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 operational research and development 
related to high performance and cloud computing infra-
structure or systems. 
‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Under Sec-
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. 
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‘‘(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-
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 
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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 
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-
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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 
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.’’. 
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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.— 
‘‘(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 
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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 
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-
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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 
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 
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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-
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. 
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‘‘(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 
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. 
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‘‘(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 
and metadata access and archive activities to increase ac-
cessibility, interoperability, and reusability by maintaining 
a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not less 
frequently than annually for a period of five years begin-
ning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, the 
Interagency Council shall solicit updated information from 
private sector entities identifying current and near future 
sources of such data. Such data shall be made available 
to member departments and agencies under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(f) COORDINATION OFFICE.—The Interagency Me-
teorological Coordination Office shall provide to the Inter-
agency Council such administrative and logistical support 
as the Interagency Council may require, as determined by 
the co-chairs. 
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‘‘(g) COST SHARE.—Member departments and agen-
cies of the Interagency Council under subsection (a) may 
provide reimbursable financial support to the Interagency 
Meteorological Coordinating Office to enhance cost-shar-
ing and collaboration related to weather research and fore-
cast innovation activities. 
‘‘(h) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this subsection and annually 
thereafter, the Interagency Council shall publish a report 
which identifies among member agencies the following: 
‘‘(1) Federal programs that use meteorological 
observations, data sources, and capabilities. 
‘‘(2) Federal programs that acquire such data 
from private sector entities. 
‘‘(3) Advancements in meteorological data col-
lection, assimilation, and forecasting that could im-
prove Federal programmatic operational capabilities. 
‘‘(4) Barriers to acquiring meteorological obser-
vations, data sources, and capabilities that could be 
used to better meet Federal programmatic needs.’’. 
(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Interagency 
Committee for Advancing Weather Services in any law, 
rule, regulation, paper, record, map, or other such docu-
ment of the United States shall be deemed to be a ref-
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erence to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteoro-
logical Services. 
SEC. 113. OCEAN OBSERVATIONS. 
Subsection (b) of section 12304 of the Integrated 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 
U.S.C. 3603) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) SHIPS
OF
OPPORTUNITY
PILOT
PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in 
coordination with the heads of relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, shall, subject to rel-
evant regulations and certifications, establish a 
pilot program to contract with research or com-
mercial ship operators for data collection and 
assess the potential costs, benefits, and viability 
of a global network of ocean and atmospheric 
observing instruments operating on research or 
commercial ocean vessels, including in the Arc-
tic, in order to supplement the Integrated 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System in im-
proving understanding of coastal and ocean sys-
tems and their relationships to human activi-
ties. 
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‘‘(B) STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS.— 
The Administrator shall ensure that data ac-
quired through the pilot program established 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) meets the most 
recent standards and specifications required for 
observation services and data as published pur-
suant to subsection (c) of section 302 of the 
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation 
Act of 2017. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than five years 
after the date of the enactment of this para-
graph, the Administrator, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit to 
Congress a report on the requirements for a 
global network of ocean and atmospheric instru-
ments operating on research or commercial 
ocean vessels for measurement and data trans-
mission. 
‘‘(D) SUNSET.—This paragraph shall ter-
minate on the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) September 30, 2029; or 
‘‘(ii) one year after the date on which 
the report required under subparagraph 
(B) is submitted by the Administrator.’’. 
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SEC. 114. CONSOLIDATION OF REPORTS. 
(a) WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNO-
VATION ACT OF 2017.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended— 
(A) in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)— 
(i) in subsection (a), by inserting 
‘‘the’’ after ‘‘Director of’’; and 
(ii) by striking subsection (d); and 
(B) by striking sections 408 through 411 
and section 414 and redesignating sections 412 
and 413 as sections 408 and 409, respectively. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The table of 
contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research 
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended 
by striking the items relating to sections 408 
through 414 and inserting the following new items: 
‘‘Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach. 
‘‘Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft.’’. 
