National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2200
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2017-12-06
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Agricultural research

Air quality

Atmospheric science and weather

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Government information and archives

Public-private cooperation

Research administration and funding

Water use and supply

Watersheds
Latest action: action_date: 2019-01-07
text: Became Public Law No: 115-423.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Program. </p> <p>The bill amends the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 to require, under NIDIS, that the collection and integration of information on the key indicators of drought and drought impacts includes indicators of precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand.</p> <p>NIDIS shall also: </p> <ul> <li>provide timely data, information, and products that reflect watershed differences in drought conditions; </li> <li>through interagency agreements, coordinate and integrate future federal research and monitoring in support of a drought early warning information system;</li> <li>utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and </li> <li>continue ongoing research and monitoring activities related to drought, including research activities relating to the prediction of drought. </li> </ul> <p>NIDIS may:</p> <ul> <li>engage with the private sector to improve drought forecast and communication if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determines such partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and the decision-makers specified in the Act; and </li> <li>facilitate the development of one or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with NIDIS functions.</li> </ul> <p>NIDIS shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. </p>  <p>The bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend through FY2023 certain activities related to the provision of agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information.</p>

action_date: 2019-01-07
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p><b>National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018</b></p> <p>This bill reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) Program. </p> <p>(Sec. 2) The bill amends the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 to require, under NIDIS, that the collection and integration of information on the key indicators of drought and drought impacts includes indicators of precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand.</p> <p>NIDIS shall also</p> <ul> <li>provide timely data, information, and products that reflect watershed differences in drought conditions; </li> <li>through interagency agreements, coordinate and integrate future federal research and monitoring in support of a drought early warning information system;</li> <li>utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal and subseasonal precipitation and temperature and low flow water prediction; and </li> <li>continue ongoing research and monitoring activities related to drought, including research activities relating to the prediction of drought. </li> </ul> <p>NIDIS may</p> <ul> <li>engage with the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecast, and communication if the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determines such partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and certain decision-makers;</li> <li>facilitate the development of academic cooperative partnerships to assist with NIDIS functions; and</li> <li>utilize and support monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum integration of data.</li> </ul> <p>NIDIS shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. </p>  <p>(Sec. 3) The bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend through FY2023 certain activities related to the provision of agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information.</p> <p>The bill amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to reauthorize through FY2023 the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of NOAA to carry out (1) weather laboratories and cooperative institutes, (2) weather and air chemistry research programs, and (3) a certain joint technology transfer initiative to ensure the continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into the operations of the National Weather Service (NWS). </p> <p>(Sec. 4) The bill requires the office to advance weather modeling skill, reclaim and maintain international leadership in the area of numerical weather prediction, and improve the transition of research into operations, including by creating a community global weather research modeling system that is accessible by the public.</p> <p>The bill also requires the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences, under the U.S. Weather Research Program, to carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center for improving and understanding how the public receives, interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property. </p> <p>(Sec. 5) The bill amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to repeal annual reporting on the efficiency of prioritizing computing resources. NOAA shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize options to enter into multiyear lease agreements for computing capabilities over options to purchase computer hardware outright. </p> <p>The bill requires NOAA to create pilot programs to assess new or innovative information and technology capabilities and services. </p> <p>The bill requires NOAA to submit triennial reports on specified activities related to weather prediction, including how NOAA intends to </p> <ul> <li>continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction; and </li> <li>facilitate cloud computing. