[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5089 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5089
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and
prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of
weather data, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 2, 2025
Mr. Lucas (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Babin, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Weber
of Texas, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Fleischmann, Ms. Ross, Mr. Scott Franklin of
Florida, Mrs. Foushee, Mr. Haridopolos, Mr. Whitesides, Mr. Miller of
Ohio, Mr. Amo, Mr. Rouzer, Ms. McBride, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Frost, Mrs.
McClain Delaney, and Ms. Friedman) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in
addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and
prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of
weather data, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research
and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025'' or the
``Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING
INNOVATION ACT OF 2017
Sec. 101. Public safety priority.
Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.
Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes
Experiment (VORTEX).
Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.
Sec. 105. Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization.
Sec. 106. Observing system planning.
Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.
Sec. 108. Computing resources prioritization.
Sec. 109. Earth prediction innovation center.
Sec. 110. Satellite architecture planning.
Sec. 111. Improving uncrewed activities.
Sec. 112. Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.
Sec. 113. Ocean observations.
Sec. 114. Consolidation of reports.
Sec. 115. Certain definitions under Flood Level Observation,
Operations, and Decision Support Act.
Sec. 116. Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act.
Sec. 117. Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Act of 1998.
TITLE II--ENHANCING FEDERAL WEATHER FORECASTING AND INNOVATION
Sec. 201. Weather innovation for the next generation.
Sec. 202. Next generation radar.
Sec. 203. Data voids in highly vulnerable areas of the United States.
Sec. 204. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.
Sec. 205. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement
program.
Sec. 206. Aviation weather and data innovation.
Sec. 207. NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program.
Sec. 208. Advanced weather interactive processing system.
Sec. 209. Reanalysis and reforecasting.
Sec. 210. National Weather Service workforce.
TITLE III--COMMERCIAL WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS
Sec. 301. Commercial Data Program.
Sec. 302. Commercial Data Pilot Program.
Sec. 303. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.
Sec. 304. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices.
Sec. 305. Clerical amendment.
TITLE IV--COMMUNICATING WEATHER TO THE PUBLIC
Sec. 401. Definitions.
Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.
Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.
Sec. 404. National Weather Service communications improvement.
Sec. 405. NOAA Weather Radio modernization.
Sec. 406. Post-storm surveys and assessments.
Sec. 407. Government Accountability Office report on alert
dissemination for hazardous weather or
water events.
Sec. 408. Data collection management and protection.
TITLE V--IMPROVING WEATHER INFORMATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND WATER
MANAGEMENT
Sec. 501. Weather and climate information in agriculture and water
management.
Sec. 502. National Integrated Drought Information System.
Sec. 503. National Mesonet Program.
Sec. 504. National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.
Sec. 505. National water center.
Sec. 506. Satellite transfers report.
Sec. 507. Precipitation forecast improvement program.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) In General.--In this Act, the terms ``seasonal'', ``State'',
``subseasonal'', ``Under Secretary'', ``weather enterprise'', ``weather
data'', and ``weather industry'' have the meanings given such terms in
section 2 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
(b) Weather Data Defined.--Section 2 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph:
``(5) Weather data.--The term `weather data' means
information used to track and predict weather conditions and
patterns, including forecasts, observations, and derivative
products from such information.''.
TITLE I--REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING
INNOVATION ACT OF 2017
SEC. 101. PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY.
Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended by adding at the end the following
new sentence: ``The Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration remains focused on providing accurate
and timely weather forecasts that protect lives and property and
enhance the national economy by disseminating to the public and core
partners through nimble, flexible, and mobile methods critical weather
information and impact-based decision support services.''.
SEC. 102. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING.
Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry
out this title the following:
``(1) $163,794,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which--
``(A) $91,058,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $39,491,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $21,125,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $12,120,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(2) $165,432,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which--
``(A) $91,968,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $39,866,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $21,336,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $12,241,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(3) $167,086,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which--
``(A) $92,888,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $40,285,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $21,550,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $12,364,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(4) $168,757,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which--
``(A) $93,817,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $40,688,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $21,765,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $12,487,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4) of this title.
``(5) $170,444,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which--
``(A) $94,755,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $41,094,000 is authorized for the United
States Weather Research Program;
``(C) $21,983,000 is authorized for tornado, severe
storm, and next generation radar research; and
``(D) $12,612,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
8512(b)(4) of this title.
``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out
this title or the amendments made by this title.''.
SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES
EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).
