1. Short title; table of contents2. Definitions (b) Weather ready all hazards award program405. National standards for weather warning systems in flash flood zones406. Post-storm surveys and assessments407. Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events408. Data collection, management, and protection 1. Short title; table of contents
(a) Short title - This Act may be cited as the "Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026".
(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 2017Sec. 101. Public safety priority.Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting.Sec. 103. Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA).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. Precipitation forecast improvement program.TITLE II—Enhancing Federal weather forecasting and innovationSec. 201. Next-generation numerical weather prediction initiative.Sec. 202. Radar Next Program.Sec. 203. Data voids in under-observed areas of the United States.Sec. 204. Radar innovation for the next generation.Sec. 205. Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program.Sec. 206. Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program.Sec. 207. Improving prevention and responses to temperature related impacts.Sec. 208. Aviation weather and data innovation.Sec. 209. Aerial snow survey program.Sec. 210. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service partnership program, transition program, and operational planning.Sec. 211. Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System.Sec. 212. Reanalysis and reforecasting.Sec. 213. National Weather Service workforce.Sec. 214. Consultation relating to modernization and reorganization.Sec. 215. Artificial intelligence for weather forecasting.Sec. 216. Composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric observations.Sec. 217. Project to improve forecasts of coastal marine fog.Sec. 218. Modernization of NWS alerting systems.TITLE III—Commercial weather and environmental observationsSec. 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 publicSec. 401. Definitions.Sec. 402. Hazardous weather or water event risk communication.Sec. 403. Hazard communication research and engagement.Sec. 404. NOAA Weather Radio.Sec. 405. National standards for weather warning systems in flash flood zones.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 managementSec. 501. Weather information for 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.TITLE VI—Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research and controlSec. 601. Amendments to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998.Sec. 602. Other harmful algal bloom and hypoxia matters.TITLE VII—Fire ready NationSec. 701. Definitions.Sec. 702. Establishment of fire weather services program.Sec. 703. Fire weather testbed.Sec. 704. Data management and technology modernization.Sec. 705. Surveys and assessments.Sec. 706. Incident Meteorologist Service.Sec. 707. Emergency response activities.Sec. 708. Submissions to Congress regarding the Fire Weather Services Program, incident meteorologist workforce needs, and National Weather Service workforce support.Sec. 709. Fire Weather Science and Technology Working Group; strategic plan.Sec. 710. Fire weather rating system.Sec. 711. Government Accountability Office reports.Sec. 712. Cooperation and coordination.Sec. 713. General provisions.Sec. 714. Authorization of appropriations.TITLE VIII—Precipitation estimates and landslide preparednessSec. 801. Inclusion of atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation events in estimates of precipitation frequency.Sec. 802. Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act.Sec. 803. Next Generation Water Observing System.Sec. 804. Water data enhancement and national groundwater resources monitoring by United States Geological Survey.TITLE IX—Improving cybersecurity and telecommunications for oceanic researchSec. 901. Definitions.Sec. 902. Plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications of U.S. Academic Research Fleet.TITLE X—Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2026Sec. 1001. Short title.Sec. 1002. Purposes.Sec. 1003. Definitions.Sec. 1004. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System.Sec. 1005. Report to Congress.Sec. 1006. Authorization of appropriations.Sec. 1007. Conforming amendments.TITLE XI—Other authoritiesSec. 1101. Relocation allowances.Sec. 1102. Unfunded priorities list, reports, and plans.Sec. 1103. Meteorological observations in the Arctic region.Sec. 1104. Transfer of excess property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Sec. 1105. Miscellaneous authorities.
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:
(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.
IReauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017101.Section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8511) is amended to read as follows:101.(a)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, including by—(1)coordinating and modernizing observational infrastructure, weather forecasting systems, communications, and impact-based decision support services; and(2)improving operational weather forecasts, products, and services.(b)In conducting research, the Under Secretary shall prioritize improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and warnings and support transition of advancements into operational forecasting and services, for the protection of life and property and for the enhancement of the national economy..102.United States weather research and forecastingSection 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)Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title the following:(1)$166,736,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which—(A)$94,000,000 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)$168,403,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which—(A)$94,940,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;(B)$39,886,000 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)$170,089,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which—(A)$95,890,000 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)$171,789,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which—(A)$96,849,000 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)$173,506,000 for fiscal year 2031, of which—(A)$97,817,000 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 102(b)(4) of this title.(b)No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title or the amendments made by this title..103.Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA)(a)Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended to read as follows:103.Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment–United States of America (VORTEX–USA)(a)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.(b)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)Forecaster training in radar interpretation and information integration from new sources.(2)Improving the effectiveness and timeliness of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including with respect to—(A)tornado formation from fast-developing storm systems, such as derechos;(B)areas that have historically experienced lower tornado frequency; and(C)tornado formation at night.(3)Optimizing lead time and providing actionable information beyond one hour in advance.(4)Transitioning from warn-on-detection to warn-on-forecast.(c)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 aircraft, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.(d)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 entitled, Tornado Warning Improvement and Extension Program Plan
.(2)In coordination with the Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council, improving the social, behavioral and economic sciences regarding 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)(1)In awarding grants under subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall give priority to eligible institutions selected through a competitive, merit-based process.(2)Eligible institution definedIn this subsection, the term eligible institution means any of the following:(A)An institution that is frequently subjected to severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, or floods.(B)An institution of higher education in close proximity to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.(f)In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 403(a) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, 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.(g)The Under Secretary, in collaboration with local communities and emergency managers, shall—(1)evaluate the system used as of the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 to rate the severity of tornadoes;(2)determine whether updates to such system are required to ensure such ratings accurately reflect the severity of tornadoes; and(3)if determined necessary, update such system.(h)The Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for activities to carry out this section in that fiscal year.(i)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this section $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, of which not less than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for grants awarded to institutions under subsection (e)..(b)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–United States of America (VORTEX–USA)..104.Hurricane forecast improvement programSection 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514) is amended to read as follows:104.Hurricane forecast improvement program(a)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)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, prediction, and communication 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 206 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026.(3)Incorporating social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences to clearly inform response to prevent the loss of life or property.(4)Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations, including acoustic or infrasonic measurements, novel sensor technologies, observation tools or networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircraft, vessels, and satellites.(c)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 entitled, Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program
.(2)In coordination with the Social and Behavioral Sciences Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council and other relevant interagency committees, improving the social, behavioral, and economic sciences related to 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)In carrying out subsection (a), the Under Secretary, in coordination with the program established under section 403(a) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, 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, and economic sciences research; and(3)expand computational resources to support and improve higher resolution operational modeling of hurricanes and related weather phenomena.(e)Not later than June 1 of each year until 2030, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes the following:(1)The number and causes of missed mission requirements for the National Hurricane Operations Plan and the National Winter Season Operations Plan, including those related to equipment malfunction, aircraft availability, aircraft maintenance, flight hour limits, and availability of pilots or other air and maintenance crew members.(2)Requirements related to the plans described in paragraph (1) that were requested by forecasters but not tasked, and the reasons why those were not tasked.(3)A workforce management plan addressing any shortfalls in human capital resources that are necessary for hurricane observational data collection aboard aircraft or uncrewed systems.(4)A summary of—(A)hurricane technology that is under research and development to improve confidence in hurricane track and intensity predictions;(B)hurricane technology that is at the prototype demonstration stage or beyond; and(C)plans for transitioning the hurricane technology described in subparagraph (B) into operations.(f)The Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for activities to carry out this section in that fiscal year..105.Tsunami Warning and Education Act reauthorization(a)Title heading; definitions(1)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
.(2)Section 802 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201) is amended by adding at the end the following:(3)The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).(4)The term Native Hawaiian organization has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.(5)The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.(6)The term tsunami means a series of waves that is caused by a tsunamigenic event.(7)The term tsunamigenic event means any event, such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, submarine landslide, coastal rockfall, or other event, with the magnitude to cause a tsunami.. (b)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)by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:(8)to improve coordination for detection, warnings, and outreach for tsunami and other coastal impacts with Federal, State, and international partners, and Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations; and;(4)by adding at the end the following:(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 programSection 804 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203) is amended—(1)in subsection (a), by striking the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and for the Atlantic Ocean region, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico
and inserting the United States and its territories
;(2)in subsection (b)—(A)in paragraph (1), by striking subsection (d)
and inserting subsection (e)
;(B)in paragraph (2), by inserting , or a successor system,
after buoy array
; (C)in paragraph (4), by inserting , using industry and scientific best practices,
after operational condition
; (D)in paragraph (5)—(i)in subparagraph (C), by striking global seismic network
and inserting Global Seismic Network
;(ii)by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) and subparagraph (G) as subparagraphs (E) through (G) and subparagraph (I), respectively; (iii)by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:(D)the global navigation satellite system network;;(iv)in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon; and(v)by inserting after subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, the following:(H)tidal gauges, water level gauges, and buoys; and;(E)by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:(6)ensure data quality and management systems support data and metadata access and archiving;;(F)in paragraph (7)—(i)by amending the matter preceding subparagraph (A) to read as follows: include a cooperative effort among the Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation under which the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall—
;(ii)in subparagraph (A), by striking and
at the end; (iii)by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:(B)support operators of seismic stations installed before the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 that supplement coverage areas of sparse instrumentation, with a focus on the most seismically active States and on stations with multi-State benefits;; and(iv)by adding at the end the following:(C)provide support for the global navigation satellite system network data streams from such agencies, and supplement instrumentation coverage for rapid earthquake assessment; and(D)assess the data and information of such agencies for potential use in the Administration's warning system;;(G)by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (10) as paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively;(H)by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:(8)include a cooperative effort between the Administration and the United States Geological Survey to assess additional methods of rapid delivery for tsunami notifications and warnings, including via the Earthquake Early Warning System of the United States Geological Survey;;(I)in paragraph (9), as so redesignated—(i)by striking graphical warning products, to at-risk States, territories, and tsunami communities
and inserting graphical warning products and decision support tools, to communities at risk of tsunami
; and(ii)by striking utilization
and inserting use
; (J)in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by striking and
after the semicolon;(K)in paragraph (11), as so redesignated, by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and (L)by adding at the end the following:“(12)update inundation maps, models, or other geographic products, in order to best support, as appropriate, relevant agencies with tsunami mitigation and recovery activities.”;(3)in subsection (c)—(A)by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and(B)by amending paragraph (1), as so redesignated, to read as follows:(1)is capable of forecasting and providing adequate warnings, including tsunami arrival time, alert levels, and inundation models where applicable, for the United States and its territories; and;(4)by redesignating subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) as subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h), respectively;(5)by inserting after subsection (c) the following:(d)Tsunami warning alert level evaluationNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Administrator, in collaboration with social scientists, Federal, State, and local emergency personnel, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and high-risk communities, shall—(1)evaluate tsunami alert levels terminology, timing, and effectiveness;(2)determine if such alerts produce the desired response and understanding from possible tsunami-prone communities; (3)if necessary, update the alert level system for increased effectiveness; and(4)provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the activities under this subsection.;(6)in subsection (e), as so redesignated—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Centers shall
and inserting centers shall
; (ii)in subparagraph (A), by striking , which is primarily responsible for Alaska and the continental United States
; and(iii)in subparagraph (B), by striking , which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not covered by the National Center
;(B)in paragraph (2)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by inserting current, surface and ground water level,
after sea level,
;(ii)by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:(B)Evaluating tsunamigenic sources.;(iii)in subparagraph (C), by striking buoy data and tidal
and inserting and coastal
;(iv)in subparagraph (E), by striking Integrated Ocean Observing System of the Administration
and inserting United States and global ocean and coastal observing systems
;(v)in subparagraph (F), by striking Federal, State, tribal, and local government officials
and inserting Federal, State, and local government officials, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
;(vi)by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) and subparagraphs (I) and (J) as subparagraphs (H) and (I) and subparagraphs (K) and (L), respectively; (vii)by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:(G)Providing a Tsunami Warning Coordinator at each center supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to coordinate with partners and stakeholders on products and services provided by each such center.;(viii)in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by inserting monitoring needs,
after response,
; (ix)by inserting after subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, the following:(J)Updating, as appropriate, forecast points, breakpoints, and special procedure areas.; and(x)by adding at the end the following:(M)Conducting, not less than annually, a tsunami warning drill with Federal, State, and local emergency managers, and emergency managers of Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.;(C)by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:(3)Fail-safe warning capability(A)The Administrator shall support and maintain fail-safe warning capability for the tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1).(B)Not less than biannually, such centers shall conduct a service back-up drill to ensure they are able to perform back-up duties for each other.;(D)in paragraph (4)—(i)by amending the matter preceding subparagraph (A) to read as follows: The Administrator shall coordinate with the weather forecast offices of the National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such national and regional program offices of the Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating committee, as established in section 805(b), consider appropriate to ensure that regional and local weather forecast offices—
;(ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking and
after the semicolon;(iii)in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ; and
; and(iv)by adding at the end the following:(D)conduct education and outreach efforts to help prepare coastal communities for tsunami hazards.;(E)in paragraph (5)—(i)in the paragraph heading, by striking Uniform
and inserting Standardized
;(ii)in subparagraph (B), by redesignating clauses (i) through (iii) as subclauses (I) through (III), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;(iii)in subparagraph (C), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;(iv)by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;(v)by striking The Administrator
and inserting the following:(A)The Administrator;(vi)in clause (i), as so redesignated, by striking uniform
and inserting standardized
; (vii)in clause (iii)(II), as so redesignated, by striking uniform
and inserting standardized
;(viii)in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon; (ix)in clause (v), as so redesignated, by striking the period and inserting ; and
;(x)by adding after clause (v), as so redesignated, the following:(vi)align the analytic techniques and methodologies of the existing tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to ensure continuity of operations and mitigate risk of operational failure by prioritizing investments that include—(I)replacing end of life equipment;(II)ensuring product consistency;(III)enabling consistent operational process for backup capabilities;(IV)mitigating existing operational security risks; and(V)meeting information security requirements specified in chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.; and(xi)by adding at the end the following:(B)Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall allow for regional differences with respect to the communication methods and decision support tools used by the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) in order to account for the unique needs of the community served by such centers, provided such regional differences do not undermine performance.;(F)in paragraph (6), in the first sentence, by inserting , including personnel,
after resources
; and(G)by adding at the end the following:(7)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Administrator shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the progress and expected timelines of the following:(A)Standardizing products and procedures under paragraph (5), including tsunami assessments, forecast guidance, and related products.(B)Migrating the message generation systems of the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or successor systems.(C)Any structural reorganization efforts as may be necessary following the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026.(D)Such centers conducting drills required under paragraphs (2)(M) and (3)(B).;(7)in subsection (f), as so redesignated—(A)in paragraph (1)—(i)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting detect, measure, and
after used to
;(ii)in subparagraph (B), by striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon;(iii)in subparagraph (C)—(I)by striking and the Advanced National Seismic System;
and inserting the Advanced National Seismic System, and the global navigation satellite system;
; and(II)by adding and
after the semicolon; and(iv)by adding at the end the following:(D)by ensuring research is coordinated with tsunami warning operations;; and(8)in subsection (h)(2), as so redesignated—(A)in subparagraph (A), by striking accuracy of the tsunami model used
and inserting accuracy and timeliness of the tsunami model and forecast used
; and(B)in subparagraph (C)—(i)by inserting and timeliness
after effectiveness
; and(ii)by striking local, and tribal partners
and inserting and local partners, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations
.(d)Assessment of tsunami watches and warnings(1)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 by inserting after section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203) the following:804A.Assessment of tsunami watches and warnings(a)Assessment of tsunami watches and warnings(1)Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall—(A)conduct an assessment of—(i)the tsunami watches and warnings of the National Weather Service; and(ii)the information delivery to support preparation and responses to tsunamis; and(B)submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the findings of the Under Secretary with respect to the assessment required by subparagraph (A).(2)The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:(A)An evaluation of whether the watches, warnings, and information described in paragraph (1)(A) effectively—(i)communicate risk to the general public;(ii)inform action to prevent loss of life and property;(iii)inform action to support tsunami preparation and response; and(iv)deliver information in a manner designed to lead to appropriate action.(B)Subject to subsection (b)(2), such recommendations as the Under Secretary may have for—(i)legislative and administrative action to improve the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and(ii)such research as the Under Secretary considers necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph (3).(3)The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following areas:(A)Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous tsunami events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision making regarding the mitigation of those risks.(B)Ways to provide actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for tsunami, including partnering with emergency response agencies, as appropriate.(C)Evaluation of information delivery to support the preparation for and response to tsunamis.(4)In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall consult with—(A)individuals in the academic sector, including individuals in the fields of social and behavioral sciences;(B)other weather services;(C)media outlets and other entities that distribute the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i);(D)emergency planners and responders, including State, local, and Tribal emergency management agencies; and(E)other government users of the watches and warnings described in paragraph (1)(A)(i), including the Federal Highway Administration.(5)In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall use such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, including methodologies of the fields of social and behavioral sciences.(b)Improvements to tsunami watches and warnings(1)Based on the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary shall make such improvements to the watches and warnings described in that subsection as the Under Secretary considers necessary—(A)to improve the communication of the risks posed by tsunami events; and(B)to provide specific and actionable geographic information to the recipient of a watch or warning for a tsunami.(2)Requirements regarding recommendationsIn conducting the assessment required by subsection (a)(1)(A), the Under Secretary shall ensure that any recommendation under subsection (a)(2)(B) that the Under Secretary considers a major change—(A)is validated by social and behavioral science using a generalizable sample;(B)accounts for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;(C)responds to the needs of Federal, State, local, and Tribal government partners and media partners; and(D)accounts for necessary changes to federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure and protocols..(2)The table of contents for 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 by inserting after the item relating to section 804 the following:Sec. 804A. Assessment of tsunami watches and warnings..(e)National tsunami hazard mitigation programSection 805 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3204) is amended—(1)in subsection (b)—(A)in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—(i)by inserting and maintain
after establish
each place it appears; and(ii)by striking Federal, State, local, and tribal government officials
and inserting Federal, State, local, and Tribal government officials and representatives of Native Hawaiian organizations
; and(B)in paragraph (3), by inserting before the semicolon , such as vertical evacuation structures, sirens, and other potentially life-saving measures to ensure that communities designated as TsunamiReady have sufficient tsunami response options
; (2)in subsection (c)—(A)in paragraph (1), by striking tribes,
and inserting Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
; (B)in paragraph (4), by striking tribal, and local governments
and inserting and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
;(C)in paragraph (5)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking in the region, including paleotsunami data
and inserting and tsunamigenic events in the region
; (ii)by redesignating subparagraph (B) and subparagraphs (C) through (G) as subparagraph (C) and subparagraphs (E) through (I), respectively;(iii)by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:(B)Coastal digital elevation models to support the development of inundation maps.; (iv)by inserting after subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, the following:(D)Probabilistic tsunami hazard analysis maps.; and(v)by adding at the end the following:(J)Evaluation of the variation of inundation impact resulting from tsunami-driven sediment transport.(K)Evaluation of tsunami debris impact on critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c)) and lifelines.(L)High-resolution and high-quality digital elevation models needed for at-risk waterways, ports, and harbors, particularly for regions with outdated or low-quality data, not covered by existing inundation maps, or identified as a priority by the Administrator.;(D)in paragraph (7)—(i)in subparagraph (C), by inserting and behavioral
after social
; and(ii)by adding at the end the following:(E)The development and regular maintenance of a user-friendly repository of inundation and evacuation maps and evacuation mapping guidelines for States, local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations on the website of the program conducted under subsection (a).(F)Coordination with tsunami-prone, rural communities to enhance emergency planning and response efforts, including through the TsunamiReady program.; and(E)in paragraph (8)(A)—(i)by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (iii) and (iv), respectively; and(ii)by inserting after clause (i) the following:(ii)tsunami source parameters;; (3)in subsection (d)—(A)in paragraph (3), by striking tribal
and inserting Tribal
; and(B)in paragraph (6), by striking tribal, and territorial governments and agencies,
and inserting and territorial governments and agencies, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
; and(4)in subsection (e), by striking tribes,
and inserting Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations,
.(f)Section 806 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking State, tribal, and territorial governments, and academic institutions
and inserting State and territorial governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and academic institutions (including Tribal Colleges or Universities)
;(B)by striking section 805(d)
and inserting section 805(b)
; and(C)by inserting and management
after data collection
;(2)in subsection (b)—(A)in paragraph (1), by inserting deployment and
after may include
;(B)in paragraph (3), by striking social science research
and inserting social and behavioral science research
;(C)in paragraph (4), by striking and
after the semicolon;(D)by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and(E)by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:(5)develop and maintain a data portal for advancing research and model development;(6)develop decision support tools; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(c)Research and development planNot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than every 3 years thereafter until 2036, the Administrator, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, shall develop a research and development and research to operations plan to improve tsunami detection and forecasting capabilities that—(1)identifies and prioritizes research and development priorities to satisfy section 804;(2)identifies key research needs for better detecting and forecasting tsunamis impacting the United States and its territories;(3)develops plans for transitioning research to operations; and(4)identifies collaboration opportunities that may advance and align tsunami research, development, warnings, and operations between the centers supported or maintained under section 804, the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for Tsunami Research, the National Science Foundation, the United States Geological Survey, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, institutions of higher education, private entities and other appropriate stakeholders..(g)Global tsunami warning and mitigation networkSection 807 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended—(1)in subsection (b)—(A)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking Pacific Ocean nations participating in the International Tsunami Warning System of the Pacific,
and inserting Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea nations participating in the International Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System,
;(B)in paragraph (2), by striking national warning systems, and make information
and inserting , maintaining, and strengthening the capacities of their national warning systems, by making information
;(C)by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; (D)by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:(3)provide decision support services and improve preparedness and tsunami readiness through exercises and drills, outreach, training, and capacity development of national tsunami warning centers and disaster and emergency management agencies;;(E)in paragraph (4), as so redesignated—(i)by striking maintain a library of materials
and inserting serve as an information source
; and(ii)by striking tsunami in general
and inserting tsunamis and tsunami hazard-related risks to the public
; and(F)in paragraph (5), as so redesignated, by inserting , tools,
after materials
; and(2)in subsection (d), by inserting and management
after data sharing
.(h)Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory PanelSection 808 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3206a) is amended—(1)in subsection (b)(1), by inserting and behavioral
after social
; and(2)by adding at the end the following:(e)The Panel shall terminate not later than 6 years after the date of the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026..(i)Annual notifications; government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes(1)The Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.) is amended—(A)by redesignating section 809 as section 811; and(B)by inserting after section 808 the following:809.Not later than September 30 of each fiscal year until fiscal year 2031, the Administrator shall provide the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a notification with an accounting of funds spent in such fiscal year for the programs authorized under this title, that includes—(1)the amount of funds allocated for the tsunami hazard mitigation program under section 805; and(2)the amount of funds allocated for the tsunami research program under section 806.810.Government-to-government consultation with Indian TribesThe Administrator shall conduct government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes in implementing this title. .(2)Table of contents amendmentThe table of contents in section 1(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–479; 120 Stat. 3575) is amended by striking the item relating to section 809 and inserting the following:Sec. 809. Annual notifications.Sec. 810. Government-to-government consultation with Indian Tribes.Sec. 811. Authorization of appropriations..(j)Authorization of appropriationsSection 811 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, as so redesignated, is amended to read as follows: 811.Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this title $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, of which—(1)not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the State level under the national tsunami hazard mitigation program under section 805; and(2)not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated shall be for the tsunami research program under section 806..(k)Use of IPAWS to deliver tsunami alerts(1)The Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission, shall clarify and document the responsibilities and decision-making processes of the Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Communications Commission with respect to the use of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System to deliver tsunami alerts to the Emergency Alert System and the Wireless Emergency Alerts system.(2)Memorandum of understandingNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall—(A)update its memorandum of understanding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Communications Commission to reflect the responsibilities and processes clarified under paragraph (1); and (B)provide the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate with a copy of such updated memorandum of understanding.(l)Outreach responsibilitiesSection 511 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (33 U.S.C. 3208) is amended—(1)in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting and Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations (for purposes of this section, as such terms are defined in section 802 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201))
after managers
; (2)in paragraph (1), by striking 804(d)
and inserting 804(e)
; and(3)in paragraph (1), by striking and emergency managers
and inserting , emergency managers, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations
.(m)Report on certain tsunami threats(1) In this subsection:(A)The term covered event means a tsunami or combined earthquake and tsunami event that impacts the United States.(B)The term critical infrastructure has the meaning given such term in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c).(2)(A)Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, in consultation with the entities described in paragraph (3), shall produce a report on how the United States should prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from each of the following types of covered events:(i)A covered event in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.(ii)A covered event that impacts Alaska, including in the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone.(iii)A covered event in the Kuril-Kamchatka Subduction Zone.(B)The report under this paragraph shall, with respect to each type of covered event described in subparagraph (A), include each of the following:(i)A description of a command structure plan, including the roles of Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations during and following the covered event.(ii)A description of how Federal departments and agencies can improve coordination to enhance the ability to prepare and plan for, mitigate against, provide warning of, respond to, and recover from the covered event.(iii)A strategy to ensure collaboration between relevant Federal departments and agencies for purposes of—(I)completing a risk assessment of Federal facilities to identify such facilities that may need improvements to withstand the covered event; and(II)developing a strategic plan to—- (aa)support mitigation efforts for and retrofitting of Federal, State, local, and Tribal critical infrastructure; and
- (bb)help save lives during and immediately after the covered event.
