caribbean Sea and 
Gulf of Mexico, that are determined to 
pose significant risks of tsunami for States 
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and United States territories along the 
coastal areas of such regions; and’’; and 
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
(B); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), 
and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respec-
tively; 
(4) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) TSUNAMI WARNING ALERT LEVEL EVALUA-
TION.—The Administrator, in collaboration with social sci-
entists, emergency personnel, and high-risk communities, 
shall— 
‘‘(1) evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, 
timing, and effectiveness; 
‘‘(2) determine if such alerts produce the de-
sired response and understanding from possible tsu-
nami-prone communities; and 
‘‘(3) if necessary, update the alert level system 
for increased effectiveness.’’; 
(5) in subsection (e), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘responsible for 
Alaska, the continental United States, Ha-
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(v) in subparagraph (E), by striking 
the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(vi) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(F) align the analytic techniques and 
methodologies of the existing tsunami warning 
centers supported or maintained under para-
graph (1) to ensure seamless continuity of oper-
ations and mitigate risk of operational failure 
by prioritizing investments that include— 
‘‘(i) replacing end of life equipment; 
‘‘(ii) ensuring product consistency; 
‘‘(iii) enabling consistent operational 
process for backup capabilities; 
‘‘(iv) mitigating existing operational 
security risks; and 
‘‘(v) meeting information security re-
quirements specified in chapter 35 of title 
44, United States Code.’’; and 
(F) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(7) REPORTING.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this paragraph 
and annually thereafter until such time as all rel-
evant requirements have been satisfied, the Adminis-
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trator shall provide 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 update briefing on 
the progress of the following: 
‘‘(A) Standardizing products and proce-
dures under paragraph (5), including tsunami 
assessments, forecast guidance, and related 
products. 
‘‘(B) Migrating the message generation 
systems of the centers supported or maintained 
under paragraph (1) to the Advanced Weather 
Information Processing Systems, or successor 
systems. 
‘‘(C) The structural reorganization effort, 
if necessary, to align such centers’ organiza-
tional charts. 
‘‘(D) The expected timeline for the full 
completion of standardizing such centers’ prod-
ucts and procedures.’’; 
(6) in subsection (f), as so redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by inserting ‘‘detect, measure, 
and’’ after ‘‘used to’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and the Advanced National Seismic Sys-
tem’’ and inserting ‘‘the Advanced Na-
tional Seismic System, and the global navi-
gation satellite system (GNSS); and’’; and 
(iv) by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) ensure research is coordinated with 
tsunami warning operations;’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘accord-
ing to industry best practices’’ before the pe-
riod; and 
(7) in subsection (h)(2)(A), as so redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘accuracy of the tsunami model used’’ 
and inserting ‘‘timeliness and accuracy of the fore-
cast used to issue the warning’’. 
(d) NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PRO-
GRAM.—Section 805(c) of the Tsunami Warning and Edu-
cation Act (33 U.S.C. 3204(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5)— 
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), 
(C), (D), (E), (F), and (G) as subparagraphs 
(C), (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H), respectively; 
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(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) Coastal digital elevation models 
(DEMs) to support the development of inunda-
tion maps.’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraphs: 
‘‘(I) Evaluation of the variation of inunda-
tion impact resulting from tsunami-driven sedi-
ment transport. 
‘‘(J) Evaluation of tsunami debris impact 
on critical infrastructure (as such term is de-
fined in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 
(42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))) and lifelines. 
‘‘(K) High-resolution and high-quality dig-
ital elevation models needed for at-risk coast-
lines, ports, and harbors, particularly for re-
gions not covered by existing inundation 
maps.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (7)(C), by inserting ‘‘and be-
havioral’’ after ‘‘social’’; 
(e) TSUNAMI RESEARCH PROGRAM.—Section 806 of 
the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 
3205) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘section 805(d)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 805(b)’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and management’’ after 
‘‘data collection’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘deploy-
ment and’’ after ‘‘may include’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘social 
science research’’ and inserting ‘‘social and be-
havioral science research, including data collec-
tion,’’; 
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(D) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (7); and 
(E) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) develop decision support tools; 
‘‘(6) leverage and prioritize research opportuni-
ties; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN.—Not 
later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
this subsection and not less frequently than every 36 
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months thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological 
Services, shall develop a research and development and re-
search to operations plan to improve tsunami detection 
and forecasting capabilities that— 
‘‘(1) identifies and prioritizes research and de-
velopment priorities to satisfy section 804; 
‘‘(2) identifies key research needs for better de-
tecting tsunamis that may occur in open ocean and 
along the coastlines of the United States and its ter-
ritories, improve forecasting of tsunamis that are 
not seismically driven, and other opportunities deter-
mined appropriate; 
‘‘(3) develops plans for transitioning research to 
operations; and 
‘‘(4) identifies collaboration opportunities that 
may further and align tsunami research, develop-
ment, warnings, and operations between the centers 
supported or maintained under section 804, the Na-
tional Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cen-
ter for Tsunami Research, the National Science 
Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, insti-
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SEC. 106. OBSERVING SYSTEM PLANNING. 