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 6) NOAA shall analyze, test, and plan the procurement of future data sources and satellite architectures, including specified respective ground system elements, identified in NOAA's Satellite Observing System Architecture Study. In meeting such requirement, NOAA must evaluate relative value and benefits of future data sources and satellite architectures. </p> <p>NOAA may enter into and perform transaction agreements to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects in order to enhance the effectiveness of data and satellite systems used by NOAA in meeting its missions. After a transaction agreement is arranged, NOAA shall make publicly available on its website all uses of its authority under such agreement, including an estimate of committed NOAA resources and the expected benefits to NOAA objectives. </p> <p>(Sec. 7) The bill requires the NWS, in weather service regions where ocean and coastal data would improve forecasts, to support increasing the use of autonomous, mobile-surface, subsurface, and submarine vehicle ocean and freshwater sensor systems and the infrastructure necessary to share and analyze those data in real time and feed them into predictive early warning systems.</p> <p>The bill reauthorizes through FY2023 procurement, acquisition, and construction at the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. </p> <p>(Sec. 8) The NWS shall improve the Cooperative Observer Program by</p> <ul> <li>providing support to related state-coordinated programs and states and regions where observations provided through the program are scarce; </li> <li>working with state weather service headquarters to increase participation in the program and adding stations to such states and regions;</li> <li>ensuring that data streams from stations that have been contributing data to the program for more than 50 years are maintained and continually staffed by volunteers; and </li> <li>ensuring that program volunteers may quickly and easily report qualitative observations, such as drought conditions, snow observations, and hazardous weather events.</li> </ul> <p>The NWS must coordinate with state and regional offices regarding the status of program stations no less frequently than every 180 days. </p> <p>The NWS shall also coordinate with other federal agencies to leverage opportunities to grow the program's network and to more effectively use its existing infrastructure, weather stations, and staff.</p> <p><i>Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017</i></p> <p>(Sec. 9) This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to reauthorize for FY2019-FY2023 the national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program and the action strategy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. An algal bloom is a rapid growth of algae that may create toxic or hypoxic (severely low-oxygen) conditions that are harmful to humans, animals, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy.</p> <p>The task force must include a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. </p>  <p>NOAA, in administering the program, shall</p> <ul> <li>promote the program to local and regional stakeholders through a public website that provides information on program activities;</li> <li>administer grants for the acceleration of the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events; </li> <li>work cooperatively to provide technical assistance to regional, state, tribal, and local government agencies and programs that address marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and</li> <li>integrate, coordinate, and augment existing extension programs to improve public understanding and awareness of the causes, impacts, intervention, and mitigation efforts for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.</li> </ul> <p>NOAA must</p> <ul> <li> develop and enhance, with respect to unmanned systems, critical observations, monitoring, modeling, data management, information dissemination, and operational forecasts that are relevant to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events;</li> <li>use cost effective methods in carrying out the Act; and </li> <li>develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring of hypoxia.</li> </ul>  <p> Federal officials may determine that a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event is an event of national significance and give funding to the affected state or local government for assessing and mitigating the event's detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 6, 2017 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting including, precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought forecast and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); and (2) facilitate the development of one or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $18,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of weather and climate information in agriculture Section 1762(j) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521(j) ) is amended to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 424 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2200 [Report No. 115–256] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 6, 2017 Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Nelson , and Mrs. Fischer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation May 22, 2018 Reported by Mr. Thune , with an amendment Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting including, precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought forecast and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); and (2) facilitate the development of one or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $15,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $16,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $18,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of weather and climate information in agriculture Section 1762(j) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521(j) ) is amended to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. .