(a) In General.--Section 103 of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read
as follows:
``SEC. 103. VERIFICATION OF THE ORIGINS OF ROTATION IN TORNADOES
EXPERIMENT (VORTEX).
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a
program for rapidly improving tornado forecasts, predictions, and
warnings, including forecaster training in radar interpretation and
information integration from new sources.
``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be
to develop and extend accurate tornado forecasts, predictions, and
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to
tornadoes, with a focus on the following:
``(1) Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
``(2) Optimizing lead time and providing actionable
information beyond one hour in advance.
``(3) Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-
forecast.
``(c) Innovative Observations.--The Under Secretary shall ensure
the program under subsection (a) periodically examines, tests, and
evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as
novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or
uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts,
vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado
forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
``(d) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for
research, including relating to the following:
``(1) Implementing key goals and achieving program
milestones to the maximum extent practicable as outlined by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2019 report,
`Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan'.
``(2) In coordination with the National Science and
Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences
Subcommittee, improving the social, behavioral, risk,
communication, and economic sciences regarding vulnerabilities,
risk communication, and delivery of information critical for
reducing the loss of life or property related to tornadoes.
``(3) Improving the physical sciences, computer modeling,
and tools related to tornado formation, the impacts of
tornadoes on the built and natural environment, and the
interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes.
``(e) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section
406, shall--
``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research
necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast
guidance technology for tornadoes and related weather
phenomena;
``(2) incorporate into tornado modeling and forecasting, as
appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and
economic sciences;
``(3) enhance workforce training on radar interpretation
and use of tornado warning systems; and
``(4) expand computational resources to support higher-
resolution modeling to advance the capability for warn-on-
forecast.
``(f) Tornado Rating System.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration
with local communities and emergency managers, shall--
``(1) evaluate the system used as of the date of the
enactment of this section to rate the severity of tornadoes;
``(2) determine whether updates to such system are required
to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of
tornados; and
``(3) if determined necessary, update such system.
``(g) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended
by amending the item relating to section 103 to read as follows:
``Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes
Experiment (VORTEX).''.
SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 104. HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall maintain a
program to improve hurricane forecasting, predictions, and warnings.
``(b) Goal.--The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be
to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts, predictions, and
warnings in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to
hurricanes, with a focus on the following:
``(1) Improving the understanding and prediction of rapid
intensity change and projected path of hurricanes, including
probabilistic methods for hurricane hazard mapping.
``(2) Improving the forecast and impact-based communication
of inland flooding, compound flooding, and storm surges from
hurricanes, in coordination with the program established under
section 205 of the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025.
``(3) Incorporating social, behavioral, risk,
communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform response
to prevent the loss of life or property, such as evacuation or
shelter in place.
``(4) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate,
innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies,
observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and
hosted instruments on commercial aircrafts, vessels, and
satellites.
``(c) Activities.--The Under Secretary shall award grants for
research, including relating to the following:
``(1) Implementing key strategies and following priorities
and objectives outlined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's 2019 report `Hurricane Forecast Improvement
Program'.
``(2) In coordination with the National Science and
Technology Council's Social and Behavioral Sciences
Subcommittee and other relevant interagency committees,
improving the social, behavioral, risk, communications, and
economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk
communication, and delivery of information critical for
reducing the loss of life or property related to hurricanes.
``(3) Improving the physical sciences, operational
modeling, and tools related to hurricane formation, the impacts
of wind and water-based hurricane hazards on the built and
natural environment, and the interaction of hurricanes and
tornadoes.
``(d) Warnings.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Under
Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section
406, shall--
``(1) conduct and transition to operations the research
necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast
guidance technology relating to hurricanes and related weather
phenomena;
``(2) incorporate into hurricane modeling and forecasting,
as appropriate, social, behavioral, risk, communication, and
economic sciences research; and
``(3) expand computational resources to support and improve
higher-resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and
related weather phenomena.
``(e) Annual Budget.--The Under Secretary shall, not less
frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget
corresponding with carrying out this section.''.
SEC. 105. TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION.
(a) Title Heading.--The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (enacted
as title VIII of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-479)) is
amended, in the title heading for title VIII, by inserting
``RESEARCH,'' after ``WARNING,''.
(b) Purposes.--Section 803 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act
(33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``timeliness and''
before ``accuracy'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(3) in paragraph (8), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(9) to ensure data and metadata are managed, archived,
and made available for operations, research, education, and
mitigation activities in accordance with section 305 of the
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.''.
(c) Tsunami Forecasting and Warning Program.--Section 804 of the
Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33