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1 1 (December 27, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govervf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Infrnrning the Iegi~Iitive debate s~nce 1914 Updated December 27, 2024 Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 6093) Hazardous weather and climate events kill hundreds of people and cause billions of dollars of property damage in the United States each year. As of November 1, 2024, for instance, the United States experienced 24 weather and climate disasters with billion-dollar or greater costs and an estimated total cost of $61.6 billion for the year. Such costs result from a combination of weather and climate-related hazards; the presence of populations, crops, and infrastructure; and their vulnerability and resilience to hazards. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the primary civilian agency with responsibility for weather forecasting. The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 6093) in the 118th Congress aimed to improve NOAA's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, and expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data. This product describes H.R. 6093 and selected related considerations for Congress. (For more about NOAA, see CRS Report R47636, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Overview and Issuesfor Congress.) Congress has long shown interest in improving NOAA's forecasts of weather and climate events. In 2017, Congress passed the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act (Weather Act; P.L. 115-25). The Weather Act included five titles addressing (1) the transition of NOAA research and development (R&D) to operations, (2) improvements to sub-seasonal and seasonal forecasts, (3) the future of weather satellites and the agency's use of commercial data, (4) coordination and communication of weather data and observations, and (5) tsunami program activities. (For more information about the Weather Act, see CRS Report R44838, The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of2017: Congressional Direction to NOAA in P.L. 115-25, and CRS Report R44834, The U.S. Tsunami Program Reauthorization in P.L. 115-25: Section-by- Section Comparison to P.L. 109-479, Title VIII.) Congress has amended the Weather Act several times, including via P.L. 115-423, P.L. 116-259, and P.L. 117-316. Congress also has directed NOAA to advance weather forecasting via annual and supplemental appropriations (e.g., explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 118-42). H-R. 6093: Weather Research and Forecasting InIovation Reauthorization Act of 2023 H.R. 6093 would have built upon the Weather Act. Introduced on October 26, 2023, the bill was amended by voice vote and unanimously ordered to be reported, as amended, out of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on November 8, 2023. It passed in the House on April 29, 2024 (with a vote of 394 to 19). On December 18, 2024, Members in the Senate introduced a bill focused on NOAA weather research, forecasting, prediction, and data (S. 5601), the text of which was not available for review as of the publication of this product. The five titles of H.R. 6093 would have amended the Weather Act and authorized or directed NOAA to take on new responsibilities. Some provisions would have codified current NOAA activities; others would have directed NOAA in new ways. Some of the provisions in H.R. 6093 were similar or identical to legislation introduced individually in the 118th Congress. Summaries of each title are below. Title I: Reauthorization of the Weather Act would have amended provisions in the Weather Act related to authorization of appropriations, tornado and hurricane forecasting, observing and satellite planning and testing, computing resources, weather modeling, the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services, and required reports, among other provisions. It also would have amended the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2017 (part of the Weather Act); the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11); the National Landslide Preparedness Act (P.L. 116-323); and the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-383). Title II: Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation would have tasked NOAA with new responsibilities and authorities regarding weather radars; atmospheric river, coastal flooding, and storm surge forecast improvements; aviation-related observations and forecasting; the transition of research to demonstration and operations; the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (to process, display, and communicate data); reanalysis and reforecasting; and the National Weather Service's (NWS's) workforce. Title III: Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations would have amended the Weather Act to codify NOAA's Commercial Data Program and Commercial Data Pilot Program and made changes to its activities. (For more about the program and proposed changes, see CRS In Focus IF12671, NOAA 's Commercial Data Program: Background and Considerations for Congress.) Title IV: Communicating Weather to the Public would have amended the Weather Act regarding hazardous weather or water events (e.g., severe storms, flash floods)

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