[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 353 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.353
One Hundred Fifteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and seventeen
An Act
To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather
research through a focused program of investment on affordable and
attainable advances in observational, computing, and modeling
capabilities to support substantial improvement in weather forecasting
and prediction of high impact weather events, to expand commercial
opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Research
and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

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TITLE III

-WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION

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TITLE IV

-FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION

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communication of hazardous weather and water events.

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In this Act:
(1) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means the time range
between 3 months and 2 years.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means a State, a territory, or
possession of the United States, including a Commonwealth, or the
District of Columbia.
(3) Subseasonal.--The term ``subseasonal'' means the time range
between 2 weeks and 3 months.
(4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
(5) Weather industry and weather enterprise.--The terms
``weather industry'' and ``weather enterprise'' are interchangeable
in this Act, and include individuals and organizations from public,
private, and academic sectors that contribute to the research,
development, and production of weather forecast products, and
primary consumers of these weather forecast products.

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TITLE V

-TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2017

In conducting research, the Under Secretary shall prioritize
improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and warnings
for the protection of life and property and for the enhancement of the
national economy.

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TITLE I

-UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT

(a) Program.--The Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research shall conduct a program to develop improved
understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and
their impacts, placing priority on developing more accurate, timely,
and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that
endanger life and property.
(b) Program Elements.--The program described in subsection (a)
shall focus on the following activities:
(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather
consistent with section 101, including the boundary layer and other
processes affecting high impact weather events.
(2) Improving the understanding of how the public receives,
interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact
weather events that endanger life and property.
(3) Research and development, and transfer of knowledge,
technologies, and applications to the National Weather Service and
other appropriate agencies and entities, including the United
States weather industry and academic partners, related to--
(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and
other ground-based technologies, including those emphasizing
rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary layer and lower
troposphere, and the use of innovative, dual-polarization,
phased-array technologies;
(B) aerial weather observing systems;
(C) high performance computing and information technology
and wireless communication networks;
(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems and
forecasting tools and techniques that improve the forecasting
of timing, track, intensity, and severity of high impact
weather, including through--
(i) the development of more effective mesoscale models;
(ii) more effective use of existing, and the
development of new, regional and national cloud-resolving
models;
(iii) enhanced global weather models; and
(iv) integrated assessment models;
(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the impact
and value of data and observing systems, including Observing
System Simulation Experiments (as described in section 107),
Observing System Experiments, and Analyses of Alternatives;
(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential to
accurately characterizing atmospheric composition and
predicting meteorological processes, including cloud
microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric electrification
processes, to more effectively understand their role in severe
weather; and
(G) additional sources of weather data and information,
including commercial observing systems.
(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly and
in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service,
and in cooperation with the United States weather industry and
academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition
of the latest scientific and technological advances into operations
of the National Weather Service and to establish a process to
sunset outdated and expensive operational methods and tools to
enable cost-effective transfer of new methods and tools into
operations.
(c) Extramural Research.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program under this
section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research shall collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather
research community, which includes institutions of higher
education, private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by
making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and
cooperative agreements.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that not
less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research and
development at the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
should be made available for the purpose described in paragraph
(1).
(d) Annual Report.--Each year, concurrent with the annual budget
request submitted by the President to Congress under section 1105 of
title 31, United States Code, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a
description of current and planned activities under this section.

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(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a
tornado warning improvement and extension program.
(b) Goal.--The goal of such program shall be to reduce the loss of
life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and
extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts,
predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond
1 hour in advance.
(c) Program Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, in coordination with the Director of the National
Weather Service, shall develop a program plan that details the specific
research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as
corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the program
goal.
(d) Annual Budget for Plan Submittal.--Following completion of the
plan, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator
for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in coordination with the
Director of the National Weather Service, shall, not less frequently
than once each year, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding
with the activities identified in the plan.

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(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the
United States weather industry and such academic entities as the
Administrator considers appropriate, shall maintain a project to
improve hurricane forecasting.
(b) Goal.--The goal of the project maintained under subsection (a)
shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and
warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the
economy, with a focus on--
(1) improving the prediction of rapid intensification and track
of hurricanes;
(2) improving the forecast and communication of storm surges
from hurricanes; and
(3) incorporating risk communication research to create more
effective watch and warning products.
(c) Project Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary, acting through the
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in
consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall
develop a plan for the project maintained 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 in subsection (b).

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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and not less frequently than once each year 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 restore and maintain United States
leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that--
(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals,
objectives, 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, and performance metrics, weighted to meet
the operational weather mission of the National Weather Service to
achieve a weather-ready Nation;
(3) describes how the program will collaborate with
stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and
academic partners; and
(4) identifies, through consultation with the National Science
Foundation, the United States weather industry, and academic
partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of social
science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes,
including to improve the communication of threat information
necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and
decisionmaking on the part of individuals and communities.

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The Under Secretary shall--
(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation data
requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities
to protect life and property to the maximum extent practicable;
(2) consistent with section 107, utilize Observing System
Simulation Experiments, Observing System Experiments, Analyses of
Alternatives, and other appropriate assessment tools to ensure
continuous systemic evaluations of the observing systems, data, and
information needed to meet the requirements of paragraph (1),
including options to maximize observational capabilities and their
cost-effectiveness;
(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in
observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under
paragraph (1); and
(4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified
under paragraph (3).

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(a) In General.--In support of the requirements of section 106, the
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall
undertake Observing System Simulation Experiments, or such other
quantitative assessments as the Assistant Administrator considers
appropriate, to quantitatively assess the relative value and benefits
of observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific
Observing System Simulation Experiment evaluations--
(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing
capabilities on--
(A) global weather prediction;
(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting;
(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy;
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm
outbreaks; and
(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to cause
extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1
week; and
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate
entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, other Federal agencies, the United States weather
industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and
scientific merit of results from Observing System Simulation
Experiments or other appropriate quantitative assessment
methodologies.
(b) Requirements.--Observing System Simulation Experiments shall
quantitatively--
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based,
suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and
forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather events
across all parts of the Nation;
(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; and
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various
observing systems and combinations of observing systems in
providing data necessary to protect life and property.
(c) Implementation.--Observing System Simulation Experiments--
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major
Government-owned or Government-leased operational observing
systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite
systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new
commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than
$500,000,000.
(d) Priority Observing System Simulation Experiments.--
(1) Global navigation satellite system radio occultation.--Not
later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall
complete an Observing System Simulation Experiment to assess the
value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio
Occultation.
(2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.--
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research shall complete an Observing System Simulation Experiment
to assess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral
sounder global constellation.
(e) Results.--Upon completion of all Observing System Simulation
Experiments, the Assistant Administrator shall make available to the
public the results an assessment of related private and public sector
weather data sourcing options, including their availability,
affordability, and cost-effectiveness. Such assessments shall be
developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51, United States
Code.