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting , including precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal, subseasonal, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions; and (3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum data integration. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $15,750,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of weather and climate information in agriculture Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521 ) is amended— (1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2018; (2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; (3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2020; (4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (6) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (k) Derivation of funds Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Weather Service. .

May 22, 2018 Reported with an amendment

tv_txt: One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America 2d Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen S. 2200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting , including precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions; and (3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum data integration. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2020; (3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of title II of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (a) Reauthorization of title II of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521 ) is amended— (1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; (3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (k) Derivation of funds Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Weather Service. . (b) United States Weather Research and Forecasting Improvement Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8519 ) is amended to read as follows: 110. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title— (1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which— (A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which— (A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which— (A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which— (A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); and (5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which— (A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4). (b) Limitation No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title. . 4. Earth Prediction Innovation Center (a) Weather research and forecasting innovation Section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8512(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and maintaining international leadership in the area of numerical weather prediction, and improving the transition of research into operations by— (A) leveraging the weather enterprise to provide expertise on removing barriers to improving numerical weather prediction; (B) enabling scientists and engineers to effectively collaborate in areas important for improving operational global numerical weather prediction skill, including model development, data assimilation techniques, systems architecture integration, and computational efficiencies; (C) strengthening the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s ability to undertake research projects in pursuit of substantial advancements in weather forecast skill; (D) utilizing and leverage existing resources across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enterprise; and (E) creating a community global weather research modeling system that— (i) is accessible by the public; (ii) meets basic end-user requirements for running on public computers and networks located outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information and technology systems; and (iii) utilizes, whenever appropriate and cost-effective, innovative strategies and methods, including cloud-based computing capabilities, for hosting and management of part or all of the system described in this subsection. . (b) United States Weather Research Program Section 108(a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 ( 15 U.S.C. 8520(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ; and and inserting a semi-colon; (2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center as described in section 102(b)(2) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(2) ). . 5. Computing resources prioritization (a) In general Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8518 ) is amended to read as follows: 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report (a) Computing resources (1) In general In acquiring computing capabilities, including high performance computing technologies and supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its mission requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize options for entering into multi-year lease agreements for computing capabilities over options for purchasing computing hardware outright. (2) Acquisition In carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the lease is set for a date on or around— (A) the expected degradation point of the computing resources; or (B) the point at which significantly increased computing capabilities are expected to be available for lease. (3) Pilot programs (A) In general In order to more efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or innovative information and technology capabilities and services. (B) Program requirements Any program created under paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities and services that— (i) meet or exceed the standards and requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including for processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall reliability; or (ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet or exceed, the performance of similar, in-house information and technology capabilities and services that are owned and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to the establishment of the pilot program. (C) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to remain available until expended. (b) Reports Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , and triennially thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on which the first report is submitted, the Under Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that explains how the Under Secretary intends— (1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction mission; (2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models; (3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the United States weather industry, and partners in academic and Government research; (4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction; (5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if appropriate; (6) to utilize cloud computing; and (7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the programming language of weather model code to current and broadly-used coding language. . (b) Table of contents Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–25 ; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by striking the item relating to section 108 and inserting the following: Sec. 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report. . 6. Satellite architecture planning Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8531 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Next generation satellite architecture (1) In general The Under Secretary shall analyze, test, and plan the procurement of future data sources and satellite architectures, including respective ground system elements, identified in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Satellite Observing System Architecture Study that— (A) lower the cost of observations used to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mission requirements; (B) disaggregate current satellite systems, where appropriate; (C) include new, value-adding technological advancements; and (D) improve weather forecasting and predictions. (2) Quantitative assessments and partnership authority In meeting the requirements described in paragraph (1), the Under Secretary— (A) may partner with the commercial and academic sectors, non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations, and other Federal agencies; and (B) shall, consistent with section 107 of this Act, undertake quantitative assessments for objective analyses, as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, to evaluate relative value and benefits of future data sources and satellite architectures described in paragraph (1). (d) Additional forms of transaction authorized (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), in order to enhance the effectiveness of data and satellite systems used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its missions, the Under Secretary may enter into and perform such transaction agreements on such terms as the Under Secretary considers appropriate to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects to meet the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) subsection (c)(1). (2) Method and scope (A) In general A transaction agreement under paragraph (1) shall be limited to research and development activities. (B) Permissible uses A transaction agreement under paragraph (1) may be used— (i) for the construction, use, operation, or procurement of new, improved, innovative, or value-adding satellites, instrumentation, ground stations, and data; (ii) to make determinations on how to best use existing or planned data, systems, and assets of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (iii) only when the objectives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cannot be met using a cooperative research and development agreement, grants procurement contract, or cooperative agreement. (3) Termination of effectiveness The authority provided in this subsection terminates effective September 30, 2023. (e) Transparency Not later than 60 days after the date that a transaction agreement is made under subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall make publicly available, in a searchable format, on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all