Section 106 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘Federal’’ before ‘‘observ-
ing capabilities’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including private sector 
partnerships or commercial acquisition,’’ after 
‘‘options’’; and 
(B) by striking the period and inserting a 
semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) compare costs and schedule, including 
cost-benefit analysis, of Federal and private sector 
supplemental options to fill the observation data re-
quirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified 
pursuant to paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(6) not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress 
a report that provides an analysis of the technical, 
schedule, cost, and cost benefit analyses to place an 
operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite ca-
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pability in the early morning orbit to support the 
weather enterprise and the Administration’s mis-
sion.’’. 
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
Section 107 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘providing 
data’’ and inserting ‘‘comparison to current or ex-
perimental commercial system capabilities that pro-
vide data’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘, including 
polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (d); and 
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (d). 
SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION. 
Section 108 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is 
amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that fol-
lows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following 
new subsections: 
‘‘(b) COMPUTING RESEARCH INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in 
collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, shall 
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carry out an initiative, which may leverage Depart-
ment of Energy high performance computers, cloud 
computing, or expertise, to run advanced coupled 
models in order to conduct proof of concept sce-
narios in comparison with current issued forecasts 
and models. The Under Secretary and Secretary of 
Energy shall carry out the initiative through a com-
petitive, merit-reviewed process, and consider appli-
cations from Federal agencies, National Labora-
tories, institutions of higher education (as such term 
is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), nonprofit institu-
tions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia 
thereof). 
‘‘(2) COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the initia-
tive under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall 
prevent duplication and coordinate research efforts 
in artificial intelligence, high performance com-
puting, cloud computing, quantum computing, mod-
eling and simulation, machine learning, data assimi-
lation, large scale data analytics, and predictive 
analysis across the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and may— 
‘‘(A) conduct research to compare National 
Weather Service forecast and model outputs to 
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predictions 
and 
model 
outputs 
developed 
through such initiative; 
‘‘(B) share relevant modeling system and 
applications innovations developed through such 
initiative, including Unified Forecast System- 
based applications, through community-based 
activities, in accordance with section 10601 of 
the James M. Inhofe National Defense Author-
ization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 
8512a); 
‘‘(C) leverage coordinating activities man-
aged by the National Science and Technology 
Council, the Interagency Council for Advancing 
Meteorological Services, and other relevant 
interagency entities; 
‘‘(D) provide sufficient capacity for long- 
term archive and access of model output to sup-
port research and long-term study; 
‘‘(E) determine computing decisions based 
on an agile requirements framework; and 
‘‘(F) support the training, recruitment, 
and retention of the next generation weather, 
water, 
and 
climate 
computing 
workforce 
through incentives and pathways for career de-
velopment and employment opportunities. 
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‘‘(3) RESEARCH SECURITY.—The activities au-
thorized under this section shall be applied in a 
manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the 
Research and Development, Competition, and Inno-
vation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 
117–167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.). 
‘‘(4) TERMINATION.—The authority under this 
subsection shall terminate five years after the date 
of the enactment of this subsection. 
‘‘(c) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INVESTMENTS.— 
The Under Secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence 
and machine learning technologies to facilitate, optimize, 
and further leverage advanced computing to accomplish 
critical missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming 
high-performance and cloud computing infrastructure or 
systems. 
‘‘(d) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—The Under Sec-
retary may expand, and where applicable establish, centers 
of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artifi-
cial intelligence and machine learning enabled advanced 
computing capabilities. Each such center may carry out 
activities that include the following: 
‘‘(1) Leveraging robust public-private partner-
ship models to provide access to training, experience, 
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and long-term development of workforce and infra-
structure. 
