(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Commerce, in consultation with the Under Secretary, 
shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a strategy to enable the procure-
ment of quality commercial weather data. The strat-
egy shall assess the range of commercial opportuni-
ties, including public-private partnerships, for obtain-
ing both surface-based and space-based weather obser-
vations. The strategy shall include the cost effective-
ness of these opportunities, as well as provide a plan 
for procuring data from these nongovernmental 
sources, as appropriate. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy shall in-
clude— 
(A) an analysis of financial or other bene-
fits to, and risks associated with, acquiring com-
mercial weather data or services, including 
through multiyear acquisition approaches; 
(B) an identification of methods to address 
planning, programming, budgeting, and execu-
tion challenges to such approaches, including— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:40 Mar 21, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2413.RH
H2413
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(i) how standards will be set to ensure 
that data is reliable and effective; 
(ii) how data may be acquired from 
commercial experimental or innovative tech-
niques and then evaluated for integration 
into operational use; 
(iii) how to guarantee public access to 
all forecast-critical data to ensure that the 
American weather industry and the public 
continue to have access to information crit-
ical to their work; and 
(iv) in accordance with section 50503 
of title 51, United States Code, methods to 
address potential termination liability or 
cancellation costs associated with weather 
data or service contracts; and 
(C) an identification of any changes needed 
in the requirements development and approval 
processes of the Department of Commerce to fa-
cilitate effective and efficient implementation of 
such strategy. 
SEC. 11. WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary shall es-
tablish a Federal Advisory Committee to— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:40 Mar 21, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2413.RH
H2413
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(1) provide advice for prioritizing weather re-
search initiatives at NOAA to produce real improve-
ment in weather forecasting; 
(2) provide advice on existing or emerging tech-
nologies or techniques that can be found in private 
industry or the research community that could be in-
corporated into forecasting at NWS to improve fore-
casting; 
(3) identify opportunities to improve commu-
nications between weather forecasters, emergency 
management personnel, and the public; and 
(4) address such other matters as the Under Sec-
retary or the Advisory Committee believes would im-
prove innovation in weather forecasting. 
(b) COMPOSITION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall 
appoint leading experts and innovators from all rel-
evant fields of science and engineering that inform 
meteorology, including atmospheric chemistry, atmos-
pheric physics, hydrology, social science, risk commu-
nications, electrical engineering, and computer mod-
eling. 
(2) NUMBER.—The Advisory Committee shall be 
composed of at least 12 members, with the chair of the 
Advisory Committee chosen from among the members. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:40 Mar 21, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2413.RH
H2413
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(3) RESTRICTION.—The Under Secretary may 
not appoint a majority of members who are employees 
of NOAA-funded research centers. 
(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Advisory Committee shall 
transmit annually to the Under Secretary a report on 
progress made by NOAA in adopting the Advisory Commit-
tee’s recommendations. The Under Secretary shall transmit 
a copy of such report to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate. 
(d) DURATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Advi-
sory Committee until the date that is 5 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 12. INTERAGENCY WEATHER RESEARCH AND INNOVA-
TION COORDINATION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish an Inter-
agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to im-
prove coordination of relevant weather research and forecast 
innovation activities across the Federal Government. The 
Interagency Committee shall— 
(1) include participation by the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration, the Federal Avia-
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:40 Mar 21, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2413.RH
H2413
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tion Administration, NOAA and its constituent ele-
ments, the National Science Foundation, and such 
other agencies involved in weather forecasting re-
search as the President determines are appropriate; 
(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and 
coordinate those needs against budget requests and 
program initiatives across participating offices and 
agencies; and 
(3) share information regarding operational 
needs and forecasting improvements across relevant 
agencies. 
(b) CO-CHAIR.—The Federal Coordinator for Meteor-
ology shall serve as a co-chair of this panel. 
(c) FURTHER COORDINATION.—The Director shall take 
such other steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities 
of the Federal Government with those of the American 
weather industry, State governments, emergency managers, 
and academic researchers. 
SEC. 13. VISITING OAR RESEARCHERS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator for 
OAR, in collaboration with the Assistant Administrator for 
NWS, may establish a program to detail OAR researchers 
to the NWS. 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of this program is to enhance 
forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:40 Mar 21, 2014
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6203
E:\BILLS\H2413.RH
H2413
tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS