of the National Weather Service to improve the 
usefulness of such products and services; 
(D) engage in interagency partnerships 
with Federal, State, local, and Tribal govern-
ment agencies to explore the use of forecast-in-
formed reservoir operations to reduce flood risk; 
(E) ensure the maintenance and accuracy 
of flooding call lists, appropriate office flooding 
policy or procedures, and other flooding infor-
mation or dissemination methodologies or strat-
egies; and 
(F) work closely with Federal, State, local, 
and Tribal emergency and floodplain manage-
ment agencies, and other agencies relating to 
disaster management, to ensure a planned, co-
ordinated, and effective preparedness and re-
sponse effort. 
(2) OTHER STAFF.—The Director may assign a 
responsibility set forth in paragraph (1) to such 
other staff as the Director considers appropriate to 
carry out such responsibility. 
(d) ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), a 
service coordination hydrologist designated under 
subsection (a) may, with respect to hydrology— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) work with a State agency to develop 
plans for promoting more effective use of prod-
ucts and services of the National Weather Serv-
ice throughout the State; 
(B) identify priority community prepared-
ness objectives; 
(C) develop plans to meet the objectives 
identified under subparagraph (B); and 
(D) conduct flooding event preparedness 
planning and citizen education efforts with and 
through various State, local, and Tribal govern-
ment agencies and other disaster management- 
related organizations. 
(2) OTHER STAFF.—The Director may assign a 
responsibility set forth in paragraph (1) to such 
other staff as the Director considers appropriate to 
carry out such responsibility. 
(e) PLACEMENT WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMER-
GENCY AND FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 
the Director may place a service coordination hy-
drologist designated under subsection (a) with a 
State or local emergency or floodplain manager, if 
the Director determines that such placement is nec-
essary or convenient to carry out this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) TREATMENT.—If the Director determines 
that the placement of a service coordination hydrolo-
gist with a State or local emergency or floodplain 
manager under paragraph (1) is near a River Fore-
cast Center of the National Weather Service, such 
placement shall be treated as designation of the 
service coordination hydrologist at such River Fore-
cast Center for purposes of subsection (a). 
SEC. 6. IMPROVING NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOS-
PHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMUNICATION 
OF FUTURE FLOOD RISKS AND HAZARDOUS 
FLASH FLOOD EVENTS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT OF FLASH FLOOD WATCHES AND 
WARNINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
Secretary shall— 
(A) conduct an assessment of— 
(i) the flash flood watches and warn-
ings of the National Weather Service; and 
(ii) the information delivery to sup-
port preparation and responses to floods; 
and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) submit to Congress a report on the 
findings of the Under Secretary with respect to 
the assessment required by subparagraph (A). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required by 
paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following: 
(A) An evaluation of whether the watches, 
warnings, and information described in para-
graph (1)(A)— 
(i) communicate risk to the general 
public; 
(ii) inform action to prevent loss of 
life and property; 
(iii) inform action to support flood 
preparation and response; and 
(iv) deliver information in a manner 
designed to lead to appropriate action. 
(B) Subject to subsection (b)(2), such rec-
ommendations as the Under Secretary may 
have for— 
(i) legislative and administrative ac-
tion to improve the watches and warnings 
described in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and 
(ii) such research as the Under Sec-
retary considers necessary to address the 
focus areas described in paragraph (3). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(3) FOCUS
AREAS.—The assessment required 
by paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following 
areas: 
(A) Ways to communicate the risks posed 
by hazardous flash flood events to the public 
that are most likely to result in informed deci-
sion making regarding the mitigation of those 
risks. 
(B) Ways to provide actionable geographic 
information to the recipient of a watch or warn-
ing for a flash flood, including partnering with 
emergency response agencies, as appropriate. 
(C) Evaluation of information delivery to 
support the preparation for and response to 
floods. 
(4) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the assess-
ment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Sec-
retary shall consult with— 
(A) such line offices of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration as the 
Under Secretary considers relevant, including— 
(i) the National Ocean Service; 
(ii) the National Weather Service; and 
(iii) the Office of Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Research; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) individuals in the academic sector, in-
cluding individuals in the field of social and be-
havioral sciences; 
(C) other weather services; 
(D) media outlets and other entities that 
distribute the watches and warnings described 
in paragraph (1)(A)(i); 
(E) floodplain managers and emergency 
planners and responders, including State, local, 
and Tribal emergency management agencies; 
(F) other government users of the watches 
and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i), 
including the Federal Highway Administration; 
and 
(G) such other Federal agencies as the 
Under Secretary determines rely on watches 
and warnings regarding flash floods for oper-
ational decisions. 
