(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(5) compare costs and schedule, including 
cost-benefit analysis, of Federal and private sector 
supplemental options to fill the observation data re-
quirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified 
pursuant to paragraph (3); and 
‘‘(6) not later than one year after the date of 
the enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress 
a report that provides an analysis of the technical, 
schedule, cost, and cost benefit analyses to place an 
operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite ca-
pability in the early morning orbit to support the 
weather enterprise and the Administration’s mis-
sion.’’. 
SEC. 107. OBSERVING SYSTEM SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS. 
Section 107 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘providing 
data’’ and inserting ‘‘comparison to current or ex-
perimental commercial system capabilities that pro-
vide data’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘, including 
polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,’’; 
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(3) by striking subsection (d); and 
(4) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (d). 
SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION. 
Section 108 of the Weather Research and Fore-
casting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is 
amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that fol-
lows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following 
new subsections: 
‘‘(b) COMPUTING RESEARCH INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, in 
collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, shall 
carry out an initiative, which may leverage Depart-
ment of Energy high performance computers, cloud 
computing, or expertise, to run advanced coupled 
models in order to conduct proof of concept sce-
narios in comparison with current issued forecasts 
and models. The Under Secretary and Secretary of 
Energy shall carry out the initiative through a com-
petitive, merit-reviewed process, and consider appli-
cations from Federal agencies, National Labora-
tories, institutions of higher education (as such term 
is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), nonprofit institu-
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tions, and other appropriate entities (or a consortia 
thereof). 
‘‘(2) COMPONENTS.—In carrying out the initia-
tive under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall 
prevent duplication and coordinate research efforts 
in artificial intelligence, high performance com-
puting, cloud computing, quantum computing, mod-
eling and simulation, machine learning, data assimi-
lation, large scale data analytics, and predictive 
analysis across the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and may— 
‘‘(A) conduct comparative research be-
tween National Weather Service issued fore-
casts and operational models to predictions and 
models developed to run on high performance 
computers or with cloud computing resources; 
‘‘(B) share relevant modeling system and 
applications innovations developed through such 
initiative, including Unified Forecast System- 
based applications, through community-based 
activities; 
‘‘(C) leverage coordinating activities man-
aged by the National Science and Technology 
Council, the Interagency Council for Advancing 
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Meteorological Services, and other relevant 
interagency entities; 
‘‘(D) provide sufficient capacity for long- 
term archive and access of model output to sup-
port research and long-term study; 
‘‘(E) determine computing decisions based 
on an agile requirements framework; and 
‘‘(F) support the training, recruitment, 
and retention of the next generation weather, 
water, 
and 
climate 
computing 
workforce 
through incentives and pathways for career de-
velopment and employment opportunities. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH SECURITY.—The activities au-
thorized under this section shall be applied in a 
manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the 
Research and Development, Competition, and Inno-
vation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 
117–167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.). 
‘‘(4) TERMINATION.—The authority under this 
subsection shall terminate five years after the date 
of the enactment of this subsection. 
‘‘(c) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INVESTMENTS.— 
The Under Secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence 
and machine learning technologies to facilitate, optimize, 
and further leverage advanced computing to accomplish 
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critical missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration by enhancing existing and forthcoming 
high-performance and cloud computing infrastructure or 
systems. 
‘‘(d) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—The Under Sec-
retary may establish centers of excellence to aid the adop-
tion of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine 
learning enabled advanced computing capabilities. Each 
such center may carry out activities that include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Leveraging robust public-private partner-
ship models to provide access to training, experience, 
and long-term development of workforce and infra-
structure. 
‘‘(2) Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, 
algorithms, data structures, and other supporting 
software necessary for specific applications on high 
performance computing systems. 
‘‘(3) Applying modern artificial intelligence, 
deep machine-learning, and advanced data analysis 
technologies to address current and future mission 
challenges. 
‘‘(4) To the maximum extent practicable, ex-
plore quantum computing and related application 
partnerships with public, private, and academic enti-
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