H. R. 353—6 
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In support of the requirements of section 
106, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research shall undertake Observing System Simulation Experi-
ments, or such other quantitative assessments as the Assistant 
Administrator considers appropriate, to quantitatively assess the 
relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. 
Technical and scientific Observing System Simulation Experiment 
evaluations— 
(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing 
capabilities on— 
(A) global weather prediction; 
(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting; 
(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy; 
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm out-
breaks; and 
(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to 
cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 
hours to 1 week; and 
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate 
entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, other Federal agencies, the United States weather 
industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and 
scientific merit of results from Observing System Simulation 
Experiments or other appropriate quantitative assessment 
methodologies. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Observing System Simulation Experi-
ments shall quantitatively— 
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based, 
suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and fore-
casts, including potential impacts on extreme weather events 
across all parts of the Nation; 
(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; 
and 
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various 
observing systems and combinations of observing systems in 
providing data necessary to protect life and property. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Observing System Simulation Experi-
ments— 
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major 
Government-owned 
or 
Government-leased 
operational 
observing systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary 
satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than 
$500,000,000; and 
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major 
new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more 
than $500,000,000. 
(d) PRIORITY OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS.— 
(1) GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM RADIO OCCULTA-
TION.—Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System 
Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from Global 
Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation. 
(2) GEOSTATIONARY HYPERSPECTRAL SOUNDER GLOBAL CON-
STELLATION.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic
H. R. 353—7 
and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System 
Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from a 
geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation. 
(e) RESULTS.—Upon completion of all Observing System Simula-
tion Experiments, the Assistant Administrator shall make available 
to the public the results an assessment of related private and 
public sector weather data sourcing options, including their avail-
ability, affordability, and cost-effectiveness. Such assessments shall 
be developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 
108. 
ANNUAL 
REPORT 
ON 
COMPUTING 
RESOURCES 
PRIORITIZATION. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the 
Under Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in 
coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather 
Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that 
explains how the Under Secretary intends— 
(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, 
most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing 
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission; 
(2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations 
requirements to develop the next generation of regional and 
global models as well as highly reliable operational models; 
(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts 
to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction 
models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, 
the United States weather industry, and partners in academic 
and Government research; and 
(4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced 
research and operational weather prediction. 
SEC. 109. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
Section 108 of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567; 15 U.S.C. 313 
note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting 
a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: 
‘‘(5) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, not 
less frequently than once each year, a report, including— 
‘‘(A) a list of ongoing research projects; 
‘‘(B) project goals and a point of contact for each project; 
‘‘(C) the five projects related to weather observations, 
short-term weather, or subseasonal forecasts within Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to 
operationalization; 
‘‘(D) for each project referred to in subparagraph (C)— 
‘‘(i) the potential benefit; 
‘‘(ii) any barrier to operationalization; and
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‘‘(iii) the plan for operationalization, including 
which line office will financially support the project 
and how much the line office intends to spend; 
‘‘(6) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service 
to oversee the operationalization of research products developed 
by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 
‘‘(7) develop mechanisms for research priorities of the Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be informed by the 
relevant line offices within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the relevant user community, and 
the weather enterprise; 
‘‘(8) develop an internal mechanism to track the progress 
of each research project within the Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to terminate a project 
that is not adequately progressing; 
‘‘(9) develop and implement a system to track whether 
extramural research grant goals were accomplished; 
‘‘(10) provide facilities for products developed by the Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested in operational 
simulations, such as test beds; and 
‘‘(11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather 
Service by facilitating visiting scholars.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph 
(1), by striking ‘‘Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) SUBSEASONAL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘subsea-
sonal’ means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.’’. 
SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) FISCAL YEARS 2017 AND 2018.—For each of fiscal years 
2017 and 2018, there are authorized to be appropriated to Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research— 
(1) $111,516,000 to carry out this title, of which— 
(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories 
and cooperative institutes; and 
(B) $25,758,000 is authorized for weather and air chem-
istry research programs; and 
(2) an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint tech-
nology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4). 
(b) LIMITATION.—No additional funds are authorized to carry 
out this title and the amendments made by this title. 
TITLE II—SUBSEASONAL AND 
SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION 
SEC. 201. IMPROVING SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTS. 
Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 
99–198; 15 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(a)’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 
FINDINGS.—’’; 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘(b) 
POLICY.—’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following:
H. R. 353—9 
‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Under Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the National Weather Service and the heads of such 
other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, shall— 
‘‘(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, 
reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and 
seasonal temperature and precipitation; 
‘‘(2) leverage existing research and models from the weather 
enterprise to improve the forecasts under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) determine and provide information on how the fore-
casted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact— 
‘‘(A) the number and severity of droughts, fires, torna-
does, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, 
winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant nat-
ural disasters; 
‘‘(B) snowpack; and 
‘‘(C) sea ice conditions; and 
‘‘(4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the fore-
casts under paragraph (1) and the information under para-
graphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels. 
‘‘(d) COMMUNICATION.—The Director of the National Weather 
Service shall provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) of subsection 
(c) and the information on their impacts under paragraph (3) of 
such subsection to the public, including public and private entities 
engaged in planning and preparedness, such as National Weather 
Service Core partners at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and 
local levels of government. 
‘‘(e) COOPERATION.—The Under Secretary shall build upon 
existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, 
including— 
‘‘(1) by designating research and monitoring activities 
related to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a priority 
in one or more solicitations of the Cooperative Institutes of 
the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; 
‘‘(2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System Pre-
diction Capability; and 
‘‘(3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the highest pri-
ority subseasonal and seasonal forecast needs to enhance 
national security. 
‘‘(f) FORECAST COMMUNICATION COORDINATORS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary shall foster effec-
tive communication, understanding, and use of the forecasts 
by the intended users of the information described in subsection 
(d). This may include assistance to States for forecast commu-
nication coordinators to enable local interpretation and plan-
ning based on the information. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—For each State that requests assist-
ance under this subsection, the Under Secretary may— 
‘‘(A) provide funds to support an individual in that 
State— 
‘‘(i) to serve as a liaison among the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal 
departments and agencies, the weather enterprise, the 
State, and relevant interests within that State; and 
‘‘(ii) to receive the forecasts and information under 
subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and