(5) NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF
SCIENCES.—The 
Under Secretary shall engage with the National 
Academy of Sciences, as the Under Secretary con-
siders necessary and practicable, including by con-
tracting with the National Research Council to re-
view the scientific and technical soundness of the as-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
sessment required by paragraph (1)(A), including 
the recommendations under paragraph (2)(B). 
(6) 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. 
(b) IMPROVEMENTS
TO FLASH FLOOD WATCHES 
AND WARNINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the assessment re-
quired by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary 
shall make such improvements to the watches and 
warnings described in that subsection as the Under 
Secretary considers necessary— 
(A) to improve the communication of the 
risks posed by hazardous flash flood events; and 
(B) to provide actionable geographic infor-
mation to the recipient of a watch or warning 
for a flash flood. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS REGARDING RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—In conducting the assessment required by 
subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary shall en-
sure that any recommendation under subsection 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(a)(2)(B) 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) responds to the needs of Federal, 
State, local, and Tribal government partners 
and media partners; and 
(D) accounts for necessary changes to fed-
erally operated watch and warning propagation 
and dissemination infrastructure and protocols. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) WATCH; WARNING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the terms ‘‘watch’’ and 
‘‘warning’’, with respect to a hazardous flash 
flood event, mean products issued by the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
intended for use by the general public— 
(i) to alert the general public to the 
potential for or presence of the event; and 
(ii) to inform action to prevent loss of 
life and property. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) EXCLUSION.—The terms ‘‘watch’’ and 
‘‘warning’’ do not include technical or special-
ized meteorological and hydrological forecasts, 
outlooks, or model guidance products. 
(2) 
WEATHER
ENTERPRISE.—The 
term 
‘‘weather enterprise’’ has the meaning given that 
term in section 2 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 
8501). 
SEC. 7. FRESHWATER MONITORING ALONG THE COAST. 
(a) DATA AVAILABILITY ASSESSMENT.—The Under 
Secretary shall assess the availability of short- and long- 
term data on large-scale freshwater flooding into oceans, 
bays, and estuaries, including data on— 
(1) flow rate, including discharge; 
(2) conductivity; 
(3) oxygen concentration; 
(4) nutrient load; 
(5) water temperature; and 
(6) sediment load. 
(b) DATA NEEDS ASSESSMENT.—The Under Sec-
retary shall assess the need for additional data to assess 
and predict the effect of the flooding and freshwater dis-
charge described in subsection (a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(c) INVENTORY OF DATA NEEDS.—Based on the as-
sessments required by subsections (a) and (b), the Under 
Secretary shall create an inventory of data needs with re-
spect to the flooding and freshwater discharge described 
in subsections (a) and (b). 
(d) PLANNING.—In planning for the collection of ad-
ditional data necessary for ecosystem-based modeling of 
the effect of the flooding and freshwater discharge de-
scribed in subsections (a) and (b), the Under Secretary 
shall use the inventory created under subsection (c). 
SEC. 8. TORNADO WARNING IMPROVEMENT. 
Section 103 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) INNOVATIVE OBSERVATIONS.—The Under Sec-
retary shall ensure that the program periodically examines 
the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as 
acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from 
phased array radars, and observations from mesonets, 
with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, pre-
dictions, and warnings.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 9. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 104(b) of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514(b)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) evaluating and incorporating, as appro-
priate, innovative observations, including acoustic or 
infrasonic measurements.’’. 
SEC. 10. WEATHER AND WATER RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT PLANNING. 
Section 105(2) of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8515(2)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘and flood-event’’ after ‘‘operational 
weather’’. 
SEC. 11. FORECAST COMMUNICATION COORDINATORS. 
Section 1762(f)(1) of the Food Security Act of 1985 
(15 U.S.C. 8521(f)(1)) is amended, in the second sen-
tence, by striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
SEC. 12. ESTIMATES OF PRECIPITATION FREQUENCY IN 
THE UNITED STATES. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(1) FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.—The term 
‘‘Freely Associated States’’ means the Republic of 
Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the 
Federated States of Micronesia, which have each en-
tered into a Compact of Free Association with the 
United States. 
