Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-1561
Sponsor: Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Atmospheric science and weather
Computers and information technology
Emergency communications systems
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Natural disasters
Public contracts and procurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Spacecraft and satellites
Student aid and college costs
Technology transfer and commercialization

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015

 
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to:
 
 
 prioritize weather research to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy;
 
establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program and a hurricane warning improvement program;
 
 maintain a prioritized list of observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property;
 
 evaluate the combination of observing systems, data, and information needed to meet the requirements developed under the list; and 
 
 enter into at least one pilot contract with a private sector entity capable of providing space-based commercial weather data.
 
 
NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) must: (1) conduct a program to develop an improved understanding of forecast capabilities for atmospheric events; (2) issue a plan for restoring U.S. leadership in numerical weather prediction (processing weather data with computer models) and forecasting; and (3) undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments to assess the value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems.
 
The bill permits the purchase of weather data through contracts with commercial providers and the placement of weather satellite instruments on co-hosted government or private payloads.
 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish an Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services.
 
The National Weather Service may: (1) establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction; and (2) reestablish the Mark Trail Award, honoring individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters.

action_date: 2015-05-19
text: 

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize weather research to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.
 
(Sec. 3) NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) must conduct a program to develop an improved understanding of forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their impacts, with priority given to the development of more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.
 
In carrying out the program, the OAR must collaborate with and support the nonfederal weather research community by making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Congress urges that at least 30% of the funds authorized for research and development be made available for this purpose. 

(Sec. 4) NOAA must establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program to reduce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond one hour in advance.
 
(Sec. 5) NOAA must maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy.
 
(Sec. 6) The OAR must issue a research and development and research to operations plan to restore and maintain U.S. leadership in numerical weather prediction (processing weather data with computer models) and forecasting. 
 
(Sec. 7) NOAA must: (1) prioritize observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent practicable; (2) evaluate observing systems, data, and information needed to meet those requirements; (3) identify data gaps in observing capabilities; and (4) determine a range of options to address those gaps.
 
(Sec. 8) The OAR must undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE) to assess the value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. 

OSSEs must be conducted before: (1) acquisition of major government-owned or government-leased operational observing systems with a lifecycle cost of more than $500 million, and (2) purchase of any major new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500 million. 
 
By December 31, 2015, the OAR must complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation. By the same date in the following year, the OAR must complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.
 
(Sec. 9) The bill requires an annual report on NOAA computing priorities and upgrades as these relate to weather prediction. 
(Sec. 10) The bill permits the purchase of weather data by the federal government through contracts with commercial providers and the placement of weather satellite instruments on co-hosted government or private payloads. 
The Department of Commerce must transmit to Congress a strategy to enable the procurement of quality commercial weather data, including through the entry into multiyear agreements. 
By December 31, 2015, NOAA must publish data standards and specifications for space-based commercial weather data. By October 1, 2016, NOAA must enter into at least one pilot contract with a private sector entity capable of providing data that meet those standards and specifications to provide commercial weather data in a manner that allows NOAA to calibrate and evaluate the data. 
(Sec. 11) The NOAA Science Advisory Board must continue to maintain the Environmental Information Services Working Group. Membership requirements and reporting requirements for the group are established. 
(Sec. 12) The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish an Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities. 
(Sec. 13) The OAR and the National Weather Service (NWS) may establish a program to detail their personnel to each other with the goal of enhancing forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction between OAR scientists and NWS operational staff. 
(Sec. 14) The NWS may establish: (1) a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction; and (2) the NOAA Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program, honoring individuals or organizations that use or provide NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters. 
(Sec. 17) The bill authorizes through FY2017: (1) the OAR's weather laboratories and cooperative institutes and weather and air chemistry research programs, and (2) a joint technology transfer initiative.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: 

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2016

 
TITLE I--UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT
 
(Sec.101)This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize weather research to improve weather data, modeling, computing, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.
 
(Sec. 102) NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) must conduct a program to develop an improved understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their impacts, with priority given to the development of more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.
 
In carrying out the program, the OAR must collaborate with and support the nonfederal weather research community by making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Congress urges that at least 30% of the funds authorized for research and development be made available for this purpose.
 
(Sec. 103) NOAA must establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program to reduce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond one hour in advance.
 
(Sec.104)In collaboration with the U.S. weather industry and appropriate academic entities, and through the National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA must plan and maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting, including: 
 
 
the prediction of rapid intensification and track of hurricanes,
 
the forecast and communication of storm surges from hurricanes, and
 
risk communication research to create more effective watch and warning products. 
 
 
(Sec. 105) The OAR must issue a research and development and research to operations plan to restore and maintain U.S. leadership in numerical weather prediction (processing weather data with computer models) and forecasting. 
 
(Sec. 106) NOAA must: (1) prioritize observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent practicable; (2) evaluate observing systems, data, and information needed to meet those requirements; (3) identify data gaps in observing capabilities; and (4) determine a range of options to address those gaps.
 
(Sec.107)The OAR must undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSE) to assess the value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. 
 
OSSEs must be conducted before: (1) acquisition of major government-owned or government-leased operational observing systems with a lifecycle cost of more than $500 million, and (2) purchase of any major new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500 million. 
 
