I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4912 
To require the evaluation of certain criteria relating to locations for deploy-
ment of successor radar systems of the National Weather Service, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2023 
Mr. JACKSON of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To require the evaluation of certain criteria relating to loca-
tions for deployment of successor radar systems of the 
National Weather Service, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. EVALUATION OF LOCATIONS FOR DEPLOY-
MENT OF SUCCESSOR RADAR SYSTEMS OF 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 
(a) PLAN TO IMPROVE RADAR COVERAGE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Commerce and the Director of the Na-
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tional Weather Service, in consultation with the Ad-
ministrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 
a plan for improving radar coverage, by integrating 
or upgrading, to the extent practicable and as the 
case may be, additional observation solutions to im-
prove hazardous weather detection and forecasting. 
(2) DETERMINATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In developing the plan 
to improve radar coverage under paragraph (1), 
the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of 
the National Weather Service, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration— 
(i) shall prioritize locations for the de-
ployment of the successor radar system 
that will replace the current Next Genera-
tion Weather Radar of the National 
Weather Radar Service (NEXRAD); and 
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(ii) may determine additional appro-
priate locations for the deployment of such 
successor radar system installations. 
(B) CONSIDERATION.—In making a deter-
mination pursuant to subparagraph (A), the 
Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the 
National Weather Service shall consider deploy-
ment in at least three locations that are not less 
than 75 miles from an existing NEXRAD sta-
tion. In making such a determination for a de-
ployment location, the Secretary of Commerce 
and the Director of the National Weather Serv-
ice may also consider the criteria described in 
subsection (b). 
(b) CRITERIA DESCRIBED.—The criteria described in 
this subsection are the following: 
(1) Whether a population of 200,000 or more 
would be served by a successor radar installation at 
the location. 
(2) The frequency of any of the following 
issuances at the location: 
(A) Severe thunderstorm watches or warn-
ings. 
(B) Tornado watches or warnings. 
(C) Flash flood watches or warnings. 
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(D) Winter storm warnings. 
Æ 
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