uses of the authority under subsection (d), including an estimate of committed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resources and the expected benefits to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration objectives for the transaction agreement, with appropriate redactions for proprietary, sensitive, or classified information. (f) Reports (1) In general Not later than 90 days after September 30 of each fiscal year through September 30, 2023, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the use of additional transaction authority by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the previous fiscal year. (2) Contents Each report shall include— (A) for each transaction agreement in effect during the fiscal year covered by the report— (i) an indication of whether the transaction agreement is a reimbursable, non-reimbursable, or funded agreement; (ii) a description of— (I) the subject and terms; (II) the parties; (III) the responsible National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration line office; (IV) the value; (V) the extent of the cost sharing among Federal Government and non-Federal sources; (VI) the duration or schedule; and (VII) all milestones; (iii) an indication of whether the transaction agreement was renewed during the previous fiscal year; (iv) the technology areas in which research projects were conducted under that agreement; (v) the extent to which the use of that agreement— (I) has contributed to a broadening of the technology and industrial base available for meeting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needs; and (II) has fostered within the technology and industrial base new relationships and practices that support the United States; and (vi) the total value received by the Federal Government under that agreement for that fiscal year; and (B) a list of all anticipated reimbursable, non-reimbursable, and funded transaction agreements for the upcoming fiscal year. (g) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to use cooperative research and development agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or cooperative agreements. . 7. Integration of ocean and coastal data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System (a) In general Section 301(a)(2) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8531(a)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (C) support increasing use of autonomous, mobile surface, sub-surface, and submarine vehicle ocean and fresh water sensor systems and the infrastructure necessary to share and analyze these data in real-time and feed them into predictive early warning systems. . (b) Commercial weather data; authorization of appropriations Section 302(c)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8532(c)(3) ) is amended— (1) by striking 2017 through 2020 and inserting 2019 through 2023 ; and (2) by inserting the before National . 8. Improvements to Cooperative Observer Program of National Weather Service (a) In general The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, acting through the National Weather Service, shall improve the Cooperative Observer Program by— (1) providing support to— (A) State-coordinated programs relating to the Program; and (B) States and regions where observations provided through the Program are scarce; (2) working with State weather service headquarters to increase participation in the Program and to add stations in States and regions described in paragraph (1)(B); (3) where feasible, ensuring that data streams from stations that have been contributing data to the Program for more than 50 years are maintained and continually staffed by volunteers; (4) prioritizing the recruitment of new volunteers for the Program; (5) ensuring that opportunities exist for automated reporting to lessen the burden on volunteers to collect and report data by hand; and (6) ensuring that integrated reporting is available for qualitative observations that cannot be automated, such as drought conditions, snow observations, and hazardous weather events, to ensure that volunteers in the Program can report and upload observations quickly and easily. (b) Coordination with States and regions Not less frequently than every 180 days, the National Weather Service shall coordinate with State and regional offices with respect to the status of Cooperative Observer Program stations. (c) Coordination with Federal agencies The National Weather Service shall coordinate with other Federal agencies, including the Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the United States Geological Survey, to leverage opportunities to grow the Cooperative Observer Program network and to more effectively use existing infrastructure, weather stations, and staff of the Program. 9. Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control (a) Short title This section may be cited as the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017 . (b) References to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this section an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.). (c) Inter-Agency Task Force Section 603(a) ( 33 U.S.C. 4001(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (12), by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following: (13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and . (d) Scientific assessments of freshwater harmful algal blooms Section 603 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001 ) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (f); (2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Scientific assessments of marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms Not less than once every 5 years the Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific assessment of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal waters and freshwater systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters. . (e) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program (1) Program duties Section 603A(e) ( 33 U.S.C. 4002(e) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , including to local and regional stakeholders through the establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible Internet website that provides information as to Program activities completed under this section after Program ; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (D) to accelerate the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events; ; (C) in paragraph (4), by striking and work cooperatively with and inserting , and work cooperatively to provide technical assistance to, ; and (D) in paragraph (7)— (i) by inserting and extension after existing education ; and (ii) by inserting intervention, after awareness of the causes, impacts, . (2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities Section 603A(f) ( 33 U.S.C. 4002(f) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting , which shall include unmanned systems, after infrastructure ; (B) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this Act; and (8) develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring of hypoxia. . (f) Consultation required Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001a ) is amended by striking the amendments made by this title and inserting the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 . (g) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom of national significance (1) Relief (A) In general Upon a determination under paragraph (2) that there is an event of national significance, the appropriate Federal official is authorized to make sums available to the affected State or local government for the purposes of assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of the event of national significance. (B) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under this paragraph for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of that activity. (C) Donations Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an appropriate Federal official may accept donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment that the appropriate Federal official considers necessary for the purposes described in subparagraph (A). Any funds donated to an appropriate Federal official under this paragraph may be expended without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation. (2) Determinations (A) In general At the discretion of an appropriate Federal official, or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, an appropriate Federal official shall determine whether a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event is an event of national significance. (B) Considerations In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the appropriate Federal official shall consider the toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the severity of the hypoxia, its potential to spread, the economic impact, the relative size in relation to the past 5 occurrences of harmful algal blooms or hypoxia events that occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and the geographic scope, including the potential to affect several municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or to cross an international boundary. (3) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Appropriate Federal official The term appropriate Federal official means— (i) in the case of a marine or coastal hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; and (ii) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (B) Event of national significance The term event of national significance means a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event that has had or will likely have a significant detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, or public health impact on an affected State. (C) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event The term hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event means the occurrence of hypoxia or a harmful algal bloom as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause. (h) Authorization of appropriations Section 609(a) ( 33 U.S.C. 4009(a) ) is amended by inserting , and $20,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 before the period at the end.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate

tv_txt: 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2200 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 . 2. National Integrated Drought Information System program (a) In general Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought, including and inserting , including precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and ; (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting watershed, after regional, ; (C) in paragraph (4)— (i) by inserting , through interagency agreements after integrate ; and (ii) by inserting information after warning ; (D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction; and ; and (E) in paragraph (6), by inserting the prediction, after relating to ; (2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as subsections (d) through (f), respectively; (3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Partnerships The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions; and (3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum data integration. ; (4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting and sustainment after development ; and (5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and inserting the following: (f) Soil moisture Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network. . (b) Authorization of appropriations Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 ( 15 U.S.C. 313d note) is amended to read as follows: 4. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2020; (3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. . 3. Reauthorization of title II of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (a) Reauthorization of title II of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 15 U.S.C. 8521 ) is amended— (1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section— (1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; (3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021; (4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (k) Derivation of funds Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Weather Service. . (b) United States Weather Research and Forecasting Improvement Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8519 ) is amended to read as follows: 110. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title— (1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which— (A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which— (A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which— (A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); (4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which— (A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4); and (5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which— (A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes; (B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and (C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4). (b) Limitation No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title. . 4. Earth Prediction Innovation Center (a) Weather research and forecasting innovation Section 102(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8512(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (4) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and maintaining international leadership in the area of numerical weather prediction, and improving the transition of research into operations by— (A) leveraging the weather enterprise to provide expertise on removing barriers to improving numerical weather prediction; (B) enabling scientists and engineers to effectively collaborate in areas important for improving operational global numerical weather prediction skill, including model development, data assimilation techniques, systems architecture integration, and computational efficiencies; (C) strengthening the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s ability to undertake research projects in pursuit of substantial advancements in weather forecast skill; (D) utilizing and leverage existing resources across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enterprise; and (E) creating a community global weather research modeling system that— (i) is accessible by the public; (ii) meets basic end-user requirements for running on public computers and networks located outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information and technology systems; and (iii) utilizes, whenever appropriate and cost-effective, innovative strategies and methods, including cloud-based computing capabilities, for hosting and management of part or all of the system described in this subsection. . (b) United States Weather Research Program Section 108(a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 ( 15 U.S.C. 8520(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (10), by striking ; and and inserting a semi-colon; (2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center as described in section 102(b)(2) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(2) ). . 5. Computing resources prioritization (a) In general Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8518 ) is amended to read as follows: 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report (a) Computing resources (1) In general In acquiring computing capabilities, including high performance computing technologies and supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its mission requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize options for entering into multi-year lease agreements for computing capabilities over options for purchasing computing hardware outright. (2) Acquisition In carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the lease is set for a date on or around— (A) the expected degradation point of the computing resources; or (B) the point at which significantly increased computing capabilities are expected to be available for lease. (3) Pilot programs (A) In general In order to more efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or innovative information and technology capabilities and services. (B) Program requirements Any program created under paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities and services that— (i) meet or exceed the standards and requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including for processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall reliability; or (ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet or exceed, the performance of similar, in-house information and technology capabilities and services that are owned and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to the establishment of the pilot program. (C) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to remain available until expended. (b) Reports Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 , and triennially thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on which the first report is submitted, the Under Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that explains how the Under Secretary intends— (1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction mission; (2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models; (3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the United States weather industry, and partners in academic and Government research; (4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction; (5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if appropriate; (6) to utilize cloud computing; and (7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the programming language of weather model code to current and broadly-used coding language. . (b) Table of contents Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–25 ; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by striking the item relating to section 108 and inserting the following: Sec. 