 The OAR must complete an OSSE to assess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation and from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.
 
(Sec. 108) The bill requires an annual report on NOAA computing priorities and upgrades as these relate to weather prediction.
 
(Sec.109)The U.S. Weather Research Program must: (1) report annually to Congress about on-going research projects and the five NOAA projects related to observations, weather, or subseasonal forecasts closest to operationalization; (2) establish teams with staff from the OAR and the NWS to oversee the operationalization of research projects; (3)develop mechanisms for research priorities; (4)develop a system to track research goals; (5)provide testing facilities; and (6) facilitate visiting scholars.
 
(Sec. 110) The bill authorizes through FY2018: (1) the OAR's weather laboratories and cooperative institutes and weather and air chemistry research programs, and (2) a joint technology transfer initiative. 
 
TITLE II--SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION
 
(Sec.201)The NWSmust collect and utilize information to make reliable and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and seasonal temperature and precipitation. Subseasonal forecasting is forecasting weather between two weeks and three months and seasonal forecasting is between three months and two years.
 
TITLE III--WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION
 
(Sec.301)NOAA must complete and operationalize the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (a weather satellite program that develops observational techniques using global navigation systems).
 
(Sec. 302) The bill permits the purchase of weather data by the federal government through contracts with commercial providers and the placement of weather satellite instruments on co-hosted government or private payloads.
 
(Sec. 303) NOAA must avoid unnecessary duplication between public and private sources of data and the corresponding expenditure of funds and employment of personnel.
 
TITLE IV--FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION
 
(Sec.401)The NOAA Science Advisory Board must continue to maintain the Environmental Information Services Working Group. Membership requirements and reporting requirements for the group are established. 
 
(Sec. 402) The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish an Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities. 
 
(Sec. 403) The OAR and the NWS may establish a program to detail their personnel to each other with the goal of enhancing forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction between OAR scientists and NWS operational staff.
 
(Sec.404)The NWS may establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. 
 
(Sec. 405) The NWS must designate warning coordination meteorologists at each of its weather forecast offices.
 
(Sec. 406) NOAA must conduct an evaluation of its system for issuing watches and warning regarding hazardous weather and water events.
 
(Sec. 407) The NWS may establish the NOAA Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program. The program must provide annual awards to individuals or organizations that use NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to save lives and protect property. 
 
(Sec.408)NOAA must analyze the impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in the U.S. Weather Research and Forecasting Model, including the impact on: 
 
 
U.S. weather forecasting capabilities,
 
the accuracy of civilian regional forecasts,
 
the civilian readiness for traditional and extreme weather events in the United States, and
 
the research necessary to develop the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. 
 
 
(Sec. 409) NOAA must contract or continue to partner with an external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of the NWS operations and workforce. 
 
(Sec.410)NOAA must maintain a National Water Center, through which it shall:
 
 
initiate research and development activities to develop operational water resource prediction products;
 
collaborate with, and provide decision-support regarding total water prediction to, other relevant federal and state agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Environmental Protection Agency, and state water resource and emergency management agencies; and 
 
develop capabilities necessary for total water predictive capacity.
 
 
(Sec. 411) NOAA must submit a report to Congress on the use of contract employees at the NWS.
 
(Sec. 412) The NWS must review existing research, products, and services that meet the specific needs of the urban environment, including those with the potential for improving modeling and forecasting capabilities by taking into account factors such as varying building heights, impermeable surfaces, lack of tree canopy, traffic pollution, and inter-building wind effects.
 
(Sec. 413) NOAA may establish mechanisms for outreach to:(1)assess the weather forecasts and forecast products provided by NOAA, and (2)determine the highest priority weather forecast needs of specific communities.
 
TITLE V--TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2016
 

Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2016

 
The bill also revises and reauthorizes through FY2021 the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.
 
(Sec.504)The tsunami warning systems for the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and for the Atlantic Ocean are consolidated into a single warning system.The system must support international tsunami forecasting and warning efforts.
 
NOAA must support or maintain tsunami warning centers to support the national warning system and develop uniform operational procedures for the centers.Warning centers are given additional responsibilities, including maintaining a fail-safe warning capability and an ability to perform back-up duties for each other.
 
(Sec.505)The tsunami hazard mitigation program must provide for:(1)technical and financial assistance; (2)activities to support the development of regional hazard and risk assessments; (3)activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports and harbors; and (4)dissemination of guidelines and standards for community planning, education, and training products, programs, and tools.
 
(Sec. 506) The tsunami research program must develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami maps, models, and forecasts.
 
NOAA no longer has to operate an International Tsunami Information Center to improve tsunami preparedness for Pacific Ocean nations.
 
(Sec.508)NOAA must:(1)designate an existing working group to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to provide advice on matters regarding tsunami science, technology, and regional preparedness; (2)maintain a coordinating committee to assist in the national tsunami hazard mitigation program; and (3)develop formal outreach activities to improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of resilient communities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6680)
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2015-05-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3367-3370)
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3367-3370)
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1561.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3367-3373)
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 91.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 114-126.
action_date: 2015-05-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 114-126.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in House