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Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act
and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Under
Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in coordination with the
Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the
Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce and make
publicly available a report that explains how the Under Secretary
intends--
(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most
powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
(2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations
requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global
models as well as highly reliable operational models;
(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as
appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models
available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the United
States weather industry, and partners in academic and Government
research; and
(4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced
research and operational weather prediction.

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Section 108 of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567; 15 U.S.C. 313 note) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives, not less frequently
than once each year, a report, including--
``(A) a list of ongoing research projects;
``(B) project goals and a point of contact for each
project;
``(C) the five projects related to weather observations,
short-term weather, or subseasonal forecasts within Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to
operationalization;
``(D) for each project referred to in subparagraph (C)--
``(i) the potential benefit;
``(ii) any barrier to operationalization; and
``(iii) the plan for operationalization, including
which line office will financially support the project and
how much the line office intends to spend;
``(6) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service to oversee
the operationalization of research products developed by the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
``(7) develop mechanisms for research priorities of the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be informed by the relevant
line offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the relevant user community, and the weather
enterprise;
``(8) develop an internal mechanism to track the progress of
each research project within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research and mechanisms to terminate a project that is not
adequately progressing;
``(9) develop and implement a system to track whether
extramural research grant goals were accomplished;
``(10) provide facilities for products developed by the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested in operational
simulations, such as test beds; and
``(11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service
by facilitating visiting scholars.'';
(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by striking ``Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the'' and inserting ``The''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Subseasonal Defined.--In this section, the term `subseasonal'
means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.''.

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(a) Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018.--For each of fiscal years 2017 and
2018, there are authorized to be appropriated to Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research--
(1) $111,516,000 to carry out this title, of which--
(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and
cooperative institutes; and
(B) $25,758,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry
research programs; and
(2) an additional amount of $20,000,000 for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4).
(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out
this title and the amendments made by this title.

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Section 1762 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-198;
15 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``(a)'' and inserting ``(a)
Findings.--'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``(b)'' and inserting ``(b)
Policy.--''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Functions.--The Under Secretary, acting through the Director
of the National Weather Service and the heads of such other programs of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under
Secretary considers appropriate, shall--
``(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable,
reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and
seasonal temperature and precipitation;
``(2) leverage existing research and models from the weather
enterprise to improve the forecasts under paragraph (1);
``(3) determine and provide information on how the forecasted
conditions under paragraph (1) may impact--
``(A) the number and severity of droughts, fires,
tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation,
winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant natural
disasters;
``(B) snowpack; and
``(C) sea ice conditions; and
``(4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the
forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs
(1) and (3) on both national and regional levels.
``(d) Communication.--The Director of the National Weather Service
shall provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and
the information on their impacts under paragraph (3) of such subsection
to the public, including public and private entities engaged in
planning and preparedness, such as National Weather Service Core
partners at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of
government.
``(e) Cooperation.--The Under Secretary shall build upon existing
forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including--
``(1) by designating research and monitoring activities related
to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a priority in one or more
solicitations of the Cooperative Institutes of the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
``(2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System
Prediction Capability; and
``(3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the highest priority
subseasonal and seasonal forecast needs to enhance national
security.
``(f) Forecast Communication Coordinators.--
``(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall foster effective
communication, understanding, and use of the forecasts by the
intended users of the information described in subsection (d). This
may include assistance to States for forecast communication
coordinators to enable local interpretation and planning based on
the information.
``(2) Requirements.--For each State that requests assistance
under this subsection, the Under Secretary may--
``(A) provide funds to support an individual in that
State--
``(i) to serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal departments
and agencies, the weather enterprise, the State, and
relevant interests within that State; and
``(ii) to receive the forecasts and information under
subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and
information throughout the State, including to county and
tribal governments; and
``(B) require matching funds of at least 50 percent, from
the State, a university, a nongovernmental organization, a
trade association, or the private sector.
``(3) Limitation.--Assistance to an individual State under this
subsection shall not exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year.
``(g) Cooperation From Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal
department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under
Secretary in carrying out this section.
``(h) Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation
Act of 2017, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report, including--
``(A) an analysis of the how information from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on subseasonal and
seasonal forecasts, as provided under subsection (c), is
utilized in public planning and preparedness;
``(B) specific plans and goals for the continued
development of the subseasonal and seasonal forecasts and
related products described in subsection (c); and
``(C) an identification of research, monitoring, observing,
and forecasting requirements to meet the goals described in
subparagraph (B).
``(2) Consultation.--In developing the report under paragraph
(1), the Under Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal,
regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, research
institutions, and the private sector.
``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Foundational forecast.--The term `foundational forecast'
means basic weather observation and forecast data, largely in raw
form, before further processing is applied.
``(2) National weather service core partners.--The term
`National Weather Service core partners' means government and
nongovernment entities which are directly involved in the
preparation or dissemination of, or discussions involving,
hazardous weather or other emergency information put out by the
National Weather Service.
``(3) Seasonal.--The term `seasonal' means the time range
between 3 months and 2 years.
``(4) State.--The term `State' means a State, a territory, or
possession of the United States, including a Commonwealth, or the
District of Columbia.
``(5) Subseasonal.--The term `subseasonal' means the time range
between 2 weeks and 3 months.
``(6) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
``(7) Weather industry and weather enterprise.--The terms
`weather industry' and `weather enterprise' are interchangeable in
this section and include individuals and organizations from public,
private, and academic sectors that contribute to the research,
development, and production of weather forecast products, and
primary consumers of these weather forecast products.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years
2017 and 2018, there are authorized out of funds appropriated to the
National Weather Service, $26,500,000 to carry out the activities of
this section.''.