(b) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1992.—Section 106 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567; 106 
Stat. 4274) is amended by striking subsection (c) (15 
U.S.C. 1537). 
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TITLE II—ENHANCING FEDERAL 
WEATHER FORECASTING AND 
INNOVATION 
SEC. 201. WEATHER INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERA-
TION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall establish a Research, Development, Test, and Eval-
uation Program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Pro-
gram’’) to ensure the continued performance of weather 
radar capabilities, including systems currently being devel-
oped, with obstructions in the line of sight of such radar. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the Program, 
the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency 
Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, shall— 
(1) partner with the private sector, academia, 
Federal, State, and local government entities, and 
any other entity the Under Secretary considers ap-
propriate; 
(2) identify, evaluate, and test existing or near- 
commercial technologies and solutions that improve 
radar coverage and performance, including by miti-
gating the potential impact of obstructions on 
weather radar; 
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(3) to the maximum extent practicable, research 
additional solutions that could mitigate the effects of 
obstructions on weather radar, such as— 
(A) signal processing algorithms; 
(B) short-term forecasting algorithms to 
replace contaminated data; 
(C) the use of dual polarization character-
istics in mitigating the effects of wind turbines 
on weather radar; and 
(D) gap filling radars to provide supple-
mental or replacement observations in impacted 
areas; and 
(4) develop, support, or partner with developers 
to provide commercially viable technical mitigation 
solutions for obstructions to weather radar capabili-
ties that are compatible with the operational require-
ments of the weather radar systems. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In carrying out subsection (b), the 
Under Secretary shall prioritize consideration of the fol-
lowing technology-based mitigation solutions: 
(1) Phased array weather radar systems. 
(2) Supplementing or replacing contaminated 
data with commercial radar data. 
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(3) The utilization of data from private sector 
associated meteorological towers or similar capabili-
ties. 
(4) The display on local forecasting equipment 
of wind farm boundaries and consolidated wind farm 
areas. 
(5) The installation and provision of access to 
rain gauges. 
(6) Any other technology-based mitigation solu-
tion the Under Secretary determines could improve 
radar coverage by overcoming obstructions, beam 
blockage, or ghost echoes. 
(d) REPORT; RECOMMENDATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this section and 
annually thereafter until the Program terminates 
pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the implemen-
tation of the Program, including an evaluation of 
each technology-based mitigation solution identified 
for priority consideration pursuant to subsection (c), 
and a recommendation regarding additional identi-
fication and testing of new technologies based on 
such consideration. 
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(2) FINAL RECOMMENDATION.—Not later than 
five years after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Under Secretary shall provide to Con-
gress a recommendation on whether additional re-
search, testing, and development through the Pro-
gram established under subsection (a) is needed, and 
a determination of whether a cessation of field re-
search, testing, development and evaluation is appro-
priate. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Under Sec-
retary to carry out the Program shall terminate on the 
earlier of— 
(1) September 30, 2029; or 
(2) one year after the date on which the final 
recommendation required under subsection (d)(2) is 
submitted by the Under Secretary. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) BEAM BLOCKAGE.—The term ‘‘beam block-
age’’ means a signal that is partially or fully blocked 
due to an obstruction. 
(2) GHOST
ECHO.—The term ‘‘ghost echo’’ 
means radar signal reflectivity or velocity return er-
rors in radar data due to the proximity of an ob-
struction. 
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(3) OBSTRUCTION.—The term ‘‘obstruction’’ in-
cludes the following: 
(A) a wind turbine that could limit the ef-
fectiveness of a weather radar system; 
(B) any building that disrupts or limits the 
effectiveness of a weather radar system; or 
(C) any other natural or human built 
structure that affects a weather radar system. 
SEC. 202. NEXT GENERATION RADAR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall de-
velop a plan to replace the Next Generation Weather 
Radar of the National Weather Service (‘‘NEXRAD’’) 
system in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
section. 