(iv)A strategy to improve Federal guidance and assistance to State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations in developing and implementing comprehensive plans to develop the ability to prepare and plan for, mitigate against, provide warning of, respond to, and recover from the covered event.(v)If the covered event is large scale, an interagency search and rescue strategy for such covered event, which strategy shall include—(I)a command structure plan, including the roles of Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations if such command structure would differ from the structure under clause (i);(II)the sources of personnel and assets that can be utilized to support search and rescue efforts;(III)an estimation of the required personnel and assets and an identification of any gaps in personnel and assets; and(IV)an identification of and a strategy to address the vulnerabilities of existing infrastructure that will be necessary for search and rescue efforts.(vi)A strategy for addressing the impacts of the covered event to critical infrastructure, including the responsibilities of Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and private entities.(vii)Recommendations on how Federal departments and agencies can develop a mitigation strategy, including providing financial assistance to State, local, and Tribal operators, for any infrastructure that provides information to support or issue warnings for the covered event.(viii)Recommendations on administrative or legislative changes required to implement the report for the covered event. (C)Not later than 1 month after completing the report under this paragraph, the Comptroller General shall make such report available to the public.(3)The entities described in this paragraph are—(A)the Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the United States Geological Survey, the National Guard Bureau, the Coast Guard, the United States Transportation Command, the Department of Transportation, and other Federal departments and agencies as determined appropriate by the Comptroller General;(B)the States of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington;(C)the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;(D)Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations;(E)local governments;(F)institutions of higher education and other research institutions with relevant expertise; and(G)private sector representatives that may be impacted by the applicable type of covered event described in paragraph (2)(A).(4)Not later than 1 year after the completion of the report required under paragraph (2), the Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall, in consultation with the National Guard Bureau, the Coast Guard, the United States Transportation Command, the United States Geological Survey, the Department of Transportation, and other Federal departments and agencies as determined appropriate, provide the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a written strategy and briefing on how the relevant Federal departments and agencies will implement such report within their respective statutory authorities for each type of covered event described in paragraph (2)(A).(n)In this section, the terms Administration, Administrator, Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian organization, Tribal organization, and tsunami have the meanings given such terms in section 802 of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3201).106.Observing system planningSection 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended—(1)in paragraph (3)—(A)by inserting Federal
before observing capabilities
; and(B)by striking and
after the semicolon;(2)in paragraph (4)—(A)by inserting , including private sector partnerships or commercial acquisition,
after options
; and(B)by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(5)compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit analysis, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and(6)not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, submit to Congress a report that provides an analysis of the technical requirements, schedule, and cost to place an operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite capability in the early morning orbit to support the weather enterprise and the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a cost-benefit analysis of such placement..107.Observing system simulation experimentsSection 107 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8517) is amended—(1)in subsection (b)(3), by striking providing data
and inserting comparison to current or experimental commercial system capabilities that provide data
;(2)in subsection (c)(1), by striking , including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems,
;(3)by striking subsection (d); and(4)by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).108.Computing resources prioritization(a)Computing research initiativeSection 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended by striking subsection (a)(3)(C) and all that follows through subsection (b)(7) and inserting the following:(b)Artificial intelligence investments(1)The Under Secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to facilitate, optimize, and further leverage advanced computing to accomplish critical missions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(2)The Under Secretary shall include computing requirements needed to support technologies specified in paragraph (1) as part of major acquisitions of high-performance computing systems or cloud computing services for research, testing and evaluation, and operations.(c)(1)The Under Secretary may expand, and where applicable establish through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, centers of excellence to aid the adoption of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled advanced computing capabilities.(2)Each center expanded or established under paragraph (1) may carry out activities that include the following:(A)Leveraging public-private partnerships for infrastructure development training and workforce development.(B)Developing and optimizing tools, libraries, algorithms, data structures, and other supporting software necessary for specific applications on high-performance computing systems.(C)Applying modern artificial intelligence, deep machine learning, and advanced data analysis technologies to address current and emerging challenges.(D)To the maximum extent practicable, exploring quantum computing and related partnerships with public, private, and academic entities to improve the accuracy and resolution of weather predictions.(d)In carrying out activities under this section, the Under Secretary shall prevent unnecessary duplication and coordinate research efforts across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and leverage coordinating activities managed by the National Science and Technology Council, the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, and other relevant interagency entities.(e)The activities authorized under this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117–167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.)..(b)Strategic plan on high-Performance computing and data management needs(1)The Under Secretary shall make publicly available not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and update every 5 years thereafter until 2037, a 5-year strategic plan that outlines the high-performance computing and data management requirements and needs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and actions and strategies to address those requirements and needs.(2)At a minimum, the strategic plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:(A)A 5-year prospective outlook of computing resources and upgrades needed to meet the mission needs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fisheries management, oceanographic forecasting, and ecological forecasting.(B)An identification of—(i)computing and processing resources of the Administration and a 5-year projected need for such resources, disaggregated by line office of the Administration;(ii)facilities, commercial contracts, and partnerships (with other Federal departments and agencies or other institutions or entities) of the Administration that are providing computing and data management support or capacity as of the date of the plan;(iii)the use by the Administration of cloud computing and other emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning;(iv)additional technologies that have the potential to increase effectiveness and efficiency for data storage and processing power, including challenges to access and use of those technologies;(v)the distribution of computing resources among the operations and research functions of the Administration;(vi)products and services of the Administration that have not become available to the public because of a lack of computing resources;(vii)current and future workforce development needs of the Administration, such as information technology and software engineering needs; and(viii)the high-performance computing requirements of the Administration, with a special focus on requirements that are common across line offices of the Administration.(C)Timelines and performance measures for assessing progress toward attaining goals for—(i)computing infrastructure and architecture of the Administration (including facilities, hardware, and software); and(ii)use by the Administration of technologies that will increase effectiveness and efficiency for data storage and processing power, including challenges to access and use of such technologies.(D)A 5-year life cycle analysis of the management of facilities, hardware, and engineering involved in the strategic plan that includes—(i)program formulation for project conception, implementation, and closure; and(ii)technical infrastructure, products, processes, data, and personnel resources required to achieve defined cost, schedule, and performance objectives.(E)If appropriate, a description of actions taken to implement the previous plan.(3)In developing the strategic plan required by paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall invite comments and other feedback from the public through a notice in the Federal Register to inform the strategic plan.(4)(A)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 2035, the Under Secretary shall brief Congress on the progress made toward the objectives of the strategic plan required by paragraph (1).(B)Each briefing required by subparagraph (A) shall include the following:(i)An evaluation of the progress made in implementing the strategic plan.(ii)Such updates to the strategic plan as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.109.Earth Prediction Innovation CenterSection 102(b)(5) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(5)) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (D), by striking and
after the semicolon; and(2)by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following:(E)developing community weather research modeling systems that—(i)are accessible by the public in accordance with section 10601 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (15 U.S.C. 8512a) and available for archive and long-term study;(ii)meet basic end-user requirements for running on public computers and networks located outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information and technology systems;(iii)utilize, whenever appropriate and cost effective, innovative strategies and methods, including cloud-based computing capabilities, for hosting and management of part or all of the systems described in this subparagraph;(iv)utilize modeling systems that allow for interoperability with new model components, modules, and next-generation software and coding languages;(v)allow for open testing and integration of promising operational model improvements from the broader community;(vi)access on as close to a real-time basis as possible operational data and metadata, including commercially purchased data for use in the model testing conducted by the Earth Prediction Innovation Center pursuant to redistribution restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable laws (including regulations) that were in effect on the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026; and(vii)provide supported and portable versions of the unified forecast system, including applications for fire weather, subseasonal to seasonal forecasting, hurricane, space weather, ocean, cryosphere, air quality, and coastal models, that can reproduce current operational global and regional model prediction; and(F)establishing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Data Lake, to be maintained by the Administration, a commercial partner, or non-profit entity, that consolidates and maintains a publicly available and continuously updated collection of data and metadata used in numerical weather prediction for use in the Earth Prediction Innovation Center’s model testing, pursuant to redistribution restrictions, licensing agreements, and applicable laws (including regulations) that were in effect on the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026..110.Satellite architecture planning(a)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite systems and dataSection 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended—(1)in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) as paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively;(2)by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:(b)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite systems and data(1)It is the sense of Congress that—(A)Congress reaffirms the prohibition barring any effort to lease, sell, or transfer to the private sector or commercialize any portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of Commerce, or any successor agency, as set forth in section 60161 of title 51, United States Code; and(B)the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should implement a robust satellite architecture designed with the goal of ensuring that at least 2 failures of space-based operational systems would be required before a data gap occurs.(2)The Under Secretary shall acquire and maintain space-based observation capabilities of the Administration that provide critical operations-focused data and information to support the mission of the Administration in order to protect lives and property and safeguard the economy of the United States.(3)(A)In carrying out paragraph (2), the Under Secretary shall ensure government capacity for satellite command and control and data transmission and processing. (B)This paragraph shall not be construed to limit the Under Secretary from using contractor-operated functions, commercial services, or other nongovernmental capabilities for satellite command and control and data transmission and processing.(4)(A)The Under Secretary shall ensure continuity of space-based observations and implement, as appropriate, recommendations from the NOAA Observing Systems Council, or a successor entity, to ensure an appropriate mix of government, academic, commercial sector, and international partnerships, including a broadened effort on data acquisition through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 when cost effective and beneficial to the Administration.(B)(i)Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Under Secretary shall study and report to Congress on varying acquisition models, including government-owned assets, contractor operated functions, and data-as-a-service models, for future space-based observing capabilities. (ii)The report under clause (i) shall assess the relative costs, benefits, short- and long-term operational risks, resilience, and mission impacts of each model.(5)The Under Secretary shall ensure that platforms acquired and maintained under paragraph (2) prioritize the development of products and services that are tailored to meet the Administration’s mission and have sufficient Federal personnel to manage and operate the platforms and associated infrastructure.(6)The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Centers for Environmental Information, or a successor entity, to provide a long-term archive and access to the national and global data and metadata of the Administration..(3)in subsection (c) by adding at the end the following:(3)Geostationary extended observation(A)The Under Secretary shall develop and maintain geostationary extended observations with the next generation geostationary orbit satellite systems, known as GeoXO, that—(i)retain continuity of data collected from geostationary orbit, with data quality standards meeting or exceeding those of the GOES–R program;(ii)advance core weather-monitoring capabilities, while ensuring imaging and sounding remain core instruments on all satellites to ensure full coverage of the continental United States; and(iii)launch a first satellite not later than 2032.(B)Mission architecture and implementation plan(i)Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a revised mission architecture and implementation plan, including component costs, costs associated with terminating or altering current mission architecture, and a planned launch schedule.(ii)Appropriate committees of Congress definedIn this subparagraph, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—(I)the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and(II)the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.;(4)in subsection (d)(3), by striking 2030
and inserting 2035
; and(5)by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:(f)(1) Not later than 90 days after September 30 of each fiscal year through September 30, 2035, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on—(A)the use of additional transaction authority by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the previous fiscal year; and(B)the partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for current and planned government-owned, space-based observing systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(2)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;(B)a list of all anticipated reimbursable, non-reimbursable, and funded transaction agreements for the upcoming fiscal year; and(C)for the partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for current and planned government-owned, space-based observing systems of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—(i)a description of any actions taken or planned to reduce costs and improve the schedule performance and timely delivery of satellite observing systems;(ii)a description of any new, renewed, or planned modifications to the management agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for the upcoming fiscal year; and(iii)for each current or planned program, project, or activity carried out jointly with, or through, such partnership—(I)a description of the program, project, or activity and the respective roles and responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;(II)the total amount of funds obligated or transferred by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the fiscal year covered by the report, separately identifying—- (aa)amounts attributable to the direct costs of the program, project, or activity; and
- (bb)administrative, management, institutional, overhead, and other indirect costs assessed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(III)the performance of the program, project, or activity against applicable cost, schedule, technical, and performance milestones; and(iv)the goals and objectives for the partnership, such as—(I)improving the coordination between the two agencies;(II)eliminating unnecessary duplication of activities;(III)considering the transition of research observations and instrumentation to operations; and(IV)ensuring the continuity of relevant satellite observations..(b)Revision of satellite anomaly notification policy(1)Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall, in consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, revise and submit to such committees the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service Satellite and Product Anomaly Reporting Policy to improve congressional notification regarding satellite operational anomalies, including—(A)the permanent loss of critical mission data;(B)a reduction in the expected mission lifetime of a spacecraft or instrument;(C)a switchover to a backup system due to the permanent loss of a primary spacecraft or sensor system; and(D)any other issue that results in the loss of critical mission data for more than 24 hours.(2)In this subsection:(A)Appropriate congressional committeesThe term appropriate congressional committees means—(i)the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and(ii)the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.(B)The term critical mission data has the meaning given such term in the most recently published Satellite and Product Anomaly Reporting Policy of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service as of the date of enactment of this Act.111.Improving uncrewed activities(a)Section 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)) is amended—(1)in subparagraph (B), by striking aerial
and inserting crewed and uncrewed aerial and surface
; and(2)in subparagraph (G), by striking , including commercial observing systems
and inserting , including stationary and mobile commercial observing systems, such as uncrewed aircraft and marine systems, to provide observations of the atmosphere and ocean, and other observations, in cooperation with the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
.(b)Use of uncrewed aerial systemsSection 102 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512) is further amended—(1)by striking subsection (d);(2)by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and(3)by inserting after subsection (b) the following:(c)Use of uncrewed aerial systems(1)In carrying out the program under this section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, whenever practical, shall use uncrewed aerial systems to assess damage and assist recovery after an extreme weather or water event.(2)In carrying out the program under this section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations may acquire uncrewed aerial systems and training resources for the regional offices and partners of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the use and deployment of those systems in storm assessments and response.(3)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate regarding compliance with subtitle B of title XVIII of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 in carrying out paragraph (1)..112.Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services(a)Section 402 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8542) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)—(A)by striking Interagency Committee for Advancing Weather Services
and inserting Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services (in this section referred to as the Interagency Council
)
; and(B)by striking Committee
and inserting Council
;(2)by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:(b)Co-Chairs; Federal CoordinatorThe Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Under Secretary shall serve as co-chairs of the Interagency Council. The Under Secretary shall serve as the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.(c)The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall take such steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with stakeholders in the United States weather industry, academic partners, State governments, and emergency managers.; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(d)The Interagency Council shall be the formal mechanism by which all relevant Federal departments and agencies coordinate implementation of policy and practices to ensure United States global leadership in meteorological services. In doing so, the Interagency Council shall review programs and support relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities, as well as other related implementation activities, related to Federal meteorological services, including by carrying out the following:(1)Identifying and helping prioritize meteorological research and service delivery needs, including relating to observations, operational systems, communications, and infrastructure.(2)Providing recommendations to streamline or consolidate activities and develop greater efficiencies in cross-agency activities.(3)Leveraging Earth system science research outcomes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including research outcomes related to the relevant recommended key science and applications questions and priorities in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 2018 report Thriving on Our Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for Earth Observation from Space
, to understand and predict high-impact weather phenomena.(4)Facilitating the expansion and strengthening of partnerships with private sector entities to advance meteorological research, communications, and computing, including by implementing mechanisms to encourage and enable the participation of non-Federal employees in the functions of the Interagency Council.(5)Sharing information regarding meteorological research improvement needs and science opportunities across relevant Federal departments and agencies.(6)Providing advice to all relevant Federal departments and agencies regarding potential collaborations and expected levels of resources needed to maintain and operate the Interagency Council.(7)Enhancing communication and coordination and promoting sharing within relevant Federal departments and agencies and across the Interagency Council.(8)Developing, recruiting, and sustaining a professional workforce for meteorological research and services.(e)The Interagency Council, in coordination with, and avoiding duplication with the efforts of, the United States Group on Earth Observations, shall promote data and metadata access and archive activities to increase accessibility, interoperability, and reusability by maintaining a data inventory of meteorological observations. Not less frequently than once every 2 years for a period of 10 years beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Interagency Council shall solicit updated information from private sector entities identifying current and near future sources of such data. Such data shall be made available to participating agencies.(f)The Interagency Meteorological Coordination Office shall provide to the Interagency Council such administrative and logistical support as the Interagency Council may require, as determined by the co-chairs.(g)Participating agencies of the Interagency Council specified under subsection (a) may provide reimbursable financial support to the Interagency Meteorological Coordination Office to enhance cost sharing and collaboration related to weather research and forecast innovation activities.(h)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and annually thereafter until 2030, the Interagency Council shall publish a report that identifies among participating agencies the following:(1)Federal programs that use meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities.(2)Federal programs that acquire such observations, data, and capabilities from private sector entities.(3)Advancements in meteorological data collection, assimilation, and forecasting that could improve Federal programmatic operational capabilities.(4)Barriers to acquiring meteorological observations, data sources, and capabilities that could be used to better meet Federal programmatic needs..(b)Any reference to the Interagency Committee for Advancing Weather Services in any law, rule, regulation, paper, document, map, or other such record of the United States shall be deemed to be a reference to the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services.113.Section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:(5)Ships of opportunity pilot programs and projects(A)The Administrator, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall, subject to relevant regulations and certifications, maintain pilot programs or projects to contract with research or commercial ship operators for data collection and assess the potential costs, benefits, and viability of a network of ocean and atmospheric observing instruments operating on research or commercial ocean vessels, including in the Arctic, in order to supplement the Integrated Ocean Observation System in improving understanding of coastal and ocean systems and their relationships to human activities.(B)Standards and specificationsThe Administrator shall ensure that data acquired through the pilot programs or projects established pursuant to subparagraph (A) meets the most recent standards and specifications required for observation services and data as published pursuant to section 302(e) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.(C)Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit to Congress a report on the requirements for a global network of ocean and atmospheric instruments operating on research or commercial ocean vessels for measurement and data transmission.(D)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Under Secretary shall provide the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on ocean observation networks and programs, including with respect to the following:(i)The status of the observational capabilities for weather forecasting, including any specific gaps in such capabilities.(ii)The plans of the Under Secretary to address such gaps and otherwise improve, expand, and sustain such capabilities.(iii)The cost analyses for such plans.(iv)The status of and funding for current and any planned agreements that—(I)are between the Under Secretary and the head of another Federal department or agency; and(II)are related to such ocean observation networks and programs.(E)No funds authorized to be appropriated for the Integrated Ocean Observation System under this Act may be used to carry out this paragraph.(F)This paragraph shall terminate 1 year after the date on which the report required under subparagraph (C) is submitted by the Administrator..114.(a)Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017(1)The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended—(A)by amending section 105 (15 U.S.C. 8515) to read as follows:105.Weather research and development planningNot later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan to maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that—(1)describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, technology transfer plan, objectives, expected budget, and progress of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the program conducted under section 102;(2)identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, data collection and analysis, predictive modeling, demonstration of potential operational forecast application, education, training, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-event mission of the National Weather Service to achieve a weather-ready Nation;(3)describes how the program conducted under section 102 will collaborate with Federal departments and agencies, international partners, and stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and academic partners, and the role of each in advancing weather forecasting and communications;(4)identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and academic partners, research necessary to advance the scientific understanding of weather processes and improve weather warning and forecast systems in the United States most effectively; (5)describes the ongoing research projects of the United States Weather Research Program, including—(A)the goals of those projects; (B)a description of those projects related to weather observations, short-term weather, or subseasonal forecasts within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to operationalization; and(C)a description of the research that has been transitioned into operations, including research at the fire weather testbed established under section 703(a) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026; and (6)describes how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is advancing community weather modeling.;(B)in section 403 (15 U.S.C. 8543)—(i)in subsection (a), by inserting the
after Director of
; and(ii)by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:(d)Not less frequently than once each year, the Under Secretary shall—(1)brief the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on participation in the program under subsection (a); and (2)highlight any innovations that come from the interaction described in subsection (b).; and(C)by striking sections 408 through 411 and section 414 and redesignating sections 412 and 413 as sections 408 and 409, respectively.(2)The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 408 through 414 and inserting the following:Sec. 408. Weather enterprise outreach.Sec. 409. Hurricane hunter aircraft..(b)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567) is amended—(1)in section 106, by striking subsection (c) (15 U.S.C. 1537); and(2)in section 108 (15 U.S.C. 8520)—(A)in subsection (a)—(i)by striking paragraph (5); and(ii)by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (12) as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;(B)by striking subsection (b); and(C)by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).115.Precipitation forecast improvement program(a)Title VI of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8561 et seq.) is amended—(1)by redesignating section 603 as section 604; and(2)by inserting after section 602 the following:603.Precipitation forecast improvement program(a)The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry, other Federal departments and agencies, and academic partners, shall maintain a program to improve precipitation forecasting across timescales.(b)The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to provide more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation forecasts across timescales through the development and application of a fully coupled Earth system prediction model in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to precipitation extremes, with a focus on the following:(1)Improving the understanding and prediction of precipitation extremes from a variety of weather systems, including atmospheric rivers.(2)Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations into operational monitoring and forecast systems to improve precipitation forecasts.(3)Improving Earth system model predictions of precipitation extremes from atmospheric rivers, tropical cyclones, summertime thunderstorms, winter storms, and other phenomena, in coordination with relevant programs.(4)Enhancing research-to-operations transition through testbeds, including the evaluation of physical and social science, technology, and other research to develop products and services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders.(5)Incorporating best practices from the social, behavioral, and economic sciences into operations for more effective and actionable watch and warning products that support public safety and damage mitigation decisions in coordination with the programs established in accordance with this Act.(6)Ensuring data and metadata management processes are in place to support data access and archive for long-term research and operations among multiple partners.(c)In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall support research-to-operations work, including the following:(1)Implementing key strategies and following priorities and objectives outlined in the Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge Strategy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(2)Improving the physical science, operational modeling and tools, and technology related to better forecasting precipitation extremes across timescales.(3)Improving the social, behavioral, and economic sciences related to risk communication, and delivery of information critical for reducing the loss of life or property related to extreme precipitation.(4)Conducting the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology relating to precipitation extremes in operational practice.(5)Enhancing the operational capacity of the National Weather Service to deliver decision support for extreme precipitation.(6)Expanding computational resources to improve precipitation modeling.(d)The Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for activities to carry out this section in that fiscal year..(b)The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the item relating to section 603 and inserting the following:Sec. 603. Precipitation forecast improvement program.Sec. 604. Definitions..
IIEnhancing Federal weather forecasting and innovation201.Next-generation numerical weather prediction initiative(a)The Under Secretary may establish a long-term, agency-wide initiative to focus and align numerical weather prediction activities around a shared strategic vision for the future to further protect lives and property, enhance the national economy, and promote international leadership.(b)An initiative under subsection (a) shall encourage physics-based and data-driven modeling approaches, the use of ensemble systems, continuous and collaborative model development, and the modernization of modeling infrastructure and software practices.(c)In carrying out an initiative under subsection (a), the Under Secretary should seek to—(1)modernize infrastructure to optimize forecast accuracy and efficiency;(2)leverage community innovation by aligning operations with the weather research enterprise;(3)develop a high-resolution physics-based global ensemble system with advanced data assimilation;(4)explore the use of high-resolution artificial intelligence-based global superensembles;(5)develop a long-term high-resolution reanalysis to drive innovation for artificial intelligence-based prediction systems;(6)integrate probabilistic forecast guidance into scenario-based communication that supports actionable information; and(7)sunset legacy modeling systems that are replaced by newer systems, while maintaining operational continuity.(d)Operational equivalency requirementsNot less than 90 days before any relevant Federal department or agency that supports software development that is used for weather predictions may transfer such management or operation to a non-Federal entity, that agency shall evaluate and provide a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how the successor infrastructure achieves operational equivalency and maintains forecast accuracy and data latency.202.(a)The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall establish a program to be known as the Radar Next Program
(in this section referred to as the program
).(b)In carrying out the program, the Under Secretary shall—(1)develop performance and coverage requirements for the weather radar network of the United States, including for the territories of the United States;(2)collaborate with the weather enterprise to determine potential solutions to update the weather radar network of the United States that meet the requirements developed under paragraph (1); and(3)develop a plan in accordance with subsection (c).(c)(1)The Under Secretary shall develop a plan to replace the Next Generation Weather Radar system of the National Weather Service in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act (in this subsection referred to as the NEXRAD system
).(2)The plan developed under this subsection shall seek to continue and improve weather radar coverage in the United States and its territories and include the following:(A)Estimates of quantifiable improvements in performance, coverage, and accuracy to be made from potential options for replacement of the NEXRAD system.(B)Development of a phased array radar test article to determine the specifications and requirements for such replacement.(C)Expected actions needed to implement the recommendations of the report published by the Environmental Information Services Working Group of the Science Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on November 15, 2023, and entitled A NESDIS Observing System Backbone Framework
to assist in defining a radar backbone architecture that will best serve the United States.(D)Establishment of a weather surveillance radar testbed for the following:(i)Evaluation of commercial radars with the potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.(ii)Providing technical assistance for the use of small, gap-filling radars with private and local partners in regions where geographical topography prevents the full use of large systems or in locations where such systems may not be commercially viable.(E)Consultation and input solicited from academia, meteorologists, emergency managers, and public safety or utility officials regarding the specifications and requirements for replacement of the NEXRAD system.(F)Prioritized locations for initial deployment of the system that will replace the NEXRAD system.(G)Expected locations of the system that will replace the NEXRAD system, including sites located more than 75 miles away from an existing NEXRAD system station and additional appropriate locations.(H)Expected or planned improvements to data available for weather and water-related forecasts and warnings from the system that will replace the NEXRAD system.(3)The Under Secretary shall take such actions in accordance with the plan developed under this subsection to ensure the replacement of the Next Generation Weather Radar System not later than the earlier of—(A)the date on which the existing system is projected to no longer meet operational requirements; or(B)September 30, 2037.(d)(1)The Under Secretary, consistent with relevant activities under section 203, may partner or contract with entities outside of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fill data gaps in weather radar coverage using weather radars and data assimilation technologies in order to—(A)supplement data gaps in weather radar coverage, including at low levels and in wide areas, in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act;(B)ensure the continued performance of the weather radar network of the United States; and(C)better detect significant precipitation and severe weather over a greater area across a population.(2)In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may consider—(A)partnering or contracting with entities that have participated in the testbed described in subsection (c)(2)(D), the National Mesonet Program, or cooperative research and development agreements; and(B)weather camera systems and services, including in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, as viable technologies to supplement weather forecasting and prediction needs.(e)The Under Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate annual updates on the implementation of this section.203.Data voids in under-observed areas of the United States(a)The Under Secretary shall carry out activities to ensure continuous comprehensive weather observation coverage, impact-based decision support services, and emergency information sharing in the United States, including the following:(1)Identifying regions in the United States and the territories of the United States that are under-observed, and as a result, have data gaps or experience disproportionate impacts from hazardous weather that threatens human life, health, and property.(2)Identifying any challenges that contribute to the lack of weather observations under paragraph (1).(3)Increasing weather observations and developing new weather observational capabilities with respect to the regions identified under paragraph (1).(4)Establishing or supporting testbeds and deployments of decision support services to Federal, State, and local emergency operations centers to develop and integrate new weather, water, and climate observation or emergency information sharing tools, with respect to the regions identified under paragraph (1).(5)To the maximum extent practicable, advancing weather and water forecasting and subseasonal to seasonal modeling capabilities for the regions identified under paragraph (1).(6)Undertaking workforce development efforts for emergency management officials and meteorologists in the regions identified under paragraph (1).(7)Using observations to fill voids in data and better understand extreme rainfall in complex topography.(8)Contributing to a national integrated heat health information system.(b)Consultation; coordinationThe Under Secretary shall carry out activities under subsection (a)—(1)in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;(2)in consultation with the United States weather industry and academic partners; and(3)in accordance with activities implemented through existing regional atmospheric, coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes observing systems.(c)Interagency partnership To support pilot projects(1)In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and in collaboration with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall establish an interagency partnership to support pilot projects that accelerate coordination and use of localized weather, water, and subseasonal to seasonal data and impact-based decision support services in infrastructure and emergency management decisions by Federal, State, and local officials.(2)At least one pilot project under paragraph (1) shall address key science challenges to using mesonet data in local decision making and development of new tools and training for owners and operators of critical infrastructure (as defined in subsection (e) of the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c)), such as dams, energy generation and distribution facilities, nuclear power plants, and transportation networks.204.Radar innovation for the next generation(a)The Under Secretary shall conduct research, development, testing, evaluation, and operational activities, using existing authorities and programs, to ensure the continued performance of weather radar capabilities, including systems being developed in areas impacted with interferences in the line of sight of such radar.(b)In carrying out activities under this section, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, may—(1)coordinate or partner with the private sector, academia, any Federal, State, or local government entity, or any other entity the Under Secretary considers appropriate;(2)identify, evaluate, and test technologies or operational approaches to improve radar coverage and performance, including by mitigating the impacts of interferences on weather radar;(3)to the maximum extent practicable, research additional solutions that could mitigate the effects of interferences on weather radar, such as—(A)signal processing algorithms;(B)short-term forecasting algorithms to supplement or mitigate the impacts of contaminated data;(C)the use of dual polarization characteristics in mitigating the effects of wind turbines on weather radar; and(D)gap filling radars to provide supplemental or replacement observations in impacted areas; and(4)support the evaluation or demonstration of technical mitigation solutions for interferences to weather radar capabilities that are compatible with the operational requirements of the weather radar systems.(c)In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall prioritize consideration of the following technology-based mitigation solutions:(1)Phased array weather radar systems.(2)Supplementing, mitigating, or replacing contaminated data with commercial radar data.(3)Using data from private sector associated meteorological towers or similar capabilities.(4)The display on local forecasting equipment of wind farm boundaries and consolidated wind farm areas.(5)The installation and provision of access to rain gauges.(6)Any other technology-based mitigation solution the Under Secretary determines could improve radar coverage by overcoming interferences, beam blockage, or ghost echoes.(d)(1)Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall brief Congress on activities carried out under this section.(2)Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall provide to Congress, in the form of a briefing or report, a recommendation on whether additional research, testing, and development established under subsection (a) is warranted.(e)Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the establishment of a new program office or organizational structure.(f)In this section:(1)The term beam blockage means a signal that is partially or fully blocked due to an interference.(2)The term ghost echo means radar signal reflectivity or velocity return errors in radar data due to the proximity of an interference.(3)The term interference includes—(A)a wind turbine that could limit the effectiveness of a weather radar system;(B)any building that disrupts or limits the effectiveness of a weather radar system; or(C)any other natural or human built structure that affects a weather radar system.205.Atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program(a)The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners and in coordination with the precipitation forecast improvement program under section 603 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as added by section 115 of this Act, shall establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the program
).(b)The goal of the program shall be to reduce the loss of life and property and economic losses from atmospheric rivers through the research, development, and extension of accurate, effective, and actionable forecasts and warnings, including by—(1)establishing quantifiable skill metrics for atmospheric river forecasts that include assessing the benefits of dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall location, extreme wind and precipitation, and cascading impacts;(2)developing an atmospheric river forecast system within a unified forecast system, and advancing next-generation coupled modeling systems, with the capability of providing seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that include forecasts of snow accumulation and other hydrologic components;(3)advancing scientific understanding of the roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at subseasonal to seasonal scales;(4)developing tools and improved forecast products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration over the United States with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related to perceiving, comprehending, and responding to atmospheric river forecast improvements;(5)enhancing the transition of research to operations through testbeds of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the evaluation of physical and social science, technology, and other research to develop products and services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders; and(6)incorporating social, behavioral, and economic sciences into atmospheric river forecast communication, as appropriate.(c)Innovative observations, data assimilation, and modelingThe Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations, data, and measurements with respect to the improvement of atmospheric river analysis, modeling, forecasts, predictions, and warnings.(d)Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force or the Commander of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the Air Force Reserve Command, shall develop a plan that details the specific activities relating to research, development, data acquisition, partnerships with the weather industry and academic partners, and technology transfer, and corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under subsection (b), as well as include any barriers to implementation. Such plan shall be made available to the public on release.(e)Annual budget for plan submittalAfter the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (d), the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for the activities identified in such plan for that fiscal year.(f)In carrying out the program, the Under Secretary may—(1)develop, test, and operationalize prototype high-resolution Atmospheric River Analysis and Forecasting System models through research and operations partnerships with institutions of higher education and other partners outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;(2)enhance data assimilation of current and new satellite and ocean observations that is useful for atmospheric river analysis and forecasting predictions;(3)improve data processing techniques related to atmospheric river analysis and forecasting predictions;(4)use artificial intelligence and machine learning methods as applicable to atmospheric river analysis and forecasting predictions;(5)ensure the surface and subsurface observations of the ocean meet the needs of atmospheric river analysis and forecasting predictions on different timescales; and(6)to the maximum extent practicable, improve or establish baseline weather monitoring services in areas that have historically experienced, or are predicted to experience, atmospheric rivers.(g)Conduct of reconnaissanceThe Under Secretary shall acquire and sustain adequate aircraft, scientific equipment, and personnel—(1)to meet mission requirements of the National Hurricane Operations Plan and the National Winter Season Operations Plan;(2)to ensure atmospheric river air reconnaissance observations are available throughout the expected seasons of tropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers;(3)to the maximum extent practicable and in accordance with paragraph (5), to ensure data and information collected are made available for research and operations purposes;(4)to participate in research and operations partnerships that guide flight planning and use research methods to improve and expand the capabilities and effectiveness of atmospheric river reconnaissance over time;(5)to develop data management strategies to ensure that data and metadata are adequately stewarded, maintained, and archived; and(6)to undertake such other additional activities as the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Air Force, considers appropriate to improve and grow the hurricane hunter and atmospheric river reconnaissance mission.(h)Improved atmospheric river hazard communicationThe Under Secretary may conduct research and development activities in coordination with the program established under section 403(a)—(1)to, as appropriate, develop and refine—(A)methods to categorize the intensity of weather and ocean hazards, including tropical cyclones and atmospheric rivers, on a quantitative scale; and(B)the effectiveness of such scale in hazard communication;(2)to develop best practices for communication of atmospheric river events and hazards across regions of the United States;(3)to gather information from areas prone to hurricanes and atmospheric rivers regarding levels of knowledge and preparedness, including responses to early forecasts and warnings by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and(4)to explore strategies to communicate, and the effectiveness of communicating, that hurricane and atmospheric river events are beneficial at lower intensities versus hazardous at higher intensity.206.Coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program(a)The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the United States weather enterprise, and academic partners, shall establish a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program (in this section referred to as the program
).(b)The goal of the program shall be to reduce the loss of life or property from coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events through the development and extension of accurate, effective, actionable, and probabilistic forecasts and warnings.(c)In implementing the program, the Under Secretary shall prioritize activities that carry out the following:(1)Improving understanding and capacity for real-time operational prediction of the ocean’s role in coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events.(2)Improving the capacity to mitigate, adapt to, or prevent the impacts of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge events, including by improving the understanding of coastal communities and the capacity of such communities to perceive, comprehend, and respond to forecast information.(3)Incorporating data from in situ distributed sensors into predictive models and re-analyses.(4)Developing probabilistic coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge estimates to complement worst-case scenario estimates, including for use in long-term planning and risk management by States, Tribal governments, localities, and emergency managers in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as appropriate.(5)Establishing skill metrics for coastal inundation forecasting that quantify the benefits of dynamical modeling, data assimilation, and machine learning improvements in the probabilistic forecast of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge risk and impacts.(6)Improving operational regional storm surge models and, in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey, wave prediction models to enhance probabilistic guidance and messaging.(7)Improving the understanding and capacity of coastal communities to receive and respond to rip current forecasts and information.(d)Innovative observations and modelingThe Under Secretary shall ensure the program periodically examines, tests, and evaluates the value of incorporating enhanced model physics, hybrid dynamical or machine learning-based prediction systems, and innovative observations, such as novel sensor technologies, observation networks, crewed or uncrewed systems, and hosted instruments on commercial aircraft, vessels, and satellites, with respect to the improvement of coastal flooding, including high tide flooding, and storm surge forecasts, predictions, and warnings.(e)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan that details the specific research, development, data acquisition, and technology transfer activities, and corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal of the program under subsection (b).(f)Annual budget for plan submittalAfter the development of the plan pursuant to subsection (e), the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for the activities identified in that plan for that fiscal year.207.Improving prevention and responses to temperature related impacts(a)The Under Secretary shall establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a system to support the reduction of extreme temperature impacts by—(1)improving the delivery and communication of data, information, forecasts, and warnings related to extreme temperatures;(2)developing science-based solutions and tools to improve impact-based decision support services for extreme impacts to—(A)protect human life, property, and the United States economy; and(B)support the unique needs of—(i)emergency preparedness and response activities; and(ii)urban, rural, and suburban communities; and(3)supporting a research program on health impacts from extreme temperatures, in coordination with relevant agencies.(b)The Under Secretary shall, in collaboration with relevant agencies—(1)coordinate with State and local entities to improve the quality of data on deaths and related illnesses attributed to extreme temperatures; and(2)make public the methodology for attributing adverse health impacts to extreme temperatures.(c)The Under Secretary shall give priority to activities under subsection (a) that support the reduction of adverse impacts due to extreme temperatures that—(1)cause the most fatalities in the United States; and(2)are frequent and severe.(d)There is established within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration an interagency committee that shall coordinate relevant agencies to execute, as appropriate, activities across such agencies to ensure a united Federal approach to reducing health risks from extreme temperatures.(e)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section, including for any administrative costs for the Committee and the System, $2,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.208.Aviation weather and data innovation(a)Airborne observation program(1)The Under Secretary shall maintain an airborne observation program (in this subsection referred to as the program