‘‘(2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, 
algorithms, data structures, and other supporting 
software necessary for specific applications on high 
performance computing systems. 
‘‘(3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, 
deep machine-learning, and advanced data analysis 
technologies to address current and future mission 
challenges. 
‘‘(4) To the maximum extent practicable, ex-
plore quantum computing and related application 
partnerships with public, private, and academic enti-
ties to improve the accuracy and resolution of weath-
er predictions. 
‘‘(e) MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS.—The Under Sec-
retary may enter into multi-year contracts in accordance 
with section 3903 of title 41, United States Code, and 
shall ensure compliance with all clauses provided in such 
section to support operations, research, and development 
related to high performance and cloud computing infra-
structure or systems with an unfunded contingent liability 
in the event of cancellation. 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Under Sec-
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retary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report evaluating the following: 
‘‘(1) The effectiveness of the initiative required 
under subsection (b), including applied research dis-
coveries and advanced modeling improvements 
achieved. 
‘‘(2) A best estimate of the overall value of 
high-resolution probabilistic forecast guidance for 
hazardous weather or water events (as such term is 
defined in section 406) using a next-generation 
weather forecast and warning framework. 
‘‘(3) The needs for cloud computing, quantum 
computing, or high-performance computing, visual-
ization, and dissemination collaboration between the 
Department of Energy and the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(4) A timeline and guidance for implementa-
tion of the following: 
‘‘(A) High-resolution numerical weather 
prediction models. 
‘‘(B) Methods for meeting the cloud com-
puting, quantum computing, or high-perform-
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ance computing, visualization, and dissemina-
tion needs identified under paragraph (3).’’. 
SEC. 109. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER. 
Paragraph (5) of section 102(b) of the Weather Re-
search and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8512(b)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting 
the following new subparagraphs: 
‘‘(E) developing community weather re-
search modeling systems that— 
‘‘(i) are accessible by the public in ac-
cordance with section 10601 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 
8512a) and available for archive and long- 
term study; 
‘‘(ii) meet basic end-user requirements 
for running on public computers and net-
works located outside of secure National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
information and technology systems; 
‘‘(iii) utilize, whenever appropriate 
and cost-effective, innovative strategies and 
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methods, including cloud-based computing 
capabilities, for hosting and management 
of part or all of the system described in 
this subparagraph; 
‘‘(iv) utilize modeling systems that 
allow for interoperability with new model 
components, modules, and next-generation 
software and coding languages; 
‘‘(v) allow for open testing and inte-
gration of promising operational model im-
provements from the broader community; 
‘‘(vi) access as close to a real-time 
basis as possible operational data and 
metadata, including commercially pur-
chased data for use in Earth Prediction 
Innovation Center research and develop-
ment testing grounds pursuant to redis-
tribution restrictions, licensing agreements, 
and applicable existing laws and regula-
tions; and 
‘‘(vii) provide supported and portable 
versions of the unified forecast system, in-
cluding applications for hurricane, space 
weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, 
and coastal models, that can reproduce 
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current operational global and regional 
model prediction; and 
‘‘(F) establishing a National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be 
maintained by the Administration, a commercial 
partner, or non-profit entity, that consolidates 
and maintains a publicly available and continu-
ously updated collection of data and metadata 
used in numerical weather prediction for use in 
the Earth Prediction Innovation Center’s model 
testing, pursuant to redistribution restrictions, 
licensing agreements, and applicable existing 
laws and regulations.’’. 
SEC. 110. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING. 
Section 301 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) 
and redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as 
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively; 
(2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION SATELLITE SYSTEMS AND DATA.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall 
maintain a fleet of Administration space-based ob-
servation platforms that provide critical operations- 
focused data and information to support the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 
mission to monitor the global environment in order 
to protect lives and property from extreme weather 
and other natural phenomena. 
‘‘(2) COLLABORATION.—The Under Secretary 
shall implement recommendations from the NOAA 
Observing Systems Council to ensure an appropriate 
mix of government, academic, commercial sector, 
and international partnerships in the provision of 
data and information, including a broadened effort 
on data acquisition through the Commercial Data 
Program under section 302 when cost effective and 
beneficial to the Administration. 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—The Under Secretary shall en-
sure that Administration platforms maintained 
under paragraph (1) prioritize the development of 
products and services that are tailored to meet the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 
mission. 
