HR 353 RDS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Weather Service shall designate at least one warning 
coordination meteorologist at each weather forecast 
office of the National Weather Service. 
(2) NO
ADDITIONAL
EMPLOYEES
AUTHOR-
IZED.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
authorize or require a change in the authorized 
number of full time equivalent employees in the Na-
tional Weather Service or otherwise result in the em-
ployment of any additional employees. 
(3) PERFORMANCE BY OTHER EMPLOYEES.— 
Performance of the responsibilities outlined in this 
section is not limited to the warning coordination 
meteorologist position. 
(b) PRIMARY ROLE
OF WARNING COORDINATION 
METEOROLOGISTS.—The primary role of the warning co-
ordination meteorologist shall be to carry out the respon-
sibilities required by this section. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
consistent with the analysis described in section 409, 
and in order to increase impact-based decision sup-
port services, each warning coordination meteorolo-
gist designated under subsection (a) shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:37 Jan 12, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.RDS
H353
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
HR 353 RDS
(A) be responsible for providing service to 
the geographic area of responsibility covered by 
the weather forecast office at which the warning 
coordination meteorologist is employed to help 
ensure that users of products of the National 
Weather Service can respond effectively to im-
prove outcomes from weather events; 
(B) liaise with users of products and serv-
ices of the National Weather Service, such as 
the public, media outlets, users in the aviation, 
marine, and agricultural communities, and for-
estry, land, and water management interests, to 
evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the 
products and services of the National Weather 
Service; 
(C) collaborate with such weather forecast 
offices and State, local, and tribal government 
agencies as the Director considers appropriate 
in developing, proposing, and implementing 
plans to develop, modify, or tailor products and 
services of the National Weather Service to im-
prove the usefulness of such products and serv-
ices; 
(D) ensure the maintenance and accuracy 
of severe weather call lists, appropriate office 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:37 Jan 12, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.RDS
H353
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
HR 353 RDS
severe weather policy or procedures, and other 
severe weather or dissemination methodologies 
or strategies; and 
(E) work closely with State, local, and trib-
al emergency management agencies, and other 
agencies related to disaster management, to en-
sure a planned, coordinated, and effective pre-
paredness and response 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 
warning coordination meteorologist designated under 
subsection (a) may— 
(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 paragraph (2); and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:37 Jan 12, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.RDS
H353
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
HR 353 RDS
(D) conduct severe weather event pre-
paredness planning and citizen education efforts 
with and through various State, local, and trib-
al government agencies and other disaster man-
agement-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 MANAGERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, 
the Director of the National Weather Service may 
place a warning coordination meteorologist des-
ignated under subsection (a) with a State or local 
emergency manager if the Director considers doing 
so is necessary or convenient to carry out this sec-
tion. 
(2) TREATMENT.—If the Director determines 
that the placement of a warning coordination mete-
orologist placed with a State or local emergency 
manager under paragraph (1) is near a weather 
forecast office of the National Weather Service, such 
placement shall be treated as designation of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:37 Jan 12, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.RDS
H353
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS
HR 353 RDS
warning coordination meteorologist at such weather 
forecast office for purposes of subsection (a). 
SEC. 406. IMPROVING NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOS-
PHERIC ADMINISTRATION COMMUNICATION 
OF 
HAZARDOUS 
WEATHER 
AND 
WATER 
EVENTS. 
(a) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.—For purposes of the as-
sessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), the purpose of 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system 
for issuing watches and warnings regarding hazardous 
weather and water events shall be risk communication to 
the general public that informs action to prevent loss of 
life and property. 
(b) ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under 
Secretary shall— 
(A) assess the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration system for issuing 
watches and warnings regarding hazardous 
weather and water events; and 
(B) submit to Congress a report on the 
findings of the Under Secretary with respect to 
the assessment conducted under subparagraph 
(A). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:37 Jan 12, 2017
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H353.RDS
H353
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with BILLS