) for the acquisition of atmospheric sensor data and the deployment of critical atmospheric sensors, including in partnership with the weather enterprise.(2)The program shall include activities that carry out the following:(A)Procurement of weather data available from commercial aircraft, as determined by the Under Secretary.(B)Acquisition of additional vertical profile observations that provide spatial and temporal density, as determined by the Under Secretary.(C)Analysis of procured data when incorporated into the unified forecast system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order to provide improved forecast information for aircraft.(3)The Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, with the budget of the President submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for a fiscal year, a proposed budget for the activities described in paragraph (2) for that fiscal year, including an analysis of activities that can be complemented by aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(4)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the program.(b)Aviation weather and turbulence forecasting(1)The Director of the National Weather Service shall—(A)include turbulence events, icing conditions, or other phenomena in the forecasting capabilities of the Aviation Weather Center and the Center Weather Service Units; and(B)deliver operational forecasts with consistent, timely, and accurate weather and turbulence information for the airspace system and the protection of lives and property.(2)In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director of the National Weather Service shall—(A)give consideration to recommendations of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration under section 44720 of title 49, United States Code; and(B)improve weather and turbulence forecasting capabilities by—(i)designating or establishing within the Federal Government an interagency working group to determine weather and environmental data or observation requirements, needs, and potential solutions related to aviation weather and turbulence modeling or forecasting;(ii)identifying current and future potential data gaps related to turbulence events or phenomena that can—(I)identify or inform route-specific flight planning; and(II)be supplemented or filled by commercial aviation tools;(iii)transitioning research initiatives and pilot programs, including a pilot program of instrumentation deployed on commercial aircraft for observing atmospheric composition and other atmospheric factors and support for the evaluation of a sustained observing network using such instrumentation, into operations that improve the forecasting capabilities of the Aviation Weather Center;(iv)developing and deploying improved probabilistic aviation weather forecast guidance technology;(v)updating interagency agreements as appropriate, including to address reimbursable agreements; and(vi)recommending adequate staffing levels at each Center Weather Service Unit to ensure safety.(c)Next generation aviation researchSection 102(b)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8512(b)(3)), as amended by section 111(a) of this Act, is further amended—(1)by redesignating subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively; and(2)by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:(F)aviation weather phenomena, including atmospheric composition and turbulence, to improve scientific understanding and forecast capabilities for the airspace system;.(d)Aviation information disseminationThe Under Secretary shall ensure the Aviation Weather Center is able, to the maximum extent possible, to disseminate in a timely manner full-resolution aviation weather data, forecasts, and information to meet the needs of aviation users.(e)Provision of weather services to the Federal Aviation Administration(1)Interagency agreement and supplemental services(A)The Under Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall enter into or otherwise participate in an interagency agreement for a period of not less than 5 years under which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides weather services to the Federal Aviation Administration.(B)To inform the interagency agreement under subparagraph (A), the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall, in consultation with the Under Secretary, request proposals from the weather enterprise to evaluate commercial opportunities to supplement, and not replace, weather services or data at center weather service units provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(C)The interagency agreement under subparagraph (A) shall ensure that the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration fairly compensates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a timely manner, for utilizing services under this agreement.(2)Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter through December 31, 2030, the Under Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the status of—(A)the provision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of weather services to the Federal Aviation Administration;(B)the interagency agreement under paragraph (1); and(C)rationale for any recommendations made by the National Weather Service under this section that were not implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration.209.Aerial snow survey program(a)The Under Secretary shall maintain and modernize the Aerial Snow Survey program to support water supply forecasting, flood risk management, and seasonal outlooks.(b)Such program shall—(1)collect airborne snow water equivalent measurements across major river basins;(2)integrate such measurements into forecasts and decision-support products generated by National Weather Service River Forecast Centers;(3)improve seasonal runoff, flood, and drought outlooks; and(4)coordinate with State water resource agencies and emergency managers.(c)In carrying out such program, the Under Secretary may upgrade aircraft instrumentation and data assimilation tools to enhance forecast skill.210.National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service partnership program, transition program, and operational planning(a)(1)The Assistant Administrator of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (in this section referred to as the Assistant Administrator
) shall maintain a program to enhance engagement with the private sector, academia, and other Federal departments and agencies (in this subsection referred to as the partnership program
).(2)The Assistant Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall administer broad agency announcements and other transactional authority or contracting mechanisms, on an annual or more frequent basis, to support the partnership program.(b)(1)To support the development of next-generation technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design, the Assistant Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall maintain a program to transition selected awards from research and study phases into demonstration (in this subsection referred to as the transition program
).(2)In selecting awardees for demonstrations under the transition program, the Assistant Administrator shall consider technologies, missions, data systems, spacecraft, and instrument design that—(A)improve upon the satellite architecture of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;(B)have a direct impact on implementing the recommendations of the Satellite Observing System Architecture Study of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration entitled, Building a Plan for NOAA’s 21st Century Satellite Observing System
and dated May 31, 2018; and(C)meet current or future mission requirements.(3)In carrying out the transition program, the Assistant Administrator shall monitor demonstration phase progress and plan for promising results that meet mission requirements to be transitioned into the operational satellite architecture of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(c)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through 2031, the Assistant Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an annual briefing that outlines the progress made in the partnership program under subsection (a), the transition program under subsection (b), and operational planning under subsection (b)(3).(d)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out this section.211.Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System(a)The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a strategy to transition operations of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to an operational cloud-based environment in order to improve operational efficiency.(b)The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a) provides impact-based decision support services to emergency managers at the Federal, State, local, and Tribal levels, and continues to provide the following services:(1)Integrating and displaying forecast data, including meteorological, hydrological, climate, ocean, satellite, and radar data, for field offices and national centers of the National Weather Service.(2)Acquiring and processing observational data from sensors and local sources.(3)Providing an interactive communications system, including any relevant capabilities of the existing satellite broadcast network, to connect relevant employees and sites of the National Weather Service.(4)Initiating the dissemination of weather, water, marine, ecological, subseasonal to seasonal, aviation, and space warnings and forecasts in a rapid and highly reliable manner.(c)The transition of operations required under subsection (a) may include the following:(1)Establishment or support of testbeds, pilot projects, and functional testing activities to facilitate remote evaluation and automated testing.(2)Coordinated training efforts needed for Federal and non-Federal users and operators of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System in an operational cloud-based environment referred to in subsection (a).(3)Evaluation of bandwidth requirements to achieve a quality user experience.(4)Installation of circuits to reduce lapses in network operations and support backup functions.(5)Establishment of a cloud-based, remotely accessible repository for data referred to in subsection (b)(2).(6)Development and deployment of virtualized systems to replace physical hardware at operational sites.(7)Evaluation of commercial cloud providers, including hybrid approaches, to meet mission needs.(8)Development, testing, demonstration, evaluation, and operationalization of forecast and warning products, consistent with the mission and scientific expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(d)The Under Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure the transition described in subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2030.(e)The Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of this section.(f)Nothing in this section may be construed as prohibiting the development of new forecast capabilities, sub-systems, or implementing modeling advancements on the operational computing systems of the Administration.212.Reanalysis and reforecastingThe Under Secretary may support reanalysis and reforecasting activities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including through weather testbeds of the Administration—(1)for improving weather forecasts, extreme weather predictions, and weather and climate datasets, including supporting forecast development and forecaster training; and(2)to support the development, evaluation, and improvement of artificial intelligence and machine learning data-driven models, including by improving the standardization, formatting, and accessibility of datasets to support effective use in such models.213.National Weather Service workforce(a)(1)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director of the National Weather Service shall submit to the Under Secretary and Congress an assessment of the milestones, timelines, and service level expectations required for the expeditious hiring and timely onboarding of employees of the National Weather Service.(2)Each assessment required by paragraph (1) may include the following:(A)Recommendations to outsource hiring to any entity other than the National Weather Service in order to meet the milestones, timelines, and service level expectations described in paragraph (1).(B)Determinations of the number of staff and designated positions required at each forecasting office to provide services to protect lives and property in the geographic region of responsibility.(b)Health and morale assessment(1)The Director of the National Weather Service shall enter into a contract with, or continue to partner with, an entity other than the National Weather Service to conduct an assessment of medical impacts, including stress and long-term health impacts, on employees of the National Weather Service related to required rotating shift work.(2)The assessment required by paragraph (1) may include—(A)options for mitigating the impacts on employees described in that paragraph; and(B)recommendations for improving benefits related to required rotating shift work.(c)Notwithstanding the results of the assessment under subsection (a), the Director of the National Weather Service shall establish service level standards based on staffing levels.(d)Designation and responsibilities of service coordination hydrologists(1)The Director of the National Weather Service may designate at least one service coordination hydrologist at each Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.(2)Performance by other employeesNotwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4), the Director of the National Weather Service may assign the performance of the responsibilities described in this subsection to such other staff of the National Weather Service as the Director considers appropriate.(3)In order to increase impact-based decision support services, each service coordination hydrologist designated under paragraph (1) shall, with respect to hydrology, carry out the following:(A)Provide service to the geographic area of responsibility covered by the Weather Forecast Office at which the service coordination hydrologist is employed to help ensure that users of products and services of the National Weather Service can respond effectively to improve outcomes from flood events.(B)Liaise with users of products and services of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as emergency managers, the public, academia, media outlets, users in the hydropower, transportation, recreation, and agricultural communities, and forestry, land, fisheries, and water management interests, to evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products and services referred to in subparagraph (A), including extended-range streamflow forecasts, water supply forecasts, drought outlooks, flood inundation mapping, coastal inundation, and flood warnings.(C)Collaborate with the National Water Center, the River Forecast Centers, other Weather Forecast Offices, the National Integrated Drought Information System, offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies, as the Director considers appropriate, in developing, proposing, and implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor such products and services to improve the usefulness of such products and services.(D)Engage in interagency partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal government agencies to explore the use of forecast-informed reservoir operations to reduce flood risk and inform decisions related to water resources management.(E)Ensure the maintenance and accuracy of flooding and water resource management partner call lists, appropriate office hydrologic service policy or procedures, and other hydrologic information or dissemination methodologies or strategies.(F)Work closely with Federal, State, local, and Tribal emergency and floodplain management agencies, and other agencies relating to disaster management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective preparedness and response effort.(4)Additional responsibilitiesA service coordination hydrologist designated under paragraph (1) may, with respect to hydrology—(A)work with a State agency to develop plans for promoting more effective use of products and services of the National Weather Service throughout the State concerned;(B)identify priority community preparedness objectives;(C)develop plans to carry out the responsibilities described in paragraph (3); and(D)conduct flooding event preparedness planning and citizen education efforts with and through various State, local, and Tribal government agencies and other disaster management-related organizations.(e)(1)The Director of the National Weather Service shall—(A)perform pilot projects for—(i)transformational services related to decision support services and technology;(ii)transitioning data and services to the cloud;(iii)provision of on-site decision support for emergency management operations; and(iv)transitioning to and communication of probabilistic models, forecasts, and hazard information; and(B)conduct a study to assess the capabilities needed to scale those pilot projects toward a new and more efficient and effective operations model.(2)The authority under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.(f)Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize or require a change in the authorized number of full-time equivalent employees of the National Weather Service or otherwise result in the employment of any additional employees.(g)Protection from hiring freezes(1)Title IV of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8541 et seq.), as amended by section 114(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following:410.Classification of and staffing plan for employees and protection from hiring freezes(a)Classification of certain employees(1)Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall categorize each position in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration specified under paragraph (2) as a protective service occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification System.(2)Occupational series specifiedThe positions that are specified in this paragraph are positions in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that are—(A)determined by the Under Secretary to be involved in supporting forecasts and warnings to protect human life and property; and(B)determined by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to be—(i)a position in the Engineering and Architecture occupational series listed under occupational series 0801, 0802, 0810, 0855, or 0856;(ii)a position in the Production Controller (Aircraft) occupational series (1152);(iii)a position in the Physical Sciences occupational series listed under occupational series 1301, 1313, 1315, 1340, 1341, 1360, 1370, or 1372;(iv)a position in the Equipment Specialist Series (Aircraft) occupational series (1670);(v)a position in the Information Technology Management occupational series (2210); or(vi)a position held by a professional mariner (as defined in section 269B of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002 (33 U.S.C. 3079b)), including a position in occupational series 0865, 9901, 9916, 9920, 9923–24, 9927–28, 9931–34, 9944, 9954, 9960, 9965, 9968, 9971, 9973, and 9984).(3)Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall provide a briefing on the implementation of this section to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.(4)Requirements Relating to Staffing Changes(A)Not less than 30 days before carrying out a significant workforce reduction action with respect to any occupational position specified under paragraph (2), the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing the proposed action and the facts and circumstances relied upon in support of such action.(B)Significant workforce reduction action definedIn this paragraph, the term significant workforce reduction action—(i)means a voluntary separation incentive payment program, voluntary early retirement authority, or any other personnel action reasonably expected to result in the separation of multiple employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and(ii)does not include routine attrition, individual adverse personnel actions, or any reduction in force for which notice or reporting is otherwise required under Federal law.(b)5-Year staffing plan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(1)Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a 5-year staffing plan for—(A)the National Weather Service; and(B)any positions within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that support forecasts and warnings to protect human life and property, including positions that involve—(i)collection of data for incorporation into watches and warnings;(ii)operation and maintenance of equipment for collection of data described in clause (i);(iii)maintenance of information technology systems;(iv)modeling for forecasts and warnings; and(v)research to improve forecasts, warnings, and communication of those warnings to better protect human life and property.(2)Additional elements of staffing planThe staffing plan under this subsection shall include the following elements:(A)The number and corresponding occupational series of employees needed to fully staff each weather forecast office and Center Weather Service Unit of the National Weather Service to meet mission needs while considering the following:(i)Safety.(ii)Morale.(iii)Changing seasonal needs.(iv)Forecasting complexity of the geographical area at issue, particularly areas that are subject to an elevated risk of severe weather events.(B)Historical staffing needs versus historical vacancies for each weather forecast office and Center Weather Service Unit.(c)(1)To satisfy critical staffing needs and fill vacancies consistent with the staffing plan under subsection (b), the Director of the National Weather Service may appoint, without regard to sections 3308 through 3319, 3327, and 3330 of title 5, United States Code, qualified candidates to any of the following positions:(A)Employees performing public safety mission functions, including the following:(i)Meteorologists (classification series 1340).(ii)Hydrologists (classification series 1315).(iii)General physical scientists (classification series 1301).(iv)Computer specialists (classification series 2210).(v)Electronic technicians (classification series 0856).(B)Other positions for which primary responsibilities include equipment operations, maintenance, analysis, information technology, or engineering.(2)The authority under paragraph (1) shall expire on the earlier of—(A)the date on which all positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and vacancies identified under subsection (b) are filled; or(B)2 years after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026..(2)The table of contents for the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 409 the following:Sec. 410. Classification of and staffing plan for employees and protection from hiring freezes..214.Consultation relating to modernization and reorganizationThe Director of the National Weather Service may consult with employees and employee representatives of the National Weather Service during implementation of modernization or reorganization plans for the Service.215.Artificial intelligence for weather forecasting(a)In this section:(1)The term artificial intelligence—(A)has the meaning given that term in section 5002 of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9401); and(B)includes machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing.(2)Artificial intelligence weather modelThe term artificial intelligence weather model means a weather model based primarily on artificial intelligence technology to project future Earth system conditions based on machine learning using weather forecasting training datasets.(3)The term curate, with respect to a dataset, means—(A)to collect and maintain the dataset—(i)to ensure and document its quality; and(ii)to provide metadata on its provenance; and(B)to update the dataset periodically, as appropriate and practicable.(4)The term numerical weather model means a weather model based primarily on coupled Earth System processes that uses numerical computation to forecast future Earth system conditions.(5)The term observational data means data and metadata from actual observations of environmental conditions, including remote sensing and in situ platforms.(6)The term synthetic data means data produced from a model or statistical method in order to fill gaps in observational data.(b)The purpose of this section is—(1)to improve accuracy and timeliness of weather, water, and space weather forecasts and effective dissemination of critical information;(2)to strengthen analytic capacity to inform resource deployments in response to and to mitigate harm from weather, water, wildfires, and space weather hazards through the mandated exploration and use of artificial intelligence by Federal departments and agencies;(3)to strengthen public-private partnerships to accelerate adoption and outcomes of the use of artificial intelligence in response to and to mitigate such harm; and(4)to strengthen public-private partnerships in highly technical, high-risk, and high-reward fields related to weather, water, wildfires, and space weather forecasts.(c)Earth system forecasting and information delivery(1)Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, other appropriate Federal advisory committees as determined by the Under Secretary, and such other technical experts as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, shall develop and curate comprehensive weather forecasting training datasets with relevant Earth system data, quality information, and metadata necessary for weather forecasting.(2)In order to speed the development of the weather forecasting training datasets required under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall assess, and to the greatest extent practicable build on, existing Earth system reanalysis datasets of the Federal Government.(3)Artificial intelligence weather model(A)In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary, in consultation with appropriate Federal advisory committees as determined by the Under Secretary, may develop and test a global weather model based on artificial intelligence technologies utilizing data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the extent possible.(B)Regional and local modelsIn addition to a global weather model under subparagraph (A), the Under Secretary may experiment with regional and local weather models based on artificial intelligence technologies.(4)Use of artificial intelligence to disseminate informationIn coordination with an artificial intelligence weather model or models developed under paragraph (3), the Under Secretary may explore the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the dissemination of information with respect to weather and wildfire risks and evaluate the effectiveness of communication for improved public understanding and preparedness.(5)Continued support for observations, basic research, and numerical weather modelsNotwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, the Under Secretary shall continue to support and advance the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—(A)to collect and acquire traditional and novel observational data relevant for artificial intelligence and numerical weather, water, and space weather forecasting;(B)to advance research on the Earth system and numerical weather model forecasting;(C)to develop and advance numerical Earth system modeling for predictions;(D)to develop weather model data post-processing techniques; and(E)to improve data assimilation techniques.(6)Observing system coverageIn carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary may evaluate the use of cost functions in data-driven machine learning model training to balance inequities in observing system coverage and data poor areas.(7)Uncertainty quantification researchIn carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary may develop uncertainty quantification research for the purpose of accurate environmental risk and hazard communications of probabilistic predictions and forecasts.(8)Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than every 2 years thereafter through 2036, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the activities conducted under this subsection.(d)Advanced artificial intelligence applications for weather forecasts and information deliveryThe Under Secretary shall explore advanced applications of artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts and information delivery, such as by—(1)improving data assimilation;(2)accounting for coupled Earth system processes;(3)improving readiness and preparedness to combat wildfires, mitigation of the risk from wildfires, and improving safety for firefighters and communities at risk from wildfires;(4)using artificial intelligence weather models to generate ensemble forecasts to more accurately assess flow-dependent forecast uncertainties; and(5)improving impact-based decision support for greater societal benefits based on those forecasts.(e)Technical assistance on use of artificial intelligence weather, water, and space weather models(1)The Under Secretary shall provide—(A)technical assistance, data access, and support for forecasters, scientists, social scientists, and engineers to test and evaluate the use and effectiveness of the artificial intelligence models of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including within the testbeds of the Administration;(B)best practices on providing forecasts based on outputs from artificial intelligence weather models and numerical weather models, or a combination thereof; and(C)support for emergency managers to make operational decisions based on outputs from artificial intelligence weather models and numerical weather models, or a combination thereof.(2)Assessment of weather models(A)The Under Secretary shall support the development of a common framework for the assessment of numerical weather models and artificial intelligence weather models by comparing model output and observational data over a period of time in the past through the use of such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.(B)In carrying out this paragraph, the Under Secretary may develop and disseminate best practices in collaboration with—(i)the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy;(ii)academic and research institutions; and(iii)the private sector.(3)In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary may provide technical assistance, best practices, and support required under paragraph (1) through the National Weather Service.(4)Independent study on the impacts of artificial intelligence weather, water, and space weather modelsThe Under Secretary may enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences or another entity as determined appropriate by the Under Secretary to assess the impacts of artificial intelligence weather models on the weather enterprise and make recommendations to improve the integration of such models in operational forecasting.(f)Partnerships for transformational innovation(1)The Under Secretary may explore novel structures for partnerships with private, academic, and international entities for research and development of transformative innovation in weather forecasting and other environmental forecasts—(A)to further the understanding of weather, water, wildfires, and space weather, and their societal impact;(B)to advance the science of weather and water forecasting, including subseasonal to seasonal forecasting; and(C)to develop, evaluate, and transition artificial intelligence weather, water, and hazard forecasting applications to operations.(2)Subject to applicable law, the Under Secretary may consider and adopt novel co-investment strategies with the private, academic, and international sectors to carry out paragraph (1), including—(A)non-Federal Government contributions to resource and support high-risk, high-return research and development in environmental forecasting, data science, artificial intelligence, and related fields;(B)shared rights to intellectual property from research and development activities under this subsection; and(C)other approaches to sharing resources and results under this subsection.(g)(1)The Under Secretary shall develop and implement a plan to make available to the public, at no cost and subject to applicable law and policy, the following:(A)Operational artificial intelligence weather models developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(B)Artificial intelligence weather models that are not operational models, including experimental and developmental models, as the Under Secretary determines appropriate.(C)Applicable information and documentation for artificial intelligence weather models described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), including a description of intended model outputs.(D)Subject to subsection (i), all data owned by the Federal Government and data that the Under Secretary has the legal right to redistribute that are associated with artificial intelligence weather models made available to the public pursuant to the plan and used in operational forecasting by the Administration, including—(i)relevant metadata; and(ii)data used for operational artificial intelligence weather models used by the Administration.(2)In developing and implementing the plan under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may make such accommodations as the Under Secretary considers appropriate to ensure that the public release of any artificial intelligence weather model, information, documentation, or data pursuant to the plan does not jeopardize—(A)national security;(B)intellectual property or redistribution rights, including under titles 17 and 35, United States Code;(C)any trade secret or commercial or financial information subject to section 552(b)(4) of title 5, United States Code;(D)any models or data that are otherwise restricted by contract or other written agreement; or(E)the mission of the Administration to protect lives and property.(3)(A)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report, in both unclassified and classified form, regarding the risks to the economic and intellectual security of the United States from foreign countries of concern through access by those countries to weather data in the United States.(B)The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include—(i)a full analysis of the national, intellectual, and economic security implications for the United States with respect to intellectual property theft or cyber or human espionage through access to weather data; and(ii)conclusions of the Under Secretary and recommendations for legislative and administrative action, if any.(C)Foreign country of concern definedIn this paragraph, the term foreign country of concern has the meaning given that term in section 9901 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).(h)Retention of Federal government expertiseSubject to applicable law, the Under Secretary may consider novel methods to recruit, retrain, and retain expert personnel to support activities under this section, including by—(1)using methods to be competitive with salaries outside the Federal Government;(2)developing staff exchange programs and training programs; and(3)leveraging applicable hiring and retention strategies authorized for Federal departments and agencies.(i)Protection of national security interests(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, may withhold models or data used under this section if the Under Secretary determines doing so to be necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.(2)Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any other provision of law governing the protection of the national security interests of the United States.(j)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this section—(1)for fiscal year 2027, $105,000,000; and(2)for each of fiscal years 2028 through 2031, $25,000,000.216.Composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric observations(a)Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes the following:(1)An identification of Federal observation capabilities and data gaps related to the composition of Earth’s atmosphere, including the troposphere and stratosphere.(2)An analysis of Federal efforts that advance scientific understanding of the effects on the Earth’s radiation budget of direct or indirect actions that may change the composition of Earth’s atmosphere.(3)The current and projected use of ground-based, space-based, and maritime-based remote and in situ sensing capabilities, autonomous and manned aerial platforms, and other commercially available technologies and platforms of opportunity to accelerate research and increase observations and monitoring of Earth’s atmosphere.(4)Recommendations for the adaptation or expansion of technologies and platforms identified under paragraph (3).(5)An identification and prioritization of additional observation and analysis capabilities needed to ensure comprehensive monitoring that detects future changes in atmospheric composition.(b)In preparing an assessment required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall consider and use, as appropriate, reports and studies conducted by Federal departments and agencies, the National Research Council, or other entities.(c)(1)The Under Secretary may conduct pilot projects of atmospheric composition observational systems and platforms including—(A)the use of atmospheric observing instruments on commercial and uncrewed aircraft;(B)the use of atmospheric and oceanic observing instruments on uncrewed ocean surface platforms or deployed on commercial or other nondedicated ocean vessels; and(C)in situ observation capability to conduct regular atmospheric observations of the troposphere and stratosphere.(2)Consultation and coordinationThe Under Secretary shall consult and coordinate with relevant Federal departments and agencies to develop processes for the appropriate deployment of systems and platforms pursuant to pilot projects conducted under paragraph (1).(d)Authority To enter into agreementsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the Under Secretary may enter into agreements, to the extent necessary to carry out this section, with governmental and nongovernmental entities—(1)for the purchase of atmospheric composition data from commercial providers;(2)for the hosting of observational instruments on government or private platforms; and(3)to leverage data from international platforms as appropriate.(e)Definition of appropriate committees of CongressIn this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—(1)the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; and(2)the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.217.Project to improve forecasts of coastal marine fog(a)The Under Secretary shall conduct a project to improve forecasts of coastal marine fog.(b)The goal of the project required under subsection (a) is to enhance vessel safety and reduce the economic impact of coastal marine fog events, with a focus on—(1)increasing the number of marine-based observations through additional Federal platforms and commercially acquired observations in locations where impacts from marine fog and reduced visibility have major safety and economic impacts, including through the use of—(A)buoys;(B)meteorological stations measuring visibility, temperature, dewpoint, and wind speed and direction as a stand-alone or co-located with water level sensors, such as those that are part of the physical oceanographic observation system program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;(C)stationary platforms or drifting instruments;(D)vessels;(E)unmanned systems;(F)remote sensing technologies, including rapid refresh hyperspectral satellite imagery; and(G)advanced algorithms that extract actionable information from observational data, including early detection and regular monitoring of marine fog;(2)advancing geographic coverage, resolution, skill, and accuracy of marine fog modeling, including, when feasible, additional locations and advancements in marine channel forecast capability;(3)improving communication of marine fog advisories by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;(4)communicating risks posed by hazardous marine fog events in a way that maximizes informed decision making by the public; and(5)providing decision support services based on environmental information that is actionable to the recipient of a marine fog advisory.(c)In implementing the project required under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall meet with public and private stakeholders regarding the planning, development, and implementation of the project.(d)The Under Secretary shall meet with Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) regarding the planning, development, and implementation of the project required under subsection (a).(e)Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop a plan for the project required under subsection (a) that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set forth under subsection (b).218.Modernization of NWS alerting systems(a)Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Director of the National Weather Service shall improve the accessibility, onboarding, and functionality of National Weather Service alerting services, such as the Interactive National Weather Service or any successor system.(b)In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary shall consult with core partners, including public safety officials, schools, camps, and outdoor recreation providers.(c)The improvements required under this section shall include—(1)enhanced access to geographically targeted severe weather notifications through existing communication channels, including text and email;(2)the ability to integrate the National Weather Service alerts into external communication systems through application programming interfaces, or similar tools; and(3)enhancements to existing platforms and services to better support core partners responsible for public safety.
IIICommercial weather and environmental observations301.Section 302 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8532) is amended to read as follows:302.(a)It is the sense of Congress that operational data acquired by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Commercial Data Program established under subsection (b) that supports life and property should be licensed for free, unrestricted, and open redistribution to serve the public, scientific, and commercial sectors.(b)The Under Secretary, in coordination with the heads of appropriate offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall maintain a program, to be known as the Commercial Data Program
, to coordinate and execute acquisition of weather and environmental data and services from private sector entities for operational use.(c)The Under Secretary may acquire satellite, ground-based, airborne, or marine-based in situ, remote sensing, or crowd-sourced data and services for operational use relating to weather and environmental forecasting and modeling.(d)Coordination and collaborationThe Under Secretary shall ensure the Commercial Data Program coordinates, collaborates, and ensures access to data across the Administration, including among the following:(1)The National Mesonet Program.(2)The Aircraft Based Observation Program.(3)The National Integrated Drought Information System, including the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.(4)The National Integrated Flood Information System.(5)The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observation Program, including existing regional associations. (6)The Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program.(7)The National Data Buoy Center.(8)The Uncrewed Systems Operation Center.(9)The Ocean Exploration Program.(10)Any other program or office the Under Secretary determines appropriate.(e)Standards and specificationsNot later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 and on a continuous basis thereafter, the Under Secretary shall publish data, metadata, and service standards and specifications required for acquired observation services and data for use, licensing, and attribution to ensure quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.(f)In acquiring data and services from private sector entities, the Under Secretary shall prioritize obtaining surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and services for operational use from entities that participate in the Commercial Data Pilot Program under section 303 or other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that acquire commercial data or observations.(g)NOAA Observing Systems and Fleet Councils(1)The Under Secretary shall maintain the Observing Systems Council, or successor program, and the Fleet Council of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this subsection collectively referred to as the Councils
) to provide strategic recommendations and guidance regarding the prioritization, design, development, acquisition, upgrading, lifecycle, performance monitoring, and retiring of major components of observing systems and portfolios, including related to the acquisition of commercial weather and environmental data and services.(2)The Councils shall ensure coordination and adherence to uniform policies by providing guidance to all line offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration engaged in observing systems portfolio design, technology, development, execution, and operation.(h)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements relating to the following:(1)The purchase of weather and environmental data and services through contracts with private sector data and service providers.(2)The placement of weather instruments on co-hosted Federal, international, or private space, airborne, maritime, or ground platforms.(i)The Under Secretary shall establish or designate at least one Ombudsman position within the Commercial Data Program to implement the recommendations of the Observing Systems Council under subsection (g) related to commercial weather and environmental data and services acquisitions. Such an Ombudsman shall act as the liaison between private sector data and service providers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with respect to receiving recommendations and resolving issues related to engagement, testing, contracting, or other areas related to the Administration’s efforts to acquire commercial weather and environmental data and services.(j)Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the activities and needed authorities related to data governance and management practices, including acquisition, collection, documentation, quality control, validation, reprocessing, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and long-term preservation activities across all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration line, staff, and corporate offices.(k)If the Under Secretary determines that the data described in subsection (b) cannot be made accessible for free, unrestricted, and open redistribution under licensing agreements, the Under Secretary shall—(1)provide a briefing to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 45 days after each such determination, that includes—(A)a description of the data covered by the determination;(B)the justification for such determination, including any impacts on operational performance, mission requirements, cost effectiveness, cybersecurity, latency, continuity of operations, or data quality requirements; and(C)a description of any limitations on access, use, or redistribution of such data, and, if practicable, estimated costs to remove those limitations; and(2)submit an annual report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate that includes—(A)a comprehensive analysis of the cumulative information provided from all briefings under paragraph (1); and(B)an assessment of the availability of alternative data sources and whether such data sources would degrade operational capability or mission performance..302.Commercial Data Pilot ProgramSection 303 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8533) is amended to read as follows:303.Commercial Data Pilot Program(a)Within the Commercial Data Program under section 302, there shall be, to the maximum extent practicable, a pilot program, to be known as the Commercial Data Pilot Program
, to engage with external partners and providers to test and develop shared standards and methodologies for quality, use, licensing, and attribution of observation services and data, and to ensure quality, impact, and compatibility of such services and data with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration modeling capabilities, meteorological situational awareness, and forecasting.(b)Authorization for test and evaluationThe Commercial Data Pilot Program is authorized to test and evaluate all sources and types of observation services, imagery, products, and data from private sector entities, including new and innovative surface-based, airborne-based, space-based, and coastal- and ocean-based data, metadata, and model components.(c)The Under Secretary shall ensure that data acquired through the Commercial Data Pilot Program meet the most recent standards and specifications, as published pursuant to section 302(e), required for observation services and data.(d)The Under Secretary shall, through an open competition, regularly enter into pilot contracts with private sector entities capable of providing observation services and data referred to in subsection (a) that meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(e) for providing such services and data in a manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate such services and data for use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.(e)The Under Secretary shall annually assess and submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a summary of the pilot contracts entered into pursuant to subsection (d), an assessment of the extent to which such contracts meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(e), and any additional information determined necessary related to the following:(1)The viability of assimilating observation data and integrating services from private sector entities into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.(2)The expected value added or improvements from such services and data if assimilated into models and integrated into National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts and models.(3)The accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining observation services and data from private sector entities.(4)If the Under Secretary determines it is viable to assimilate observation data and integrate such services into the forecasts and models of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, not later than 1 year after the date of the determination, the steps to integrate such services and data into operational use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and any associated challenges in doing so.(f)If an assessment under subsection (e) demonstrates the ability of services and data from private sector entities to meet the standards and specifications published pursuant to section 302(e), the Under Secretary shall—(1)when cost effective and feasible, obtain observation services and data from private sector entities through the Commercial Data Program under section 302, provided such services and data are consistent with mission requirements and continuity of operations;(2)as early as possible in the acquisition process for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite system, determine whether there is a suitable cost effective, commercial capability available or that will be available to meet applicable instrument, spacecraft, or system requirements before completion of the critical design phase of such planned satellite system;(3)if the Under Secretary determines under paragraph (2) that a suitable cost effective, commercial capability is or will be available, determine whether and how such capability is in the national interest if developed as a solely governmental system; and(4)submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing any determinations made under paragraphs (2) and (3)..303.Contracting authority and avoidance of duplicationTitle III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:304.Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication(a)Consistent with the authorities of other Federal departments and agencies that contract and partner with private sector entities, including under section 3903 of title 41, United States Code, the Under Secretary is authorized to use contracting mechanisms and enter into agreements that use multiyear contract options. In carrying out sections 302 and 303, the Under Secretary shall, to the greatest extent possible—(1)enter into year-long or multiyear contracts using contracting mechanisms that foster resiliency of service and data purchased;(2)partner and contract with multiple observation service and data providers simultaneously to reduce risks of data gaps and improve mission robustness; and(3)use authorities, such as additional forms of transaction agreements under section 301(d), that allow for innovative partnerships with private sector entities.(b)Nothing in this title may be construed as infringing on the acquisition authority or strategy of Federal entities authorized under title 10, United States Code.(c)In meeting the requirements under this title, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnecessary duplication between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, and private sector entities, including relating to corresponding expenditures of funds and employment of personnel by—(1)coordinating existing activities with other civilian Federal departments and agencies that provide, contract, or partner with private sector entities to acquire weather and environmental observations and data; and(2)coordinating and soliciting weather and environmental observations and data requirements and needs from other civilian Federal departments and agencies to be acquired by the Commercial Data Program under section 302.(d)Fair compensation for interagency needsThe Under Secretary, to the maximum extent practicable, shall ensure that Federal departments and agencies utilizing services and data under sections 302 and 303 fairly compensate the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the non-Federal entities providing such services or data, as appropriate, for use..304.Data assimilation, management, and sharing practicesTitle III of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as amended by section 303 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:305.Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices(a)The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the weather enterprise, shall seek to establish consistent and open data and metadata standards to support open science, including simple cloud-optimized data formats and application programming interfaces that support findability, accessibility, usability, and preservability.(b)(1)The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Chief Information Officer and appropriate program heads, shall consolidate and arrange data infrastructure needs to ensure efficient and effective data transfer between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offices by considering the use of commercial cloud technologies, or similar hybrid structures, to host and transmit data and metadata.(2)In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may partner with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the United States Space Force, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Forest Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological Survey, to co-locate data with joint utility and support a transition to cloud architectures, including commercial cloud networks.(3)The Under Secretary shall ensure the long-term management, maintenance, and stewardship of archival data and metadata acquired through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 is conducted within the National Centers for Environmental Information.(c)Data sharing with the weather enterprise(1)To the greatest extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall—(A)continue to ensure the delivery of data through sound and robust infrastructure, such as data sharing capabilities of the industry proving grounds that collaboratively develop and test tailored products and services for the private sector; and(B)make accessible to members of the weather enterprise data that is—(i)not subject to redistribution contract permissions; or(ii)purchased through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 or shared through international government partners.(2)Data assimilated into models or forecastsIf data described in paragraph (1)(B) are required to be assimilated into numerical weather prediction models or automated forecast guidance to satisfy terms of a redistribution contract, the Under Secretary shall make accessible without delay the numerical weather prediction model or automated forecast guidance output, as the case may be.(d)(1)The Under Secretary, in coordination with the Commercial Data Program under section 302, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, the National Centers for Environmental Information, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and any other relevant offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a program to test, advance, and implement data assimilation methods, which may include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data pre- and post-processing, efficient input and output, and next-generation algorithms.(2)Data assimilation university consortium(A)Through the program established pursuant to paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall establish a consortium consisting of institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to address critical research challenges for data assimilation and foster a growing data assimilation workforce.(B)The consortium established under subparagraph (A) shall seek—(i)to solve critical research issues relating to data assimilation through innovative research;(ii)to increase significantly the number of students, including graduate-level students, in data assimilation;(iii)to use modern software and frameworks, such as the Joint Effort for Data Assimilation Integration, or emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, to conduct data assimilation research and development and facilitate research-to-operations efforts to improve weather modeling and prediction;(iv)to identify and prioritize critical research areas in data assimilation and facilitate operations-to-research efforts;(v)to establish and enable an effective collaboration infrastructure between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration facilities, such as laboratories, centers, or joint agency institutes, and the research community, including a mechanism for external partners to host Administration employees; and(vi)to establish mechanisms to enable all members of the consortium to archive and access data required to support the work under this subsection.(3)In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its associated activities focus on research-to-operations and operations-to-research efforts, including by coordinating and collaborating with the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation.(4)Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices securityThe activities authorized under this subsection shall be conducted in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (division B of Public Law 117–167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).(e)(1)Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Under Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, seek to enter into an agreement with a non-Federal entity to conduct a study on matters concerning data practices and management needs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(2)In conducting the study under paragraph (1), the outside entity shall—(A)assess the costs and benefits of current data management needs for observational and operational mission requirements;(B)develop recommendations regarding how to make the data portfolio of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration more robust and cost effective;(C)identify data infrastructure technologies and needs that are essential to the performance of modeling systems of the Administration;(D)assess the sharing needs and practices of the Administration for both internal and external dissemination;(E)develop recommendations for methods of data infrastructure sharing, including data purchased from the commercial sector; and(F)develop recommendations for data standards, formats, and protocols to support artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.(3)Authorization of appropriationsThere is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out the study under paragraph (1) to remain available until expended..305.The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended by striking the items relating to sections 302 and 303 and inserting the following:Sec. 302. Commercial Data Program.Sec. 303. Commercial Data Pilot Program.Sec. 304. Contracting authority and avoidance of duplication.Sec. 305. Data assimilation, management, and sharing practices..