(b) PROCUREMENT DEADLINE.—The Under Sec-
retary shall take such actions as may be necessary to en-
sure the replacement described in subsection (a) is com-
pleted by not later than September 30, 2040. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The plan developed pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) Estimates of quantifiable improvements in 
radar performance and service delivery, including 
coverage and accuracy, to be made from replacement 
of the NEXRAD system referred to in such sub-
section. 
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(2) Development of a digital phased array radar 
test article designed to test and determine the speci-
fications and requirements for such replacement. 
(3) Establishment of a weather surveillance 
radar testbed for the following: 
(A) Evaluation of commercial radars with 
the potential to replace or supplement the 
NEXRAD system. 
(B) Providing technical assistance for com-
mercial replacement or supplemental radars, in-
cluding data void filling radars in regions where 
geographical topography prevents full utilization 
of conventional systems. 
(4) Consultation and input solicited from mete-
orologists, emergency managers, and public safety 
officials regarding the specifications and require-
ments for the replacement of the NEXRAD system 
referred in such subsection. 
(d) RADAR-AS-A-SERVICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In order to supplement data 
voids in radar coverage in existence as of the date 
of the enactment of this section and ensure the con-
tinued performance of weather radar capabilities, 
the Under Secretary may utilize and contract with 
third party entities to fill such low-level and wide- 
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area radar data voids using diverse weather radars 
and data assimilation technologies to better detect 
significant precipitation and severe weather over a 
greater area across the population. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the ac-
tivities under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary 
may consider— 
(A) utilizing and contracting with third- 
party entities that have participated in the 
testbed established in accordance with sub-
section (c)(3); and 
(B) weather camera systems and services, 
including systems and services in consultation 
with the Federal Aviation Administration, as 
viable technologies to supplement weather fore-
casting and prediction needs. 
(e) UPDATES TO CONGRESS.—The Under Secretary 
shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this sec-
tion. 
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SEC. 203. DATA VOIDS IN HIGHLY VULNERABLE AREAS OF 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Director of the National Weather Service 
and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency, in consultation with the United States 
weather industry, academic partners, and in accordance 
with activities implemented through existing regional at-
mospheric, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing sys-
tems, shall carry out activities to ensure equitable and 
comprehensive weather observation coverage and emer-
gency information sharing in the United States, including 
relating to the following: 
(1) Reviewing areas in the continental United 
States and the territories that are considered under- 
observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable for 
weather phenomenon, including urban and offshore 
regions, and identifying associated challenges to pro-
viding such coverage. 
(2) Increasing weather observations and devel-
oping new weather observational capabilities, such as 
urban heat island mapping campaigns, with respect 
to under-observed, underserved, or highly vulnerable 
regions. 
(3) Establishing or supporting testbeds to de-
velop and integrate new weather, water, and climate 
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observation or emergency information sharing tools, 
such as next generational radars for weather obser-
vations, in under-observed, underserved, or highly 
vulnerable regions. 
(4) To the maximum extent practicable, ad-
vancing weather and water forecasting and climate 
modeling capabilities for under-observed, under-
served, or highly vulnerable regions. 
(5) Undertaking workforce development efforts 
for emergency management officials and meteorolo-
gists in under-observed, underserved, or highly vul-
nerable areas, including urban regions, of the United 
States. 
(6) Using data void filling observations to bet-
ter resolve extreme rainfall in complex topography. 
(7) Contributing to a national integrated heat 
health information systems. 
(b) PILOT PROGRAM.—In carrying out this section, 
the Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
National Weather Service and the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish 
an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that 
accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, 
water, and climate data and impact-based communications 
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in infrastructure and emergency management decisions by 
Federal, State, and local officials. 
(c) PRIORITY.—At least one pilot project under sub-
section (b) shall address key science challenges to using 
mesonet data in local decision making and development 
of new tools and training for owners and operators of crit-
ical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 
1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e))), 
such as dams, energy generation and distribution facili-
ties, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks. 