e5a2748b1e2c595dec9094418fb79c531caf044e4ba48f7c6c554f06e244fc5d

TITLE II

-SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION

AND DATA MANAGEMENT.
(a) Short-Term Management of Environmental Observations.--
(1) Microsatellite constellations.--
(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall complete and
operationalize the Constellation Observing System for
Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate-1 and Climate-2 (COSMIC)
in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this
Act--
(i) by deploying constellations of microsatellites in
both the equatorial and polar orbits;
(ii) by integrating the resulting data and research
into all national operational and research weather forecast
models; and
(iii) by ensuring that the resulting data of National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's COSMIC-1 and
COSMIC-2 programs are free and open to all communities.
(B) Annual reports.--Not less frequently than once each
year until the Under Secretary has completed and
operationalized the program described in subparagraph (A)
pursuant to such subparagraph, the Under Secretary shall submit
to Congress a report on the status of the efforts of the Under
Secretary to carry out such subparagraph.
(2) Integration of ocean and coastal data from the integrated
ocean observing system.--In National Weather Service Regions where
the Director of the National Weather Service determines that ocean
and coastal data would improve forecasts, the Director, in
consultation with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research and the Assistant Administrator of the
National Ocean Service, shall--
(A) integrate additional coastal and ocean observations,
and other data and research, from the Integrated Ocean
Observing System (IOOS) into regional weather forecasts to
improve weather forecasts and forecasting decision support
systems; and
(B) support the development of real-time data sharing
products and forecast products in collaboration with the
regional associations of such system, including contributions
from the private sector, academia, and research institutions to
ensure timely and accurate use of ocean and coastal data in
regional forecasts.
(3) Existing monitoring and observation-capability.--The Under
Secretary shall identify degradation of existing monitoring and
observation capabilities that could lead to a reduction in forecast
quality.
(4) Specifications for new satellite systems or data determined
by operational needs.--In developing specifications for any
satellite systems or data to follow the Joint Polar Satellite
System, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, and any
other satellites, in effect on the day before the date of enactment
of this Act, the Under Secretary shall ensure the specifications
are determined to the extent practicable by the recommendations of
the reports under subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Independent Study on Future of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Satellite Systems and Data.--
(1) Agreement.--
(A) In general.--The Under Secretary shall seek to enter
into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to
perform the services covered by this subsection.
(B) Timing.--The Under Secretary shall seek to enter into
the agreement described in subparagraph (A) before September
30, 2018.
(2) Study.--
(A) In general.--Under an agreement between the Under
Secretary and the National Academy of Sciences under this
subsection, the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a
study on matters concerning future satellite data needs.
(B) Elements.--In conducting the study under subparagraph
(A), the National Academy of Sciences shall--
(i) develop recommendations on how to make the data
portfolio of the Administration more robust and cost-
effective;
(ii) assess the costs and benefits of moving toward a
constellation of many small satellites, standardizing
satellite bus design, relying more on the purchasing of
data, or acquiring data from other sources or methods;
(iii) identify the environmental observations that are
essential to the performance of weather models, based on an
assessment of Federal, academic, and private sector weather
research, and the cost of obtaining the environmental data;
(iv) identify environmental observations that improve
the quality of operational and research weather models in
effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act;
(v) identify and prioritize new environmental
observations that could contribute to existing and future
weather models; and
(vi) develop recommendations on a portfolio of
environmental observations that balances essential,
quality-improving, and new data, private and nonprivate
sources, and space-based and Earth-based sources.
(C) Deadline and report.--In carrying out the study under
subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences shall
complete and transmit to the Under Secretary a report
containing the findings of the National Academy of Sciences
with respect to the study not later than 2 years after the date
on which the Administrator enters into an agreement with the
National Academy of Sciences under paragraph (1)(A).
(3) Alternate organization.--
(A) In general.--If the Under Secretary is unable within
the period prescribed in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) to
enter into an agreement described in subparagraph (A) of such
paragraph with the National Academy of Sciences on terms
acceptable to the Under Secretary, the Under Secretary shall
seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate
organization that--
(i) is not part of the Federal Government;
(ii) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and
(iii) has expertise and objectivity comparable to that
of the National Academy of Sciences.
(B) Treatment.--If the Under Secretary enters into an
agreement with another organization as described in
subparagraph (A), any reference in this subsection to the
National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a reference to
the other organization.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to
be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to carry
out this subsection $1,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal
years 2018 through 2019.