(b) Weather ready all hazards award program
IVCommunicating weather to the public401.In this title:(1)Hazardous weather or water eventsThe term hazardous weather or water events means weather or water events that have a high risk of loss of life or property, including the following:(A)Severe storms, such as hurricanes and short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods.(B)Winter storms, such as freezing or frozen precipitation (including freezing rain, sleet, and snow), or combined effects of freezing or frozen precipitation and strong winds.(C)Other weather hazards, such as extreme heat or cold, wildfire, drought, dense fog, high winds, and river, coastal, or lakeshore flooding.(2)Institution of higher educationThe term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).(3)The term public cloud means an information technology model in which service providers make computing services, including compute and storage and develop-and-deploy environments and applications, available on-demand to organizations and individuals over the public internet or other means that allows for the widest dissemination of information.(4)(A)The terms watch and warning, with respect to a hazardous weather or water event, mean products issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, intended for consumption by the general public, to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of such event and to inform action to prevent loss of life or property.(B)The terms watch and warning do not include technical or specialized meteorological or hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.402.Hazardous weather or water event risk communication(a)The Under Secretary shall maintain and improve the system of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration by which the risks of hazardous weather or water events are communicated to the general public, with the goal of informing action and encouraging response to prevent loss of life and property.(b)Hazard risk communication improvement and simplification(1)The Under Secretary shall maintain a hazard risk communication program (in this subsection referred to as the program
), for the purposes of simplifying and improving the communication of hazardous weather or water event risks.(2)The program, in coordination with social, behavioral, risk communication, and economic science community and user feedback, shall identify, eliminate, or modify unnecessary, redundant, or confusing terms for hazardous weather or water event communications and add new terminology, as appropriate.(3)Communications improvementThe program shall improve the form, content, and methods of communications of hazardous weather or water events to more clearly inform action and increase the likelihood that the public takes such action to prevent the loss of life or property.(4)The program shall, in coordination with the performance branch of the National Weather Service, develop metrics for that branch to track and evaluate the degree to which communications of hazardous weather or water events inform action and encourage response.(5)The program shall develop a plan for the purpose of supporting the activities described in paragraph (3). The plan shall be periodically updated and informed by internal and extramural research and the results of the evaluation of communications of hazardous weather or water events conducted under paragraph (4).(6)In carrying out this subsection, the program shall develop and implement recommendations that—(A)are based on the best and most recent understanding from social, behavioral, risk, and communication science research;(B)are validated by social, behavioral, risk, and communication science, taking into account the importance of methods that support reproduction and replication of scientific studies, use of rigorous statistical analyses, and, as applicable, data analysis supported by artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;(C)account for the needs of various demographics and geographic regions;(D)account for the differences between various types of weather and water hazards;(E)respond to the needs of Federal, State, and local government partners and media partners;(F)account for necessary changes in the infrastructure, technology, and protocols for creating and disseminating Federally operated watches and warnings;(G)account for artificial intelligence capabilities, including models specifically trained on weather terminology, that enable efficient and accurate communication to the public; and(H)account for the need for enhanced or earlier communication of a hazardous weather event to inform action and encourage response when the event impacts a geographic area where the event is historically abnormal.(7)The program shall coordinate with—(A)Federal partners, including National Laboratories, cooperative institutes, and regional integrated sciences and assessments programs;(B)State and local government partners;(C)Indian tribes;(D)institutions of higher education; and(E)media partners.(8)Timeliness and consistencyThe program shall develop best practices and guidance for ensuring timely and consistent communication across public-facing platforms that disseminate hazardous weather or water event information.(c)Weather coordination meteorologistSection 405 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8545) is amended—(1)in subsection (a)(1), by inserting and one warning coordination meteorologist at the National Centers for Environmental Information
after weather forecast office of the National Weather Service
; (2)in subsection (c)(1), by striking , consistent with the analysis described in section 409,
; and(3)in subsection (c)(1)(A)—(A)by inserting or, if not employed at a weather forecast office, to the area or functions assigned by the Director,
after employed
; and(B)by striking National Weather Service
and inserting National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
.403.Hazard communication research and engagement(a)The Under Secretary may maintain, as appropriate, a program to—(1)modernize the development and communication of risk-based, statistically reliable, probabilistic hazard information, with the goal of informing appropriate responses to hazardous weather or water events; and(2)improve the fundamental social, behavioral, and economic science relating to communications, including by means of collecting voluntary data, regarding hazardous weather or water events.(b)In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall coordinate and communicate with—(1)States, Tribal governments, localities, and emergency managers regarding research priorities and results; and (2)the private sector, as appropriate.(c)Pilot program for tornado hazard communications(1)The Under Secretary, in coordination with the VORTEX–USA program under section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513), as amended by section 103 of this Act, and in collaboration with 1 or more eligible institutions (or consortia thereof), shall establish a pilot program for tornado hazard communications to test incorporation of research into operations with respect to tornadoes.(2)Amounts under the pilot program under paragraph (1) shall be awarded to eligible institutions through a merit-based competitive process.(3)Eligible institution definedIn this subsection, the term eligible institution means any of the following:(A)An institution that is frequently subjected to severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods.(B)An institution of higher education in close proximity to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.(d)Study for hurricane hazard communication(1)The Under Secretary, in coordination with the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514), as amended by section 104 of this Act, and in collaboration with 1 or more eligible institutions (or consortia thereof), shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity, as determined by the Under Secretary, to conduct a study using a mixed methods approach, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews, to gather information from hurricane-prone population areas regarding the levels of preparedness of such areas for hurricanes or in response to early forecasts and warnings of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(2)The pilot study required under paragraph (1) shall evaluate the following:(A)Possession of disaster supplies.(B)Evacuation decisions.(C)Levels of trust of tropical cyclone information and hurricane path prediction from various sources.(D)Access to tropical cyclone and hurricane forecasts and warnings in the first language of each individual interviewed as part of the pilot study.(E)Any reasoning or deliberation by the individuals interviewed as part of the pilot study that may hinder the ability or willingness of the individuals to evacuate.(3)The Under Secretary shall publish the methodology of the study described in paragraph (1) on a publicly accessible website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.(4)Eligible institution definedIn this subsection, the term eligible institution means any of the following:(A)An institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other institution located in a jurisdiction eligible to participate in the program under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).(B)An institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other institution located in proximity to a Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.(e)Hurricane social, behavioral, and economic sciences(1)The Under Secretary shall carry out research and development activities to improve how the public receives, interprets, responds to, and values hurricane forecasts and warnings.(2)In conducting activities under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall—(A)consider the results from the study carried out under subsection (d);(B)conduct a comprehensive review of the manner by which the public receives, interprets, responds to, and makes decisions regarding hurricane forecasts and warnings, including—(i)how weather observations, downstream models, and processes affect the decision tools or products derived from hurricane forecasts and warnings;(ii)how hurricane forecasts and warnings generated by decision tools and products are used by emergency managers, governments, and other users to benefit the public and stakeholder groups;(iii)how past experiences with hurricanes impact the decision making of the general public;(iv)how the source of such hurricane forecasts and warnings affects interpretation;(v)how tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings are received and interpreted by the general public;(vi)how understanding of and response to hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across demographic groups, including the elderly and people with disabilities;(vii)the effect of language barriers on the accessibility of hurricane forecasts and warnings; and(viii)how understanding of and response to such hurricane forecasts and warnings varies across geographic areas, including rural, urban, and suburban areas;(C)identify communication data gaps based on the review conducted pursuant to subparagraph (B);(D)carry out research, including data collection and baseline assessments, in coordination with the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514), as amended by section 104 of this Act, to evaluate and quantify the economic value of extending lead times of tropical cyclone and hurricane forecasts and watches and warnings;(E)use the post-storm surveys, in addition to studies and assessments conducted under section 406 of this Act, to conduct retrospective or ex ante assessments of previous hurricane forecasts and warnings to better understand the key components of such forecasts and watches and warnings that affected actions or initiated behavior changes;(F)conduct cost-benefit analyses of forecasts and watches and warnings improvement alternatives developed through the hurricane forecast improvement program under section 104 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8514), as amended by section 104 of this Act; and(G)identify and conduct assessments of the risk to the elderly for pre-, during, and post-storm periods in regions and communities with significant elderly populations, including retirement communities.404.(a)The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:<enum>VII</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">NOAA Weather Radio</header><section id="idfdc348fa3e8240869f921bb33bac884e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>701.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">NOAA Weather Radio</header><subsection id="id28f1339b8eb0485095f0f7f416a0a0a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish or maintain a nationwide weather radio network, to be known as <quote>NOAA Weather Radio</quote>, that—</text><paragraph id="id3ca72253c8ae44e68b5b27b25091bf5c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">broadcasts weather information, including emergency weather watches, warnings, information regarding geological hazards, and other hazard information;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2fb8a6b4dd804a82a9712d4811a242ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfa193f7e63a74c63bbc40de96529a271" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is resilient to emergency hazards, such as loss of power and cellular service.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf006b53e43364371ac720bda19507906" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coverage and reliability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure the reliability of NOAA Weather Radio by—</text><paragraph id="id2e12f8bdf3fe470dad7bbf2d8fd1fb31" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintaining support for existing systems before any new technology is implemented, especially those serving areas not covered by or having poor quality cellular service; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4fe65098e08d4111ad174ee91cddb09a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensuring consistent maintenance and operations monitoring, with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site equipment and antennas, including transmitter site equipment and antennas located in remote areas subject to an elevated risk of severe weather events.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0c184aabc7b9491eb98f66554155449c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Modernization initiative</header><paragraph id="ida51b29d728bf454d90c7045fb4cfe5db" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, the Under Secretary shall expand the coverage of and modernize NOAA Weather Radio to ensure it remains valuable to the public, including by—</text><subparagraph id="id2b7c149a6a354956bd04470bbbe8c5f9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improving those methods of communicating the risks posed by hazardous weather or water events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision making regarding the mitigation of such risks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a85d5da3c7f4bb69404cb63fcda86ba" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improving communication of hazardous weather warnings and the urgency of such warnings to areas that experience a high frequency of such warnings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf5e97a3c9e9b497dbd345699543e59bd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enhancing the ability to amplify non-weather emergency messages for the integrated public alert and warning system, or successor system, under section 1756 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/321o-1">6 U.S.C. 321o–1</external-xref>) through NOAA Weather Radio, as necessary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf6d012b490dd4422bf7e281eb73e16cc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">acquiring additional transmitters as determined appropriate to expand coverage to—</text><clause id="id2c769be99f6f4bf89b482ad2cfa5b1ea" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">areas at high risk for rapid onset weather disasters that require short-fuse warnings;</text></clause><clause id="idcb98dc2b32104e35bd4cd28056ed47ca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">communities without—</text><subclause id="id7a9222ad818a4261bd8c91e2102e937c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mobile broadband internet access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) and as depicted by a map created under section 802(c)(1)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/47/642">47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)(C)</external-xref>);</text></subclause><subclause id="idf6ecdf41b6d64af2bc49067842a6951f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">State or local emergency warning systems; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id5b0dfc269cca489a980b20c929d184cb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">satellite service; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id6297c1ecfeb543249ef6d8c9c6ae1653" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal lands, such as land in the National Park System or the National Forest System and National Recreation Areas;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4b235b985d9b4657868144e8c738f897" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">adding the capability to disseminate NOAA Weather Radio alerts—</text><clause id="id99bd41efff6a4309a47405dc64dd7777" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by satellite; or</text></clause><clause id="id00715809250745798e1342f5f4f74b31" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">through the cloud or by means of any other emerging technology that satisfies the requirements of this section; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide8711929e0004b149a1e4bca6c52ed3a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conducting research and development to modernize geographically specific warnings, including expanding NOAA Weather Radio capabilities for geographic specificity, such as partial county alerting.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ideb5d1c50f5a541baa34b63a97c385066" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="id73fbba9b57c84d97bf58fb961a9baad5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">upgrade telecommunications infrastructure of NOAA Weather Radio to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based communications over non-copper media;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc15d653930d14ca8bdf046be7167d982" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accelerate software upgrades to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or any relevant system successors, in order to implement partial county notifications and alerts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8412659be66347ee95f7a391ccb78f76" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enhance accessibility and usability of data and feeds of NOAA Weather Radio with feedback from relevant stakeholders, including the private sector;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb1ce4a11456145cc8c9e102924e83edd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop options, including satellite backup capability and commercial provider partnerships, for continuity of service of NOAA Weather Radio in the event of an outage at a weather forecast office;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc76a99a7919447ebb3c3ca377ed42918" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research and develop alternative options to transmit NOAA Weather Radio signals to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet protocol capability;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba0ba5cb60774c438a35e763bcc6a124" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">transition critical applications to the Integrated Dissemination Program, or any relevant program successors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01c6c52a2144429c9984bd04c9192549" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">prohibit the purchase of equipment for upgrades for NOAA Weather Radio from companies or entities based in a foreign country of concern (as such term is defined in section 10638 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/19237">42 U.S.C. 19237</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddd5ccaabf6eb443f8a9823a1f02d95e9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work with the General Services Administration, and other relevant agencies, to develop new, alternative, or updated expedited mechanisms to secure priority space capacity, such as leased land and tower space, for NOAA Weather Radio critical infrastructure, including transmitters and antennas that are best suited for the national security and public safety missions of NOAA Weather Radio; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id75612171d19145ddacf4316170ab8125" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish minimum continuity-of-service standards for NOAA Weather Radio transmitters serving areas subject to an elevated risk of severe weather events.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id23bf94e3417b43cd9575dc9a37b2e527" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall prioritize practices, capabilities, and technologies recommended in accordance with the assessment under subsection (d) to maximize the accessibility of NOAA Weather Radio, particularly in areas of the United States described in paragraph (1)(D)(i).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8177c00981ff4678bed8c79dbfcbb44b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assessment for management and distribution</header><paragraph id="id524a30f0970d4cbb9f9b14634e81c347" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Under Secretary shall complete an assessment of access to NOAA Weather Radio.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2718f70013364269946355d7d8580ae5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the assessment required under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall take into consideration and provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate recommendations regarding the following:</text><subparagraph id="id1a7928ab1f344764bc06fa44bb297265" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Input from relevant stakeholders within the weather enterprise including third-party platforms that provide online services, such as websites and mobile device applications.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfff3cd185f804a81a067d1fe274d0e88" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The manner by which existing or new Administration management systems may promote consistent, efficient, and compatible access to NOAA Weather Radio.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5f1d415601784b7994de607f24c0f042" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to aggregate real-time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations, as a redundancy to the broadcast feed from the nearest weather forecast office.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id43f7208b0e4d480797b4a49efe704efe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective coordination between agencies with responsibilities relating to emergencies and natural disasters.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide9cb9e69ae83418c867db52e177934ae" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on NOAA Weather Radio.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide3985489c01a45e0952f7db8d4e2c5a7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short-fuse warning defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section the term <term>short-fuse warning</term> means a warning issued for a local weather hazard of relatively short duration, such as a tornado, severe thunderstorm, or flash flood.</text></subsection><subsection id="id122d30c2a02344b8a6fe20a105b050e1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary—</text><paragraph id="id9b71328743184c6ab70756b4c1593c4f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, $25,000,000 to operate NOAA Weather Radio under subsections (a) and (b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddef979d4b9dc42749ed6eb886fe3bfe8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for fiscal year 2027, $100,000,000, which shall remain available until expended, to carry out subsections (c) and (d).</text></paragraph></subsection></section>Section 407 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<a href=http://uscode.house.gov/quicksearch/get.plx?title=15§ion=8546>15 U.S.C. 8546</a>) is—</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(1) transferred to title VII of that Act, as added by subsection (a);</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(2) inserted after section 701 of that Act, as added by subsection (a); and</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(3) redesignated as section 702.</p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em">(c) Clerical amendments - The table of contents for the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 is amended—</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(1) by striking the item relating to section 407; and</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(2) by adding at the end the following:</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">TITLE VII—NOAA Weather Radio Sec. 701. NOAA Weather Radio.Sec. 702. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program.<h4 id = "id1f2f79ae17ec4a92b8f7dd19b8bc1429" style = "padding-left: 0em">405. National standards for weather warning systems in flash flood zones </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(a) In general - Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, shall support the development of standards for flash flood emergency alert systems within the 100-year floodplain (as defined in section 100202(a) of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (<a href=http://uscode.house.gov/quicksearch/get.plx?title=42§ion=4004>42 U.S.C. 4004(a)</a>)).</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(b) Requirements - If the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology supports the development of standards under subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology shall ensure that such standards—</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(1) meet the needs of communities without—</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(A) mobile broadband internet access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) and as depicted by a map created under section 802(c)(1)(C) of the Communications Act of 1934 (<a href=http://uscode.house.gov/quicksearch/get.plx?title=47§ion=642>47 U.S.C. 642(c)(1)(C)</a>);</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(B) State or local emergency warning systems; or</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(C) satellite service; and</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(2) will result in reliable flash flood emergency alert systems, with respect to a 100-year floodplain referred to in subsection (a), especially during hazardous events.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(c) Report required - If the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology supports the development of standards and appropriations are sufficient to carry out subsection (a), the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology shall, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that includes a summary of such standards developed under subsection (a).<h4 id = "id0A2F701E271A421C90AC817C49024637" style = "padding-left: 0em">406. Post-storm surveys and assessments </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(a) In general - The Under Secretary shall perform 1 or more post-storm surveys and assessments following every hazardous weather or water event determined by the Under Secretary to be of sufficient societal importance to warrant a post-event survey and assessment.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(b) Coordination - The Under Secretary shall coordinate with Federal, State, and local governments, private entities, and relevant institutions of higher education (or a consortium thereof) when conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section to optimize data collection, sharing, integration, archiving, and access, as appropriate for research needs.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(c) Data availability - The Under Secretary shall make the appropriate data obtained from each post-storm survey or assessment conducted under this section available to the public as soon as practicable after conducting each such survey or assessment.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(d) Improvement - In carrying out this section, the Under Secretary shall—</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(1) examine the role of uncrewed aerial and marine systems in data collection during post-storm surveys and assessments conducted under this section;</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(2) identify gaps in tactics and procedures and update such tactics and procedures to enhance the efficiency and reliability of data obtained from post-storm surveys and assessments;</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(3) to the maximum extent practicable, increase the number of post-storm community impact studies, particularly among under-observed populations or populations that experience disproportionate impacts from hazardous weather that threatens life and property, including—</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(A) surveying individual responses;</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(B) conducting review of the accuracy of prior risk evaluations;</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(C) evaluating the efficacy of prior mitigation activity; and</p><p style = "margin-left: 4.5em">(D) gathering survivability statistics; and</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(4) as appropriate, integrate social, behavioral, and economic sciences elements into existing post-storm surveys and assessments, including elements related to the efficacy of forecast and warning information that was shared with the public, barriers that affected the ability of the public to take action, and any challenges with respect to messaging about the hazardous weather or water event.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(e) Support for employees - The Under Secretary shall provide access to training, resources, and professional counseling to support the mental health of employees conducting post-storm surveys and assessments under this section.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(f) Exemption - Subchapter I of <a href=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title44-chapter35-front&num=0&edition=prelim>chapter 35</a> of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during a post-storm survey or assessment conducted under this section.<h4 id = "id04015611DE2946F4A70A127228D7C7F0" style = "padding-left: 0em">407. Government Accountability Office report on alert dissemination for hazardous weather or water events </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(a) In general - Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that examines the information technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service, specifically regarding the system for timely public notification via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(b) Elements - The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(1) An analysis of the information technology infrastructure of the National Weather Service, including software and hardware capabilities and limitations, including an examination of server and data storage methods, broadband, data management, and data sharing.</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(2) An identification of secondary and tertiary fail-safes for the timely distribution to the public of notifications via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events.</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(3) A determination of the extent to which public notifications via alerts and updates regarding hazardous weather or water events have been delayed and an identification of possible improvements or corrective measures to address delays in the notification process.</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(4) An assessment of whether collaboration with other Federal departments and agencies, States, or private entities could reduce delays in notifications to the public.</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(5) A description of actions being undertaken to better identify critical steps in public notification via alerts and updates for hazardous weather or water events that may be vulnerable to disruption or failure in the event of communication, technological, or computational failure.</p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">(6) The geographical differences in availability and effectiveness of rural systems, including an estimated number of rural areas affected by unreliable or unavailable systems and barriers to obtain or upgrade such systems.<h4 id = "id68B6A05FE37349BB8A9A7FE7BDB8B2C7" style = "padding-left: 0em">408. Data collection, management, and protection </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(a) Data collection - The Under Secretary may collect social, behavioral, and economic data, including data relating to Federal communication of hazardous weather or water events and the public response to such communications. Where appropriate, the Under Secretary shall encourage the collection of secondary data, purchase data, or partner with the private sector to obtain data.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(b) Data management - The Under Secretary shall establish and maintain a central repository system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for data related to the communication of and related public response to hazardous weather or water events, including data developed or received pursuant to this title.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(c) Protection of data - The Under Secretary shall ensure that data is collected, managed, and used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in accordance with legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations, including <a href=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title44-chapter31-front&num=0&edition=prelim>chapter 31</a> of title 44, United States Code, and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (<a href=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ435/pdf/PLAW-115publ435.pdf>Public Law 115–435</a>).</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(d) Digital watermarking - The Under Secretary shall develop methods to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized tampering with online public notifications of hazardous weather or water events, such as developing digital watermarks.</p><p style = "margin-left: 1.5em">(e) Policies and procedures - The Under Secretary shall establish policies and procedures for the collection, archiving, and managing of data related to community response, including the response of affected populations, to hazardous weather or water events.<h4 id = "H3A238342C21B4E71B455E2CBBF8BFA7C" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>V</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving weather information for agriculture and water management</header><section id="id5df1cbfcff214fd7a463c58b050c607a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>501.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Weather information for agriculture and water management</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8521">15 U.S.C. 8521</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idac1cf488bacb4cbe80f471af5bb742ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce6c6037da764badb95178d6b19b19a9"><subsection commented="no" id="id121f80843ad44d77a5f6ba6c2b1f6dda" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="idc07910d1e8774062bf29768b60bdc541" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct and support research to improve understanding of subseasonal to seasonal predictability for temperature, precipitation, and other Earth system variables and applications;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd697a06bdd8543238998c466755cb508" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">collect and use data to make usable, reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal to seasonal temperature and precipitation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id792af5c7b01040a288103e42dcff4861" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support the advancement of multi-model ensemble forecast systems and forecast verification and evaluation capacity, including by—</text><subparagraph id="id4df9abffca7d4817acfeecbf6375dfc5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">developing advanced coupled data assimilation methods using robust Earth system observational data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcb49ddb7761940cfa34ac9fe83d97f8b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">developing improved coupled subseasonal to seasonal ensemble prediction systems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67869c04efbf49beacde2a1aabc8d143" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improving exchanges and interactions between datasets across different models and Earth system observations to increase model accuracy of local relationships between and drivers of ocean, land, snow, and ice observations; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9198d351ad0144ce811f59ee5bc06484" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">developing data management strategies to support operations and research activities;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id05774003b3c64b049e195d3da88f8c00" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">leverage existing research and models from the weather and Earth system enterprises to improve the forecasts under paragraph (2);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53f9a9812bab4bb081c46f0da5c7f24f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accelerate the operationalization of emerging modeling technologies developed to support and assist the cross development of fully coupled subseasonal to seasonal forecast systems, including during collaborations with other agencies and entities; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideb7b2fda9e154f5f8ff0f654509023ef" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine and provide information on how subseasonal to seasonal temperature and precipitation may relate to—</text><subparagraph id="id977262201d9e49ebaaabf4020779c165" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">droughts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4cb039f1b799477aa2ba6dc675ecb0ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id73786e20b7384b72a59dc96df930e7fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">tornadoes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8ac4833eb96462192570b6cc6eb1213" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">hurricanes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idccc72f0da2744f6d82a9ad48b1335bdf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">floods, storm surges, and coastal inundation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2eb0bc88084646e7aedb422c66d5e781" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">heat waves and marine heat waves;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34b3fe195bd64932a3cb3c7dcec180a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">winter storms, snowpack, and permafrost thaw;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idea5398e780ca4844b04008fd3fde80d8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sea ice conditions; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id633a93064c3b45789d34c5b658cf983f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other high impact weather or relevant weather disasters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1cfef3b5ed214348b04b47e61d243be3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2e943383dfd84254859ceb2dadf2210b"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>paragraph (1)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (2)</quote>; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcfe9f16bf393421ea483e4fd648718a3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>paragraph (3)</quote> and inserting <quote>paragraph (6)</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id54c8d690007849b3a6889869fb214baa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id395fd3c934dd43caa5436ea50bdb7a8c"><subsection id="id6f1914d529fa4e0481a03354ab8df2ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subseasonal to seasonal forecasting pilot projects</header><paragraph id="idf8ef61773cc5452d9811ca68fe47b126" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish not fewer than 2 pilot projects, in accordance with paragraph (2), within the United States Weather Research Program of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support improved subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasts for water and agriculture management in the western and central United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id03e319f0144f4cc59f6c6afd8a8133ab" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Objectives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure the following:</text><subparagraph id="idd25c65ee904a494795c6dc966fc2e679" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A pilot project under paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to improving forecasts and developing related products for water management in the western and central United States, including the following:</text><clause id="id3961d03119c245a9b12e477d2291c394" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving operational model resolution, both horizontal and vertical, to resolve issues associated with mountainous terrain, such as intensity of precipitation and relative fraction of rain versus snow precipitation.</text></clause><clause id="id211c532a2d0f4e54a67d2fd370bff1b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving modeling of interstate or cross-boundary water movement and storage through rivers, tributaries, and aquifers with relation to water availability.</text></clause><clause id="id9580f92199174934a0de7f94be862c6c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer in mountainous regions.</text></clause><clause id="idddb6d0791f79415fb15976d7da384c84" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Resolving challenges in predicting winter atmospheric circulation and storm tracks, including periods of blocked versus unblocked flow over the eastern North Pacific Ocean and western United States.</text></clause><clause id="id07b947d2eb5d4c11b3cf51dced053184" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Utilizing outcomes from the atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program under section 205 of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title> and the precipitation forecast improvement program under section 603 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to produce operational tools and services.</text></clause><clause id="idb03848a3fece461b8d9f1da2e6568dd3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving the quality and temporal and spatial resolution of observations and accurate operational modeling of air-sea interactions, and the influence of oceans on subseasonal to seasonal forecasting.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idffea24497a834fd1bca3ab12b2c3ffdb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A pilot project under paragraph (1) addresses key science challenges to improving forecasts and developing related products for agriculture in the central United States, including the following:</text><clause id="idddca3cd5bd6f44578519cde0642404c0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving the quality and temporal and spatial resolution of observations and accurate operational modeling of the land surface and hydrologic cycle, including soil moisture and flash drought processes.</text></clause><clause id="id063fdf9535f84c1eb13b297f12e3a484" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving fidelity in the operational modeling of warm season precipitation processes.</text></clause><clause id="id5db0bb0e7c5d4fcab92d9d98e6bbf627" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Understanding and predicting large-scale upper-level dynamical flow anomalies that occur in spring and summer.</text></clause><clause id="id1ac660e605a14c58bebba402404773fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving modeling of interstate or cross-boundary water movement and storage through rivers, tributaries, and aquifers with relation to water availability for agriculture.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfea24adc18c4352af22e62f7574a72b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A pilot project under this subsection shall include activities that—</text><subparagraph id="id7c2ce132afc049028d96b352ea2a92b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">implement the recommendations of the 2020 Report of the National Weather Service, entitled <quote>Subseasonal and Seasonal Forecasting Innovation: Plans for the Twenty-First Century</quote>, as appropriate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7eb4e7f494ef4657baf6fbac2ff490ca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">achieve measurable objectives for operational forecast improvement; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id326798377ffd46dfb43503105e5b7ad5"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are carried out in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id663a73b1dc63437d806da3b032bb7055" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sunset</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The authority under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title>.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idf685bcc58f734ea6b4bb23725f63e801" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id575eea44a7ca4d77890b0800c7d461cd"><subsection id="idce77096485794d3eb51cbe31bff5bf2b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(j)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the activities under this section.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id9451dfe7204f49d090bef18fcea83cdf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>502.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Integrated Drought Information System</header><subsection id="id60ff52525530400b91e59348796b63db" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/313d">15 U.S.C. 313d</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id02cdcd3fe38e4d4c979bc7ba202134ab" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>, through the National Weather Service and other appropriate weather and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id033190e32b7a4f64a91f71b3686d0b2a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id5b1e180284884760b269889918256887" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="id6681ca1a6664484a9d8c7501acde5666" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause><clause id="id4c8c917aaf344ea2bafe6c200c7a9c10" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by inserting <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></clause><clause id="idad40ba10b5c34d5991a3d4ae9511adf9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id147494013584420ca3a27b44242aefd0"><subparagraph id="id13440fb957774eeb850b8b11484a9893" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporates flash drought research and tools to enhance timely response;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5df080e239e6447a80802e1edd6e9a73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>improvements in seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction; and</quote> and inserting <quote>support improvements in subseasonal to seasonal precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction;</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b21f6f20552482f860c607cfe13fde9"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf5b2f5a0c86e473780332b60411c1db2"><paragraph id="id9635995380584295bb53b9935f5fa2ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">continue ongoing research and monitoring activities related to drought, including research activities relating to the prediction, length, severity, and impacts of drought and the role of weather events and subseasonal to seasonal variability in drought;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc2625b58196240368fa03f20861551c0"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">advance and deploy next-generation technologies related to drought, such as monitoring, preparedness, and forecasting capabilities utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud technologies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id15c4d55154a540a59a5a2053eb1236cc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use observational networks, including the National Weather Service cooperative observer program and State or regional hydrological monitoring projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2e689665eccb4950a240a95bfac3ca73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">refine drought indicators across multiple spatial and temporal scales;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc0685ac3eed34965943fcc8932761a66" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improve decision support products;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idec7f6cd04ef243e099699260777d0a01" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">optimize data and resources from across the Federal Government;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf5ec26b79ee4ba3956683b6d89387c7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">investigate and address data gaps, including snowpack monitoring, space-based or in-situ soil moisture monitoring, groundwater data, and data related to rapid intensification events; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5c83f5fb9f7c494eb02e3f4ca5405b62" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">engage with, and leverage the resources of, entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in existence as of the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title> to improve coordination of water monitoring, forecasting, and management.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id89433a3ce2224729acb87ca508b77d3a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="idaa826c4ce12842a094b1db30e71d1355" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f1183b57e44415fb8a41a56806fb381" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2b4bb9d7c78e484e8b4d072dc45c38c8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2371acbd5ce24357b11887585fb658a4"><paragraph id="id3447ca0d2e2b4d7baf33994c05fd9938" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in partnership with the National Mesonet Program, establish memoranda of understanding to provide coordinated, high-quality data.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6abaf514beae46b9afbd389d5300590a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id148e7696416947eaafb60b8d39b8b15c"><subsection id="idd25637a325d64554b40bdf2c18ecb1ee" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Modeling update</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title>, the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System and the National Weather Service, shall develop a plan to incorporate existing drought products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and improved dynamical and statistical forecast modeling tools into probabilistic forecasts.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id14da64ea7f98404fb61ec8edc8a637f6" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4 of the National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/109/430">Public Law 109–430</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/313d">15 U.S.C. 313d</external-xref> note) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id96FEE0CCBD7E4FA8AA3728D1643B848C"><section id="id7325a4da8fbc428b910bef121ec61cef" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>4.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—</text><paragraph id="id82ec3df816694adea468d3fd64d7f091" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id26cd3443d8d848ea87ee18d8e84a2ef8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$15,500,000 for fiscal year 2028.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id93f1d4eff06c44b19ea9090358e95f3d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$16,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd12db8f37e5d4b71983a8bd6147f4dbc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$16,500,000 for fiscal year 2030.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id37f9d189b5b545558a80ced8aedcda5a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$17,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.</text></paragraph></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id71bc0fd0b39a4d6fac92f95edd833dcb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>503.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Mesonet Program</header><subsection id="ida3d6d2ec41494f73abfc26b0a8bbaa12" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall maintain the National Mesonet Program (in this section referred to as the <quote>Program</quote>), which shall—</text><paragraph id="id116b516688564fcb8614c5771c3ee529" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">obtain observations to improve understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events, with a prioritization on leveraging available commercial, academic, and other non-Federal Government environmental data to enhance coordination across the private, public, and academic sectors of the weather enterprise in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd1d2ac22670c4a9d91743af836c93c1a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish memoranda of understanding with networks outside of the scope of the Program in furtherance of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9784483013b344998e663a032db9c64b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Under Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id5ce72bc53ea3411bb744c25ee441ab3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish means to integrate greater density and more types of environmental observations into the Program on an annual basis, including by encouraging local and regional networks of environmental monitoring stations and in situ sensor networks, including soil moisture and ground-based profilers, to participate in the Program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3d0009e193b40148fb73a4483b17bfb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improve and increase the quantity and density of environmental observations used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this section referred to as the <quote>Administration</quote>) and the National Weather Service to support baseline forecasts, including nowcasts, warnings, and hyper-local forecasts that protect individuals, businesses, agricultural production, food security, and the military and government agencies in the United States, and enabling such individuals and entities to operate in a safe, efficient, and orderly manner;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2bc82c3f18f24dcfb834621143ccf414" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">yield increased quantities of boundary-layer data to improve numerical weather prediction performance, including in subseasonal to seasonal timescales;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f7ebf86d3d64aa5a5503a7c909acb74" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify available terrestrial or marine environmental data, or quantifiable gaps in such data, to improve the understanding of air-sea interactions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9850457c20442d6b9e703a13f9d5c8b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support the National Weather Service in reaching its target of a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through better predictive model algorithms driven by increasingly effective observations;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2bdbea99680f4ffb92aa74cb0d2a5d3b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">acquire soil and moisture data to monitor soil moisture, vegetation water content, and moisture loss from evaporation, in support of operational forecasting, the National Integrated Drought Information System, and local commercial, agricultural, and emergency management needs;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id00fc8e763ee14764b46743b1d7ea8d3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network in acquiring soil moisture and related data for the development of decision support products and other information services;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75ae405e4ff146cb95bcf38a7bbf55f9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expand and enhance environmental observational networks in the roadway environment to provide real-time road weather and surface conditions for surface transportation and related economic sectors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8755e03fbd1d484e80f5b35ba3cfa73d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">obtain data in furtherance of this section only when demonstrably cost effective and meeting or exceeding data quality standards available to the Administration;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id17e2b476e0b44a69890992b81a558029" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subject to the requirement in paragraph (9), leverage existing networks of environmental monitoring stations, including supplemental radar systems, to increase the quantity and density of environmental observations and data available to the Administration;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb5bb4386e4ad4df19d59e791a26f17d1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide the critical technical and administrative infrastructure needed to facilitate rapid integration and sustained use of new and emerging networks of environmental monitoring stations anticipated in coming years from non-Federal Government sources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id594e115cc9dd440eb7c59979e2f2eeb6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with existing data developed by the Administration and used for forecasts, including data from the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program, the National Data Buoy Center, and the National Ocean Service;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id81acff231fed436aa704093b54c67612" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify and communicate to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and other partners priorities of research and development needed to advance observations in the Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id18cc7a51276b4f8d844936be6bb32f53" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(14)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with satellite data and services acquired through the Commercial Data Program under section 302 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, as amended by section 301 of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id65b03520c86a4358bbf07d5586d53d55" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial and technical assistance</header><paragraph id="idd661b9a977304226a7f658c998a8453b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In furtherance of the Program, in a fiscal year, the Under Secretary may award not less than 10 percent of the amount appropriated for the Program for that fiscal year for financial assistance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities seeking to build, expand, or upgrade equipment and capacity of mesonet systems.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6129df1d5f6e42b09183abaa02759983" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other Federal awards</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial assistance under this subsection may be made in coordination with and in addition to awards from other Federal departments and agencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id69d4446ef8f3406bb1ac131b1be1d4eb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Before receiving financial assistance under paragraph (1), the State, Tribal, private, or academic entity seeking financial assistance under this subsection shall enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide data to the Program, subject to verification by the Program of the relative operational value and evaluation of the cost of such data, for use in weather prediction, severe weather warnings, and emergency response.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id51c88d9c9e4143c9bc4714d3ca120b24" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assistance and other support</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may provide—</text><subparagraph id="id946a352d3940491b9f61c535087b18d9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technical assistance, project implementation support, and guidance to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities seeking financial assistance under this subsection; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id619fcd85ad134805854892ea512f3287" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technical and financial assistance for maintenance of monitoring stations in areas of the country where it is financially unfeasible for 1 entity to operate such stations without such assistance.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2290817bb7bd4960a0ccdd8de2155adb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Terms</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In providing financial assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall establish terms to ensure that each State, Tribal, private, or academic entity that receives financial assistance under this subsection receives a level of support commensurate with the quality and other characteristics of the data to be provided.