SEC. 204. ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS FORECAST IMPROVEMENT 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the United States weather industry and aca-
demic partners, shall establish an atmospheric river fore-
cast improvement program (in this section referred to as 
the ‘‘program’’). 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program shall be to re-
duce through the development and extension of accurate, 
effective, and actionable forecasts and warnings the loss 
of life or property from atmospheric rivers, including by— 
(1) establishing quantitative atmospheric river 
forecast skill metrics that include quantifying the 
benefits of dynamical modeling, data assimilation, 
and machine learning improvements in the prob-
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abilistic forecasts of landfall location, extreme wind 
and precipitation, and cascading impacts; 
(2) developing an atmospheric river forecast 
system within the unified forecast system, and ad-
vancing next-generation coupled modeling systems, 
with the capability of providing seasonal to short- 
range atmospheric river forecasts that include fore-
cast of snow accumulation and other hydrologic com-
ponents; 
(3) advancing scientific understanding of the 
roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to sea-
sonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at 
subseasonal and seasonal scales; 
(4) developing tools and improved forecast 
products to predict periods of active or inactive at-
mospheric river landfalls and inland penetration over 
the western United States with a focus on address-
ing stakeholder and public needs related to per-
ceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmos-
pheric river forecast improvements; and 
(5) enhancing research transition to operations 
through the Administration’s testbeds, including the 
evaluation of physical and social science, technology, 
and other research to develop products and services 
for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders. 
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(c) INNOVATIVE OBSERVATIONS AND MODELING.— 
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically 
examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating 
innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, 
observation networks, soil moisture monitoring systems, 
reservoir storage data, observations from crewed or 
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial 
aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, and data assimilation 
tools, with respect to the improvement of atmospheric 
river forecasts, predictions, and warnings. 
(d) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall develop a plan that details the specific research, de-
velopment, data acquisition, and technology transfer ac-
tivities, as well as corresponding resources, limitations, 
and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the pro-
gram under subsection (b). 
(e) ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PLAN SUBMITTAL.—After 
the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (d), 
the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annu-
ally, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding 
with the activities identified in such plan. 
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SEC. 205. COASTAL FLOODING AND STORM SURGE FORE-
CAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in collabo-
ration with the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the 
United States weather industry, and academic partners, 
shall establish a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast 
improvement program (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘program’’). 
(b) GOAL.—The goal of the program shall be to re-
duce through the development and extension of accurate, 
effective, actionable, and probable forecasts and warnings 
the loss of life or property from coastal flooding, including 
high tide flooding, and storm surge events. 
(c) PRIORITY.—In implementing the program, the 
Under Secretary shall prioritize activities that carry out 
the following: 
(1) Improving understanding and capacity for 
real-time operational prediction of the ocean’s role in 
coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and 
storm surge events. 
(2) Improving the capacity to mitigate or pre-
vent the impacts of coastal flooding, including high 
tide flooding, and storm surge events, including by 
improving the understanding and capacity of coastal 
communities to perceive, comprehend, and respond 
to forecast information. 
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(3) Incorporating data from in situ distributed 
sensors into models. 
(4) Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, in-
cluding high tide flooding, and storm surge esti-
mates to complement worst-case scenario estimates, 
including for use in long-term planning and risk 
management by States, Tribal governments, local-
ities, and emergency managers in coordination with 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as ap-
propriate. 
(5) Establishing skill metrics for coastal inun-
dation forecasting that quantify the benefits of dy-
namical modeling, data assimilation, and machine 
learning improvements in the probabilistic forecast 
of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and 
storm surge risk and impacts. 
(6) Improving operational regional storm surge 
and wave prediction models to enhance probabilistic 
guidance and messaging. 
(d) INNOVATIVE OBSERVATIONS AND MODELING.— 
The Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically 
examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating 
enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or machine 
learning based prediction systems, and innovative observa-
tions, such as novel sensor technologies, observation net-
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works, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instru-
ments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and satellites, with 
respect to the improvement of coastal flooding, including 
high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, predictions, 
and warnings. 