6b18b57d7d84f2a1d8188cd6edd1acc902910b78781c2f4db5559ac7c8975003

(a) Data and Hosted Satellite Payloads.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of Commerce may enter into agreements
for--
(1) the purchase of weather data through contracts with
commercial providers; and
(2) the placement of weather satellite instruments on cohosted
government or private payloads.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation
with the Under Secretary, shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a strategy to enable the procurement of quality
commercial weather data. The strategy shall assess the range of
commercial opportunities, including public-private partnerships,
for obtaining surface-based, aviation-based, and space-based
weather observations. The strategy shall include the expected cost-
effectiveness of these opportunities as well as provide a plan for
procuring data, including an expected implementation timeline, from
these nongovernmental sources, as appropriate.
(2) Requirements.--The strategy shall include--
(A) an analysis of financial or other benefits to, and
risks associated with, acquiring commercial weather data or
services, including through multiyear acquisition approaches;
(B) an identification of methods to address planning,
programming, budgeting, and execution challenges to such
approaches, including--
(i) how standards will be set to ensure that data is
reliable and effective;
(ii) how data may be acquired through commercial
experimental or innovative techniques and then evaluated
for integration into operational use;
(iii) how to guarantee public access to all forecast-
critical data to ensure that the United States weather
industry and the public continue to have access to
information critical to their work; and
(iv) in accordance with section 50503 of title 51,
United States Code, methods to address potential
termination liability or cancellation costs associated with
weather data or service contracts; and
(C) an identification of any changes needed in the
requirements development and approval processes of the
Department of Commerce to facilitate effective and efficient
implementation of such strategy.
(3) Authority for agreements.--The Assistant Administrator for
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service may
enter into multiyear agreements necessary to carry out the strategy
developed under this subsection.
(c) Pilot Program.--
(1) Criteria.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall publish data and
metadata standards and specifications for space-based commercial
weather data, including radio occultation data, and, as soon as
possible, geostationary hyperspectral sounder data.
(2) Pilot contracts.--
(A) Contracts.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall, through an
open competition, enter into at least one pilot contract with
one or more private sector entities capable of providing data
that meet the standards and specifications set by the Under
Secretary for providing commercial weather data in a manner
that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate the
data for its use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration meteorological models.
(B) Assessment of data viability.--Not later than the date
that is 3 years after the date on which the Under Secretary
enters into a contract under subparagraph (A), the Under
Secretary shall assess and submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives
the results of a determination of the extent to which data
provided under the contract entered into under subparagraph (A)
meet the criteria published under paragraph (1) and the extent
to which the pilot program has demonstrated--
(i) the viability of assimilating the commercially
provided data into National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration meteorological models;
(ii) whether, and by how much, the data add value to
weather forecasts; and
(iii) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity,
reliability, usability, information technology security,
and cost-effectiveness of obtaining commercial weather data
from private sector providers.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--For each of fiscal years
2017 through 2020, there are authorized to be appropriated for
procurement, acquisition, and construction at National
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, $6,000,000
to carry out this subsection.
(d) Obtaining Future Data.--If an assessment under subsection
(c)(2)(B) demonstrates the ability of commercial weather data to meet
data and metadata standards and specifications published under
subsection (c)(1), the Under Secretary shall--
(1) where appropriate, cost-effective, and feasible, obtain
commercial weather data from private sector providers;
(2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for any
future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
meteorological space system, consider whether there is a suitable,
cost-effective, commercial capability available or that will be
available to meet any or all of the observational requirements by
the planned operational date of the system;
(3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is or
will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine whether
it is in the national interest to develop a governmental
meteorological space system; and
(4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives a report detailing
any determination made under paragraphs (2) and (3).
(e) Data Sharing Practices.--The Under Secretary shall continue to
meet the international meteorological agreements into which the Under
Secretary has entered, including practices set forth through World
Meteorological Organization Resolution 40.

2c9e7c64c0273a49e194966fc3a5a26e878a629ba959d77582b0cdf995fc231f

In meeting the requirements under this title, the Under Secretary
shall avoid unnecessary duplication between public and private sources
of data and the corresponding expenditure of funds and employment of
personnel.

3cdafa5c8b173a236f20b1e625b0dd9dddcdea8e6446820e28389541c4b548a9

(a) Establishment.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Science Advisory Board shall continue to maintain a
standing working group named the Environmental Information Services
Working Group (in this section referred to as the ``Working Group'')--
(1) to provide advice for prioritizing weather research
initiatives at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to produce real improvement in weather forecasting;
(2) to provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or
techniques that can be found in private industry or the research
community that could be incorporated into forecasting at the
National Weather Service to improve forecasting skill;
(3) to identify opportunities to improve--
(A) communications between weather forecasters, Federal,
State, local, tribal, and other emergency management personnel,
and the public; and
(B) communications and partnerships among the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the private and
academic sectors; and
(4) to address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board
requests of the Working Group.
(b) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall be composed of leading
experts and innovators from all relevant fields of science and
engineering including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics,
meteorology, hydrology, social science, risk communications,
electrical engineering, and computer sciences. In carrying out this
section, the Working Group may organize into subpanels.
(2) Number.--The Working Group shall be composed of no fewer
than 15 members. Nominees for the Working Group may be forwarded by
the Working Group for approval by the Science Advisory Board.
Members of the Working Group may choose a chair (or co-chairs) from
among their number with approval by the Science Advisory Board.
(c) Annual Report.--Not less frequently than once each year, the
Working Group shall transmit to the Science Advisory Board for
submission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made by National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in adopting the Working Group's
recommendations. The Science Advisory Board shall transmit this report
to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the
Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a copy of such report.

6bb2d6bb22170087ab6ddd388fe9a153b709638b357ef066c1835ba50330786e

COORDINATION.
(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish an Interagency Committee for
Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather
research and forecast innovation activities across the Federal
Government. The Interagency Committee shall--
(1) include participation by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its constituent
elements, the National Science Foundation, and such other agencies
involved in weather forecasting research as the President
determines are appropriate;
(2) identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate
those needs against budget requests and program initiatives across
participating offices and agencies; and
(3) share information regarding operational needs and
forecasting improvements across relevant agencies.
(b) Co-Chair.--The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall serve
as a co-chair of this panel.
(c) Further Coordination.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall take such other steps as are necessary to
coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with those of the
United States weather industry, State governments, emergency managers,
and academic researchers.

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WEATHER SERVICE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research and the Director of National Weather Service may
establish a program to detail Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research personnel to the National Weather Service and National Weather
Service personnel to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
(b) Goal.--The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting
innovation through regular, direct interaction between the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's world-class scientists and the
National Weather Service's operational staff.
(c) Elements.--The program shall allow up to 10 Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research staff and National Weather Service staff to
spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly selected by
the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and
the Director of the National Weather Service.
(d) Annual Report.--Not less frequently than once each year, the
Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a report on participation in
such program and shall highlight any innovations that come from this
interaction.

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(a) In General.--The Director of the National Weather Service may
establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic
researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental
Prediction.
(b) Goal.--This program shall be designed to provide direct
interaction between forecasters and talented academic and private
sector researchers in an effort to bring innovation to forecasting
tools and techniques to the National Weather Service.
(c) Selection and Appointment.--Such fellows shall be competitively
selected and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 year.

