(B) forecasting and warning systems for 
inland flooding related to tropical cyclones; 
(4) two-to-fourteen day forecasting, to—
(A) improve short and medium range nu-
merical weather predictions and warnings of 
high-impact weather events; 
(B) conduct the Hemispheric Observing 
System Research and Predictability Experiment 
(THORpex) to fill observational gaps in the 
Northern Hemisphere; and 
(C) test and evaluate advanced data as-
similation techniques in global models; 
(5) societal and economic impacts, to—
(A) identify methods of delivering weather 
information effectively and recommend ways to 
improve weather communications; 
(B) assess social and economic impacts of 
adverse weather ranging from disastrous to rou-
tine; 
(C) evaluate what weather information is 
most useful to public and private decision mak-
ers; and 
(D) providing for research on societal and 
economic impact to ensure a connection be-
tween weather research and improvement of the 
human condition; and 
(6) testing research concepts in an environment 
identical to those used by operational meteorologists, 
to enable technology transfer to those operational 
meteorologists. 
SEC. 704. INTERAGENCY PLANNING AND PROCESS. 
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, as the lead agency of the United States Weather Re-
search Program, shall coordinate and consult with the Na-
tional Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, other appropriate Federal agencies, 
and other appropriate entities to develop a five-year 
plan—
(1) describing how Federal agencies can best 
team with universities and other research institu-
tions; 
(2) identifying social, economic, and military 
needs and requirements for weather information, as 
well as defining the research required to meet these 
needs; 
(3) outlining methods for dissemination of 
weather information to user communities; and
(4) describing best practices for transferring 
United States Weather Research Program research 
results to forecasting operations. 
SEC. 705. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Admin-
istrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration shall transmit to the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
which shall include—
(1) the most recent five-year plan developed or 
updated under section 704, including the roles and 
funding to be provided by various Federal agencies 
in achieving the objectives of the plan; 
(2) a justification of any changes to the plan 
since the last transmittal under this section; and 
(3) a detailed assessment of the extent to which 
the objectives of the plan have been achieved. 
SEC. 706. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office 
of Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration for carrying out this title such 
sums as may be necessary, of which at least 50 percent 
shall be for competitive, peer-reviewed grants to, or con-
tracts or cooperative agreements with, institutions of high-
er education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
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