(e) PROGRAM PLAN.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary 
shall develop a plan that details the specific research, de-
velopment, data acquisition, and technology transfer ac-
tivities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, 
necessary to achieve the goal of the program under sub-
section (b). 
(f) ANNUAL BUDGET FOR PLAN SUBMITTAL.—After 
the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (e), 
the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annu-
ally, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding 
with the activities identified in such plan. 
SEC. 206. AVIATION WEATHER AND DATA INNOVATION. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Under Secretary shall maintain 
an airborne observation program (in this section referred 
to as the ‘‘program’’) for the acquisition of atmospheric 
sensor data and the deployment of critical atmospheric 
sensors, including in partnership with the weather enter-
prise. 
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(b) ACTIVITIES.—The program shall include activi-
ties that carry out the following: 
(1) Procurement of weather data available from 
commercial aircraft, as determined by the Under 
Secretary. 
(2) Acquisition of additional vertical profile ob-
servations that provide spatial and temporal density, 
as determined by the Under Secretary. 
(3) Analysis of procured data when incor-
porated into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration’s unified forecast system in order to 
provide improved forecast information for aircraft. 
(c) BUDGET.—The Under Secretary shall, not less 
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed 
budget corresponding with the activities described in sub-
section (b), including and analysis of activities that can 
be complemented by National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration aircraft. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From 
amounts made available to the Commercial Data Program 
under section 302 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017, there is authorized to be 
appropriated up to $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2024 through 2028 to carry out the program. 
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(e) AVIATION WEATHER AND TURBULENCE FORE-
CASTING.—The Director of the National Weather Service 
shall include turbulence events, icing conditions, or other 
phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the National 
Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center, and deliver 
operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate 
weather and turbulence information for the airspace sys-
tem and the protection of lives and property. 
(f) COORDINATION.—In carrying out subsection (e), 
the Director of the National Weather Service shall give 
consideration to recommendations from the Administrator 
of the Federal Aviation Administration in furtherance of 
section 44720 of title 49, United States Code, and improve 
weather and turbulence forecasting capabilities by— 
(1) designating or establishing within the Fed-
eral Government an interagency working group to 
determine weather and environmental data or obser-
vation requirements, needs, and potential solutions 
related to aviation weather and turbulence modeling 
or forecasting; 
(2) identifying current and future potential 
data gaps related to turbulence events or phenomena 
that can— 
(A) identify or inform route specific flight 
planning; and 
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(B) be supplemented or filled by commer-
cial aviation tools; 
(3) transitioning research initiatives and pilot 
programs, including a pilot program of instrumenta-
tion for observing greenhouse gases and other at-
mospheric factors deployed on commercial aircraft 
and supporting the evaluation of a sustained observ-
ing network using such platforms, into operations 
that improve the forecasting missions of the Aviation 
Weather Center; 
(4) developing and deploying improved prob-
abilistic aviation weather forecast guidance tech-
nology; and 
(5) updating interagency agreements as appro-
priate, including to address reimbursable agree-
ments. 
(g) NEXT GENERATION AVIATION RESEARCH.— 
Paragraph (3) of section 102(b) of the Weather Research 
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8512(b)), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and 
(G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
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‘‘(F) aviation weather phenomena, includ-
ing atmospheric composition and turbulence, to 
improve scientific understanding and forecast 
capabilities for the airspace system;’’. 
SEC. 207. NESDIS JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP TRANSI-
TION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Assistant Administrator of 
the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa-
tion Service, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall ad-
minister broad agency announcements and other trans-
actional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an an-
nual or more frequent basis, to support a joint venture 
partnership program that allows the Service to prioritize 
engagement with the private sector, academia, and other 
Federal departments and agencies. 
