FLOODS Act

Bill: 117-s-558
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2021-03-03 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Emergency planning and evacuation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Hydrology and hydrography
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding
Student aid and college costs
Water quality
Water storage
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: 

Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act

 
This bill addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
Among other provisions, the bill
 
 
directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to better inform and provide for more timely decision-making to reduce flood-related effects and costs;
 
establishes partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions;
 
designates a service coordination hydrologist at each National Weather Service River Forecast Center to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level;
 
requires NOAA to evaluate and improve flood watches and warnings and communication of information to support preparation and responses to floods;
 
ensures that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets;
 
requires NOAA to estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation;
 
establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters, including water storage and supplies, water quality and restoration activities, water infrastructure, transportation on rivers and inland waterways, and water forecasting, work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities; and
 
directs NOAA to conduct an analysis of gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts.
 

action_date: 2021-09-30
text: 

Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act

 
This bill addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
For example, the bill directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs.
 
NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts.
 
Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations).
 
In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level.
 
Finally, the bill establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.

action_date: 2022-12-14
text: 

Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act

 
This bill addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
For example, the bill directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs.
 
NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts.
 
Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations).
 
In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level.
 
Finally, the bill establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.

action_date: 2022-12-27
text: 

Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act

 
This act addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
 
For example, the act directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs.
 
NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts.
 
Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations).
 
In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level.
 
Finally, the act establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-27
text: Became Public Law No: 117-316.
action_date: 2022-12-27
text: Became Public Law No: 117-316.
action_date: 2022-12-27
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-27
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2022-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-12-23
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1518, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1082, as amended; H.R. 5349; H.R. 6218; H.R. 6220; H.R. 6221; H.R. 6611, as amended; H.R. 6630; H.R. 6725; H.R. 7077, agreed to Senate amendment; H.R. 7832; H.R. 8665; S. 558; and S. 789. S. 558; and S. 789. (consideration: CR H9803-9810; text: CR H9805-9809)
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1518, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1082, as amended; H.R. 5349; H.R. 6218; H.R. 6220; H.R. 6221; H.R. 6611, as amended; H.R. 6630; H.R. 6725; H.R. 7077, agreed to Senate amendment; H.R. 7832; H.R. 8665; S. 558; and S. 789. S. 558; and S. 789.
action_date: 2022-12-14
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1518, proceedings on S. 558 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 558.
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9653, H9656-9658; text: CR H9653-9656)
action_date: 2022-12-12
text: Mr. Beyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-10-01
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-10-01
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-10-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-09-30
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6857-6860)
action_date: 2021-09-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6857-6860)
action_date: 2021-09-30
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6856-6860)
action_date: 2021-09-30
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2021-09-30
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2021-04-28
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2021-03-03
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 117-316