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1a4db707b5df4482a4d6d725b4caff5f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A State, Tribal, private, or academic entity may only receive financial assistance under this subsection if the Under Secretary determines such entity will provide sufficient financial support from non-Federal Government sources and fully maintain the quality of the mesonet system and associated data standards required by the Program for a period of not less than 5 years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id78914363c09948aba8c10675e5972cf9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall prioritize providing assistance under paragraph (1) to not fewer than 1 entity in a remote area or an area that has a lack of environmental monitoring stations described in subsection (b)(1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id31e9b3cff2be4bf78985aa7d5924f3ae" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory committee</header><paragraph id="idf30db78dee334366a4440ae61846e976" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure the Program has an active advisory committee of subject matter experts to make recommendations to the Administration on the identification, implementation, procurement, and tracking of data needed to supplement the Program, and recommend improvements, expansions, and acquisitions of available data.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbb51f1f97a0b4966ac2d2bfcd11f6f2d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Designation of existing committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may designate an existing advisory committee, subcommittee, or working group of the Federal Government, including the Science Advisory Board of the Administration, to carry out the requirement under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideba673985eff4eecb7c3ec4b38a0aabf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Academic expertise</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The advisory committee under paragraph (1), in consultation with the Program, shall include expertise from 1 or more institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)) to assist the advisory committee to identify, evaluate, and recommend potential partnerships, regional or subregional consortia, and collaborative methods that would expand the number of participants and volume of data in the Program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id83d5da0fb83347ff94cbf2768bae0080" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less than 30 days before any mid-award action to restructure, divest, or transfer atmospheric research activities or infrastructure, the advisory committee under paragraph (1) shall evaluate and provide a report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the effect of that transfer on weather forecasts, including forecast accuracy, future forecast improvements, Federal investments, and long-term datasets.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id25c80f9d165848edb86ebe390943abb1" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director (as defined in section 1001) may not initiate any mid-award action to restructure, divest, or transfer atmospheric research activities or infrastructure until 30 days after the report under paragraph (4) is delivered to the appropriate committees of Congress.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5616736d964247beb793d09e5988f0c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regular briefings</header><paragraph id="id3c38cb6c51cb406e8ed6f1f09deee379" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than annually through 2031, the Under Secretary shall provide regular briefings to the appropriate committees of Congress on all activities under the Program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb86cad96c4494acdb313feb051e15bb9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Briefing content</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each briefing required under paragraph (1) shall include information relating to the following:</text><subparagraph id="idcc6d1895f6884a29b56777273869d896" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Efforts to implement the activities described in subsection (b).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2ef722c262364a1cb62806733914d65e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any financial or technical assistance provided pursuant to subsection (c).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id922c1e02d66a42ec9135ae942bcbaadc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Efforts to address recommendations received from the advisory committee under subsection (d), if any.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd59e8372fa3f4ae0b6a10545bca937d4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The potential need and associated benefits of a coastal and ocean mesonet, or other emerging areas of weather data needs, taking into account existing data collection and monitoring activities.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idde68641e58c44dea94e9ee281fa736b6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Progress toward eliminating gaps in weather observation data in States and regions of the United States.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id94aec0c28b50404e84f4f68a468b6866" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any other topic the Under Secretary determines relevant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7ce3edfd776f484baa7542473b2a21a0" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of appropriate committees of congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text><paragraph id="id052b994c8dd346a1801bef463792e3f5" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; and</text></paragraph><paragraph changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1f6be44da71d42eda2f99d9454e674b3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0f98939690cc477986c02d1f35a7c1a9"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">From amounts authorized to be appropriated to the National Weather Service, there shall be available not more than the following amounts to carry out this section:</text><paragraph id="ida970419eb44d418c8d4476daa637723b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida74994d74e424d9298944419045bcd9e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$55,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id79741312108147fea6f52ec63fbba209" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$61,000,000 for fiscal year 2029.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id242c68bfe36347f99410ac46d68f5798" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$68,000,000 for fiscal year 2030.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf007260892b547e88cf1260f15225869" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id4b322b2046fc4312996636fc22c96faf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>504.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network</header><subsection id="idb049e1712b8941f0a1e843e5e863252d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall support the development, deployment, and maintenance of soil moisture monitoring networks by managing the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network (in this section referred to as the <quote>Network</quote>) within the National Integrated Drought Information System.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida10979d330604fffb551494a61362162" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure the Network includes activities that carry out the following:</text><paragraph id="id388d4c6b378a437fb42cd1e2262ddcbf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishing a visible, user-friendly website.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id61a079d33228431ca7a4a92f7aa654f8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing a set of criteria for high-quality data sources.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2b55b19e32684e6b8d87be7fea2eadd9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Supporting research necessary to develop or improve soil moisture monitoring products at a national scale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id947a1541ac9440fda70f749a44647abb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Increasing the number of long-term, high-quality, in situ and remote sensing soil moisture monitoring stations across the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc9198d2f67b64059abd31141eced4b91" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sharing methodologies and validation protocols with the private sector.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide90ac4f88c924f73976d99866b6d8d7b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing, releasing, and promoting new nationwide point-based and gridded soil moisture data products.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8503ba6d287b49a8831ee30b3386bb2f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Supporting community outreach and data sharing to the network of individuals engaged with soil moisture monitoring, from data collection to end-user decision making.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida3b3ac99f492469a82d5c14373b37b2f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>505.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Water Center</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 301 of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/10371">42 U.S.C. 10371</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id4df7ebcfe3074c6cae444f412de7466e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="ide81850191e0745b89dd407b482b521b9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)(A)—</text><clause id="idae9aab6df9cb4742bdc1fa63380b9469" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting <quote>, within the Office of Water Prediction of the National Weather Service,</quote> after <quote>shall establish</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id6caf393e37444d38821e16b05d957eb7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon;</text></clause><clause id="id5dc538ec06a54b3a9227a8ed80b230b3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id0ba99ac352f8481088048150bceb3cec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b9190417b9e463688f51f0fdf937100"><clause id="idff1f53cfc7ea4b39baf11eac3c1c1d7a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to lead the transition of water research by the Federal Government, including model development, into operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service.</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ea36f94335a461fb835687050d8c52a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc17be40394684dc6a0b323bcbc521862"><subparagraph id="id332ab8005efe41b0b5fcfa42ece5a369" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Serving as the primary center within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for research, development, collaboration, and coordination of the water research and forecast activities of the Administration and other centers and networks of the Federal Government, including those of the Department of Agriculture, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Geological Survey, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d21e2a915954576aee9347ffbc2f24f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Integrating and promoting consistency among national and regional hydrological forecast operations and service delivery.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id16627fc14d464deeacb473e691e71ed0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0fd919693ee44c2087e2e95cde27db61"><paragraph id="id1ab509c9f5ad41cc92f70cb1800802d8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incorporation into unified forecast system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall use the Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System, or any successor system, to support the development and implementation of advanced water resources modeling capabilities under paragraph (2)(B) and shall incorporate those modeling capabilities into the unified forecast system.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id60db0b600c304724bbee50eb4e38ccd8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsection (b);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8fd6fa2b38f4e48a42acd91c9544f6b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8025e13ba3804185a1459548bae2c338" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (3), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88f402b23c8249f4890543968952d4fe"><subsection id="id14321d2c0f7d415eb4574c0463d70e7e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Organization and administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Water Prediction of the National Weather Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="idd7fe7071ad254d7181a43e776c6b62ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">supervise and oversee the administration, management, and operations of each River Forecast Center of the National Weather Service and coordinate those operations with the National Water Center;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53428f4271a94c71b56f9dcb5c29d37c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administer the duties and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, or any successor entity, and coordinate the activities of the Institute with the National Water Center; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7516cdccc9d94b0ca658a10e5dde9f9b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the United States Geological Survey, to avoid unnecessary duplication of existing water observation, monitoring, and research activities.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id6d3c320c26f94a82832418e6ce5e5668" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)(4), by inserting before the period the following: <quote>and each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><h4 id = "idff4ceaae7ba24cc4b02d288012d8ed86" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>VI</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research and control</header><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="id939d7c5ea02447e4917142c7b4adfdaf"><enum>601.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amendments to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998</header><subsection id="idbe42efd0-08f6-4054-b06d-37b268eab14e" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assessments</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5cceec4b-5258-4674-bb3f-115c4d73f6f9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001">33 U.S.C. 4001</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf5e9a513-501c-4440-aea9-eed68d7fb54c"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Assessments</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="OLC">Task Force, assessments, and Action Strategy</header-in-text></quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf89f8963-77e4-4d7d-8c25-df3cf506ff0d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><clause id="id2adad5d1-aa07-46b5-83ff-034bd79428a8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (13) and (14) as paragraphs (14) and (15), respectively; and</text></clause><clause id="id56c9684a-fd9f-40fc-9ae6-9b33364956e9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf4d14eeb-deb3-4e36-b1cd-a7ea2aff33e2" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="idfc2ba2c0-1563-4d15-bf6b-640adb92cf2a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Energy;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47ae64fa-85b9-4902-9d40-8410f5f0e224" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h), and (i) and redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (b);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc3b08fc8-fbc2-4caf-9396-674d7e7bbe44" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b), as so redesignated—</text><clause id="id0aa5345d-5cf1-47b3-8e5d-d021e5b5370d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by striking <quote>coastal waters including the Great Lakes</quote> and inserting <quote>marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id25d4fdab-a5b0-47e2-9128-c0852d5aca55" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text><subclause id="idf1d60542-021b-45c9-b2d7-b302fdeeb229" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFB0DE51341894CDCB1495763791F7D2E" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="idd22e176c-4883-4eef-bea1-212712851a93" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine—</text><clause id="id81c0edc3a62b43f99ab845715803ec06" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the causes and ecological consequences of hypoxia on marine and aquatic species in their environments; and</text></clause><clause id="id6919472800924061bbc6c4540f834039" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the costs of hypoxia, including impacts on food safety and security;</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="idfaffb8ba-9329-4169-bb5a-374455893d5e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F), respectively;</text></subclause><subclause id="id5e56a3d6-c70c-4e0f-b50a-91ba9331f7c0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7319c3ec-6e5d-430b-a377-9780be6af463" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="id92b5a7a8-e69d-46d6-9e12-41ccb3ccd434" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the effect of other environmental stressors on hypoxia;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id11213e29-b3e9-45c5-abf0-558c41d7a9ef" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate alternatives for reducing, mitigating, and controlling hypoxia and its environmental impacts;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause><subclause id="id89e40eb6-ac79-4354-82ea-0e19008e04a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (E), as redesignated by subclause (II), by striking <quote>hypoxia modeling and monitoring data</quote> and inserting <quote>hypoxia modeling, forecasting, and monitoring and observation data</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcf93f23c-4d89-4fbc-8b6a-d3b3e06bc9fd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ba64063-b5ee-43e9-9b20-943c6e282b2d" changed="not-changed"><subsection id="id41f8b0ad-ca63-42aa-a7aa-1988f9b7f061" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Action Strategy and scientific assessment for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms</header><paragraph id="id8b8f8236-c935-4b7b-a5d1-d4e0277bfa8f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress an action strategy for harmful algal blooms in the United States. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf931fe9e-86d3-42b6-b03c-e34d78dc2dd6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Action Strategy shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide00ba656-9522-49e1-92b9-dad1612f55e1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine, and include a scientific assessment of, marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms, including such blooms—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide5c680d3-49d2-4c66-b6e7-773937fdac12"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the Great Lakes; </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id111d7199229e43079b77fcf60facc63c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the upper reaches of estuaries; </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2e15bef9-d86f-4469-8e16-184e67f1c462"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in freshwater lakes and rivers;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide62ee1979da94e59ac8316472092f47a"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in coastal and marine waters; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idafc529f4-a73b-4d14-b7a4-401262e391c5"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id872f4e90-bcfb-446f-a63a-e627a6f4f2e8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the causes, ecological consequences or physiological consequences on biological functions, and economic or cultural impacts, including food safety and security and subsistence use, of harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida585b450-4b59-4ae8-98fc-1a1b54545a41" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the effect of other environmental stressors on harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51568b37-6c91-4779-8b96-b336a3af851b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine potential methods and novel approaches to prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms and the potential ecological, subsistence use, and economic costs and benefits of such methods; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb3dcdd21-2c30-44d8-a1fb-6feb851ec76c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify priorities for research needed to advance techniques and technologies to detect, predict, monitor, respond to, and minimize the occurrence, duration, and severity of harmful algal blooms, including recommendations to eliminate significant gaps in harmful algal bloom forecasting, monitoring, and observation data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idee0d4286-510f-461c-9c97-6ef3af081310" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate progress made by, and the needs of, activities and actions of the Task Force to prevent, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67023106-7a53-48ef-9b44-edd2d220acef" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify ways to improve coordination and prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal departments and agencies with respect to research on harmful algal blooms; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5a02f438-8628-4974-a1be-c9e131f8f6e8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include regional chapters relating to the requirements described in this paragraph in order to highlight geographically and ecologically varied locations with significant ecological, subsistence use, cultural, and economic impacts from harmful algal blooms.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1bf57700-ad6e-44ad-810d-637528b8e21d"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsections (b) and (c), the Task Force shall consult with—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56e88ae6-bf8f-423d-9597-64e4c228ffc8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">States, Indian tribes, and local governments; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id57445d61-7687-4a9c-8fe9-c16876e06e4d"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appropriate industries (including fisheries, agriculture, and fertilizer), academic institutions, and nongovernmental organizations with relevant expertise.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id81b930ae-9ccc-4214-b228-e595404e5e90"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 3412; 136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item relating to section 603 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5930aae1-6db2-4fc7-8b33-fc780410d08e" changed="not-changed"><toc changed="not-changed"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 603. Task Force, assessments, and Action Strategy.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide4735f5f-2748-4f00-94ce-65ed8b4f6218"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4001a">33 U.S.C. 4001a</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>In developing</quote> and all that follows through <quote>management.</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id47eb2e9f-d1a1-4c75-9416-935eddf699be" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603A of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4002">33 U.S.C. 4002</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id7aac390c-a170-42d7-a20c-00a14646cb90" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id9594c758-6162-4ddc-bfae-ce29b67084a5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="ida1afa58a-0c5d-429f-b4dd-3fa1f2c895eb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>predicting,</quote> and inserting <quote>monitoring, observing, forecasting,</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idc37cd76c-d2f8-458a-bf7d-2b7d9010d731" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd25b78f7-85e4-495a-8472-0c3624551028"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="ida9b91407-4802-441a-bd66-f0d88e5e2955" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="idecb2a84d-0b6d-4759-81de-d738b83e76f8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the scientific assessment submitted under section 603(b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0e998f71-885a-4405-993c-f5019e1d1861"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Action Strategy.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id95d73e1b-450f-4127-9271-89847684d819" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="id9254e4fc-4675-4e1c-af9d-476846346ce5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>ocean and Great Lakes science and management programs and centers</quote> and inserting <quote>programs and centers relating to the science and management of marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb82f87ff-f7c0-4fb9-b0a6-6eff134c3ee3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (5), by inserting <quote>while recognizing each agency is acting under its own independent mission and authority</quote> before the semicolon;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id65a9a999-5c08-4f9e-b2c2-c98e801741b4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d), by striking <quote>Except as provided in subsection (h), the</quote> and inserting <quote>The</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7f2c09560db4550b1356a7c1549a158"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (e)—</text><subparagraph id="id892c62de-df7d-4672-b8ea-f34882616d49" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5cede39d-1597-4b9c-bc21-0684096d1367" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="ida7ae680a5ece45eeb25df00d33e87a76" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine the causes, ecological consequences, and costs of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09be09977d334314acea3cee176bc28b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idba23307b05aa433793d423f0cc8797c1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by inserting <quote>, including the annual Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone mapping cruise</quote> after <quote>Program</quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id482ba89afeb1481e91fa883447e8230a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5cd0d908598844ceb768b0e3d0e361ae"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19311AC489B84C32A2E3EE064BD6E14F" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="id2EAC215645F64FC9A10F2A7991734726" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to identify opportunities to improve monitoring of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, with a particular focus on waters that may affect fisheries, public health, or subsistence harvest;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id081D5C3AFB014EA7B43F790952F83DA0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to evaluate adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id377356ff37dc473187638e7223505083" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to support the resilience of the seafood industry to harmful algal blooms and to expand access to testing for harmful algal bloom toxins, including for subsistence and recreational harvesters, through innovative methods that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of such testing in rural and remote areas; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1c4bbe51f8644fce9ecc1f109be884cf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to support sustained observations to provide State and local entities, Indian tribes, and other entities access to real-time or near real-time observations data for decision making to protect human and ecological health and local economies; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd349c4857e094d23a24b970bd4d5d1a4"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to assess the combined effects of harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and stressors such as runoff and infrastructure changes on marine, freshwater, or estuarine ecosystems and living resources;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id890e986de9fd45ba96c558fde452913d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>agencies</quote> and inserting <quote>entities, regional coastal observing systems (as defined in section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3602">33 U.S.C. 3602</external-xref>)),</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id691230f1a45b44a4a1f0c707068b54c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6), by inserting <quote>and communities</quote> after <quote>ecosystems</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id057a39fe-800a-4860-8fc6-a76c07e29266" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (8), by inserting <quote>and Indian tribes</quote> after <quote>managers</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida45666bd-2372-4f2e-95b8-e28e68b7cf26" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (9)(A), by striking <quote>, tribal, and local stakeholders</quote> and inserting <quote>and local stakeholders and Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDB31413C7B784CCCB97D915D967CB9F5"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), and (13), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce6393c49a3a418e86ee9e3582c2701a"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idFEF093C4038A4E359FC494A8F1300649" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id06A36FC58B804997890A71F93A19D08A"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consult with entities that are most dependent on coastal and water resources that may be impacted by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including—</text><subparagraph id="idE77FCD5FCA014053B70FADB99F31AF59" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">State and local entities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id37BE22781EAE44678771E56AA5B982EE" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8DC7C51489FA40C5AA925A78F99E7BAF" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">island communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id59532B00CDF041DC8CD997E1ABCBF7D8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">low-population rural communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA8CB9F6599F14CDFA3D52332ACE2FE06" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subsistence communities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB3AA1ACE3DB2457E9B48B4FE4C53B3CC" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fisheries and recreation industries;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfa591f4ed42f402285584b821a3bbd27"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (10), as redesignated by subparagraph (G), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id5F4F43105DA444218A8D883E36BBC6AA" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="id5FF5E814EA75428789C498DDB889FC68" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expand access to testing for harmful algal bloom toxins, including for subsistence and recreational harvesters, through innovative methods that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of such testing in rural and remote areas;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc1bbac88-6e4b-4b9a-9f84-041876bf8075" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfc49402b-be6e-474b-ba2d-4c08f39ba898" changed="not-changed"><subsection id="ida97417d6-3c02-41c4-a9e2-56ceb031f984" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperation; duplication of effort</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall work cooperatively with and avoid duplication of effort of other agencies on the Task Force and States, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with marine and freshwater issues.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbca822dd-d6fe-4412-9ce3-a124e2ef6b24"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsections (g), (h), and (i).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idadf35320-30ca-4b13-9f3a-4e28c80f1fc8" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities</header><paragraph id="id5a857641-0b66-43f3-a8e2-d8dde343695f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 603B of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4003">33 U.S.C. 4003</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19968a6a-6c32-4030-aa35-ea24850c7730" changed="not-changed"><section id="id169a698c-e371-4d51-85bb-c4a911d183c6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>603B.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities</header><subsection id="id47aad6fd-ab49-4cf7-97c7-1cc37ffcddec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id5dbb8ff9-4107-4e3b-bfc8-8b5c48a22572" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carry out response activities for marine, coastal, and Great Lakes harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id24375185-0db2-48ee-ae11-808a60435d08" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop and enhance operational harmful algal bloom observing and forecasting programs, including operational observations and forecasting, monitoring, modeling, data management, and information dissemination;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5878176c17c94311a285973390b52824" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop forecast modeling that includes the effect of hurricanes and other weather events on the resuspension of bioavailable nutrients in sediments and related interactions with harmful algal blooms;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf20fc72a-bc78-4743-80f6-54e4852cc217" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enhance communication and coordination among Federal departments and agencies carrying out activities and research relating to marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd44eb538-d85e-4a37-b422-c81af3f81e0b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">leverage existing resources and expertise available from local research universities and institutions; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb8a94ab6-2534-40ff-835b-c6a796edec7a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use cost effective methods in carrying out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7c4a305f-f12a-4ad9-aed4-5e197e8a9bae" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The collection of monitoring and observing data under this section shall comply with all data standards and protocols developed pursuant to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3601">33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.</external-xref>). Such data shall be made available through the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System established under section 12304 of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3603">33 U.S.C. 3603</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idd49d187a-5226-4b9e-8c96-174303d29ec2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 3412; 136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item relating to section 603B and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idd7e4c337-de87-44b1-aecc-23e30756ff9d" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc changed="not-changed"><toc-entry level="section" bold="off">Sec. 603B. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration activities.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56de2d4d-819f-43d1-8db5-269b0c9daa1e" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Environmental Protection Agency activities</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7ee6f2e-40f8-4552-8dbd-30f1732d877d"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section 603B (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4003">33 U.S.C. 4003</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idddecf0a8-c3be-4fc3-bf93-37dc86e079a3" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><section id="id311f3a0a-42ce-4708-aa6f-1c2e5de9734e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>603C.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Environmental Protection Agency activities</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id31214c35-3b42-4c40-be20-0961025ef17b"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide05bad06-f416-48ea-aea4-2654243738b5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carry out research on the ecology and human health impacts of freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfb814cff96754948b0edc72e3d2dc765" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop and enhance operational freshwater harmful algal bloom monitoring, observing, and forecasting programs in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, and coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on such programs in the Great Lakes and estuaries (including tributaries thereof), including operational observations and forecasting, monitoring, modeling, data management, and information dissemination, to support event response, prioritization, prevention, adaptation, and mitigation activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a0d7166-908a-4775-adec-fa79ff9b15ce"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enhance communication and coordination among Federal departments and agencies carrying out freshwater harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activities and research;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a3f5e44-3fe2-4f83-bd9c-a10bf1d04c15"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing resources and expertise available from Federal and State partners and local research universities and institutions; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida16ff39c-2d40-482c-9844-50f26cb8536c"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use cost-effective methods in carrying out this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9351c04c-aab9-48a1-ad7b-cc33d8a8df92"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nonduplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall ensure that activities carried out under subsection (a) focus on new approaches to addressing freshwater harmful algal blooms and are not duplicative of existing research and development programs authorized by this title or any other law.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce82f8a6-7455-4162-a736-1ea4a1fe18c2"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 3412; 136 Stat. 1268) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 603B the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc3d94de6-e2a1-4df4-a731-0834eed8e161" changed="not-changed"><toc changed="not-changed"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 603C. Environmental Protection Agency activities.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcb5b7cc8-3e2d-41f1-a1c9-d463598589a4" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National harmful algal bloom observing network</header><paragraph id="id8cc1a36d-9105-4fbb-abb1-fe4d6f34fc16" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 606 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4005">33 U.S.C. 4005</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idae9ea49f-c8a7-48ea-90c2-de48222339b0" changed="not-changed"><section id="id787469fb-a8ac-4563-afdc-55de2e0c7483" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>606.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National harmful algal bloom observing network</header><subsection id="id33b5fd31-4b55-4cc3-9721-bab08a2ac887" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, acting through the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the Integrated Ocean Observing System of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall integrate Federal, State, regional, and local observing capabilities to establish a national network of observing systems for the monitoring, detection, and forecasting of harmful algal blooms by leveraging the capacity of regional associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, including through the incorporation of emerging technologies and new data integration methods.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2cf7861d-72c6-4352-ae8f-ca6c099a94ca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination and data assembly</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (a), the Program Office of the Integrated Ocean Observing System shall—</text><paragraph id="id231684c8-a54a-4189-96f3-a819b0e06a81" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science regarding observations, data integration, and information dissemination;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfbdec5aac5dc4029a950a6dd038c9f03" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">organize, integrate, disseminate, and provide a central architecture to support ecological forecasting of harmful algal blooms; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id40bc62fb42394b159f74aef77a61cb0f"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with the Water Quality Portal to store and serve discrete data related to the monitoring of freshwater, estuarine, and coastal harmful algal blooms.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e63170f-d667-4090-a35c-ada4583fdcd4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 3412; 136 Stat. 1268) is amended by striking the item relating to section 606 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id7dc5e8b5-719d-4617-a2de-7c208ea9e6d2" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc changed="not-changed"><toc-entry level="section" bold="off">Sec. 606. National harmful algal bloom observing network.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id63bcf167-4f63-45b5-9735-2800450dbe86" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National-Level incubator program</header><paragraph id="idf074f71e-5722-4361-9c9e-2826a31a1693" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 is amended by inserting after section 606 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4005">33 U.S.C. 4005</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5c809380-b0e2-4f2f-a087-b520886e1bd8" changed="not-changed"><section id="id8f624765-dca4-4fd9-8144-1682230ab339" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>606A.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National-level incubator program</header><subsection id="id6ddcef99-546b-4ca5-949e-04bb19c0292f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator and research universities and institutions, shall establish a national-level incubator program (in this section referred to as the <quote>program</quote>) to increase the number of strategies, technologies, and measures available to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful algal blooms.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb6258dea-96a8-4ab7-bbca-e559bd2d6dcc"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Framework</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program shall establish a framework for preliminary assessments of novel strategies, technologies, and measures to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful algal blooms in order to determine the potential effectiveness and scalability of such technologies.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida8070ec2-987b-4bd2-88d4-37ce4a5179fa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program shall provide merit-based funding, using amounts otherwise available to the Under Secretary for the award of grants, for strategies, technologies, and measures that eliminate or reduce, through biological, chemical, or physical means, the levels of harmful algae and associated toxins resulting from harmful algal blooms.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1e9632a3-83d6-488f-ab5a-2500217d739d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Database</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program shall include a database for cataloging the licensing and permitting requirements, economic costs, feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability of novel and established strategies, technologies, and measures to prevent, mitigate, and control harmful algal blooms.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide655d233-6e6e-41c8-947f-e483ceb5052f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prioritization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the program, the Under Secretary shall prioritize proposed cost-effective strategies, technologies, and measures that would, to the maximum extent practicable—</text><paragraph id="id96a17623-1e6e-4844-9852-ff9500e06974" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect key habitats for fish and wildlife;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb880cf28-cff8-4f21-bf8f-0b85d8f3a73e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintain biodiversity;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id50a7561a-befa-45e3-b2d0-870bfc77bf70" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect public health;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40731015-0c5e-45c5-ada2-a8baa177a6f3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect coastal resources of national, historical, and cultural significance; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8683bc0b-6253-4ada-a9ef-3e923728e539" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">benefit low-income communities, Indian tribes, and rural communities.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id407013f1-aa33-4523-bc10-2f10f11a7d83" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/105/383">Public Law 105–383</external-xref>; 112 Stat. 3412; 136 Stat. 1268) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 606 the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id3cbfcdf1-645d-456c-901e-c729f0886539" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc changed="not-changed"><toc-entry level="section" bold="off">Sec. 606A. National-level incubator program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0751ddaf-39f5-4e92-8159-0fb55ca818cf" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 609 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4008">33 U.S.C. 4008</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id2f65b135-fccb-47bb-8ede-243bc20a3734" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>means the comprehensive research plan and action strategy established under section 603B</quote> and inserting <quote>means the action strategy for harmful algal blooms in the United States most recently submitted under section 603(c)</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2c7069fa-2958-4a72-a07c-6b020666cfe5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id22ac02eb-4ce4-4be2-9d09-f42d87509b08" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="id545bc7f1-98b2-48df-9204-15ba3d1341e9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Harmful algal bloom</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>harmful algal bloom</term> means a high concentration of marine or freshwater algae (including diatoms), macroalgae (including Sargassum), or cyanobacteria resulting in nuisance conditions or harmful impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems, subsistence resources, communities, or human health through the production of toxic compounds or other biological, chemical, or physical impacts of the bloom.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id9376104c-b0fe-47c6-97ec-9657d861267d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (9);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida0e19e09-c883-4ef1-9832-b45982fda0a4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (5), (8), (9), (11), and (13), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idef7cadc2-84af-45f0-a139-ea5f661730e6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7ae8966-f090-4e02-86c4-cd8c4cdb6081" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="id80e15653-77b2-4599-b5b2-d0787dba982e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>harmful algal bloom and hypoxia event</term> means the occurrence of a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia as a result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined cause.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id69CAAA24CDE34E60AF022E852A356FD0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph (4)—</text><subparagraph id="id3DDDC043EE9648CCBFACB24080B90F57" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>aquatic</quote> and inserting <quote>marine or freshwater</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id70BD7678D18448999A9A0EFCEE3524F0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>resident</quote> and inserting <quote>marine or freshwater</quote>;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3eb2b6d394b3480eb01a77ebc719f1ba"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id369279817F094748964D227E190E7C1A" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="idAADFE3AFE13E4A5095440EE6AF21E09E" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Indian tribe</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Indian tribe</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0337E2190CD04246AE56B19D26530B53"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Native Hawaiian organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Native Hawaiian organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>) and includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9434027dc7a34e0b8f73157893f3bd92"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id478C093AD4A1465098F066DB08F71D0A" act-name="" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="idEC519766EDFD49B687F9D9AC98C89C13" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsistence use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>subsistence use</term> means the customary and traditional use of fish, wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or marine resources by any individual or community to meet personal or family needs, including essential economic, nutritional, or cultural applications.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e584c8d7a1e4221ae2a8f2056d6ff10"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (11), as redesignated by paragraph (4), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id351532E90E8A4E1184BF424A59295331" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="id85283A5402ED4725BC3A426624C06DF6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(12)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Tribal organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="id2e9a4966-6c91-4dae-9557-6805c50b857d" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 610 of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4009">33 U.S.C. 4009</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="id4A7843DD05CC44CF9F8612F6801DDD69" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf40233ea-6b13-470b-adc2-081c77e2712e" changed="not-changed"><subsection commented="no" id="id90b8f73f-f1a8-40ae-936b-af2888dc6356" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title, for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddf011445-e2c7-4069-8d05-775c3d1c7434"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$19,500,000 to the Under Secretary; and </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb63f0325-7ecd-4f30-a757-28815c2dec69"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$8,000,000 to the Administrator.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id1E0C1F5E138A4984A9D7709E505EA7FF" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id418F30D09D3848D18E58DCDCC5BAF427" changed="not-changed"><subsection commented="no" id="idb9b525d8275242a9929c08b21b186ee4" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transfer authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As specifically provided in advance in appropriations Acts, the Under Secretary or the Administrator may transfer funds made available to carry out this title to the head of any Federal department or agency, with the concurrence of such head, to carry out, as appropriate, relevant provisions of this title and section 9(g) of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4010">33 U.S.C. 4010</external-xref>).</text></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcb6a5541-d863-421f-9860-9459cd4451f2" changed="not-changed" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>602.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other harmful algal bloom and hypoxia matters</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9(g) of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/4010">33 U.S.C. 4010</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5131e77f-de55-4542-a0ba-763be5d545e8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id433E2E1AF2BB416CB3277C757234DB0A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new sentence: <quote>The appropriate Federal official may waive the non-Federal share requirements of the preceding sentence if such official determines no reasonable means are available through which the recipient of the Federal share can meet the non-Federal share requirement.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9FDE7176231F4988B08A9D077834E8B5"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id59363853-e1e9-4a32-a13c-eceacc77b351" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="id6de44c75-a7b6-4025-8660-b85813a63bf1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contract, cooperative agreement, and grant authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The appropriate Federal official may enter into contracts, cooperative agreements, and grants with States, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, local governments, or other entities to pay for or reimburse costs incurred by such entities for the purposes of supporting the determination of, and assessing the environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of, an event of national significance.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida80b83e2-ea9d-443e-88e9-7376f05ab2a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf77757058c2747ada7b2d215459cf2ac"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>a leadership official of an affected Indian tribe, the executive official of the District of Columbia, or the executive official of an affected territory or possession of the United States,</quote> after <quote>State,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida8c5ff7e1811455b958ae9bb0b1c02a5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>consider</quote> and all that follows through <quote>boundary.</quote> and inserting “consider factors such as—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idC1B7A01D934D400ABC8050A724DA4E21" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><clause id="idB824157579A94360BB1ECA94C9A5C95C" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the risk to public health and the potential severity of the detrimental environmental effects of the hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, as indicated by— </text><subclause id="idb948d8b69c2a417cb80700476aa65a11" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data on shellfish or water quality obtained through sampling programs, including baseline data, and regulatory or advisory thresholds established to explain management actions related to the event;</text></subclause><subclause id="idadcb3e6909994f639ec2c91c62a5757d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">toxin levels in fish, marine mammals, seabirds, shellfish, or water during the event;</text></subclause><subclause id="ide3458e2442354e10a8e3236b36011530" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">toxic aerosols produced during the event, including potential human exposures to toxic aerosols;</text></subclause><subclause id="ida2356b120f324923880fac974167ac30" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reports of human or animal illnesses or mortalities during the event;</text></subclause><subclause id="idc847526386674642a0b771f2a60728c7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(V)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any closures of fishing or shellfish harvesting locations or recreational public waters, including beaches, during the event;</text></subclause><subclause id="ide4f05a7e7a7a4290845f40635dfe97c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(VI)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the duration and spatial extent of the event; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idec183358184846da90f1ba641ba8eff8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(VII)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">impacts to habitats or ecosystems associated with the event;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id49ba5b1912424757978efdf3da49ab58" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the potential economic, food safety and security, and subsistence impacts associated with the hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, including to fisheries and aquaculture, recreation and tourism, monitoring and management, resource use, and event response activities, assessed in comparison with historical data from when a State or region did not experience such an event, as possible, as indicated by— </text><subclause id="idd5ba8884f906417d976f62d57b9f50ef" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increases in public health expenditures;</text></subclause><subclause id="id4076aff3217542eabbf3270ac34b0c49" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">losses to commercial fisheries and aquaculture industries, recreation and tourism, real estate, and other impacted industries or businesses; </text></subclause><subclause id="idfc29de2260474f79b7023242b2df0a37" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increases in monitoring and management expenditures, including costs incurred for event response and clean-up (such as for beach clean-up following an influx of biomass or a fish-kill) by public or private sectors; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idda98c1be26924835859beea7ace9b63f" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">impacts to subsistence resources, including nutritional, resource use, and economic effects on subsistence communities;</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b3668e558d24924af3cfce839ee6a77"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the relative magnitude of those impacts in relation to past occurrences of hypoxia or harmful algal bloom events that occur on a recurrent or annual basis; and </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1036aef1a054983980b62c35af2f6c9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the geographic scope of the hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event, including the potential of the event to affect several municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or to cross an international boundary.</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0733a3bf60764fb6af2e3a3a5edaa614"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idDD91BB09796B43D4A235F725AE724CA0" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subparagraph id="idCB132B9A78BB4A66A700AAF0129815D0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Indian tribe</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Indian tribe</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4ab7d998351441328f5b4372d2055ba5"><enum>(E)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Native Hawaiian organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Native Hawaiian organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>) and includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4595C2D5D760425D993A0E5184776DD1"><enum>(F)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsistence use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>subsistence use</term> means the customary and traditional use of fish, wildlife, or other freshwater, coastal, or marine resources by any individual or community to meet personal or family needs, including essential economic, nutritional, or cultural applications. </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46dd628d979d4217ae1cb28185b039a4"><enum>(G)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Tribal organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0e23aaeb90174e968646948ebe0f93b4"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4eaee02a-2818-4bf9-b7f8-6de950964887" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="idcd3f1c3d-cbbe-4682-9a73-ec0af095436c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><h4 id = "id8da55e76636849aa9c196025e5330628" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>VII</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire ready Nation</header><section id="idc84723ba640f44ab9811ae61366d5612" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>701.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="id9c2a88a8b8f944829c09650360b5d41e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Administration</term> means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idede7c7bd3f004bad8ffc32510eb63dfb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appropriate committees of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id3c6b361369ac4cba90e0a3957b762a4b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id29afc4c5629944e98b27526761499fe9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id073bc549f5b64ff5a74b4b1258438e3e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Earth system model</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Earth system model</term> means a mathematical model containing all relevant components of the Earth, namely the atmosphere, oceans, land, cryosphere, and biosphere.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcc51b806ffa34f8ca7b789da6cfafc6c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire environment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>fire environment</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1955551259ae497bb1443dce00a2cc7e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the environmental conditions, such as soil moisture, vegetation, topography, snowpack, atmospheric temperature, moisture, and wind, that influence—</text><clause id="ide115de3580db4153af9e59213476041f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fuel and fire behavior; and</text></clause><clause id="iddde7e933d5834ce8b71796994bab72d9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the emission, chemical evolution, and transport of wildfire smoke; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3dc3dd4dfa4d420aa84668e8abbc4b34" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the associated environmental impacts occurring during and after fire events.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida56db5b4dd4e4cae82820c563a6f41b0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire weather</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>fire weather</term> means the weather conditions that influence the start, spread, character, or behavior of wildfires and relevant meteorological and chemical phenomena, including air quality, wildfire smoke, and meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, air temperature, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric composition and chemistry, including emissions and mixing heights.