(b) TRANSITION PROGRAM.—To support the develop-
ment of next-generation technologies, missions, data sys-
tems, spacecraft, and instrument design, the Assistant Ad-
ministrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, 
and Information Service, in consultation with the Admin-
istrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, shall maintain a program to transition selected 
awards from research and study phases into demonstra-
tion. In selecting awardees for demonstrations, the Assist-
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ant Administrator shall consider technologies, missions, 
data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design that— 
(1) improve upon the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration’s satellite architecture; 
(2) have a direct impact on implementing the 
recommendations of the Administration’s 2018 Sat-
ellite Observing System Architecture Study, ‘‘Build-
ing a Plan for NOAA’s 21st Century Satellite Ob-
serving System’’; and 
(3) meet current or future mission require-
ments. 
(c) OPERATIONAL PLANNING.—In carrying out the 
transition program under subsection (b), the Assistant 
Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, 
Data, and Information Service shall monitor demonstra-
tion phase progress and plan for promising results that 
meet mission requirements to be transitioned into Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s oper-
ational satellite architecture. 
(d) ANNUAL PLAN.—The Assistant Administrator of 
the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informa-
tion Service shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology, and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation an annual plan that outlines 
the progress made in the joint venture partnership pro-
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gram under subsection (a), the transition program for 
demonstrations under section (b), and transition to oper-
ational architecture planning under subsection (c). 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From 
amounts authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fis-
cal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section. 
SEC. 208. ADVANCED WEATHER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING 
SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, acting 
through the Director of the National Weather Service, 
shall develop a strategy to transition operations of the Ad-
vanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an oper-
ational cloud-based environment in order to enable a more 
nimble, flexible, and mobile workforce. 
(b) SERVICES.—The Under Secretary shall ensure 
that the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System 
in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in 
subsection (a) provides impact-based decision support 
services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, 
local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the fol-
lowing services: 
(1) Integrating and displaying forecast data, in-
cluding meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, 
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satellite, and radar data, for National Weather Serv-
ice field offices and national centers. 
(2) Acquiring and processing observational data 
from sensors and local sources. 
(3) Providing an interactive communications 
system, including the satellite broadcast network, to 
connect relevant National Weather Service employ-
ees and sites. 
(4) Initiating the dissemination of weather, 
water, marine, ecological, climate, aviation, and 
space warnings and forecasts in a rapid and highly 
reliable manner. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The transition strategy developed 
pursuant to subsection (a) may include the following: 
(1) Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot 
projects, and functional testing activities to facilitate 
remote evaluation and automated testing. 
(2) Coordinated training efforts needed for 
Federal and non-Federal users and operators of the 
Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in 
an operational cloud-based environment referred to 
in subsection (a). 
(3) Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to 
achieve a quality user experience. 
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‘‘(1) The purchase of weather and environ-
mental data and services through contracts with 
commercial data and service providers. 
‘‘(2) The placement of weather instruments on 
co-hosted Federal, international, or private space, 
airborne, maritime, or ground platforms. 
‘‘(h) OMBUDSMAN.—The Under Secretary shall es-
tablish or designate at least one Ombudsman position 
within the Office of Research, Transition, and Applica-
tions to implement the recommendations of the Observing 
System Council under subsection (e) related to commercial 
weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. 
Such an Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between com-
mercial data and service providers and the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to re-
ceiving recommendations and resolving issues related to 
engagement, testing, contracting, or other areas related 
to the Administration’s efforts to acquire commercial 
weather and environmental data and services. 
‘‘(i) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report evaluating the activities and needed au-
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ing soil moisture and flash drought proc-
esses. 
‘‘(ii) Improving fidelity in the oper-
ational modeling of warm season precipita-
tion processes. 
‘‘(iii) Understanding and predicting 
large-scale 
upper-level 
dynamical 
flow 
anomalies that occur in spring and sum-
mer. 
‘‘(3) ACTIVITIES.—A pilot project under this 
subsection shall include activities that carry out the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Best implement recommendations of 
the National Weather Service’s 2020 Report, 
entitled ‘Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting 
Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First Cen-
tury’. 
‘‘(B) Achieve measurable objectives for 
operational forecast improvement. 
‘‘(C) Engage with, and leverage the re-
sources of, institutions of higher education (as 
such term is defined in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or 
a consortia thereof, and entities within the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
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