‘‘(4) NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL 
INFORMATION.—The Under Secretary shall maintain 
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the National Centers for Environmental Information 
to provide a long-term archive and access to the Ad-
ministration’s 
national 
and 
global 
data 
and 
metadata.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ‘‘2023’’ and 
inserting ‘‘2030’’. 
SEC. 111. IMPROVING UNCREWED ACTIVITIES. 
Subparagraph (G) of section 102(b)(3) of the Weath-
er Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 
U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘, including 
commercial observing systems’’ and inserting ‘‘, including 
stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such 
as uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide ob-
servations of the atmosphere and ocean, and other obser-
vations, in cooperation with the Office of Marine and Avia-
tion Operations’’. 
SEC. 112. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL FOR ADVANCING METE-
OROLOGICAL SERVICES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402 of the Weather Re-
search and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8542) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘Advancing Weather Serv-
ices’’ and inserting ‘‘Advancing Meteorological 
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Services (in this section referred to as the 
‘Interagency Council’)’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Committee’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘Council’’; 
(2) by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(b) CO-CHAIRS.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and the Under Secretary 
shall serve as co-chairs of the Interagency Council. The 
Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal Coordinator 
for Meteorology. 
‘‘(c) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall take such 
steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the 
Federal Government with stakeholders in the United 
States weather industry, academic partners, State govern-
ments, and emergency managers, including by imple-
menting mechanisms to encourage and enable the partici-
pation of non-Federal employees in the functions of the 
Interagency Council.’’; 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
sections: 
‘‘(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Interagency Council shall be 
the formal mechanism by which all relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies coordinate implementation of pol-
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icy and practices to ensure United States global leadership 
in meteorological services. In doing so, the Interagency 
Council shall review programs and support relevant weath-
er research and forecast innovation activities, as well as 
other related implementation activities, related to Federal 
meteorological services, including by carrying out the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Identifying and helping prioritize meteoro-
logical research and service delivery needs, including 
relating to observations, operational systems, com-
munications, and infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) Providing recommendations to streamline 
or consolidate activities and develop greater effi-
ciencies in cross-agency activities. 
‘‘(3) Leveraging Earth system science research 
outcomes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and other relevant Federal depart-
ments and agencies, including research outcomes re-
lated to the relevant recommended key science and 
applications questions and priorities in the National 
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 
2018 report ‘Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A 
Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from 
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Space’, to understand and predict high-impact 
weather phenomena. 
‘‘(4) Facilitating the expansion and strength-
ening of partnerships with private sector entities to 
advance meteorological research, communications, 
and computing in collaboration with the Earth sys-
tem science, service, and stakeholder communities. 
‘‘(5) Sharing information regarding meteorolog-
ical research improvement needs and science oppor-
tunities across relevant Federal departments and 
agencies. 
‘‘(6) Providing advice to all relevant Federal de-
partments and agencies regarding potential collabo-
rations and expected level of resources needed to 
maintain and operate the Interagency Council. 
‘‘(7) Enhancing communication and coordina-
tion and promoting sharing within relevant Federal 
departments and agencies and across the Inter-
agency Council. 
‘‘(8) Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a 
professional and diverse workforce for meteorological 
research and services. 
‘‘(e) DATA INVENTORY.—The Interagency Council, in 
coordination and avoidance of duplication with the United 
States Group on Earth Observations, shall promote data 
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the Program, subject to verification by the Program 
of the relative operational value and evaluation of 
the cost of such data, for use in weather prediction, 
severe weather warnings, and emergency response. 
(3) ASSISTANCE
AND
OTHER
SUPPORT.—The 
Under Secretary may provide technical assistance, 
project implementation support, and guidance to 
State, Tribal, private, and academic entities seeking 
financial assistance under this subsection. The 
Under Secretary may provide technical and financial 
assistance for maintenance of monitoring stations in 
underrepresented or remote areas of the country 
where it is financially unfeasible for one entity to op-
erate such stations without such assistance. 
(4) TERMS.—In providing financial assistance 
under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall es-
tablish terms to ensure that each State, Tribal, pri-
vate, or academic entity that receives financial as-
sistance under this subsection receives a level of 
Federal support commensurate with the quality and 
other characteristics of the data to be provided. 
(5) DETERMINATION.—A State, Tribal, private, 
or academic entity may receive financial assistance 
under this subsection only if the Under Secretary 
determines such entity shall provide sufficient non- 
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