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id165ae8138f8845e2ad33d59fb47ace54" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Impact-based decision support services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>impact-based decision support services</term> means scientific advice and interpretative services the Administration provides to help core partners, such as emergency personnel and public safety officials, make decisions when the information impacts the lives and livelihoods of the people of the United States.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb38e3d5a6afb49f4a44dc4e64fc53865" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Indian tribe</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Indian tribe</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id52a7cec4d075428e86874af543272252" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Native Hawaiian organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Native Hawaiian organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>), including the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id13fb5330104b4ca9aeef5785f02a48cf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(9)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State</term> means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8087d479c7134b8fb244fef16e332c67" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Tribal organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id8ede6c90682b49dbbd572e89451cd657" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>702.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of fire weather services program</header><subsection id="ida7930bd9daee4ec3a4900878a0aeed5f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish and maintain a coordinated fire weather services program among the offices of the Administration in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7240feb2ee694e37810a4159a12e0859" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The functions of the program established under subsection (a), consistent with the priorities described in section 101 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8511">15 U.S.C. 8511</external-xref>), shall be—</text><paragraph id="id2b7e535988994f508217d0ea240ca0d9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to support readiness, responsiveness, understanding, and resilience of the United States to wildfires, fire weather, wildfire smoke, post-fire flooding and debris flows, and associated hazards to and impacts on built and natural environments;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idacf72f0a964d4db581ca337f9c4190ba" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to collaboratively develop and disseminate accurate, precise, effective, and timely risk communications, forecasts, watches, and warnings relating to wildfires, fire weather, wildfire smoke, post-fire flooding and debris flows, and other associated conditions, hazards, and impacts, as applicable, with relevant Federal departments and agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id815f9e3ab4b94b979dc5b3cd8ba372e0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to partner with and support the public, Federal and State government entities, Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and academic and local partners through the development of capabilities, impact-based decision support services, and overall service delivery and utility related to fire weather;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id77c18ef711be44b18bacabbe2018682e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct and support research and development of new and innovative models, technologies, techniques, products, systems, processes, and procedures to predict and improve understanding of wildfires, fire weather, related air quality, post-fire flooding and debris flows, and the fire environment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3fb13371536744aabbc20fdd6dcd9e73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to develop processes to transition research into operational use and inform additional areas of research to deliver fire weather products, services, and decision support tools to operational users and platforms;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd7c08fae919b447a96c5e880b6ab5051" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to develop communications networks and strategies to improve the timeliness, reliability, and accessibility of fire forecasts, warning services, and information about current fire location, for remote, isolated, and rural communities, including communities where the public acts as the first responder to wildfire; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id880e3e06adcd4be285b56ad7ccaa7825" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to develop, in coordination with relevant Federal departments and agencies, impact-based decision support services that operationalize and integrate the functions described in paragraphs (1) through (6) in order to provide comprehensive impact-based decision support services that encompass the fire environment.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id40ca0fbe3d954d45872e37646ddef915" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program priorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing and implementing the program established under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall prioritize—</text><paragraph id="id4da4e9b3e5184958952697bb8836e821" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">development of a fire weather-enabled Earth system model and data assimilation systems that—</text><subparagraph id="idd2e74607790248d8b2402b196b8e7d3a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are capable of prediction and forecasting across relevant spatial and temporal scales;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id528016cda04c498abb9c6fd92840c95d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include variables associated with fire weather and the fire environment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd05989ae9e2f409ca0e0bee6ef401658" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improve understanding of environmental factors that influence fire weather risk, frequency, severity, and duration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1db933bd033e40da96624675f1c13ca1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">incorporate emerging techniques such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3c432df9fa534d82aa2e7ddeed6b71cf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use a rapidly deployable network of rain gauges for post-fire hazard monitoring;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e945c6555cf4ff381812c99c6c49256" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">advancement of existing and new observational capabilities, including satellite-, airborne-, air-, and ground-based systems and technologies, and social networking and other public information-gathering applications that—</text><subparagraph id="id57d230c3c0c944a7a68bb22230f98c20" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify—</text><clause id="id691b23e1dc884962b7462a058bda2b9a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">high-risk pre-ignition conditions;</text></clause><clause id="iddab8b1c53ba04255b12c329284d21782" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conditions that influence fire behavior and spread including those conditions that suppress active fire events; and</text></clause><clause id="id27ff1b948a6447eea9a7ac770d99f6b8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fire weather threat levels;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6d76cf4f20fd4e0c9f4ce2755ad216b3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support real-time notification and monitoring of ignitions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd00ae703c544244ada2e2382ee5d43c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support observations and data collection of fire weather and fire environment variables, including profiles of wildfire smoke, winds, temperature, and humidity, for development of the model and systems under paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8a20368227854f0c875f27f208ad6618" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support forecasts and research that mitigate the impacts of wildfires on human life, health, and the economy;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5bbb6e0240ed4cd4a9ebcbf05698d596" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">development and implementation of advanced and user-oriented impact-based decision tools, science, and technologies that—</text><subparagraph id="id47f625b22393413783cfb48ebed007cb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure real-time and retrospective data, products, and services are findable, accessible, interoperable, usable, inform further research, and are analysis- and decision-ready;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2e143d9f7cf5493b98b6d920aa99f9bf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide targeted information throughout the fire lifecycle including pre-ignition, detection, forecasting, post-fire, and monitoring phases; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id379319c4357e4a5c86805cfc9943c609" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support early assessment of post-fire hazards, such as air quality, debris flows, mudslides, and flooding; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf026f67f974645a2b77dd2a8121a800a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensuring the parity of access to and support from the tools, science, and technologies developed under this subsection for remote, isolated, and rural communities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc832ee723ca742bfb75c1f8703754016" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing and implementing the program established under subsection (a), the Under Secretary may—</text><paragraph id="idf15572da568c424485f5d7a6ce41bf07" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct relevant physical and social science research activities in support of the functions described in subsection (b) and the priorities described in subsection (c);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id73f458f850de479f93c76c4550e7ca07" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess fuel characteristics, in coordination with Federal land management agencies and Federal science agencies, including moisture, loading, and other parameters used to determine fire risk levels and outlooks;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf56de2d1eb5d4cef86e052b34cf83727" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support and conduct research that assesses impacts to marine, riverine, watershed, and other relevant ecosystems, which may include forest and rangeland ecosystems, resulting from activities associated with mitigation of and response to wildfires;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9320d04378c4d20acd03a6d63faf757" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support and conduct research relating to the causes, contributing factors and impacts of wildfires, fire weather, fire risk, wildfire smoke, and associated conditions, risks, and impacts;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc32f803cb394730a4384e1353eeedbb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop wildfire smoke and air quality forecasts, forecast guidance, and prescribed burn weather forecasts, and conduct research on the impact of such forecasts on response behavior that minimizes health-related impacts from wildfire smoke exposure;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id253e5e54e36b4fbab1929f6731099952" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">use, in coordination with Federal, State, and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other relevant partners, as appropriate, wildland fuels information and fire resource intelligence to inform fire environment impact-based decision support services and products for safety;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f0a6cda33aa46438878ed33f4780e7a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">work with Federal departments and agencies to provide data, tools, and services to support the implementation of mitigation measures by such agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7f760248b0ea4dc5a8e61f51946a018e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide training and support to improve the communication of impact-based decision support services and products to the public, including recommended protective actions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id60e3874533c84afb817caa0492b4bca2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide comprehensive training to ensure staff of the program established under subsection (a) is properly equipped to deliver the impact-based decision support services and products described in paragraphs (1) through (6); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idafc14c1018d74e9cb613a960ed804f89" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">acquire, through contracted purchase, private sector-produced observational data to fill identified gaps, as needed.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3019077d719f460ab554eb93d2117599" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Parity for remote, isolated, and rural communities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In developing and implementing the program established under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall ensure parity of coverage and programmatic activity for remote, isolated, and rural communities, including communities where the public acts as the first responder to wildfire.</text></subsection><subsection id="ideb44df00548f431fb7c26cb332f7aa93" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall, as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, collaborate with partners in the weather enterprise, academic institutions, States, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, local partners, and Federal departments and agencies in the development and implementation of the program established under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id339152d04a0e4835865cb152900baf14" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the activities under this title and the amendments made by this title, the Under Secretary may provide support to non-Federal entities by making funds and resources available through—</text><paragraph id="id37a853ffb58744ed88b2d4e84d9cf6fa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">competitive grants;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8a37a5e7eb624ea889ecf4782e953a3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">contracts under the mobility program under subchapter VI of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/33">chapter 33</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote>Intergovernmental Personnel Act Mobility Program</quote>);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idddd20c03f475420e903254803517e03e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">cooperative agreements; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idef1f0f171cf7433084dc6f97c23b7248" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">co-location agreements as described in section 502 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/851">33 U.S.C. 851</external-xref> note prec.).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb42bbfc439804442b5026c8e86f99dd0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(h)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program administration plan</header><paragraph id="id137a525cca374f2d8eb46605f1395a02" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan that details how the program established under subsection (a) will be administered and governed within the Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a2fe9b4ce1f4abd9b29959baf808b37" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan required by paragraph (1) should include a description of—</text><subparagraph id="id190e5a89cb4d4fe08dabd2311da73239" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">how the functions described in subsection (b), the priorities described in subsection (c), and the activities described in subsection (d) will be distributed among the line offices of the Administration; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf6552eea98f74e998ea094deb0778534" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the mechanisms in place to ensure seamless coordination among those offices.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idddc509b7132d434bab0d634fba4bcca7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>703.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire weather testbed</header><subsection id="id232ae12ddb0f4897aad17691d3e410c5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of fire weather testbed</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish a fire weather testbed that enables engagement across the Federal Government, State and local governments, academia, private and federally funded research laboratories, the private sector, and end-users in order to evaluate the accuracy and usability of technology, models, fire weather products and services, and other research to accelerate the implementation, transition to operations, and use of new capabilities by the Administration, Federal and land management agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida60ee58d65344f65bdd1bae93209d4c2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Uncrewed systems</header><paragraph id="id38df0692669545a5a07f10d9c69ae275" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="id5ee021735e884d2c808524a2671fa9f6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">establish and carry out a research and development program to support the application of uncrewed systems technologies to improve data collection in support of modeling, observations, predictions, forecasts, and impact-based decision support services, and for other purposes of the Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id43ebcbd21cc042c286a7abe775b31f82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">transition uncrewed systems technologies from research to operations as the Under Secretary considers appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb315519000ec449b8a009e2ba0b36b27" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate with other Federal departments and agencies that may be developing uncrewed systems and related technologies to meet the challenges of wildland fire management.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f03e161295d4e9d8b51667c5108bf4b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pilot projects required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall conduct pilot projects of uncrewed systems for fire weather and fire environment observations, including—</text><subparagraph id="id748d06d905814984af4de7dc9ef298ea" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">testing of uncrewed systems in approximations of real-world scenarios;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc39501ada05644b9a0e543f83115a1f2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assessment of the utility of meteorological data collected from fire response and assessment aircraft;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd18ce99e11874381a8902c5fdbdf6952" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">input of the collected data into appropriate models to predict fire behavior, including coupled atmosphere and fire models; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2c20215cb11644c7be540fb4c6ca3862" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">collection of best management practices for deployment of uncrewed systems and other remote data technology, including for communication and coordination between the stakeholders described in subsection (a).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id664ba6dc53ea439cb267880bd49b20e8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Savings clause</header><subparagraph id="idd06611bd86cc49be8689b02b1f80df82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure that any testing or deployment of uncrewed systems follow procedures, restrictions, and protocols established by the heads of the Federal departments and agencies with statutory or regulatory jurisdiction over any airspace in which wildfire response activities are conducted during an active wildfire event.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0b46a7d65c7849d181a4e46afd958385" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation and coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall consult and coordinate with relevant Federal land management agencies, Federal science agencies, and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop processes for the appropriate deployment of the systems described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id35ca9ff3cab74588b1a4b71f1547ac0b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional pilot projects</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish additional pilot projects relating to the fire weather testbed that may include the following elements:</text><paragraph id="id41198eb07d314d8298e53fc92c6ab6d2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advanced products to detect fire from satellites.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1571d24fcc9d4a50b448ee6d199078f0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procurement and use of commercial data.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2d13df82513e49a7ad2b20cc440d9c7f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Investigation and evaluation of information needs of users and decision makers.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idd88b8a013f1a4f93b6f19e433c47e34c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>704.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data management and technology modernization</header><subsection id="id7e8286c8967c45cb9ef46f40bed9f93d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data availability and management</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8531">15 U.S.C. 8531</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idf7e0c63a2b0346948792ae756e1698b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (g) and (h), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1f7740a1bf1d4e058e64c35175bb0ecd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (e) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id00db907eeb634bc7a65c4f9ca60fab23"><subsection id="id2cb17751ca28458c878785b549d2849e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data availability and management</header><paragraph id="id73792a36382245e8831228fe7ee06d10" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="idf300953955d045b199d4acb961697634" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make data and metadata collected or generated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that the Under Secretary has the legal right to redistribute fully and openly available, in accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/435">Public Law 115–435</external-xref>; 132 Stat. 5529) and the amendments made by that Act, and preserve and curate such data and metadata, in accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/31">chapter 31</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Federal Records Act of 1950</quote>), in order to maximize use of such data and metadata; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4fb8b19f48e4031b418e1b2cc294b34" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">manage and steward the access, archival, and retrieval activities for the data and metadata described in subparagraph (A) by—</text><clause id="id74b12a1c61e2438d96c28cf758b7779b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">using—</text><subclause id="id5ebfd8432302449a8428afe6abaa42f8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enterprise-wide infrastructure, emerging technologies, commercial partnerships, and the skilled workforce needed to provide appropriate data management from collection to broad access; and</text></subclause><subclause id="ida3839721246c42c9b9f3b09faee67e68" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">associated information services; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id07d8cfe8543a41b5ac82265568f8d846" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">pursuing the maximum interoperability of data and information by—</text><subclause id="id4f5560a6db31411bba9f8f5a4e9bc6e5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">leveraging data, information, knowledge, and tools from across the Federal Government to support equitable access, cross-sectoral collaboration and innovation, and local planning and decision making; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id65ee169e1d68485fb8fdd772a88cf530" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">developing standards and practices for the adoption and citation of digital object identifiers for datasets, models, and analytical tools.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id66724d258f4146669d92a86052d0358a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall collaborate with such Federal partners and stakeholders as the Under Secretary considers relevant—</text><subparagraph id="id2c4c166e34e244d18125c28b599ef7ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to develop standards to pursue maximum interoperability of data, information, knowledge, and tools across the Federal Government, convert historical records into common digital formats, and improve access and usability of data by partners and stakeholders;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida1137767497d4059896f796c1264e439" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to identify and solicit relevant data from Federal and international partners and other relevant stakeholders, as the Under Secretary considers appropriate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38edf72ab111403384bae0171b65f48b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to develop standards and practices for the adoption and citation of digital object identifiers for datasets, models, and analytical tools.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9097b76c9c42400b973f05a306adc053" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Wildfire technology modernization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1114 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748b-1">43 U.S.C. 1748b–1</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id5636afac49c8479d96fea9392989c63f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)(3), by inserting <quote>the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,</quote> after <quote>Federal Aviation Administration,</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id176e7b7f25914da9bc757074e9cd10da" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (e)(2)—</text><subparagraph id="id45838ca441e44849a70fc94eec651357" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb61358c4da724dc48793a59d82dc7337" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97f5aa30f97b4ff9a16e46032e01ea91"><subparagraph id="id3aeca69770c14c968a7f32f3f81457be" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><clause id="id25779066ebe64462a311b0ec6754bdd7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall consult with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere regarding any development of impact-based decision support services that relate to wildfire-related activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></clause><clause id="iddcde127ffac04ee68371499e53e53e1d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of impact-based decision support services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subparagraph, the term <term>impact-based decision support services</term> means scientific advice and interpretative services the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides to help core partners, such as emergency personnel and public safety officials, make decisions when the information impacts the lives and livelihoods of the people of the United States.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id56692466b65e417c9031eb7f28818dc0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (f)—</text><subparagraph id="id649a9df9eb09442cb4e62aca81920688" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd017c92705c14820b39343ea5bf4133d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>The Secretaries</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id894ec9cb9e1041c0affec7bfeba3de99"><paragraph id="idd2c31021228c4a019edc66ba63ffd3cf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretaries</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id737d3a33200a4c5a9903e70cbd9cf005" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd828c53bf5a545058f917f73e6a14d01"><paragraph id="iddc1135f8811a47f9aaae3d4968b0b7c5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaboration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall collaborate with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to improve coordination, utility of systems and assets, and interoperability of data for wildfire smoke prediction, forecasting, and modeling.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0c13230db8e9494dbea90eda794c9d73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Digital presence</header><paragraph id="id7996de1f45224786a2de0be207d8d5f2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall develop and maintain a comprehensive, centralized, and publicly accessible digital presence designed to promote findability, accessibility, interoperability, usability, and utility of the services, tools, data, and information produced by the program established under section 702(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a80db97a235410f93762dc2388fe7c7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Digital platform and tools</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall seek to ensure the digital platform and tools of the Administration integrate geospatial data, decision support tools, training, and best practices to provide real-time fire weather forecasts and address fire-related issues and needs.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb0040da1e0a54a129dbdab7f7b548a07" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">High-Performance computing</header><paragraph id="idccc228c80bbf45d0a6bff57aaafdf0c8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall seek to acquire sufficient high-performance computing resources and capacity for research, operations, and data storage in support of the program established under section 702(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id24cb4bcbc1c54f559b4fdf5da34b5667" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In acquiring high-performance computing capacity under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consider requirements needed for—</text><subparagraph id="id12586c29507a4a99aac75a1cea485869" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conducting research, development, and testbed experiments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id18b0c15994324890bcf0e767b952b0b0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the transition of research and testbed developments into operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92e4efcde3074bfdbab00bd740515f68" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">sustaining capabilities in operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id82cffe35e26f4ea199292f5de9a17b80" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">capabilities existing in other Federal departments and agencies and the commercial sector; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8aeef84fc91e489cae29e61510dbeb19" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">skilled workforce development.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idc76883d796ef45f1ba092c05898451de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>705.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Surveys and assessments</header><subsection id="id3e1ac83caafa4e4794ce70647f8c3abd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Post-Fire weather surveys and assessments</header><paragraph id="id94fac66bd73540f5b6db633c38e97235" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual post-fire-weather-season survey and assessment</header><subparagraph id="id47c4976ff1314e7480e0f4f4df12e490" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">During the second winter following the date of the enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Under Secretary shall conduct a post-fire-weather-season survey and assessment.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcd071a5e679046e39dccd72cfdab44de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">After conducting a post-fire-weather-season survey and assessment under subparagraph (A), the Under Secretary shall—</text><clause id="id893200b1e5554009a6c9dc2845f48cd7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">investigate any gaps in weather data collected during the assessment;</text></clause><clause id="ide21f440484544e909b7eafbc7d183210" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identify and implement strategies and procedures to improve program services and information dissemination;</text></clause><clause id="idcfbf12f9fd1141f3aaebf3547195e471" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">update systems, processes, strategies, and procedures to enhance the efficiency and reliability of weather data obtained from the assessment;</text></clause><clause id="id6965fc2e67d94a40b616e86f27d47721" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of physical fire weather forecasting information for each incident included in the survey and assessment; and</text></clause><clause id="idde7ced4a587048db9bdaeef2b8090f65" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assess and refine performance measures, as needed.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9301c359adb244f9935b269a1ad1d098" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Surveys and assessments following individual wildfire events</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may conduct surveys and assessments following individual wildfire events as the Under Secretary determines necessary.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide4297a5ae49d4625b5c5deab4471e179" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Goal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall seek to increase the number of impact studies on communities following a wildfire, including by surveying individual and collective responses and incorporating other applicable topics of social science research.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c8e63457307429b9a142dcbe76310c2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting any survey or assessment under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall coordinate with Federal, State, and local partners, Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, private entities, and such institutions of higher education as the Under Secretary considers relevant in order to—</text><subparagraph id="idfc8857b8996e470aa671c1f486a9a4b2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improve operations and collaboration; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9fed38938f7c4b70baff400d098fd9d1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">optimize data collection, sharing, integration, assimilation, and dissemination.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id083698775ba24b18875ed795caecd439" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall make the data and findings obtained from each survey and assessment conducted under this subsection available to the public in an accessible digital format, as soon as practicable, after conducting the assessment.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb539e03875724ec8a9aaa13f0b3d265e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Service improvements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall make best efforts to incorporate the results and recommendations of each survey and assessment conducted under this subsection into the research and development plan under subsection 708(b) and operations of the Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6819c81b2f234ecb87b408d4b3de8b0c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not less frequently than once each year, the Under Secretary shall join other relevant departments and agencies to provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress that provides—</text><subparagraph id="id2f7d58dfe1a6406dab0d073d6ac456ce" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an overview of the prior fire season; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0ea6ee95add449e5b8d6dfd2be600608" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an outlook of the upcoming fire season.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9d9a96d0d787429a81abed7299a6236e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Joint assessment and plan for automated surface observing system</header><paragraph id="id075b124d236543b49653562024a1dbe4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of Defense, shall—</text><subparagraph id="id382725d538344017adfb7bee6ffda577" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conduct an assessment of resources, personnel, procedures, and activities necessary to maximize the functionality and utility of the automated surface observing system of the United States that identifies—</text><clause id="ide7b1e1254ea24c53b3f3f151c6148e4c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">key system upgrades needed to improve observation quality and utility for weather forecasting, aviation safety, and other users;</text></clause><clause id="iddf2411d8f0894f37baf0edff4e68c554" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improvements needed in observations within the planetary boundary layer, including mixing height;</text></clause><clause id="id14c8ece561f84d54b59001b702a66a15" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improvements needed in public accessibility of observational data;</text></clause><clause id="ida42e623cf2254a39986363e88bb1157b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improvements needed to reduce latency in reporting of observational data;</text></clause><clause id="id49f66996e7b64a4283b207a4db6603d7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">relevant data to be collected for the production of forecasts or forecast guidance relating to atmospheric composition, including particulate and air quality data related to wildfires, and aviation safety;</text></clause><clause id="id5dfcac7f49314b728e7368d4bcf3096b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">areas of concern regarding operational continuity and reliability of the system, which may include needs for overnight staff, particularly in remote and rural areas and areas where system failure would have the greatest negative impact to the community;</text></clause><clause id="idc1ee1cc2669240719f5182aeb3fa9a72" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">stewardship, data handling, data distribution, and product generation needs arising from upgrading and changing the automated surface observation systems;</text></clause><clause id="idfd200fe768c24e10a345a3520b18c484" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(viii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">possible solutions for areas of concern identified under clause (vi), including with respect to the potential use of backup systems, power and communication system reliability, staffing needs and personnel location, and the acquisition of critical component backups and proper storage location to ensure rapid system repair necessary to ensure system operational continuity; and</text></clause><clause id="id6a69fe2434524591a53c60f167c13803" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ix)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research, development, and transition to operations needed to develop advanced data collection, quality control, and distribution so that the data are provided to models, users, and decision support systems in a timely manner; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4a0d411e521e45f5a3cddbef42422fca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop and implement a plan that addresses the findings of the assessment conducted under subparagraph (A), including by seeking and allocating resources necessary to ensure that system upgrades are standardized across the Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense to the extent practicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a5c080b3a7b4c6ba9b487a969a00d13" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Standardization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any system standardization implemented under paragraph (1)(B) shall not impede activities to upgrade or improve individual units of the system.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id81f1683288b44ee996f968fd6f4d553d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Remote automatic weather station coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, in collaboration with relevant Federal departments and agencies and the National Interagency Coordination Center, shall assess and develop cooperative agreements to improve coordination, interoperability standards, operations, and placement of remote automatic weather stations for the purpose of improving utility and coverage of remote automatic weather stations, automated surface observation systems, wildfire smoke monitoring platforms, and other similar stations and systems for weather operations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2554d6e13df04af19ddecc3529178668" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><subparagraph id="idcc79008a59a9412d93762c2938e05d6d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that—</text><clause id="idd3e2a194f3c04e4caa2fc72648568c82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">details the findings of the assessment required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); and</text></clause><clause id="id24bb8f5c519c4a0197dad00918c8d704" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">details the plan required by subparagraph (B) of such paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff6dfbfffaf645bfbd225950a4ac9706" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include a detailed assessment of appropriations required—</text><clause id="idd72bc28c538c4c1d878ceb4e1af878fd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to address the findings of the assessment required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); and</text></clause><clause id="id03f0c12691e64a25b0ddc2666c73a7bf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to implement the plan required by subparagraph (B) of such paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5a7adfb5177e4f94965687f1485a744b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>706.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incident Meteorologist Service</header><subsection id="id27d9017e068a44d084da5c4191b17c2c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall establish and maintain an Incident Meteorologist Service within the National Weather Service (in this section referred to as the <quote>Service</quote>).</text></subsection><subsection id="idf350240f533d4456b14dc12cb5aa7e3d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusion of existing incident meteorologists</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Service shall include—</text><paragraph id="id16f4ee2727f341a98e158b2051b0216d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the incident meteorologists of the Administration as of the date of the enactment of this Act; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfac861eb917c4447986f709ca33b8ee1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such incident meteorologists of the Administration as may be appointed after such date.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb242df781c60481f9f7cfa56c2759e05" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Service shall provide—</text><paragraph id="id78da08ec799b4247963c66c685c4d464" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on-site impact-based decision support services to Federal, State, and local government emergency response agencies, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations preceding, during, and following significant weather-related events, such as wildland fires, that threaten human life, property, or the economy; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbccb38457301482fb827ff15f1157a49" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support to Federal, State, and local government decisionmakers, partners, and stakeholders, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations for seasonal planning and pre-fire mitigation activities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf6338b95cada49e498d3e552f1257d3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deployment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Service shall be deployed—</text><paragraph id="idd1126678f3a44a95922f47b616cedc5b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as determined by the Under Secretary; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb55cf520c5a3477a8ed5567f17f0c7ad" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at the request of the head of another Federal department or agency and with the approval of the Under Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id37394b9a2dd44782bd972a226c656add" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Staffing and resources</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In establishing and maintaining the Service, the Under Secretary shall identify, acquire, and maintain adequate levels of staffing and resources to meet user needs.</text></subsection><subsection id="idceb6850ecfa843578b5562f975ea517a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Support for incident meteorologists</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall provide resources, access to real-time fire weather forecasts, training, administrative and logistical support, and access to professional counseling or other forms of support as the Under Secretary considers appropriate for the betterment of the emotional and mental health and well-being of incident meteorologists and other employees of the Administration so long as the need for such resources, training, access, or support is due to the response of such employees to high-impact and extreme fire weather events.</text></subsection></section><section id="id77a6153f47c64b979c66f4bb3bb9b0ea" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>707.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Emergency response activities</header><subsection id="id679e7d3e10124d91a0c7bec13ac7cc44" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="id772ae5c4cde04543a7e5b714510d834e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Basic pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>basic pay</term> includes any applicable locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, any applicable special rate supplement under section 5305 of such title, or any equivalent payment under a similar provision of law.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcce399edeb474b78814635615a2b0946" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered employee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered employee</term> means an employee of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, or the Department of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1eba5a75de8b4da9a1a28033f2dfe157" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>covered services</term> means services that are performed by a covered employee while serving—</text><subparagraph id="ide01e222d17ba4d8794aec9b927dccc39" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as a wildland firefighter or a fire management response official, including a regional fire director, a deputy regional fire director, and a fire management officer;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida0523d9e706f4ea8ac61cc71bedfdb0d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as an incident meteorologist accompanying a wildland firefighter crew; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97382e33427940e48b46c1e51db28cff" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on an incident management team, at the National Interagency Fire Center, at a Geographic Area Coordinating Center, or at an operations center.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcbf2f62ebeab40619d9aad08078edf09" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Premium pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>premium pay</term> means premium pay paid under a provision of law described in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 5547(a) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id949c8a95f9c447abb37cef69ed2b1c7c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relevant congressional committees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>relevant congressional committees</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id78dce4833922497ea5ded7028b9b71c2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1dc786af4e3c4cd394308db6cbdeed00" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddcfa6e2de461444e8738e5baf13e435e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf2f26e4bd75d415fb1043a734cb9086d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida21d880af8db442fb63b24c018e2f368" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id00501c76816547fb9aa00afcd005639d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5e95c2499fb41699f364c7417dc8504" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8ed1d0b4a91b456ab753953c221fba9c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide90cfc92616c4944877e4e9483f87d9a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d13f580946b4215b6f562b72dde964f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8cfc5940219e4d4b92f649f877ece54c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretary concerned</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary concerned</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="ide5b5b2b2e8254fd3a2ccc9881d02f1c6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to an employee of the Department of Commerce;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfbf0843534884b2aa69515383c2e2fc0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to an employee of the Department of Agriculture; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2cf0af19db5245c296774a5cba280643" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to an employee of the Department of the Interior.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id97f0fbdb8f3e459b87fbb05ad23fbd7b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Waiver</header><paragraph id="id41a1e052f79141aead097d56b86bb240" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any premium pay received by a covered employee for covered services shall be disregarded in calculating the aggregate of the basic pay and premium pay for the covered employee for purposes of applying the limitation on premium pay under section 5547(a) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0f7c78a1af404e3c946cb378628d6849" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Calculation of aggregate pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any pay that is disregarded under paragraph (1) shall be disregarded in calculating the aggregate pay of the applicable covered employee for purposes of applying the limitation under section 5307 of title 5, United States Code, during calendar year 2027.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfa9e1be101b84c2eabf5c400195874d9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A covered employee may not be paid premium pay under this subsection if, or to the extent that, the aggregate of the basic pay and premium pay (including premium pay for covered services) of the covered employee for a calendar year would exceed the rate of basic pay payable for a position at level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, as in effect at the end of that calendar year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf8b485add9774c8682b911f4bbffe741" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Treatment of additional premium pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the application of this subsection results in the payment of additional premium pay to a covered employee of a type that is normally creditable as basic pay for retirement or any other purpose, that additional premium pay shall not be—</text><subparagraph id="id657511bb0569498cbc7c854bae7399e3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">considered to be basic pay of the covered employee for any purpose; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3709e3aa6bcf4e5fbd735ba8b8cb1579" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">used in computing a lump-sum payment to the covered employee for accumulated and accrued annual leave under section 5551 or 5552 of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd46c66333eef4938a0f479a8ad74f51f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective period</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">This subsection shall be in effect during calendar year 2027 and apply to premium pay payable during that year.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1f4d2754a950486aa07d54e3a4d84919" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5542(a)(5) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>, the Department of Commerce,</quote> after <quote>Interior</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc2788cb06c7f4b1a8c157f6947006edc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Plan To address needs</header><paragraph id="id54a54de39b8a481883f353c60f65c848" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Development and implementation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than March 30, 2027, the Secretaries referred to in subsection (a)(6), in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall jointly develop and implement a plan that addresses the needs of the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of the Interior, as applicable, to hire, appoint, promote, or train additional covered employees who carry out covered services such that sufficient covered employees are available throughout each fiscal year, beginning in fiscal year 2027, without the need for waivers of premium pay limitations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4498c386039b42838e98c21b99549071" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submittal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days before the date on which the Secretaries implement the plan developed under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall submit the plan to the relevant congressional committees.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide88cc7b56b2645a1b5807333100ffe08" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall not be contingent on any Secretary receiving amounts appropriated for fiscal years beginning in fiscal year 2027 in amounts greater than amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2024.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56e4e3768f014f2da1d31c949b600fd2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Policies and procedures for health, safety, and well-Being</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall maintain policies and procedures to promote the health, safety, and well-being of covered employees.</text></subsection></section><section id="id4c195f1113bd4e1c9fcac25dd413042c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>708.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submissions to Congress regarding the Fire Weather Services Program, incident meteorologist workforce needs, and National Weather Service workforce support</header><subsection id="id5d724176df6646dc9f019b5fca5a605f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress—</text><paragraph id="id28d58514b32a4b4b8795c4fbf409a9fc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the plan described in subsection (b);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3fd170d4a534488aaeb4946fd3db1bc2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the assessment described in subsection (c); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id80467311d0d94cf791fecd34d87905c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the assessment described in subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc1b365d1380f481abe584c018a344eff" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire weather Services Program plan</header><paragraph id="ida552f61b0d2546a2937335ee8bfa23fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan submitted under subsection (a)(1) shall detail—</text><subparagraph id="id6445f351dcfa4d6787d210c56f67178d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the observational data, modeling requirements, ongoing computational needs, research, development, and technology transfer activities, data management, skilled-personnel requirements, engagement with relevant Federal emergency and land management agencies and partners, and corresponding research, development, and operational resources and timelines necessary to achieve the functions described in subsection (b) of section 702 and the priorities described in subsection (c) of such section; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id254ced314b5f4bc2a838626fe2e47371" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">plans and needs for all other activities and requirements under this title and the amendments made by this title.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id778c615e2f554e258beb6a0bd14bf3b0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Submittal of annual budget for plan</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Following completion of the plan submitted under subsection (a)(1), the Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than once each year concurrent with the submission of the budget by the President to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the elements detailed in the plan.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddf8d36a2ca3a4d2dbcdb36532e92b8be" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incident meteorologist workforce needs assessment</header><paragraph id="id2d1cda48e927414799c8837aa1298328" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall conduct a workforce needs assessment on the current and future demand for additional incident meteorologists for wildfires and other high-impact fire weather events.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5c7752bfbc84f3fb10751b4aaa7bc25" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="id76c09ffd32194bcfa412ddde06fcc7cc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of staffing levels as of the date on which the assessment is submitted under subsection (a)(2) and projected future staffing levels.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc4d6e47b720749c0bab819d8344dc2de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the state of the research, development, and operational infrastructure of the National Weather Service as of the date on which the assessment is submitted and future needs of such infrastructure in order to meet current and future demands, including with respect to information technology support and logistical and administrative operations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7823629ef5e346008e394d8d4c2e33df" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consider user needs and feedback from relevant stakeholders.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd0a1f31f83474ed6be209ddf8e00f9d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Support services assessment</header><paragraph id="id9463fab4b60c4f0c83b8142dcbf677d8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall conduct a workforce support services assessment with respect to employees of the National Weather Service engaged in emergency response.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6ee66aa33d86453992f0efdf0d381a8f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="id5fd4c0c84bfa46c794b498987e49dc36" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An assessment of the need for services provided by the Public Health Service to support the employees of the National Weather Service engaged in emergency response.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id953e3b276590452e9fefd65fe00cc198" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A detailed assessment of appropriations required to secure the level of support services needed as identified in the assessment described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd9487dd8ee4e4e8abb5b1c0911f809ff" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional support services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Following the completion of the assessment required by paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall seek to acquire additional support services to meet the needs identified in the assessment.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3a5710e9347d4f05a47a798454375b94" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>709.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire Weather Science and Technology Working Group; strategic plan</header><subsection id="id62131a5c9ecb4b44be65fb848becb86f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire Weather Science and Technology Working Group</header><paragraph id="idf10926e9c7cd480cbc3edb9609498719" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish a working group, to be known as the <quote>Fire Weather Science and Technology Working Group</quote> (in this section referred to as the <quote>Working Group</quote>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc39a329e85a241189e7e6863a67d82a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chair</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Working Group shall be chaired by the Under Secretary, or designee.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf372bd5cd15d422a9feda936b6d10be0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">General duties</header><subparagraph id="idef011556ace348ee9e68046c9474618d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Working Group shall seek to build efficiencies among the agencies listed under section 711(c)(1) and coordinate the planning and management of science, research, technology, and operations related to science and support services for wildland fire prediction, detection, forecasting, modeling, resilience, response, management, and assessments.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5cf2f740adc945878c83cb09ef017566" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Input</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Working Group shall solicit input from non-Federal stakeholders.