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report. . 6. Satellite architecture planning Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8531 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Next generation satellite architecture (1) In general The Under Secretary shall analyze, test, and plan the procurement of future data sources and satellite architectures, including respective ground system elements, identified in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Satellite Observing System Architecture Study that— (A) lower the cost of observations used to meet the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s mission requirements; (B) disaggregate current satellite systems, where appropriate; (C) include new, value-adding technological advancements; and (D) improve weather forecasting and predictions. (2) Quantitative assessments and partnership authority In meeting the requirements described in paragraph (1), the Under Secretary— (A) may partner with the commercial and academic sectors, non-governmental and not-for-profit organizations, and other Federal agencies; and (B) shall, consistent with section 107 of this Act, undertake quantitative assessments for objective analyses, as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, to evaluate relative value and benefits of future data sources and satellite architectures described in paragraph (1). (d) Additional forms of transaction authorized (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), in order to enhance the effectiveness of data and satellite systems used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its missions, the Under Secretary may enter into and perform such transaction agreements on such terms as the Under Secretary considers appropriate to carry out basic, applied, and advanced research projects to meet the objectives described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) subsection (c)(1). (2) Method and scope (A) In general A transaction agreement under paragraph (1) shall be limited to research and development activities. (B) Permissible uses A transaction agreement under paragraph (1) may be used— (i) for the construction, use, operation, or procurement of new, improved, innovative, or value-adding satellites, instrumentation, ground stations, and data; (ii) to make determinations on how to best use existing or planned data, systems, and assets of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (iii) only when the objectives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cannot be met using a cooperative research and development agreement, grants procurement contract, or cooperative agreement. (3) Termination of effectiveness The authority provided in this subsection terminates effective September 30, 2023. (e) Transparency Not later than 60 days after the date that a transaction agreement is made under subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall make publicly available, in a searchable format, on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all uses of the authority under subsection (d), including an estimate of committed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resources and the expected benefits to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration objectives for the transaction agreement, with appropriate redactions for proprietary, sensitive, or classified information. (f) Reports (1) In general Not later than 90 days after September 30 of each fiscal year through September 30, 2023, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the use of additional transaction authority by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the previous fiscal year. (2) Contents Each report shall include— (A) for each transaction agreement in effect during the fiscal year covered by the report— (i) an indication of whether the transaction agreement is a reimbursable, non-reimbursable, or funded agreement; (ii) a description of— (I) the subject and terms; (II) the parties; (III) the responsible National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration line office; (IV) the value; (V) the extent of the cost sharing among Federal Government and non-Federal sources; (VI) the duration or schedule; and (VII) all milestones; (iii) an indication of whether the transaction agreement was renewed during the previous fiscal year; (iv) the technology areas in which research projects were conducted under that agreement; (v) the extent to which the use of that agreement— (I) has contributed to a broadening of the technology and industrial base available for meeting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration needs; and (II) has fostered within the technology and industrial base new relationships and practices that support the United States; and (vi) the total value received by the Federal Government under that agreement for that fiscal year; and (B) a list of all anticipated reimbursable, non-reimbursable, and funded transaction agreements for the upcoming fiscal year. (g) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed as limiting the authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to use cooperative research and development agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or cooperative agreements. . 7. Integration of ocean and coastal data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System (a) In general Section 301(a)(2) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8531(a)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (C) support increasing use of autonomous, mobile surface, sub-surface, and submarine vehicle ocean and fresh water sensor systems and the infrastructure necessary to share and analyze these data in real-time and feed them into predictive early warning systems. . (b) Commercial weather data; authorization of appropriations Section 302(c)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 ( 15 U.S.C. 8532(c)(3) ) is amended— (1) by striking 2017 through 2020 and inserting 2019 through 2023 ; and (2) by inserting the before National . 