2e35346220c6e0f184ce7fb5934e286e7fd6f1158050b88cd2954578ff814d41

OFFICES OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
(a) Designation of Warning Coordination Meteorologists.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the National Weather Service
shall designate at least one warning coordination meteorologist at
each weather forecast office of the National Weather Service.
(2) No additional employees authorized.--Nothing in this
section shall be construed to authorize or require a change in the
authorized number of full time equivalent employees in the National
Weather Service or otherwise result in the employment of any
additional employees.
(3) Performance by other employees.--Performance of the
responsibilities outlined in this section is not limited to the
warning coordination meteorologist position.
(b) Primary Role of Warning Coordination Meteorologists.--The
primary role of the warning coordination meteorologist shall be to
carry out the responsibilities required by this section.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), consistent with the
analysis described in section 409, and in order to increase impact-
based decision support services, each warning coordination
meteorologist designated under subsection (a) shall--
(A) be responsible for providing service to the geographic
area of responsibility covered by the weather forecast office
at which the warning coordination meteorologist is employed to
help ensure that users of products of the National Weather
Service can respond effectively to improve outcomes from
weather events;
(B) liaise with users of products and services of the
National Weather Service, such as the public, media outlets,
users in the aviation, marine, and agricultural communities,
and forestry, land, and water management interests, to evaluate
the adequacy and usefulness of the products and services of the
National Weather Service;
(C) collaborate with such weather forecast offices and
State, local, and tribal government agencies as the Director
considers appropriate in developing, proposing, and
implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor products and
services of the National Weather Service to improve the
usefulness of such products and services;
(D) ensure the maintenance and accuracy of severe weather
call lists, appropriate office severe weather policy or
procedures, and other severe weather or dissemination
methodologies or strategies; and
(E) work closely with State, local, and tribal emergency
management agencies, and other agencies related to disaster
management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective
preparedness and response effort.
(2) Other staff.--The Director may assign a responsibility set
forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director
considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility.
(d) Additional Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), a warning
coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) may--
(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;
(B) identify priority community preparedness objectives;
(C) develop plans to meet the objectives identified under
paragraph (2); and
(D) conduct severe weather event preparedness planning and
citizen education efforts with and through various State,
local, and tribal government agencies and other disaster
management-related organizations.
(2) Other staff.--The Director may assign a responsibility set
forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director
considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility.
(e) Placement With State and Local Emergency Managers.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the Director of
the National Weather Service may place a warning coordination
meteorologist designated under subsection (a) with a State or local
emergency manager if the Director considers doing so is necessary
or convenient to carry out this section.
(2) Treatment.--If the Director determines that the placement
of a warning coordination meteorologist placed with a State or
local emergency manager under paragraph (1) is near a weather
forecast office of the National Weather Service, such placement
shall be treated as designation of the warning coordination
meteorologist at such weather forecast office for purposes of
subsection (a).

7151af20457aaea968261d8e3a24612b19edccf0e11033e8fbc85051b6488775

COMMUNICATION OF HAZARDOUS WEATHER AND WATER EVENTS.
(a) Purpose of System.--For purposes of the assessment required by
subsection (b)(1)(A), the purpose of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration system for issuing watches and warnings regarding
hazardous weather and water events shall be risk communication to the
general public that informs action to prevent loss of life and
property.
(b) Assessment of System.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall--
(A) assess the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration system for issuing watches and warnings
regarding hazardous weather and water events; and
(B) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the
Under Secretary with respect to the assessment conducted under
subparagraph (A).
(2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A)
shall include the following:
(A) An evaluation of whether the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration system for issuing watches and
warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events meets the
purpose described in subsection (a).
(B) Development of recommendations for--
(i) legislative and administrative action to improve
the system described in paragraph (1)(A); and
(ii) such research as the Under Secretary considers
necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph
(3).
(3) Focus areas.--The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A)
shall focus on the following:
(A) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous
weather or water events to the public that are most likely to
result in action to mitigate the risk.
(B) Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous
weather or water events to the public as broadly and rapidly as
practicable.
(C) Ways to preserve the benefits of the existing watches
and warnings system.
(D) Ways to maintain the utility of the watches and
warnings system for Government and commercial users of the
system.
(4) Consultation.--In conducting the assessment required by
paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall--
(A) consult with such line offices within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary
considers relevant, including the National Ocean Service, the
National Weather Service, and the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research;
(B) consult with individuals in the academic sector,
including individuals in the field of social and behavioral
sciences, and other weather services;
(C) consult with media outlets that will be distributing
the watches and warnings;
(D) consult with non-Federal forecasters that produce
alternate severe weather risk communication products;
(E) consult with emergency planners and responders,
including State and local emergency management agencies, and
other government users of the watches and warnings system,
including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Office
of Personnel Management, the Coast Guard, and such other
Federal agencies as the Under Secretary determines rely on
watches and warnings for operational decisions; and
(F) make use of the services of the National Academy of
Sciences, as the Under Secretary considers necessary and
practicable, including contracting with the National Research
Council to review the scientific and technical soundness of the
assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), including the
recommendations developed under paragraph (2)(B).
(5) Methodologies.--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 social and behavioral sciences.
(c) Improvements to System.--
(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall, based on the
assessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), make such
recommendations to Congress to improve the system as the Under
Secretary considers necessary--
(A) to improve the system for issuing watches and warnings
regarding hazardous weather and water events; and
(B) to support efforts to satisfy research needs to enable
future improvements to such system.
(2) Requirements regarding recommendations.--In carrying out
paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall ensure that any
recommendation 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) accounts for the differences between types of weather
and water hazards;
(D) responds to the needs of Federal, State, and local
government partners and media partners; and
(E) accounts for necessary changes to Federally operated
watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure
and protocols.
(d) Watches and Warnings Defined.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), in this
section, the terms ``watch'' and ``warning'', with respect to a
hazardous weather and water event, mean products issued by the
Administration, intended for consumption by the general public, to
alert the general public to the potential for or presence of the
event and to inform action to prevent loss of life and property.
(2) Exception.--ln this section, the terms ``watch'' and
``warning'' do not include technical or specialized meteorological
and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.