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idad323d5f3406416b8e8f320ef5a6e467" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Strategic plan</header><paragraph id="id63493edc5493445caa7cdf50f3762dce" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Working Group shall prepare and submit to Congress a strategic plan for interagency coordination, research, and development that will improve the assessment of fire environments and the understanding and prediction of wildland fires, associated wildfire smoke, and the impacts of such fires and smoke, including—</text><subparagraph id="id97015990616c4ba1a7d20fdcf0bf18b2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on communities, buildings, and other infrastructure;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id498274dc1753405689819632bbbcf4d9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on ecosystem services and watersheds;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcc96d160ac6648a199200747a322f6c3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">social and economic impacts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6ea7aae5f8d343e2bed58ce88ef9c165" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by developing and encouraging the adoption of science-based and cost-effective measures—</text><clause id="idd806b9e032be4b0d8b6c5bf24744a43c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to enhance community resilience to wildland fires;</text></clause><clause id="id4fbcf97098e14b3faae244fb7d93fe01" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to address and mitigate the impacts of wildland fires and associated wildfire smoke; and</text></clause><clause id="idc0b3c4471bbd454d8861b9bfc637d793" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to restore natural fire regimes in fire-dependent ecosystems;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2e17cf5450d848d0a01a8e68ac7d6b32" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by improving the understanding and mitigation of the effects of weather and long-term drought on wildland fire risk, frequency, and severity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id756de7ab203149a085ac83e015ef72b5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">through integration of social and behavioral sciences in public safety fire communication;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id040b20c7ec6b418aa1914a171852d1dd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by improving the forecasting and understanding of prescribed fires and the impacts of such fires, and how those impacts may differ from impacts of wildland fires that originate from an unplanned ignition; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id236d35db00d64bb281ab25b3a9da0350" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consideration and adoption of any recommendations included in the report required by section 711(c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8e45c8e56f6249c68ac3bdd74c25fd5c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Plan elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The strategic plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="id6be6525bfddb44c2b7f55ced9c42b9b4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of the priorities and needs of vulnerable populations.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0f87b2b451f74f9aa98ad8913da57829" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A description of high-performance computing, visualization, and dissemination needs.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc02cbb441bfc45539add06f9dea1c63d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A timeline and guidance for implementation of—</text><clause id="ide16e46bee5334addb28d006aaa68b078" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an interagency data sharing system for data relevant to performing fire assessments and modeling fire risk and fire behavior;</text></clause><clause id="id3f3543d2630e4dfc87c32be58003dba4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a system for ensuring that the fire prediction models of relevant agencies can be interconnected; and</text></clause><clause id="id9bc69fea939348a1833eaa2f9247c2a8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to the maximum extent practicable, any recommendations included in the report required by section 711(c).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbea2f0e930cc4d5996558db946a79231" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A plan for incorporating and coordinating research and operational observations, including from infrared technologies, microwave, radars, satellites, mobile weather stations, and uncrewed aerial systems.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97c5cf11ff8e486986d204a21a0b2bb0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A flexible framework to communicate clear and simple fire event information to the public.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7cb994248e0c480d90016c66a6a475d8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Integration of social, behavioral, risk, and communication research to improve the fire operational environment and societal information reception and response.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida2ec9d762d244cb68e5d8fbe2a1d7404" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sunset</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Working Group shall terminate following the submission of the plan under subsection (b).</text></subsection></section><section id="iddefc59e8af2f4f00b8bfd907f397f7f1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>710.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fire weather rating system</header><subsection id="id987c735ffcbb4181b83a306b90c632bd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Chief of the United States Forest Service, the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Director of the National Park Service, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, and such Federal departments and agencies and stakeholders as the Under Secretary considers appropriate—</text><paragraph id="ida346edeef5d441aebf256fd641db9793" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate the system used as of the date of the enactment of this Act to rate the risk of wildfire; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8aaf9cf87464469687c6eb1e6d057ed9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether updates to that system are required to ensure that the ratings accurately reflect the severity of fire risk.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id80b4d38c25de429089ad77401ccd9c10" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Update required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Under Secretary determines under subsection (a) that updates to the system described in paragraph (1) of such subsection are necessary, the Under Secretary shall update that system.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc8748570d2b245ad85a03f7fafb4909c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>711.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Government Accountability Office reports</header><subsection id="ide169f7fb3d2240fa876ab366a24f0fab" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on Fire Weather Services Program</header><paragraph id="idc9e3d289b30b4572b4a617c911db1126" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of the establishment of the program under section 702(a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on such program.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida0467c55672345a8ae49e75671e4c52e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required by paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id3bacce9e52554cf393655abf97593480" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluate the performance of the program by establishing initial baseline capabilities and tracking progress made toward fully operationalizing the functions described in section 702(b); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6056fec6911a46ba8ecf7acc2be0de29" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include such other recommendations as the Comptroller General determines are appropriate to improve the program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida351fcef29ed40d9ba19727d2db2bc3e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on interagency bodies for wildfire forecasting, prevention, planning, and management</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that—</text><paragraph id="idb6499fb6f30d4ba0b101f4d05e410a64" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identifies all Federal interagency bodies established for the purpose of wildfire forecasting, prevention, planning, and management (such as wildfire councils, commissions, and workgroups), including—</text><subparagraph id="ide2bcf6bf2ed643c8a6b869f37eea9716" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Wildland Fire Leadership Council;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34cef4b408244b858359fae7a35c828f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the White House Wildfire Resilience Interagency Group;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide52c4c854a314c40a4b4fd2762214925" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc42683c2d43347bb87a728304186ddcf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbc51a490f45541d8ab43fb3b6becc7d0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Joint Fire Science Program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4110871d541145d395151c2f4a8e6fda" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Interagency Coordination Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d767ec70a094f6e92a871a9b5aa9694" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Predictive Services Oversight Group;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida2b817603c4942b5a6ad4ecd7876fce8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf40b8d355a654dee9a3b161fb750ac62" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Wildfire Coordinating Group;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfed72f04201f4fbdbe9c2ee39e4137ae" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id63a0fd27efd943cdb877126adc3724c8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3f4608de4c2f43f68b1bb2114559b736" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the roles, functionality, and utility of such interagency bodies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf76ea4d40d14670bf28ab402b04b3af" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the progress, performance, and implementation of such interagency bodies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id405404c10211465bbe31ecff2e13131b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assesses efficacy and identifies potential overlap and duplication of such interagency bodies in carrying out interagency collaboration with respect to wildfire prevention, planning, and management; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4811422d9d6644b1888d5e3933d27ce5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">includes such other recommendations as the Comptroller General determines are appropriate to streamline and improve wildfire forecasting, prevention, planning, and management, including recommendations regarding the interagency bodies for which the addition of the Administration is necessary to improve wildfire forecasting, prevention, planning, and management.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf6e0d5e6a32a45bd8e9f4e6527353abe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on interagency coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that identifies—</text><paragraph id="idcb0722b48207460bb3a5c5f672e9a741" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the authorities, roles, and science and support services relating to wildland fire prediction, detection, forecasting, modeling, resilience, response, management, and assessment provided by—</text><subparagraph id="id04b5c83fc76c4b5dadf2c38c6e98d625" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Commerce, including the Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf707680e5fd34742923e204608e412a0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3dc650840d6246a48da0eae04874f280" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of the Interior;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9511e15ca82448d8a4944034478240dc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Agriculture;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f5c646f8e874db2aa670b1379dd86e3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Science Foundation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba3b15a9d50d4ba7ab1e25fcbfbfabcb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Energy;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0af9717bdf8b4906a0c41222842a289e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca4aeb3faca34d38a46a9f48c3e78bcd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Transportation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6788a0924eac43bd9b4ef43e08d40a8f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Environmental Protection Agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7938b76ece554203910c358350fb989c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Defense; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id50906135fc4e4a20a02e65d1ce72f860" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommended areas in and mechanisms by which the agencies listed under paragraph (1) could support and improve—</text><subparagraph id="id050cd086567c431da6fdff2165181bf2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordination between Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, including through examination of possible public-private partnerships;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id54f232015ec14371ad5e777edd0e6365" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">research and development, including interdisciplinary research, related to fire environments, wildland fires, associated wildfire smoke, and the impacts of such environments, fires, and smoke, in furtherance of a coordinated interagency effort to address wildland fire risk reduction;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id76285b6c02514dc9989a287be0e43869" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data management and stewardship, the development and coordination of data systems and computational tools, and the creation of a centralized, integrated data collaboration environment for agency data, including historical data, relating to weather, fire environments, wildland fires, associated wildfire smoke, and the impacts of such environments, fires, and smoke, and the assessment of wildland fire risk mitigation measures;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4db06f89a0bc4378a0b6760e52a2080c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">interoperability, usability, and accessibility of the scientific data, data systems, and computational and information tools of the agencies listed under paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3fd5db7b27014a9eb753ab67cff1c0df" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinated public safety communications relating to fire weather events, fire hazards, and wildland fire and smoke risk reduction strategies; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72f8e390935f4cdfbd644566515184d4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">secure and accurate real-time data, alerts, and advisories to wildland firefighters and other decision support tools for wildland fire incident command posts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id626167ca60744739a3c9d7a9641391e2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on automated surface observing system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report that—</text><paragraph id="id981f1f3dda7e45579f6d9c3b7494b99e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the functionality, utility, reliability, and operational status of the automated surface observing system across the Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8ca842c17fa0434ca32035067d7bc7f6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the progress, performance, and implementation of the plan required by section 705(b)(1)(B);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbcb89ea94f0544e9bd3af3843ec5b7de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assesses the efficacy of cross-agency collaboration and stakeholder engagement in carrying out the plan and provides recommendations to improve such activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id35dfc020b2f840dab586c03e201afa38" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">evaluates the operational continuity and reliability of the system, particularly in remote and rural areas and areas where system failure would have the greatest negative impact to the community, and provides recommendations to improve such continuity and reliability;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idffc609d7b1a74d2480f20c7e87e4a133" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">assesses Federal coordination regarding the remote automatic weather station network, air resource advisors, and other Federal observing assets used for weather and subseasonal to seasonal modeling and response activities, and provides recommendations for improvements; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idefb8ce9a59f34a17bfb826e3e6b2f768" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">includes such other recommendations as the Comptroller General determines are appropriate to improve the system.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3a4b3b4406484b9784745e8078b95b82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>712.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperation and coordination</header><subsection id="id1bc409eba7b144f3b00f998118f1a961" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Federal department and agency shall cooperate with the Under Secretary, as appropriate, in carrying out this title and the amendments made by this title.</text></subsection><subsection id="id32264bb4873748b3a624183c603a83b5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination</header><paragraph id="ide5568d25a760438dbf7c7cf8eb42fc34" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In meeting the requirements under this title and the amendments made by this title, the Under Secretary shall coordinate, and as appropriate, establish agreements with Federal and external partners to fully use and leverage existing assets, systems, networks, technologies, and sources of data.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idac63fbce703f4decb02ab05bba2877e4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination carried out under paragraph (1) shall include coordination with—</text><subparagraph id="idd61c9e4d92264a3cbe791e12ca005d04" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the agencies represented at the National Interagency Fire Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id78efb2f31e7e485e950258f9a424ac96" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Predictive Services Program of the National Interagency Coordination Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9bc57ac1a8214d0cb3c3fdac4be729fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Wildfire Coordinating Group; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd45b3dc1fad042f6a422144c860a056f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">relevant interagency bodies identified in the report required by section 711(b).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id58d87b5793cd4fbbb6f757644e985a48" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out this subsection, the Under Secretary shall consult with Federal partners including—</text><subparagraph id="id75e822257c17440c9a520fee9a737e63" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd02857a0c1a04624ab0d0b1adcddc914" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of the Interior;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id865af3effe634b529867b025598abd55" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1251371f73024b90b0be7f81026ad53e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Science Foundation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a330c917e8c4cfcadb38310111e0cd7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States Geological Survey;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide336fe88f01f464eb2a859b9c7df9e54" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Agriculture;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1577aac36b87465ebf5898b16647cbff" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Environmental Protection Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45cea1c1ca124ebc8152677de0cea008" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Energy;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92fe5a5198154eaa89c0f244243325a9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Department of Defense;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida914798192884fd580854fd037e9929c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1e178073f23c4f01ac0b5604ba7e46c4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(K)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such other departments and agencies as the Under Secretary considers relevant.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide95d2f1116b84c3ba48a4c78436ef0db" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Process for annual coordination with non-Federal entities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a process for annual coordination with State and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to assist the development of improved fire weather products and services.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6ec6781e76b345dd88eda199a71bcaac" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">International coordination</header><paragraph id="id036e0bfaeda64585980583eb78fa9705" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may develop collaborative relationships and agreements with foreign partners and counterparts to address transboundary issues pertaining to wildfires, fire weather, wildfire smoke, air quality, and associated conditions and hazards or other relevant meteorological phenomena, as appropriate, to facilitate full and open exchange of data and information.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id886f68467eba4cf19d2560c1ed84621d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall consult with the Department of State and such other Federal partners as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id3c58f68f81bf42d1bca7b6757ce4ff23" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>713.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">General provisions</header><subsection id="id5724a22cc6a34bb1964fa7145897e674" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Avoidance of duplication</header><paragraph id="idc77e7d702a8149d4bf8a87fce17ffb8f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that activities carried out under this title and the amendments made by this title are not duplicative of activities supported by other parts of the Administration or other relevant Federal departments and agencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfb17d62d21f2466b94aad58f1f5d2a25" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out activities under this title and the amendments made by this title, the Under Secretary shall coordinate with the Administration and heads of other Federal research agencies—</text><subparagraph id="idd308ee1bf44046128872e04bb552dcc1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure those activities enhance and complement, but do not constitute unnecessary duplication of, efforts; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id91afe44d870b4f14b6baadfa4ad0ff3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure the responsible stewardship of funds.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2a2f4663741e4cceb8db74ef63ca96f3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rule of construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title may be construed—</text><paragraph id="id4520a5657d244ad6ab4cfeba0b6fff14" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to satisfy any requirement for government-to-government consultation with Indian tribes; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idece55bc795f24b55ba8ca42a9de9007f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to affect or modify any treaty or other right of any Indian tribe.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id1d5c8a1c8a8e4c2394f0808b6a7380b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>714.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><subsection id="id2e9bce5d799c4b718552e86174cb13b5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration to carry out this title and the amendments made by this title—</text><paragraph id="id47e8da0db4434f1e9be0cb3ba5fb39c5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd498261672f84ae981f6e824973e1667" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$20,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7f70338add3e4540b18a7aa048016045" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$27,000,000 for fiscal year 2029;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbde716ee87aa4718b837abc4014715bd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$36,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id16736c53af4b4335a1a428d4003b5f57" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6c3f4011e453431b87c257eb2f1a5418" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">None of the amounts authorized to be appropriated by subsection (a) may be used to unnecessarily duplicate activities, as determined by the Under Secretary, funded under title VIII of division D of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/58">Public Law 117–58</external-xref>; 135 Stat. 1094).</text></subsection></section><h4 id = "id2113b1d45655419ebe080ddcb04bf061" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>VIII</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Precipitation estimates and landslide preparedness</header><section id="id6f8817f728144f53970de549a7f6faf0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>801.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusion of atmospheric rivers and extreme precipitation events in estimates of precipitation frequency</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id317a160f4e944fb6b908964c54aa91d6"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id50da2658018c4b94894a0dec9f49d338"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id741021e169a54e349b4084cc06590379" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting before paragraph (3) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe100385806a4786a66f6eafa5ccabe0"><paragraph id="id45D28D916C344878ACED6703DE2521D5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Atmospheric river</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>atmospheric river</term> means a transient corridor of strong water vapor in the atmosphere that—</text><subparagraph id="id8D7C1312BE4741EC96A37AABCA96DEE0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">produces significant quantities of rain or snow; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE42A98A27C614B4DA7A2DE3C8F4FCAE9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may be primarily beneficial to the water supply or hazardous due to flooding.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id95CAC63200894B23A0ECCE5D84890036" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Atmospheric river flooding event</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>atmospheric river flooding event</term> means an atmospheric river that—</text><subparagraph id="id3ddf295acd3b41f9b32c4525c8199c56" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">results in flooding of rivers and streams or other hazards to human life, property, or the economy; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id49b09a23a6d54767bfd04e8b63f76ac9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is of particular concern to human health, property, and the economy, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19a9022356654e829073c8e38f5c2213"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 12(d)(1) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>, such as precipitation resulting from hurricanes, atmospheric river flooding events, and other precipitation events</quote> before the period at the end.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6ccb599ba2c947c8a7e450064c907b68" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>802.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reauthorization of National Landslide Preparedness Act</header><subsection id="idd1cf09f6707a4988815234c0fd0edea7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3101">43 U.S.C. 3101</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id6faf61bebfb949adb6e460b50a76a121" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (11) as paragraphs (6), (7), (9), (10), (12), (13), (14), and (15), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc1e07b3cbe74a98b587628a4139dbaa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7bc5ca8a6bf741c78432a77d9c2dabac" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="idf2d03eb3c379414199ea1b925c96415b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Atmospheric river</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>atmospheric river</term> has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0244c0bfaed44a7885330872dde66213" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Atmospheric river flooding event</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>atmospheric river flooding event</term> has the meaning given the term in section 12(a) of the Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/9707">15 U.S.C. 9707(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA7595CB79A14009B0A7843D7B275174"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (7) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93E112D0CFE945AEA7C35FD74ADE7FF5" changed="not-changed"><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1AD668F0299E4FA9AEE0AE283AE912C2"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Institution of higher education</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>institution of higher education</term> has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id0251de1026a34aac934badc6a5154a05" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (10) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id464341B463E643A2A7959D6FA009CEA1" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="id4a91883e7f20434db54426f231bee135" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(11)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Native Hawaiian organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Native Hawaiian organization</term> has the meaning given the term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>), except that the term includes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="idde910c72dfca49db84d288d67ca3cede" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5269B55D38C048FFA5A2DE5A21E5298A" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="idef631e0017d84365ae1d53677c2ffc52" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(16)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Tribal organization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5c9825de63214d8bbb601d58a460d47e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National landslide hazards reduction program</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9a0e83459bc4b9da7c4053086bb9fe8"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(a)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(a)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>protect</quote> and inserting <quote>contribute to protecting</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb6cefbd60c3c482b9bba8f08452630d6"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Program activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(1)(C)(ii) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(1)(C)(ii)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>implement</quote> and inserting <quote>disseminate</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id79341cda4e04479da23d4729712e92b3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National strategy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(2) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(2)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="idc8638079481841f4ab46769b73356662" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51e48fcd3eb94b66b1e15a8eff184bf6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>Not later than</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9E2DBB4922EC4AD3B5F0F9702469252F" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4dd414272b3d44219d12c2d57de562ca"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4332a9938c8845048c51dbb0f06cded1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1706317DC0C748CB91088D10963DE8CD" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id408c857437a245528162f5cb8f599e43"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assessment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of the first national strategy published after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title> under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall include an assessment of the risks that meteorological conditions, such as atmospheric river flooding events, pose to the safety of life and property in the United States with respect to landslide hazards.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idefab8e99996240e38cc94107b5bb63ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">National landslide hazards database</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id3cb3315e03854d0cae827b5710e1f28d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (D) and (E), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc610d05b93ca4fb699766a0defc3cc2e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id720677fb3c874454acf46639e30ed9d4" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="ida54cd18e4c8145dcbfa38f5e4f27a820" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the identification of areas in need of additional hazard risk assessment, including areas that may be at risk due to—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbbf1d11446df41dab0f850fe8d8b6404"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5974a1cf30e64167a573f071fc469a7a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meteorological conditions, such as atmospheric river flooding events;</text></clause><clause id="id890fea08346246fda9e4d2f2503aad72" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; or</text></clause><clause id="id54c1a4527952441a927b54cd9c34e433" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk;</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5dde4a47ed6b4d42983099f9fb8c14b6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for communities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(4) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(4)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id8017a495e12a41dea1e71452f38605ef" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>Native Hawaiian organizations and other stakeholders, as appropriate,</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfe6d4fc6fb3643ce9f5aa0ee2e368797" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A)—</text><clause id="idcbac3e44841d4ab5bf012d508d986e6e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal governments and decisionmakers</quote> and inserting <quote>and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other decisionmakers</quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb09946717cda4778ad57e778e831c3bc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking clause (iii) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9ABDC7EBB7084D1A8D8E7EF832F55ECA" changed="not-changed"><clause id="id059adf862b3e4f778a540a4541335219" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">health and safety with respect to landslides;</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="idd7554e4d60854fa28940571164b620fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and</text></clause><clause id="idbd43495e89c74a8fbf53662db7bc8ee3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after clause (iii) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8F6F48A5B4CA413CB4E607DD2939076E" changed="not-changed"><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8fb290c10f704020b32f89a962a4b28b"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reducing losses from landslides, including the threats caused by meteorological conditions, such as atmospheric rivers; and</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide99b77ae96214a8b9f79dbd06d1b4864" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)—</text><clause id="idc808098583eb42d49eb434c4df98209f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal officials</quote> and inserting <quote>and local officials, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="ide1543419f80e47ab9b627dd29a056b40" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal emergency managers</quote> and inserting <quote>and local emergency managers and emergency managers of Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd761a3aa439c4678abe4f444b271474e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Debris flow early warning system</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(5) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(5)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id5f1fdf7d43aa46cd874f13c1793563b6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments</quote> and inserting <quote>State, territorial, and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1428615982c4102a0c33da1a9c40f32"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0ec184e23bd4ec7866de2fe1a48df46"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>In carrying out</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2C342AA5DF134AD4AE06B60B1F4C0DE7" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id25d6cb954d4f43bb8cd5dab2b8d86bbd"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7ef9465f88847d9bf7f13a2a872476a"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8F2FBF52E2D34FE6A2C042A824752436" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24a42cd56a5d4e028840578a1f908d6c"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and other stakeholders to establish and support emergency response procedures, as appropriate.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id55042d33130a4a359488361554a80bb7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Emergency response activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(b)(6) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(b)(6)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc782d4b7ff754da4b0fc3585eacaedfa"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as clauses (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfc4a54c1aabb406fbe7ecfe914e56bfa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>In carrying</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7FF665641CAC484D819B61B095EA4559" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4dc98208a4b547c7b83dbd93904a7fb0"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idba196b168b3f4f5eac09b461b7cd8017"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8776cfa09da14652b1726dc29f101612"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated), by inserting <quote>Native Hawaiian organizations,</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id86818b7ec2da426f880ba514d714d7c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="ide97b2cdb768947038eb9c6542d44f220" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id2a59bb0d32a94ff28e37c606c19558cb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide5042513d410422786a7d63fd84cbade" changed="not-changed"><clause id="ide3b6358334714ff89dea05f9239d5124" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to improve real-time risk management during landslide events, including with respect to landslide events caused by—</text><subclause id="id2018eba3b0334c3a9ac5c6ee7b87cdb7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">hydrology or changes in hydrology that may include erosion, drought, or other characteristics that could impact landslide risk;</text></subclause><subclause id="idf3720a6b0d5b4dcfa90001bf49e40302" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">meteorological conditions, such as atmospheric river flooding events;</text></subclause><subclause id="idb439e72064f14881b4bda03b7fa6bfcd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">geologic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis; </text></subclause><subclause id="idaff49a263edf42de90d6f036e49047f2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">data-poor areas or hazards with poor monitoring that could contribute to increased landslide risk; or</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce48e25c17c543aab2076d9f90b25bde"><enum>(V)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">thawing permafrost and glacial retreat causing destabilization of slopes.</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id01f9a675a8c8462082539bcc07dfafc3"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC4AB5579486F43E39B886A67D4AD55DB" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida8d60e274dfd48f9993431582affc2c9"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Consultation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary may consult with an institution of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv) and the private sector.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8675b44fbb374eb9bc5751c4a9c9b296" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3(d)(2)(B) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102(d)(2)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8bea9f6b2c4c47289ecc9db24868d821"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (iii), by striking <quote>geological</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id94854ac4dd6e45c08e05509a7431e87a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (vi), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal emergency management agencies</quote> and inserting <quote>and local emergency management agencies and emergency management agencies of Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id782547176dee4d129d6fb1f15c0893dc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(9)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regional partnerships</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide2972698c46f4e38bf98bc355dc0d9cb"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subsection (i);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id463d897616ad4de7a46335d9c4b441fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsections (e) through (h) as subsections (f) through (i), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a946a4e94d24b73991050282e7694be" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8a7f2cc6d78144eca26ed4145758780e" changed="not-changed"><subsection id="id4f6ec86bd3ab44faae3929f8398b40fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regional partnerships</header><paragraph id="idb3a9840fb43141fa8d1917ef65e9dfea" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title>, the Secretary shall establish, in each region in which the Secretary determines that there is a high landslide hazard, a regional partnership with an eligible partner described in paragraph (2).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6de1b2c2790941ac84598f6bf1008a13" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligible partners</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An organization or institution of higher education with expertise in landslide mapping, research, and monitoring shall be eligible for a regional partnership under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9d890b777187413da905bd67a1862583" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purposes and duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A regional partnership established under paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id266f20fc55774c4f8bf915985aedc9a5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow the Secretary to leverage applicable expertise in regional organizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49820ff3519640f8bf25e15ab3dd92d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">coordinate long-term landslide research specific to the applicable region; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id54b26ee7ebfb4fd5b9155a60ba2fc42d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">align interagency landslide monitoring efforts.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id05f7a26c8f624114bd79c28fa61af35d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(10)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grant programs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in paragraph (1) of subsection (f) (as redesignated by paragraph (9)(A))—</text><subparagraph id="id175882549349451bbe907a93cb1491fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess</quote> and inserting <quote>and local governments, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations to research, map, assess, monitor</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0fb87100df6a4e08beeb642c6685b1b4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)—</text><clause id="id9a016ecbe519486fbd3e93950c8fc68c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by inserting <quote>institutions of higher education described in subsection (d)(2)(B)(iv),</quote> before <quote>and Indian tribes</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id15de7751bcfd4ba48ee77164dc0a904b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idde5a4f1c68924604b0d63818a85996a5"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subclauses (II) through (IV) as subclauses (III) through (V), respectively; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5790881cba15449eb14e4f8c93834e9e"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subclause (I) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id10a1e6fc78f14971884fa8cd94196795" changed="not-changed"><subclause id="id77085487a5bf44388bb3fe40bf27e4b0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in regions that have recently experienced loss of life due to landslides;</text></subclause><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a97e092aa3d47c89b1c95ab5c6b1c73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C)—</text><clause id="idcf2c5e5369594e2fadd8f7f64f38dbca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by inserting <quote>awarded</quote> after <quote>grants</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idba6a37a402b3439c84ec2691d570bb26" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>made</quote> and inserting <quote>or other accomplishments resulting</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfe56f35544524bd5a173b8e31750b888" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(11)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Significant events</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in subsection (h)(3) (as so redesignated), by striking <quote>local, and Tribal partners</quote> and inserting <quote>and local partners, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id818bc2312a384cd1958f0f219e37745d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(12)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>) is amended, in subsection (i) (as redesignated by paragraph (9)(A))—</text><subparagraph id="id2b97fd0432e54ec9bc96c8acc7ea99f3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2031</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb923a695fdbd4e529e02d9c69bf6bd4d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>$25,000,000 to carry out this section</quote> and inserting <quote>$35,000,000 to carry out this section, of which not less than $10,000,000 shall be for the purchase, deployment, and repair of landslide early warning systems in high-risk areas</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id02ef312eda414b85bec5104e0ba4e3d7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(13)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deficit reduction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3102">43 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>), as so amended, is further amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16ac3f526eb74858a158d7992e0e8201"><subsection id="id4923518195d64fb187a71d695bf8e642" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(j)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding; deficit reduction</header><paragraph id="id8c6f49226fb54770b95b7f5ae51c8b3f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds used by an agency to carry out this section may, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only come from amounts authorized to be appropriated to that agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id16e2ef43135f48288fdea5a01ad129de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deficit reduction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any amount appropriated to an account of a Federal department or agency for the Federal department or agency to carry out a responsibility under this section that is cancelled pursuant to section 1552(a) of title 31, United States Code, shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury and be applied to deficit reduction.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idad1aaeb469d446b2be279770dad13fc5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">3D elevation program</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id38af30b4dae64371b916d1fc3abfbbe5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(a) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a894ceddbf64bb7bc72826c58a0b730"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting <quote>and derivative</quote> after <quote>3D elevation</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfdd21e70295b451bac6d1821df1c520b"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting <quote>, process, and integrate</quote> after <quote>acquire</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3790dfeecf6748c68d768e447bb80021"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(b)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(b)(3)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id0d73c5d1a8cd4b7191f805cd1c267081" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id106fa9a805394ddf9c23949221c7dc10" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c09203136744c8382625a25b40d184b" changed="not-changed"><subparagraph id="idf0a3b443386446c89ae0c20c7d92157f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the 3D Hydrography Program Working Group;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfae16bf762454ad0b8ac0552e196a1af"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Grants and cooperative agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(d)(3) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(d)(3)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>publically</quote> and inserting <quote>publicly</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide007f31ce1e349b5adc40b1a26f2c385"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funding</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 5(e) of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/3104">43 U.S.C. 3104(e)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>2024</quote> and inserting <quote>2031</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc852708c42348a49052d9170e207fbb" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>803.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Next Generation Water Observing System</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Act of December 24, 1942 (56 Stat. 1086, chapter 822; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/36b">43 U.S.C. 36b</external-xref>), is amended—</text><paragraph id="idb98c4fe7188644728374a7593d6928d3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the first section, by striking <quote>That the Secretary of the Interior</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idde10b2b68b874e43a05daab052e4a14c"><section section-type="section-one" id="id64c52ca54e8a417495d6defd26bd9c28" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>1.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Gaging streams and underground water resources</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the <quote>Secretary</quote>)</text></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="ida8987ed202f046cc911221fb66b39156" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in section 1 (as so designated)—</text><subparagraph id="id25bee827eeb4416a9852a66bac3f36ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the second sentence, by striking <quote>of the Interior</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0e09180e20cd47c8b47cafe338171957" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the proviso—</text><clause id="id5e1cf17ec2c34cb198fcb5529493324a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>this Act</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>this section</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="ida77ecf34f4c442c0a053609119413f31" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>of the Interior</quote>; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5eb8d825150a49978b86dda4348ade60" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc3ab39971ab4ea5b46e480a93bb2d4c"><section id="idbcce0681fe274f5c9d40a57bddd220af" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>2.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Next Generation Water Observing System</header><subsection id="idb0330f8712e34ec585a55dc80b0446bd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall establish within the United States Geological Survey a system, to be known as the <quote>Next Generation Water Observing System</quote> (referred to in this section as the <quote>System</quote>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id5816f57c95bd41fabe40a81b0bea509d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The purpose of the System is to provide real-time data on water quantity and quality—</text><paragraph id="id7213dd5fbf72494181f5d088ae71cf61" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that, as compared to previous systems, is more affordable, more rapid, and available in more locations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id128fb156b0384bac8abeead96078c5c1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that support advanced modeling tools—</text><subparagraph id="id28c95f4880e4473bb9b62737b03a6bc6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide state-of-the-art flood and drought forecasts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id423eb7c419d94a259135bf7dc7f69cd2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to inform emergency- and water-management decision support systems; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d5db1c3b47147a1894cb14a501f7c7e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to help evaluate—</text><clause id="idcc050fca6945443188fe6d4e41200c9d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the near-term and long-term risks of floods and droughts, including any scenarios that modify those risks;</text></clause><clause id="id7d3ba92400ad4f029ed4b0cd4263ae80" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the quantity of water stored in seasonal snow packs, and how changes in seasonal snow packs affect water supplies;</text></clause><clause id="id1be86fad1aed48aeb7537ea5adc65235" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the early stages of drought;</text></clause><clause id="ide0ee24c4905c4a17ba0af1c33f5700fa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the predicted timelines for drought recovery;</text></clause><clause id="idba9152e0d05148ff8343f6b2371744bd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the quantity of water lost to evapotranspiration;</text></clause><clause id="id233df4deb15648a89f4c7399ad83b2ac" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">water quality differences during wet and dry periods;</text></clause><clause id="id3b1db0e2a09d4dc782d748212702bdca" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effects of streamflow on groundwater;</text></clause><clause id="id69ba5226588148cbbba938cc0f45ae9f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(viii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effects of groundwater on streamflow; and</text></clause><clause id="id50cd3743209d4147be51f728b63a4b76" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ix)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ice and water volume stored in glaciers and changing water volumes due to glacial retreat.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5b40f91e9a254c13984257b2164eab20" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">System requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The System shall provide for—</text><paragraph id="id9e082abb3d054d4482d5a9f0cc9a11df" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">state-of-the-art measurements;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb586ce81d5c54ff3938d8e3f15625531" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a dense array of sensors at selected sites;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2e5a2d149d1a46e4ba133422dccda378" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increased spatial and temporal coverage;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40cad84ee1974d98bb19edbbbff4b9b8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">new technology testing and implementation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0059234296be4c76a7aedc45c6712aed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">improved operational efficiency; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbb87d4f2e4314393a97954399787f16d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">modernized and timely data storage and delivery.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id60873bbd09e1421a8e738e79618ddfd8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority regions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In determining in which regions of the United States Geological Survey to carry out the System, the Secretary shall give priority to regions of the United States Geological Survey in which there is—</text><paragraph id="id7f3dbfc89fd2453a90b085bbecbb7af1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a high level of drought;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id951dfa7e91e847ab92e3e07d6ca66982" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on reservoirs for water storage;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8652a883489a46a79440107460a60458" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on hydrologic storage, including groundwater, aquifers, and snowpack; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcfb8d4f1769f453584ef0906a226d21c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">flooding and heavy rainfall.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcad327b2b6834de7920d7472e19ce0eb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the implementation of this section, the System shall coordinate with the National Integrated Drought Information System as appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="id77a8f6bf38ef417da928282e5f935c27" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><paragraph id="idd7a1af465a344c1d8960bfc76a855f12" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section in 10 initial basins, as determined by the Secretary, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, to remain available until expended.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id83d716c4314e4e1d81c3e391d00fc28b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Derivation of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds used by an agency to carry out this section may, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only come from amounts authorized to be appropriated to that agency.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id826940e10b2945e7adf9e5199dc97a94" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>804.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Water data enhancement and national groundwater resources monitoring by United States Geological Survey</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 9507 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/10367">42 U.S.C. 10367</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idc0388606373a4a89bb5e3a346ec89468" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="ide0501e399de246628f52264ed955177e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(C)—</text><clause id="idcf1c743f49984e19897ceb5ce204e7b6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="idc956e18c017840689bd807ca48b496f7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by inserting <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></clause><clause id="id0917ffe9f7bd44e58871a1bf3e532503" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1659a7e438724c15917efdd59ab1842d"><clause id="ide5dc879975bf4e9c81a527ce394430cf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the conduct of groundwater quality assessments relating to permafrost thaw and changes in precipitation rates;</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2389990ca80e4b4689616f06e7dcff90" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="id250a7c1ec10f4cb0b644041df30e3aeb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A)—</text><subclause id="id268c44e966e942e69d753bf29ead3833" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>10 years</quote> and inserting <quote>13 years</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id4ebcbd3566c54c0da37db1e3ea4110b0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by striking <quote>national streamflow information program</quote> and inserting <quote>Federal priority streamgage program</quote>;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id126461cf70544e90ad11809fbc0be229" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>Federal Priority streamgage program</quote> and inserting <quote>Federal Priority Streamgage Network</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id072e4be3a47844a79fae8b759365ddeb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9b68d272d3144eb9efa6966e614fa8a"><subparagraph id="idaae3cdb5ae564dcc8f4bb63b8ef4a2ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority sites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In selecting sites for the installation of streamgages under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to regions of the United States Geological Survey in which there is—</text><clause id="id147c1be5fed24156bfde83d4979a17b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a high level of drought;</text></clause><clause id="id592ff105876a4b6a85ce0f4b8846fbf1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on reservoirs for water storage;</text></clause><clause id="id565b299e773d4c9c84b75f4abe04d6d2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on hydrologic storage, including groundwater, aquifers, and snowpack; and</text></clause><clause id="idaae2fee20de1401b902bd3cb4c36d821" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">flooding and heavy rainfall.