HR 353 RDS
(C) Ways to preserve the benefits of the 
existing watches and warnings system. 
(D) Ways to maintain the utility of the 
watches and warnings system for Government 
and commercial users of the system. 
(4) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the assess-
ment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Sec-
retary shall— 
(A) consult with such line offices within 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration as the Under Secretary considers rel-
evant, including the the National Ocean Serv-
ice, the National Weather Service, and the Of-
fice of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 
(B) consult with individuals in the aca-
demic sector, including individuals in the field 
of social and behavioral sciences, and other 
weather services; 
(C) consult with media outlets that will be 
distributing the watches and warnings; 
(D) consult with non-Federal forecasters 
that produce alternate severe weather risk com-
munication products; 
(E) consult with emergency planners and 
responders, including State and local emergency 
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management agencies, and other government 
users of the watches and warnings system, in-
cluding the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, 
the Coast Guard, and such other Federal agen-
cies as the Under Secretary determines rely on 
watches and warnings for operational decisions; 
and 
(F) make use of the services of the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences, as the Under Sec-
retary considers necessary and practicable, in-
cluding contracting with the National Research 
Council to review the scientific and technical 
soundness of the assessment required by para-
graph (1)(A), including the recommendations 
developed under paragraph (2)(B). 
(5) METHODOLOGIES.—In conducting the as-
sessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under 
Secretary shall use such methodologies as the Under 
Secretary considers are generally accepted by the 
weather enterprise, including social and behavioral 
sciences. 
(c) IMPROVEMENTS TO SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall, 
based on the assessment required by subsection 
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(b)(1)(A), make such recommendations to Congress 
to improve the system as the Under Secretary con-
siders necessary— 
(A) to improve the system for issuing 
watches and warnings regarding hazardous 
weather and water events; and 
(B) to support efforts to satisfy research 
needs to enable future improvements to such 
system. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS REGARDING RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—In carrying out paragraph (1)(A), the 
Under Secretary shall ensure that any recommenda-
tion that the Under Secretary considers a major 
change— 
(A) is validated by social and behavioral 
science using a generalizable sample; 
(B) accounts for the needs of various de-
mographics, vulnerable populations, and geo-
graphic regions; 
(C) accounts for the differences between 
types of weather and water hazards; 
(D) responds to the needs of Federal, 
State, and local government partners and media 
partners; and 
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(E) accounts for necessary changes to Fed-
erally operated watch and warning propagation 
and dissemination infrastructure and protocols. 
(d) WATCHES AND WARNINGS DEFINED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), in this section, the terms ‘‘watch’’ and 
‘‘warning’’, with respect to a hazardous weather and 
water event, mean products issued by the Adminis-
tration, intended for consumption by the general 
public, to alert the general public to the potential for 
or presence of the event and to inform action to pre-
vent loss of life and property. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—ln this section, the terms 
‘‘watch’’ and ‘‘warning’’ do not include technical or 
specialized meteorological and hydrological forecasts, 
outlooks, or model guidance products. 
SEC. 407. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION WEATHER READY ALL HAZARDS 
AWARD PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Director of the National Weath-
er Service is authorized to establish the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Haz-
ards Award Program. This award program shall provide 
annual awards to honor individuals or organizations that 
use or provide National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
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istration Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or trans-
mitters to save lives and protect property. Individuals or 
organizations that utilize other early warning tools or ap-
plications also qualify for this award. 
(b) GOAL.—This award program draws attention to 
the life-saving work of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Pro-
gram, as well as emerging tools and applications, that pro-
vide real-time warning to individuals and communities of 
severe weather or other hazardous conditions. 
(c) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.— 
(1) 
NOMINATIONS.—Nominations 
for 
this 
award shall be made annually by the Weather Field 
Offices to the Director of the National Weather 
Service. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio 
manufacturers and weather warning tool and appli-
cation developers, emergency managers, and public 
safety officials may nominate individuals or organi-
zations to their local Weather Field Offices, but the 
final list of award nominees must come from the 
Weather Field Offices. 
(2) SELECTION OF AWARDEES.—Annually, the 
Director of the National Weather Service shall 
choose winners of this award whose timely actions, 
based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
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