6fe084d72155983ad35cb636f5d375df7a597e0d4e8d5b1cfbc201410c60beaa

READY ALL HAZARDS AWARD PROGRAM.
(a) Program.--The Director of the National Weather Service is
authorized to establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program. This award
program shall provide annual awards to honor individuals or
organizations that use or provide National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to
save lives and protect property. Individuals or organizations that
utilize other early warning tools or applications also qualify for this
award.
(b) Goal.--This award program draws attention to the life-saving
work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather
Ready All Hazards Program, as well as emerging tools and applications,
that provide real-time warning to individuals and communities of severe
weather or other hazardous conditions.
(c) Program Elements.--
(1) Nominations.--Nominations for this award shall be made
annually by the Weather Field Offices to the Director of the
National Weather Service. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio
manufacturers and weather warning tool and application developers,
emergency managers, and public safety officials may nominate
individuals or organizations to their local Weather Field Offices,
but the final list of award nominees must come from the Weather
Field Offices.
(2) Selection of awardees.--Annually, the Director of the
National Weather Service shall choose winners of this award whose
timely actions, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters
or other early warning tools and applications, saved lives or
property, or demonstrated public service in support of weather or
all hazard warnings.
(3) Award ceremony.--The Director of the National Weather
Service shall establish a means of making these awards to provide
maximum public awareness of the importance of National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio, and such other warning
tools and applications as are represented in the awards.

6f49c157e4cf5c66b8cc415e91723848295469bf3ef9ee8d65ffc1f13730a531

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology of the House of Representatives a report analyzing the
impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in the United States
Weather Research and Forecasting Model, including--
(1) the impact on--
(A) the United States weather forecasting capabilities;
(B) the accuracy of civilian regional forecasts;
(C) the civilian readiness for traditional weather and
extreme weather events in the United States; and
(D) the research necessary to develop the United States
Weather Research and Forecasting Model; and
(2) such other analysis relating to the divestiture as the
Under Secretary considers appropriate.

21687aa76d0837ee31d8d85aa2773a26f8306f7a73a8f134f933c44e0eb8a945

ANALYSIS.
The Under Secretary shall contract or continue to partner with an
external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of National
Weather Service operations and workforce.

2b9c27fe53564237788e2ee568dcbc0266d5185ddeb275eae7ddca7d003d9e94

(a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the use of contractors at the National Weather Service for
the most recently completed fiscal year.
(b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include,
with respect to the most recently completed fiscal year, the following:
(1) The total number of full-time equivalent employees at the
National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of
the General Schedule.
(2) The total number of full-time equivalent contractors at the
National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of
the General Schedule that most closely approximates their duties.
(3) The total number of vacant positions at the National
Weather Service on the day before the date of enactment of this
Act, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General
Schedule.
(4) The five most common positions filled by full-time
equivalent contractors at the National Weather Service and the
equivalent level of the General Schedule that most closely
approximates the duties of such positions.
(5) Of the positions identified under paragraph (4), the
percentage of full-time equivalent contractors in those positions
that have held a prior position at the National Weather Service or
another entity in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(6) The average full-time equivalent salary for Federal
employees at the National Weather Service for each equivalent level
of the General Schedule.
(7) The average salary for full-time equivalent contractors
performing at each equivalent level of the General Schedule at the
National Weather Service.
(8) A description of any actions taken by the Under Secretary
to respond to the issues raised by the Inspector General of the
Department of Commerce regarding the hiring of former National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees as contractors at
the National Weather Service such as the issues raised in the
Investigative Report dated June 2, 2015 (OIG-12-0447).
(c) Annual Publication.--For each fiscal year after the fiscal year
covered by the report required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary
shall, not later than 180 days after the completion of the fiscal year,
publish on a publicly accessible Internet website the information
described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (b) for such
fiscal year.

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(a) Review.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the National Weather Service
shall review existing research, products, and services that meet
the specific needs of the urban environment, given its unique
physical characteristics and forecasting challenges.
(2) Elements.--The review required by paragraph (1) shall
include research, products, and services with the potential to
improve modeling and forecasting capabilities, taking into account
factors including varying building heights, impermeable surfaces,
lack of tree canopy, traffic, pollution, and inter-building wind
effects.
(b) Report and Assessment.--Upon completion of the review required
by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the research, products, and services of the National Weather
Service, including an assessment of such research, products, and
services that is based on the review, public comment, and recent
publications by the National Academy of Sciences.

9e16f39b8cc01e2c3a67f41c9dc92d949a87ca149ef374fd13c4c7213a5a4320

(a) In General.--The Under Secretary may establish mechanisms for
outreach to the weather enterprise--
(1) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products
provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
and
(2) to determine the highest priority weather forecast needs of
the community described in subsection (b).
(b) Outreach Community.--In conducting outreach under subsection
(a), the Under Secretary shall contact leading experts and innovators
from relevant stakeholders, including the representatives from the
following:
(1) State or local emergency management agencies.
(2) State agriculture agencies.
(3) Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) and
Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
(4) The private aerospace industry.
(5) The private earth observing industry.
(6) The operational forecasting community.
(7) The academic community.
(8) Professional societies that focus on meteorology.
(9) Such other stakeholder groups as the Under Secretary
considers appropriate.

3d1d12dfbb519c26f43ce2440e04a9bb5264cd3ed09bc212d663d3144f4e8764

(a) Backup Capability.--The Under Secretary shall acquire backup
for the capabilities of the WP-3D Orion and G-IV hurricane aircraft of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is sufficient
to prevent a single point of failure.
(b) Authority to Enter Agreements.--In order to carry out
subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall negotiate and enter into 1 or
more agreements or contracts, to the extent practicable and necessary,
with governmental and non-governmental entities.
(c) Future Technology.--The Under Secretary shall continue the
development of Airborne Phased Array Radar under the United States
Weather Research Program.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For each of fiscal years 2017
through 2020, support for implementing subsections (a) and (b) is
authorized out of funds appropriated to the Office of Marine and
Aviation Operations.

0199fa125bee07e94f9c607e4e38955fd424fba3d8b51bd7257fe812f31114c5

ADDRESS SUCH GAPS.
(a) Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall complete a
study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar
of the National Weather Service (``NEXRAD'').
(2) Elements.--In conducting the study required under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall--
(A) identify areas in the United States where limited or no
NEXRAD coverage has resulted in--
(i) instances in which no or insufficient warnings were
given for hazardous weather events, including tornadoes; or
(ii) degraded forecasts for hazardous weather events
that resulted in fatalities, significant injuries, or
substantial property damage; and
(B) for the areas identified under subparagraph (A)--
(i) identify the key weather effects for which
prediction would improve with improved radar detection;
(ii) identify additional sources of observations for
high impact weather that were available and operational for
such areas on the day before the date of the enactment of
this Act, including dense networks of x-band radars,
Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (commonly known as
``TDWR''), air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation
Administration, and cooperative network observers;
(iii) assess the feasibility and advisability of
efforts to integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities
that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, including radar
capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration and the
Department of Defense;
(iv) assess the feasibility and advisability of
incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars
into the operations of the National Weather Service;
(v) identify options to improve hazardous weather
detection and forecasting coverage; and
(vi) provide the estimated cost of, and timeline for,
each of the options identified under clause (v).
(3) Report.--Upon the completion of the study required under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report that includes the findings of the
Secretary with respect to the study.
(b) Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage.--Not later than 90
days after the completion of the study under subsection (a)(1), the
Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the congressional committees
referred to in subsection (a)(3) recommendations for improving
hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage in the areas
identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) by integrating additional
observation solutions to the extent practicable and meteorologically
justified and necessary to protect public safety.
(c) Third-party Consultation Regarding Recommendations to Improve
Radar Coverage.--The Secretary of Commerce may seek reviews by, or
consult with, appropriate third parties regarding the scientific
methodology relating to, and the feasibility and advisability of
implementing, the recommendations submitted under subsection (b),
including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the
National Weather Service would be improved by additional observations.

c09c48d4ad5d17948afc14a6d4103606c4d0ebaa9088f861379c4e2651bb3d47

This title may be cited as the ``Tsunami Warning, Education, and
Research Act of 2017''.

903c9bd10c042367ab7e7290eb70a2dc1e66a66c48bbf854b0cb632677ae903f

Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of the 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; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).

71a1a8a59a240482339e0b2bacc324d6d0631a5c5ebc8395626fbfa81028b10d

ACT.
Section 803 (33 U.S.C. 3202) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``research,'' after
``warnings,'';
(2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) to enhance and modernize the existing United States
Tsunami Warning System to increase the accuracy of forecasts and
warnings, to ensure full coverage of tsunami threats to the United
States with a network of detection assets, and to reduce false
alarms;'';
(3) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) to improve and develop standards and guidelines for
mapping, modeling, and assessment efforts to improve tsunami
detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation,
resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;'';
(4) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs
(5), (6), and (8), respectively;
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) to improve research efforts related to improving tsunami
detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, mitigation,
resiliency, response, outreach, and recovery;'';
(6) in paragraph (5), as redesignated--
(A) by striking ``and increase'' and inserting ``,
increase, and develop uniform standards and guidelines for'';
and
(B) by inserting ``, including the warning signs of locally
generated tsunami'' after ``approaching'';
(7) in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by striking ``,
including the Indian Ocean; and'' and inserting a semicolon; and
(8) by inserting after paragraph (6), as redesignated, the
following:
``(7) to foster resilient communities in the face of tsunami
and other similar coastal hazards; and''.