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id57ecd5284bbe4a5b9454212149c759b9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">No impact on existing sites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The priority provided under subparagraph (C) shall have no impact on any site or region in which a streamgage has been installed, and is operating, as of the date of enactment of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title>, subject to the condition that the data from such a site or region are continuing to meet the priority needs of stakeholders, as determined by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5d9a0ef5d50a456d9eec2b77f3ce38fc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6)—</text><clause id="id6a5526f22a8f470cb62da70a8f755aa4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2028</quote> and inserting <quote>$30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2034</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idab3809e2537a4b019e62d1534c696a19" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id126478d5abf048e893d02161cb5f5681"><subparagraph id="id727fd6b9c51e4cdbb2e67a1204e7358a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Derivation of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds used by an agency to carry out this section may, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only come from amounts authorized to be appropriated to that agency.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8271afd25b5d4f4390e28946ac3c5442" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id4ac7a650890148f4b71a06dc2760721d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id5513e7e4fc3e44998a4f0c69fa0945de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>and State and local water resource agencies and Tribes</quote> and inserting <quote>, State and local water resource agencies, Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id2fad5c060dbb421bbc19f94e16fc85d5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>State water resource agency or Tribe</quote> and inserting <quote>State water resource agency, Indian tribe, Tribal organization, or Native Hawaiian organization</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id69293d56b03640bf8965df0e74871250" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6)—</text><clause id="iddc51b507a2874de3ad2b7739b5bd6536" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>give priority to those activities</quote> and inserting the following: “give priority to—</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbf126bc4d61a4608b2f9a62c8ab20daa"><subparagraph id="idc52ee7c373234b649e766346d032fcb1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="id768dc3c544f04676ac8b22ad017c207c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)—</text><subclause id="id0e7419e2978a425dadae948858c2dfaa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>State, a Tribe</quote> and inserting <quote>State, Indian tribe, Tribal organization, Native Hawaiian organization,</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id7d91d1ec38cc43509bc9e5c5a2b0053b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idede51f2faa2a4afa852a827ac3180d26" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54531e134b38468985bd8ad434aff2a1"><subparagraph id="idf90f987d2ac0469285bb3401edcecbdf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">activities conducted in regions of the United States Geological Survey in which there is—</text><clause id="id1a5ab49783714c8ca5ae9d4e0559edcb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a high level of drought;</text></clause><clause id="id37bc4fb3fb1d481b9a01c429f2f5493c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on reservoirs for water storage;</text></clause><clause id="id4f41fc857ff44f5a96e4a5b1b065d26e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a reliance on hydrologic storage, including groundwater, aquifers, and snowpack; and</text></clause><clause id="id756f3abfe90e413b923445da740c3842" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">flooding and heavy rainfall.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff2023cdf04c4264a6f88d05ac7e3331" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (7)—</text><clause id="idc7354eebb64f4e8988de42b41b93aea2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>There are authorized to be appropriated</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc403e03aa7b0453e9b66f76ff0ab4c90"><subparagraph id="id466451a2e8e84fd3a9e0f5213d1af209" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is authorized to be appropriated</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="idda4af183a96d422593a967bbe2198c90" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id301fb90bf3464a7da375e5cd73f06ec0"><subparagraph id="ide23c3a661a35418b9db6baaf1a8bf080" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Derivation of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Funds used by an agency to carry out this section may, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only come from amounts authorized to be appropriated to that agency.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><h4 id = "id812626f6f4a84b3dbf329b14c0f41837" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>IX</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving cybersecurity and telecommunications for oceanic research</header><section id="idabb88744067c44b389e7c89540341d89" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>901.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text><paragraph id="idda67140a21ef4204b929cf8fb062a830" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Director</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Director</term> means the Director of the National Science Foundation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc00eb698d2454422a75ad5be7d2259b2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Oceanographic research vessel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>oceanographic research vessel</term> has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide3b582619dce43f894c4644b959e7ae6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">U.S. Academic Research Fleet</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>U.S. Academic Research Fleet</term> means the United States flagged vessels that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id126079aa78f446249006f7aa20a5c54b"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have been accepted into, and are active participants administered within, the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id963b4299db204f1ba3b6fd941ed89e92"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are operated as oceanographic research vessels by research universities and laboratories;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98d74cfde5f245a29fd2ae66eb16b71f"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receive funding from the National Science Foundation; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1e11f50a4d62413d8701ea36ea5342b3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have achieved designation as a member vessel of the fleet through a standard evaluation process.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id051ef147c46b4a03961f0fe0eec9531b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>902.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications of U.S. Academic Research Fleet</header><subsection id="id9789dd09c2a6445999a1034fba8bfaf4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall, in consultation with the head of any Federal department or agency, university, or laboratory that owns or operates a vessel of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan to improve the cybersecurity and telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.</text></subsection><subsection id="idbab801c2c9274e6883c2e3c7a692f894" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan required by subsection (a) shall include—</text><paragraph id="idcee40b0909a9426badb501653d70d5f9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the telecommunications and networking needs of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, consistent with the typical scientific missions of the vessels of such fleet;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id21ba0dbafda6454b9ff1d1211c626f58" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in consultation with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, an assessment of cybersecurity needs appropriate for—</text><subparagraph id="id9bc9f98dba8d41b0bf1c07429060c60e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the ownership of vessels within the U.S. Academic Research Fleet; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id60f481abf04541998e8f42b7f96d3916" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the scientific missions of such vessels;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf96618731f0542bb84e4bca4de05b272" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the costs necessary to meet the needs described in paragraphs (1) and (2), including—</text><subparagraph id="id612d58b7d7984c5b9131e52f17d57a33" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any necessary equipment, such as satellite communications equipment, software, high-performance computing clusters shipboard and shoreside, or enterprise hardware; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id180d66dadc684806b85cebe3608228f9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">estimated personnel costs in excess of current expenditures, including any necessary training, support, or logistics;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1867f43ffb8a4b858c0701384e7956b2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the time required to implement any upgrades required to meet the needs described in paragraphs (1) and (2) under varying budgets and funding scenarios;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9d78c0c65c7419e9ce8e1c1a1a94d48" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the adoption of common solutions or consortial licensing agreements, or the centralization of elements of fleet cybersecurity, telecommunications, or data management at a single facility; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7abe5a0039ba4958850177f757aab46a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in consultation with any non-Federal owners of a vessel of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, a spending plan for the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, non-Federal owners of vessels of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, users of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, or any combination thereof, to provide funding to cover the costs described in paragraph (3).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc06e4dd86846488e95184be2e83ef741" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director shall, in preparing the plan required by subsection (a), consider—</text><paragraph id="id5d5394a1fd954df6915058b490288f88" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the network capabilities, including speed and bandwidth targets, necessary to meet the scientific mission needs of each class of vessels of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet for such purposes as—</text><subparagraph id="idb2a46f2cc57144af9d3cf323b6695717" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">executing the critical functions and communications of the vessels;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idccaf8f43a8aa41988f3a998c6bf0eafa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">providing network access to conduct medical care via telemedicine or related crisis response care;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9bd73a3a04674ba2b1a433a6ff127963" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as necessary to meet operations, uploading any scientific data to a shoreside server, including the copying of data off ship for disaster recovery or risk mitigation purposes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9923e81f66345b4b7922df7c059e105" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as appropriate, conducting real-time streaming to enable shore-based observers to participate in ship-based maintenance or research activities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id16a475cea696427884863ab9b2515478" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">real-time coordinated viewing of—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id70845647e38a42ca90a7e1ac9dbfee71"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">scientific instrumentation so that it is possible to conduct scientific surveys and seafloor mapping with fully remote subject-matter experts; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="idbd64012bac474b22ad9c50d8f7b86b61" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">critical operational technology by manufacturers and vendors so that it is possible to carry out maintenance and repairs to systems with limited expertise on the vessel, with fully remote subject-matter experts advising; and</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idae582d306cba4fc0bfe06265a87ce0e4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the heads of other Federal departments or agencies, as appropriate—</text><subparagraph id="id39cbab0916d648ce8dee3f3b1cfd83c4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the cybersecurity recommendations in the report of the private scientific advisory group known as JASON entitled <quote>Cybersecurity at NSF Major Facilities</quote> (JSR–21–10E) and dated October 2021 as applied to the U.S. Academic Research Fleet;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfee33017da3b4d4cb4124233c249d1f7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">standards and guidance for information security, including the use of encryption for sensitive information, the detection and handling of security incidents, and other areas determined relevant by the Director;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id337ff6e21a314b32ad9d7a47d7485abc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">facilitating access to cybersecurity personnel and training of research and support personnel; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id176472b649b7445da2f7e52e6a13f7db"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the requirements for controlled unclassified or classified information.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><h4 id = "id5a037d468a654a7694f86271729dfa44" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>X</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2026</header><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="id68bd3e8959c84a1286a90ffdfb781b2c" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>1001.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited as the <quote>Integrated Ocean Observation System Reauthorization Act of 2026</quote>.</text></section><section id="idebd723008c104a8db43999ba0c2acec7" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1002.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3601">33 U.S.C. 3601</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id5b69ed7e2d0b4c468b65fc7b3dcb734c" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd005778094346d38822b15178342c6a" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Council</quote> and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd3d3119d28e44beb4547f19ce0927cc" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>and ocean observation</quote> and inserting <quote>, ocean, and meteorological observations</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida792419d2e284e7dbf2cfaa406765de3" changed="not-changed"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>and coastal information</quote> and inserting <quote>, coastal, and meteorological information</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0d745e9220dc452b80407e58319a71da" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (4)(A)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id656c4457717c458a92f4db04344d245a" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>data management systems and cyber infrastructure,</quote> after <quote>data gaps,</quote>; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id40ef359d1e464f9a8ddee5bbc0212340" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>global climate change,</quote>. </text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id7829da5e7e8e4977952cc6eca13de898" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1003.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3602">33 U.S.C. 3602</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf8c90327257e4665acf3df2b9e8c23de" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking paragraph (2); </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22faacb7770d4be6b6af9ff4b79ae604" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida3b5d85d3e98406fabf278453ce1fee4" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), as so redesignated, by striking <quote>Council</quote> and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id67fb0a1e26594a7896ce284b4d6286b8" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph (2), the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id9C09B7C6E62348D984CFAC994839867F" act-name="" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="id873E3CCAFE1042BB87710DA01ECD0823" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Ocean Policy Committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Ocean Policy Committee</term> means the Ocean Policy Committee established by section 8932 of title 10, United States Code.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id012dec8bbabb4b27b6edee545e5fd248" changed="not-changed"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6), by inserting <quote>conduct operational oceanography measurements and</quote> after <quote>systems in order to</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id04e3fcc0d0c14cc4ae9d65d38b05d67c" changed="not-changed"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id000649e161084537b88157134817f357" changed="not-changed"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id249172e91e6d45c7aac24ef0a67a2deb" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="id2f52b9d585324b89a504a9c7e652c61d" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State</term> has the meaning given that term in section 3501 of title 40, United States Code.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id160fb666a5fe4f5a88a586f70fa2736a" changed="not-changed"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (10), as redesignated by paragraph (6), by striking <quote>Council</quote> and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id22471a747fd546868aec227c56afa3b4" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1004.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 12304 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3603">33 U.S.C. 3603</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddca484759d4646c695cba7f5446dc636" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)(1)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22bc1b81ab494a448346e1dc9410a565" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>national</quote> and inserting <quote>regional, national,</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id46a04fae0b17400282dab216fd818444" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C), by inserting <quote>and ocean</quote> after <quote>weather</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc67dafa960c0440eb194bfea583e4c23" changed="not-changed"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (E)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id12ab89637148451a917eda0ba983a76f" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (iv), by inserting <quote>and ocean</quote> after <quote>weather</quote> each place it appears; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id742d7e2f6eab42beb1632775b395dd84" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (v), by inserting <quote>and ocean</quote> after <quote>weather</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8ab04be64d654ed597c7ea9265492c0c" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a98c1ef148646ed9c0946511378be5b" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id41d226cefd9645c4b9d60c3453a9a770" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the paragraph heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Council</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="paragraph" style="OLC">Ocean Policy Committee</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a47d51ffcdc4b518c5de80bab03cf30" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>Council</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71ecfe6d132147c48e8f6755f37462f3" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1eaa339b95346348c4e3b8d4748cb87" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>The Council</quote> and inserting <quote>The Ocean Policy Committee</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id62c0a89f52d2435aa8ed3170d2b77e4b" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc5e631f7e9b149b2975b131da3813658" changed="not-changed"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating clauses (vi) through (x) as clauses (vii) through (xi), respectively; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id53b57ddef94547609a9d9c455e7a5c68" changed="not-changed"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after clause (v) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf1825bcd301e4acab43827c64a0d8cb1" changed="not-changed"><clause id="id2c9fdfae42d44db19f286887da8093c3" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop requirements and processes for regional associations and federally funded projects of the agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to collaborate with the regional coastal observing systems for data sharing at regional levels;</text></clause><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcb0800c69d244c88bc29247e29d57bc7" changed="not-changed"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3)(C)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id883a9de718074617b0e1db5ed26d2bb1" changed="not-changed"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (iii)(I), by inserting <quote>as operational entities</quote> after <quote>associations</quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id767d63df0b0d4432beee0df9b589c02a" changed="not-changed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (x), by inserting <quote>, cyber infrastructure,</quote> after <quote>data management</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id858fe87b2f57429c876114724a03b040" changed="not-changed"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (xiii)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a086042b67f4f048ca5f59db638816c" changed="not-changed"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>and ocean</quote> after <quote>weather</quote>; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id444fd1fffdf44130bae2907dea3f56ce" changed="not-changed"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>and harmful algal bloom forecasting</quote> and inserting <quote>harmful algal bloom forecasting, and resource and coastal management</quote>;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id512b926900f34e77978f99759ab1a520" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (d)(1), by adding a period at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1b88217ef7664699893000cbec6dafac" changed="not-changed"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>the Council</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>the Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idb45fc7ebae6b420a99a3c41b7c1ae15c" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1005.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report to Congress</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3606">33 U.S.C. 3606</external-xref>) is amended— </text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3e8b24f23d714f069c54a0a64409066d" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19c3259230644b9faa283664c128ebe0" changed="not-changed"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb4b87192fd5e4ffca2de6b039b3421d5" changed="not-changed"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id15867f0120cd4e39b2dea3a73d594f54" changed="not-changed"><paragraph id="idad8e5506cdf0486884e00548f49b8c0b" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a post-storm evaluation for all major storms in the United States that occurred during the year preceding the submission of the report, to assess the impact of observations of the System and other products of the System with respect to storm forecast accuracy;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9f40ffcf7d104a7ebe980930aa3d8b24" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>Council</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id3666d3f3498d4a44bef5e5289ed4f7c7" changed="not-changed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1006.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorization of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3610">33 U.S.C. 3610</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a231c73d83540ec89f8fd92a1475c7b" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>There are</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide13b4394fe0a4ce9b78750cb4d19b34a" changed="not-changed"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ideefe7a88e9934804a14206e6b26d9df2" changed="not-changed"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There are</text></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id84954aa71c444791b92f52bca65d2155" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>—</quote> and all that follows through <quote>(5)</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id29e08318dd6f4700b254c90f9c24f5c7" changed="not-changed"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>fiscal year 2025</quote> and inserting <quote>each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id527f9cd82fd9408ba368ef51447fffe2" changed="not-changed"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5674eda152dd4ab9b1397ee4c3f1eda3" changed="not-changed"><subsection commented="no" id="id0450e8709ec443788303f8c20db41590" changed="not-changed" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Allocation of funds</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idac29b3d4e31c45a99ffd478788951f3b" changed="not-changed"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate not less than 7.5 percent of amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) to each regional coastal observing system that was in existence on January 1, 2025.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ideaebbbf6067f44ed90f64a26c2450f83" changed="not-changed"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusion of disaster relief appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to any amounts appropriated by an Act making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22dfc674826a4121afe4532b34ee16e1" changed="not-changed" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1007.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conforming amendments</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b02f792a853400b8c5e86f5cf1dac39" changed="not-changed"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interagency financing and agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 12305(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3604">33 U.S.C. 3604(b)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>the Council</quote> and inserting <quote>the Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad86487ec99c4d3884fb87f3ac256864" changed="not-changed"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Public-Private use policy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3607">33 U.S.C. 3607</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>Council</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80c1e2c995d742c3b716be79d7272079" changed="not-changed"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Intent of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 12310 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/3609">33 U.S.C. 3609</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>the Council</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>the Ocean Policy Committee</quote>.</text></subsection></section><h4 id = "idbe6ffd2412b24e448eb1c6b8bce0a692" style = "padding-left: 0em"> </h4></p><p style = "margin-left: 0.0em"><enum>XI</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other authorities</header><section id="id140003812b524c8f896bd3ad5f397bf4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relocation allowances</header><subsection id="id43d08786d6cb442c9f2779aaa88be071" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, may establish an alternative or fixed rate relocation allowance for employees of the National Weather Service transferred in the interest of the Federal Government from one official station to another for permanent duty, including employees transferred to the National Weather Service from another Federal department or agency, and for the immediate family of the employee, notwithstanding subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code, and any regulations prescribed under that subchapter.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7880cfdf8ae14d5aa2832b17f191a89b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Service agreement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate the requirement that an employee to be afforded a relocation allowance under subsection (a) agree in writing to remain in the Government service as would otherwise be required by and under the same terms as provided in sections 5722 and 5724 of title 5, United States Code, as relevant to transfers of employees to posts of duty outside the continental United States and official stations within the continental United States, respectively.</text></subsection><subsection id="id90826f6340bb4d7ba9f5ccd932d27744" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Relocation allowance defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, the term <term>relocation allowance</term> includes any allowance authorized under section 5724, 5724a, 5726, 5727, or 5729 of title 5, United States Code.</text></subsection></section><section id="id1d7cdfc22cd04e5bbba83104b4804351" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unfunded priorities list, reports, and plans</header><subsection id="id99b0604e823d44d19e5b58d937866e1a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="id4753d1249fad4d4ead48f2470e06a400" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appropriate committees of Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idefd3086219c04009abc2f1d98e2add02" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd7ce5ec0d164619b4ff1c7c80457f97" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb8ff66e7e16547ac94f2ffea8bdf489e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcfa763d754a340c1a037460dd467ba0c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida3a02353e348416ea32ca620aa3072f7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id2a3952291c104ebe95c267af0d55521a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Capital budgetary line item</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>capital budgetary line item</term> means a line item in the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the budget of the President for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, for any aircraft or vessel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration valued at more than $3,000,000.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8bbb19a1684f44c899026436a653d928" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Infrastructure and assets</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>infrastructure and assets</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id76bd7d0ad29e45cc85c41389660305a5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">repair and construction of infrastructure, facilities, and laboratories;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc4279828f1c149e08477c22134cc8535" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">instrumentation;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id73e4962dd7ae43bfa39ab5322512f745" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">resources for data storage and analysis, including options for cloud-based and supercomputing services; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida089e12d0fd0464b8b255748be7d96d5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, aircraft, vessels, and uncrewed systems, associated facility construction and repair needs, instrumentation, and requirements to operate new and existing assets to reliably meet the mission needs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5f8293411abf4468b72e7bfc441d97fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unfunded priority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>unfunded priority</term> means a program or mission requirement that—</text><subparagraph id="id8db3dd1f42d04da1a714fe5ea446c53b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has not been selected for funding in the applicable proposed budget;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48da3601f09747c29d7a20ebd9ed6709" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is necessary to fulfill a statutory or mission requirement; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8b34f33341f14fef84c9971af07d3a41" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Under Secretary would have recommended for inclusion in the applicable proposed budget had additional resources been available or had the requirement emerged before the budget was submitted.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ided5b209ca6634a589433ba13a8faf886" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Unfunded priorities list</header><paragraph id="idaa5618d0eb834ae8a02c73fd8ea47c35" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 15 days after the date on which the President submits to Congress the budget of the President for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for each line office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes a list of unfunded priorities of the Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcda7ea6108674969b49ed605f5686951" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The list required by paragraph (1) shall include unfunded priorities related to the needs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—</text><subparagraph id="id91dcdbb0864843e1ab87ce052fce871f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to meet statutory and mission requirements to—</text><clause id="id0580a291b7c049a0b9281e01b160bac4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">protect human life, property, and the economy from the impacts of weather and water;</text></clause><clause id="id391808f43ef041fb9b26565ede352d7d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">manage the Nation’s fisheries and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and</text></clause><clause id="idee4f9e5230fe4fd08353d87815951c0d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">manage, steward, and make improvements to data storage, accessibility, interoperability, and utilization;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id63b0e0b28eca401caa2e3a2f1c33cb0f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to infrastructure and assets to meet statutory and mission requirements, including—</text><clause id="id92877183e93b47fc9ae97ddd5ece0064" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">needs with respect to—</text><subclause id="idbbbd7291b9f84a519a047a486b3b6b03" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">repair and construction of infrastructure, facilities, and laboratories;</text></subclause><subclause id="idfb39894ab0824c0d9e2e6e53095879d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">scientific support equipment and instrumentation; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id48a3519d5e994596b10f30ef0f9ad27b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">resources for data storage and analysis, including options for cloud-based and supercomputing services; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id86425042fc4f45a580290589b759a2c9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Marine and Aviation Operations, needs with respect to aircraft and vessels, associated facility construction and repair needs, and resources required to operate new and existing assets;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida2c0ad3af5c847c5a520b7f5fea221d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to operational shortfalls that compromise the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet the statutory and mission requirements described in subparagraph (A), including by compromising the ability of the Administration to meet those requirements in a timely manner;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48a752ae565d4a2385ee355fc24b4cdd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to mitigating fishery disasters, including in accordance with the requirements under the heading <quote><header-in-text level="appropriations-small" style="appropriations">Fisheries disaster assistance</header-in-text></quote> in title II of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (division N of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/328">Public Law 117–328</external-xref>; 136 Stat. 5205); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide077eddf90b9470285e0ebe88be47a7f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to transitioning successful experimental programs under the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research as of the date of the enactment of this Act into an operational capacity under another office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0192df88dbb447269fad581ce904138e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prioritization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The list required by paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id347cfbef21014669a405f8633dbf24e1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">present the unfunded priorities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order from highest to lowest priority, as determined by the Under Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb940ff74a93443cca2321dfb6e34e08c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with respect to each unfunded priority, include—</text><clause id="id85baa63dafe54b1b847351d6bd7f3201" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a brief description of the unfunded priority and its relationship to the statutory and mission requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;</text></clause><clause id="id7750cae3d6a346fda76d3c41de2831ee" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an estimate of the funding level required; and</text></clause><clause id="ide49022b4c7c04d0eb91844da658f8a17" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the status of the design or acquisition program, if applicable.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3db6a0ea339043b8859dccc9eb05bc52" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stock assessments and surveys</header><paragraph id="id360ab15f99e94e7fa324ceb1fbbecc73" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Planned stock assessments and surveys</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than February 1 of each year, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for Marine and Aviation Operations and the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, shall make available on a publicly accessible website a list of planned stock assessments and surveys for the upcoming fiscal year.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id653f05a2a05c42d682c6dd30d6c62765" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priority stock assessments in unfunded priorities list</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The list required by subsection (b)(1) shall include priority stock assessments described in subparagraph (B)(ii) of section 304(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1854">16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(1)</external-xref>), as added by paragraph (3), that are unfunded priorities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id45487d87bb5f43558ed0810d2ec75564" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data-poor stocks</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 304(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1854">16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><subparagraph id="id15617de6efe144e78ee8b7a0190b055e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(A)</quote> after <quote>(1)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcdef3a64d045437b992633dd8bd36355" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb67e31f542374871b805cbc7fb77e20f"><subparagraph id="id6638a89427c84806b9a4c7ac93d5db42" indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report required by subparagraph (A) shall include—</text><clause id="ida5bb5ca45afb4588b6289043ff78d6dc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of whether stock survey data is adequately available, not available, or not sufficiently available;</text></clause><clause id="idf0e91dc234d9422894d480305df55ab8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">priority stock assessments and surveys conducted for the purpose of—</text><subclause id="ide42f204568c142ad92f55534082434fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">significantly decreasing uncertainty in stock assessments;</text></subclause><subclause id="id49f390c69af94690be984c1ea41b73ed" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintaining continuity of data for species management; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id70f75e0b76af4bc99314c35a6585be22" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increasing the ability of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet the statutory and mission requirements described in section 1102(b)(2)(A) of the <short-title>Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026</short-title>; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id5f6fa29683db4591801e1eb5d0a7ee43" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the priority stock assessments under clause (ii), a description of the type, resource needs, and estimated cost of increased survey efforts to meet the goals under that clause.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block display="yes">.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5c86a2bf1f47410db3a2888efbaf2468" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Capital investment plan</header><paragraph id="idbf4e640332dd4763b67083aee44feef8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after the date on which the President submits to Congress the budget of the President for a fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Administrators for the line offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a future-years capital investment plan.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc22df0224dd2469c86b1e24abdeb9ca2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="idac0c10d75cfe4e1f8c184e19a85f7ff6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the fleet replacement and modernization plan required by section 604 of the NOAA Fleet Modernization Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/891b">33 U.S.C. 891b</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9ae10edfc41405bb3e9043fd693dbf2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the NOAA Aircraft Recapitalization Plan and any plan developed to carry out section 11708 of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (division K of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/263">Public Law 117–263</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/33/851">33 U.S.C. 851</external-xref> note prec.);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5cd5844ec9ab499284ceb3180015adbd" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a replacement and modernization plan of any National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space-based observation platforms maintained under section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/8531">15 U.S.C. 8531</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfb11313c79dd40e6bdb73f7e141ce745" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other plan the Under Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb13b75eae39349449aafe9fe293057bf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan required by paragraph (1) shall identify, for each capital budgetary line item—</text><subparagraph id="id74ce517b9a8d49e58ab5cd28223f7043" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the proposed funding level included in the applicable proposed budget;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id579bd031a54c46a38d41b03abbb0840a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the total estimated cost of completion;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id894b139ddcbd4e0786d0e23a18d49857" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">projected funding levels for each fiscal year for the next 5 fiscal years or until completion, whichever is earlier;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb05ce74e72f8479f91a0cd793a08cd86" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an estimated completion date at the projected funding levels; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id33c469ecef124bedbe17056c1b70f9ba" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">changes, if any, in the total estimated cost of completion or estimated completion date from previous future-years capital investment plans submitted under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id768960b9f80846c6812e5464a3fc867f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Meteorological observations in the Arctic region</header><subsection id="id75d0f2885c934c83b22f11094d52fe23" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of meteorological observation stations in the arctic region</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may take such action as necessary in the development of an international basic meteorological observation network in the Arctic region of the Western Hemisphere, including the establishment, operation, and maintenance of observation stations in cooperation with the following:</text><paragraph id="ida5031c71855645a2abdbf222296e8f02" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Department of State and other Federal departments and agencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4a779c90899145ae9e665dbb4045e5e3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The meteorological services and space-based assets of the United States and foreign countries.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd2222f54906c44eab4b34458c30f3ee7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The commercial sector.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideb81975ee2ba42f98217222fab523d22" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Local communities and Indian Tribes in the Arctic region.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf7e85639c8b3434491ba7f8e4e7b410e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Persons engaged in air and marine commerce.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5cae427a2c164d0495c8585fd0446a8e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transfer from other Government departments of surplus equipment and supplies for Arctic stations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 4 of the Act entitled <quote>An Act to provide basic authority for certain functions and activities of the Weather Bureau, and for other purposes</quote>, approved June 2, 1948 (62 Stat. 286, chapter 373; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/328">15 U.S.C. 328</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb941cf957ae942948035c4615f8ecdd1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>charge</quote> and all that follows through <quote>Army</quote> and inserting <quote>charge to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Secretary of the Army</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id51d9b6f422a04f85a67a32a158bb9e3a"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>are authorized</quote> and all that follows through <quote>surplus</quote> and inserting <quote>may transfer to the National Weather Service equipment and supplies that are surplus</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id83c2562cc1f9429c8507ff5c8dc8b884"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>of Arctic weather stations</quote> and inserting <quote>of Arctic observation stations in the United States</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id634f3f014e1540159c475bbc5fd1e1de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Repeal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The first section of the Act of February 12, 1946 (60 Stat. 4, chapter 4; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/313a">15 U.S.C. 313a</external-xref>), is repealed.</text></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b22b416e97a477387f4ccfaf8d3f418" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Transfer of excess property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</header><subsection id="id5afee7adc572453caf8157560d561a86" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/40/5">chapter 5</external-xref> of title 40, United States Code, or any other provision of law governing the disposition of excess property, the Under Secretary may, on such terms as the Under Secretary determines appropriate, transfer to another Federal department or agency the property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this section referred to as the <quote>Administration</quote>) that the Under Secretary has designated, in accordance with subsection (b), as excess property.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0bc16f2e96e34d049d5b59d5580b7014" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Designation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall designate, based on the assessment described in subsection (c), as excess property any on-orbit low earth orbiting or geostationary earth orbiting satellite of the Administration that has reached the end of its operational use relating to the collection of environmental data for use in weather forecast models or other scientific research.</text></subsection><subsection id="idefdaafea69e846c2b0d140f29661164a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assessment</header><paragraph id="id86cabc12c9744b2c9b8627bb1cba76f3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out subsection (b), the Under Secretary shall conduct an assessment to determine the appropriateness of making the designation under such subsection.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id64e349b6e52240fa94cfef9525f5b89d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In conducting the assessment under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall carry out the following:</text><subparagraph id="id661710ec57ea48ff8cd17e6878fab77b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evaluate the operational viability of satellites described in subsection (b) based on the following:</text><clause id="id6d57fe223e1c4c8bb7fc235d8415e2f6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Spacecraft health.</text></clause><clause id="id9846ef27c3b0414db72a566e44c48c80" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sensor performance.</text></clause><clause id="id37c9b2b2251043b981911bf25371674a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fuel and lifetime margin.</text></clause><clause id="id5f946de6295640eda932e47e259e2c4a" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Data continuity.</text></clause><clause id="id73b454b3c3dd4dcd99e932844dd98594" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Ground segment readiness.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id248ad4cfc88c4756ba215ecc011a28ec" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Assess the risk of a data-gap in the existing on-orbit satellites and any satellites in storage that have not launched as of the date of such assessment, to ensure environmental data redundancy and resilience relating to such satellites.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcefb06821b8c48cca508e813f9822f8e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reimbursement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may require reimbursement from the Federal department or agency under subsection (a) to which a transfer is carried out pursuant to such subsection for the fair value of such property, as determined by the Under Secretary.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc78f2339ce1048b6a2cd2a67b3e53057" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of funds</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8e1e9a79abab454ea1499ee4cbdbcbc5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established in the Treasury of the United States a special account for amounts collected as reimbursements under subsection (d) (referred to in this subsection as the <quote>Fund</quote>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id94d6b193bb1d4e2c89571bbf58c29661" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deposits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding section 3302(b) of title 31, United States Code, there shall be deposited in the Fund any reimbursement received under subsection (d).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23da8f024528410fbdedd6ce03a4a400"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All amounts in the Fund shall—</text><subparagraph id="ida1815f779bfa4e6387b0212ea76f62f5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be available, without further appropriation, for upgrades, improvements, or repair of existing capital assets and facilities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service of the Administration in order to enhance mission support and mission capabilities in addition to any other amounts that may be available for such purposes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf04cae2186ff4a9da189cbdc8fd65c5f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">remain available until expended.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id610c09159816470da0d6d0aff549eb82" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report on funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall submit to Congress, as part of the annual President’s budget request, a report detailing the availability and use of funds, including information relating to any upgrades, improvements, or repairs of existing capital assets and facilities referred to in paragraph (3)(A), received under subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4db42f26879c4334b7e836b08e1d5e7b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congressional notification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days before a transfer under this section, the Under Secretary shall notify the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate in writing of plans relating to such a transfer. Such notification shall include the assessment conducted under subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="idc9a27320608e44baa8d608eb0e6428ce" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(g)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the Administration’s authorities, policies, and Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any portion of the excess property designated in accordance with subsection (b) operated by the Administration to any other Federal department or agency, which shall include—</text><paragraph id="idccb87d9314564e0d9a129455deaf859f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a description of the process for decommissioning an Administration satellite, any existing agreements related to transfers of such satellites, whether decommissioned or not as of the date of any such agreement, and any reimbursable agreements related to such transfers under subsection (d); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc65966ea1bcc4511a73802db41d5b9d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a summary of any Administration plans for potential transfer of existing or future satellites described in such subsection operated by the Administration to any other Federal department or agency.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6c5b84a8fc6f48aa9efb5816d0877e16" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>1105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Miscellaneous authorities</header><subsection id="ideaa031272cca4b058dd4d1255324fe00" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical assistance in the Pacific</header><paragraph id="id78c14d78f47b45a59e58101d86e43d5e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to the availability of appropriations, and at the discretion of the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Under Secretary may provide to Pacific Island parties technical assistance and services in line with the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc2f13d996d884f51879f02f9682ac646" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regional capacity</header><subparagraph id="idf6a235d2a51949819edf1b120b1e2691" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Use of existing programs, offices, and sites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To implement this subsection, the Under Secretary shall primarily use existing programs, offices, and sites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Pacific Islands region.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida57108edd5e2449fb177f8d70121cf21" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cooperative institute</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In order to further augment existing regional capacity in the Pacific Islands region, the Under Secretary may consider the formation of a cooperative institute to focus and advise on the unique needs of that region.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id566507a010dd4dcb95ab73c6086c20b3" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pacific Island parties defined</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, the term <term>Pacific Island parties</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id29bb8ed2665e48a49f25faaa468e7e0d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id492267461ae1407ab990dad22b1633e9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, which have each entered into a Compact of Free Association with the United States; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idef315873366448e3b16f212e5851427f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such other parties as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfc3a0755191541afba879ec06dc0e94b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State assistance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary may provide technical assistance, data, and operational products or services in support of State governments, or entities and institutions partnering or collaborating with State governments, in the voluntary production of relevant State assessments.</text></subsection><subsection id="idda458dd9b6734ffcb68260927e0678a2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">International collaboration</header><paragraph id="id69f337842fa3496c9ed57650c6275041" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service, may establish and maintain partnerships and other relationships with national and regional weather services around the world to support the co-development and deployment of meteorological information and instrumentation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6e793ff9f3c49f0b61cdf0bec164ffe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Existing agreements and partnerships</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Partnerships and other relationships established and maintained under paragraph (1), including those provided by the international desks of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, shall build upon existing agreements and partnerships with the Department of State, other relevant Federal departments or agencies, and the World Meteorological Organization.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id38da28ac9a50432186a32fcae1072147" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority To pay certain meeting expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, the Under Secretary may, subject to the availability of appropriations, incur reasonable subsistence expenses directly related to hosting a meeting or conference in the United States, excluding expenses related to travel, transportation, lodging, and per diem for non-Federal employees.</text></subsection><subsection id="id99e2cc1d8382461a9c9633fc766b9351" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Service modernization</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Under Secretary shall ensure that data, services, and products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration comply with the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/336">Public Law 115–336</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3501">44 U.S.C. 3501</external-xref> note) to increase the utility of and access to data, services, and products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subsection><subsection id="id4ffe8a283c16423e8b97f1633f855daf" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Briefing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the topic, number, and time commitment of intra-agency and interagency meetings, councils, boards, and summits <pagebreak></pagebreak>attended by each line office Assistant Administrator and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subsection></section></p><p style = "margin-left: 3.0em">Passed the Senate November 10, 2026.Secretary
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