(2) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ means the 50 States of the United States, 
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associ-
ated States. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall es-
tablish a program, to be known as the ‘‘NOAA Precipita-
tion Frequency Atlas of the United States’’, to compile, 
estimate, analyze, and communicate the frequency of pre-
cipitation in the United States. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The NOAA Precipitation Fre-
quency Atlas of the United States— 
(1) shall better inform the public and provide 
information on— 
(A) temporal and spatial distribution of 
heavy precipitation; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(B) published on a publicly accessible 
website of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
(e) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Administrator may partner 
with other Federal agencies, members of the private sec-
tor, academic cooperative partnerships, or nongovernment 
associations to assist in carrying out the functions de-
scribed in subsection (c). 
(f) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator may consult with relevant Federal, State, 
local, Tribal, and Territorial government agencies, re-
search institutions, and the private sector, as the Adminis-
trator determines necessary. 
(g) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator may coordinate with other Federal agen-
cies. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
from amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to 
the Administrator to carry out this Act, $3,500,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2030. 
SEC. 13. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 
WATER MANAGEMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mittee, to be known as the ‘‘Interagency Coordinating 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
Committee on Water Management’’ (in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Committee’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be com-
posed of the following members: 
(1) The Under Secretary. 
(2) The Assistant Secretary for Water and 
Science of the Department of the Interior. 
(3) The head of each of the following: 
(A) The Federal Emergency Management 
Agency. 
(B) The Army Corps of Engineers. 
(C) The National Science Foundation. 
(D) The Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
(E) The Council on Environmental Qual-
ity. 
(F) The Department of Energy. 
(G) The Department of Agriculture. 
(H) Any other Federal agency, as the co- 
chairs consider appropriate. 
(c) CO-CHAIRS.—The Committee shall be co-chaired 
by the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency. 
(d) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not less 
frequently than once each year at the call of the co-chairs. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(e) GENERAL PURPOSE AND DUTIES.—The Com-
mittee shall ensure that agencies across the Federal Gov-
ernment that engage in water-related matters, including 
water storage and supplies, water quality and restoration 
activities, water infrastructure, transportation on United 
States rivers and inland waterways, and water forecasting, 
work together where such agencies have joint or overlap-
ping responsibilities to— 
(1) improve interagency coordination by Fed-
eral agencies on water resource management and 
water-related infrastructure issues; 
(2) coordinate existing water-related Federal 
task forces, working groups, and other formal cross- 
agency initiatives, as appropriate; 
(3) designate and consolidate repositories re-
sponsible for archiving and managing water-related 
matters; 
(4) improve interagency coordination of data 
management, access, modeling, and visualization 
with respect to water-related matters; 
(5) conduct integrated planning for Federal in-
vestments in water-related infrastructure; and 
(6) support workforce development and efforts 
to recruit, train, and retain professionals to operate 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
and maintain essential water facilities in the United 
States. 
(f) CROSS-AGENCY PRIORITY RESEARCH NEEDS.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Committee shall develop and submit to Con-
gress a list of research needs that includes needs for cross- 
agency research and coordination. 
SEC. 14. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HYDROLOGIC RE-
SEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES.—The term 
‘‘decision support services’’ means information, in-
cluding data and refined products, that supports 
water resources-related decision-making processes. 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(b) HYDROLOGIC
RESEARCH
FELLOWSHIP
PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary, 
acting through the Director of the National Weather 
Service (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Direc-
tor’’) shall establish a hydrologic research fellowship 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
program (in this section referred to as the ‘‘pro-
gram’’) for qualified individuals. 
(2) QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL.—For purposes of 
this section, a qualified individual is an individual 
who is— 
(A) a citizen of the United States; and 
(B) enrolled in a research-based graduate 
program, at an institution of higher education, 
in a field that advances the research priorities 
developed by the Under Secretary under para-
graph (7), such as— 
(i) hydrology; 
(ii) earth sciences; 
(iii) atmospheric sciences; 
(iv) computer sciences; 
(v) engineering; 
(vi) environmental sciences; 
(vii) geosciences; 
(viii) urban planning; or 
(ix) related social sciences. 
(3) AWARD
GUIDELINES.—Fellowships under 
the program shall be awarded pursuant to guidelines 
established by the Under Secretary. 
(4) SELECTION
PREFERENCE.—In selecting 
qualified individuals for participation in the pro-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:10 Dec 15, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8882.IH
H8882
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS