I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1427 
To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the 
Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and 
to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather 
detection and forecasting. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 8, 2017 
Mr. PITTENGER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage 
gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the Na-
tional Weather Service and to develop a plan for improv-
ing radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and 
forecasting. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND 
REQUIREMENT FOR PLAN TO ADDRESS SUCH 
GAPS. 
(a) STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE.— 
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the Federal Aviation Administration, and 
cooperative network observers; and 
(iii) assess the feasibility and advis-
ability of efforts to integrate and upgrade 
Federal radar capabilities that are not 
owned or controlled by the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, in-
cluding radar capabilities of the Federal 
Aviation Administration and the Depart-
ment of Defense; 
(C) assess the feasibility and advisability of 
incorporating State-operated and other non- 
Federal radars into the operations of the Na-
tional Weather Service; 
(D) identify options to improve radar cov-
erage in the areas identified under subpara-
graph (A); and 
(E) estimate the cost of, and develop a 
timeline for, carrying out each of the options 
identified under subparagraph (D). 
(3) REPORT.—Upon the completion of the 
study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall submit a report to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the 
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Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives that 
includes the findings of the Secretary with respect to 
the study. 
(b) PLAN TO IMPROVE RADAR COVERAGE.—Not 
later than 30 days after the completion of the study under 
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Commerce shall submit 
a plan to the congressional committees referred to in sub-
section (a)(3) for improving radar coverage in the areas 
identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) by integrating and 
upgrading, to the extent practicable, additional observa-
tion solutions to improve hazardous weather detection and 
forecasting. 
(c) REQUIREMENT FOR THIRD-PARTY REVIEWS RE-
GARDING PLAN TO IMPROVE RADAR COVERAGE.—The 
Secretary of Commerce shall seek third-party reviews on 
scientific methodology relating to, and the feasibility and 
advisability of, implementing the plan submitted under 
subsection (b), including the extent to which warning and 
forecast services of the National Weather Service would 
be improved by additional NEXRAD coverage. 
Æ 
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