8. Improvements to Cooperative Observer Program of National Weather Service (a) In general The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, acting through the National Weather Service, shall improve the Cooperative Observer Program by— (1) providing support to— (A) State-coordinated programs relating to the Program; and (B) States and regions where observations provided through the Program are scarce; (2) working with State weather service headquarters to increase participation in the Program and to add stations in States and regions described in paragraph (1)(B); (3) where feasible, ensuring that data streams from stations that have been contributing data to the Program for more than 50 years are maintained and continually staffed by volunteers; (4) prioritizing the recruitment of new volunteers for the Program; (5) ensuring that opportunities exist for automated reporting to lessen the burden on volunteers to collect and report data by hand; and (6) ensuring that integrated reporting is available for qualitative observations that cannot be automated, such as drought conditions, snow observations, and hazardous weather events, to ensure that volunteers in the Program can report and upload observations quickly and easily. (b) Coordination with States and regions Not less frequently than every 180 days, the National Weather Service shall coordinate with State and regional offices with respect to the status of Cooperative Observer Program stations. (c) Coordination with Federal agencies The National Weather Service shall coordinate with other Federal agencies, including the Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the United States Geological Survey, to leverage opportunities to grow the Cooperative Observer Program network and to more effectively use existing infrastructure, weather stations, and staff of the Program. 9. Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control (a) Short title This section may be cited as the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017 . (b) References to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever in this section an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.). (c) Inter-Agency Task Force Section 603(a) ( 33 U.S.C. 4001(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (12), by striking and at the end; (2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and (3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following: (13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and . (d) Scientific assessments of freshwater harmful algal blooms Section 603 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001 ) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (f); (2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Scientific assessments of marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms Not less than once every 5 years the Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific assessment of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal waters and freshwater systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and those that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters. . (e) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program (1) Program duties Section 603A(e) ( 33 U.S.C. 4002(e) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , including to local and regional stakeholders through the establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible Internet website that provides information as to Program activities completed under this section after Program ; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (D) to accelerate the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events; ; (C) in paragraph (4), by striking and work cooperatively with and inserting , and work cooperatively to provide technical assistance to, ; and (D) in paragraph (7)— (i) by inserting and extension after existing education ; and (ii) by inserting intervention, after awareness of the causes, impacts, . (2) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities Section 603A(f) ( 33 U.S.C. 4002(f) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting , which shall include unmanned systems, after infrastructure ; (B) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this Act; and (8) develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring of hypoxia. . (f) Consultation required Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 ( 33 U.S.C. 4001a ) is amended by striking the amendments made by this title and inserting the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 . (g) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom of national significance (1) Relief (A) In general Upon a determination under paragraph (2) that there is an event of national significance, the appropriate Federal official is authorized to make sums available to the affected State or local government for the purposes of assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of the event of national significance. (B) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out under this paragraph for the purposes described in subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of that activity. (C) Donations Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an appropriate Federal official may accept donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or equipment that the appropriate Federal official considers necessary for the purposes described in subparagraph (A). Any funds donated to an appropriate Federal official under this paragraph may be expended without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation. (2) Determinations (A) In general At the discretion of an appropriate Federal official, or at the request of the Governor of an affected State, an appropriate Federal official shall determine whether a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event is an event of national significance. (B) Considerations In making a determination under subparagraph (A), the appropriate Federal official shall consider the toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the severity of the hypoxia, its potential to spread, the economic impact, the relative size in relation to the past 5 occurrences of harmful algal blooms or hypoxia events that occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and the geographic scope, including the potential to affect several municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or to cross an international boundary. (3) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Appropriate Federal official The term appropriate Federal official means— (i) in the case of a marine or coastal hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; and (ii) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (B) Event of national significance The term event of national significance means a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event that has had or will likely have a significant detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, or public health impact on an affected State. (C) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event The term hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event means the occurrence of hypoxia or a harmful algal bloom as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause. (h) Authorization of appropriations Section 609(a) ( 33 U.S.C. 4009(a) ) is amended by inserting , and $20,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 before the period at the end.

Passed the Senate December 18, 2018. Secretary