TORNADO Act

Bill: 118-s-1284
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]
Introduced: 2023-04-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Atmospheric science and weather
Congressional oversight
Earth sciences
Emergency communications systems
Emergency planning and evacuation
Floods and storm protection
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Natural disasters
Performance measurement
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: 

Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act or the TORNADO Act

 
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate and improve its communications about hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and other hazardous weather events.
 
Specifically, NOAA must establish a Risk Communication Office to evaluate the effectiveness of NOAA's communications and to identify ways to provide simpler and clearer information to the public about hazardous weather events. NOAA must also (1) establish a research program to modernize its communication systems, and (2) establish a pilot program to implement the research with respect to communications about tornadoes.
 
Additionally, the bill requires NOAA to develop a strategic plan for implementing the Warn-on-Forecast System, which aims to provide more advanced warnings of thunderstorm-related events (e.g., tornadoes). The bill also requires NOAA to evaluate its tornado rating system and to conduct post-storm assessments of significant events.
 
The bill also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA), a collaborative project between meteorologists and social scientists to study the conditions that contribute to dangerous tornadoes in the Southeast and the best ways to communicate these events to the public.
 
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the National Weather Service's communication technology, particularly with respect to timely notices of hazardous weather events.

action_date: 2023-12-04
text: 

Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act or the TORNADO Act

 
This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate and improve its communications about hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and other hazardous weather events.
 
Specifically, NOAA must establish a Risk Communication Office to evaluate the effectiveness of NOAA's communications and to identify ways to provide simpler and clearer information to the public about hazardous weather events. NOAA must also (1) establish a research program to modernize its communication systems, and (2) establish a pilot program to implement the research with respect to communications about tornadoes.
 
Additionally, the bill requires NOAA to develop a strategic plan for implementing the Warn-on-Forecast System, which aims to provide more advanced warnings of thunderstorm-related events (e.g., tornadoes). The bill also requires NOAA to evaluate its tornado rating system and to conduct post-storm assessments of significant events.
 
The bill also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA), a collaborative project between meteorologists and social scientists to study the conditions that contribute to dangerous tornadoes in the Southeast and the best ways to communicate these events to the public.
 
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the National Weather Service's communication technology, particularly with respect to timely notices of hazardous weather events.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.
action_date: 2023-12-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.
action_date: 2023-12-04
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-12-04
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2023-05-10
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-04-25
text: Introduced in Senate