e850f3667ff4bcd94039c5d8f954e6f75748117a0cbe88ffa68555e6caec1ab3

(a) In General.--Subsection (a) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(a))
is amended by striking ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of
Mexico region'' and inserting ``Atlantic Ocean region, including the
Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico''.
(b) Components.--Subsection (b) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(b))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``established'' and inserting
``supported or maintained'';
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as paragraphs
(8) through (10), respectively;
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as paragraphs
(3) through (7), respectively;
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 80
percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis buoy
array at operational capacity to optimize data reliability;''.
(5) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph
(3), to read as follows:
``(5) provide tsunami forecasting capability based on models
and measurements, including tsunami inundation models and maps for
use in increasing the preparedness of communities and safeguarding
port and harbor operations, that incorporate inputs, including--
``(A) the United States and global ocean and coastal
observing system;
``(B) the global Earth observing system;
``(C) the global seismic network;
``(D) the Advanced National Seismic system;
``(E) tsunami model validation using historical and
paleotsunami data;
``(F) digital elevation models and bathymetry; and
``(G) newly developing tsunami detection methodologies
using satellites and airborne remote sensing;'';
(6) by amending paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph
(3), to read as follows:
``(7) include a cooperative effort among the Administration,
the United States Geological Survey, and the National Science
Foundation under which the Director of the United States Geological
Survey and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall--
``(A) provide rapid and reliable seismic information to the
Administrator from international and domestic seismic networks;
and
``(B) support seismic stations installed before the date of
the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research
Act of 2017 to supplement coverage in areas of sparse
instrumentation;'';
(7) in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``, including graphical warning
products,'' after ``warnings'';
(B) by inserting ``, territories,'' after ``States''; and
(C) by inserting ``and Wireless Emergency Alerts'' after
``Hazards Program''; and
(8) in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``provide and'' before ``allow''; and
(B) by inserting ``and commercial and Federal undersea
communications cables'' after ``observing technologies''.
(c) Tsunami Warning System.--Subsection (c) of section 804 (33
U.S.C. 3203(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Tsunami Warning System.--The program under this section shall
operate a tsunami warning system that--
``(1) is capable of forecasting tsunami, including forecasting
tsunami arrival time and inundation estimates, anywhere in the
Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and providing adequate warnings;
``(2) is capable of forecasting and providing adequate
warnings, including tsunami arrival time and inundation models
where applicable, in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the
Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined--
``(A) to be geologically active, or to have significant
potential for geological activity; and
``(B) to pose significant risks of tsunami for States along
the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf
of Mexico; and
``(3) supports other international tsunami forecasting and
warning efforts.''.
(d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--Subsection (d) of section 804 (33
U.S.C. 3203(d)) is amended to read as follows:
``(d) Tsunami Warning Centers.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall support or maintain
centers to support the tsunami warning system required by
subsection (c). The Centers shall include--
``(A) the National Tsunami Warning Center, located in
Alaska, which is primarily responsible for Alaska and the
continental United States;
``(B) the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located in
Hawaii, which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the
Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not covered by the
National Center; and
``(C) any additional forecast and warning centers
determined by the National Weather Service to be necessary.
``(2) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the centers
supported or maintained under paragraph (1) shall include the
following:
``(A) Continuously monitoring data from seismological, deep
ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal monitoring stations and
other data sources as may be developed and deployed.
``(B) Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic
eruptions that have the potential to generate tsunami.
``(C) Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and tidal monitoring
stations for indications of tsunami resulting from earthquakes
and other sources.
``(D) To the extent practicable, utilizing a range of
models, including ensemble models, to predict tsunami,
including arrival times, flooding estimates, coastal and harbor
currents, and duration.
``(E) Using data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System
of the Administration in coordination with regional
associations to calculate new inundation estimates and
periodically update existing inundation estimates.
``(F) Disseminating forecasts and tsunami warning bulletins
to Federal, State, tribal, and local government officials and
the public.
``(G) Coordinating with the tsunami hazard mitigation
program conducted under section 805 to ensure ongoing sharing
of information between forecasters and emergency management
officials.
``(H) In coordination with the Commandant of the Coast
Guard and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, evaluating and recommending procedures for ports and
harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, including review of
readiness, response, and communication strategies, and data
sharing policies, to the maximum extent practicable.
``(I) Making data gathered under this Act and post-warning
analyses conducted by the National Weather Service or other
relevant Administration offices available to the public.
``(J) Integrating and modernizing the program operated
under this section with advances in tsunami science to improve
performance without compromising service.
``(3) Fail-safe warning capability.--The tsunami warning
centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1) shall maintain
a fail-safe warning capability and perform back-up duties for each
other.
``(4) Coordination with national weather service.--The
Administrator shall coordinate with the forecast offices of the
National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained under
paragraph (1), and such program offices of the Administration as
the Administrator or the coordinating committee, as established in
section 805(d), consider appropriate to ensure that regional and
local forecast offices--
``(A) have the technical knowledge and capability to
disseminate tsunami warnings for the communities they serve;
``(B) leverage connections with local emergency management
officials for optimally disseminating tsunami warnings and
forecasts; and
``(C) implement mass communication tools in effect on the
day before the date of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning,
Education, and Research Act of 2017 used by the National
Weather Service on such date and newer mass communication
technologies as they are developed as a part of the Weather-
Ready Nation program of the Administration, or otherwise, for
the purpose of timely and effective delivery of tsunami
warnings.
``(5) Uniform operating procedures.--The Administrator shall--
``(A) develop uniform operational procedures for the
centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), including
the use of software applications, checklists, decision support
tools, and tsunami warning products that have been standardized
across the program supported under this section;
``(B) ensure that processes and products of the warning
system operated under subsection (c)--
``(i) reflect industry best practices when practicable;
``(ii) conform to the maximum extent practicable with
internationally recognized standards for information
technology; and
``(iii) conform to the maximum extent practicable with
other warning products and practices of the National
Weather Service;
``(C) ensure that future adjustments to operational
protocols, processes, and warning products--
``(i) are made consistently across the warning system
operated under subsection (c); and
``(ii) are applied in a uniform manner across such
warning system;
``(D) establish a systematic method for information
technology product development to improve long-term technology
planning efforts; and
``(E) disseminate guidelines and metrics for evaluating and
improving tsunami forecast models.
``(6) Available resources.--The Administrator, through the
National Weather Service, shall ensure that resources are available
to fulfill the obligations of this Act. This includes ensuring
supercomputing resources are available to run, as rapidly as
possible, such computer models as are needed for purposes of the
tsunami warning system operated under subsection (c).''.
(e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--Subsection
(e) of section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203(e)) is amended to read as follows:
``(e) Transfer of Technology; Maintenance and Upgrades.--In
carrying out this section, the Administrator shall--
``(1) develop requirements for the equipment used to forecast
tsunami, including--
``(A) provisions for multipurpose detection platforms;
``(B) reliability and performance metrics; and
``(C) to the maximum extent practicable, requirements for
the integration of equipment with other United States and
global ocean and coastal observation systems, the global Earth
observing system of systems, the global seismic networks, and
the Advanced National Seismic System;
``(2) develop and execute a plan for the transfer of technology
from ongoing research conducted as part of the program supported or
maintained under section 6 into the program under this section; and
``(3) ensure that the Administration's operational tsunami
detection equipment is properly maintained.''.
(f) Federal Cooperation.--Subsection (f) of section 804 (33 U.S.C.
3203(f)) is amended to read as follows:
``(f) Federal Cooperation.--When deploying and maintaining tsunami
detection technologies under the program under this section, the
Administrator shall--
``(1) identify which assets of other Federal agencies are
necessary to support such program; and
``(2) work with each agency identified under paragraph (1)--
``(A) to acquire the agency's assistance; and
``(B) to prioritize the necessary assets in support of the
tsunami forecast and warning program.''.
(g) Unnecessary Provisions.--Section 804 (33 U.S.C. 3203) is
further amended--
(1) by striking subsection (g);
(2) by striking subsections (i) through (k); and
(3) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
(h) Congressional Notifications.--Subsection (g) of section 804 (33
U.S.C. 3203(g)), as redesignated by subsection (g)(3), is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs
(A) and (B), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to
the right;
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by
paragraph (2), by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Administrator'';
(3) in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph (2),
by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph (2),
by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) the occurrence of a significant tsunami warning.'';
and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Contents.--In a case in which notice is submitted under
paragraph (1) within 30 days of a significant tsunami warning
described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph, such notice shall
include, as appropriate, brief information and analysis of--
``(A) the accuracy of the tsunami model used;
``(B) the specific deep ocean or other monitoring equipment
that detected the incident, as well as the deep ocean or other
monitoring equipment that did not detect the incident due to
malfunction or other reasons;
``(C) the effectiveness of the warning communication,
including the dissemination of warnings with State, territory,
local, and tribal partners in the affected area under the
jurisdiction of the National Weather Service; and
``(D) such other findings as the Administrator considers
appropriate.''.

db45dcefecf330d6dbe10963b142080692e2de83c3f4200e74bc3fcfa96820ab

PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 805(a) (33 U.S.C. 3204(a)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(a) Program Required.--The Administrator, in coordination with
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the
heads of such other agencies as the Administrator considers relevant,
shall conduct a community-based tsunami hazard mitigation program to
improve tsunami preparedness and resiliency of at-risk areas in the
United States and the territories of the United States.''.
(b) National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program.--Section 805 (33
U.S.C. 3204) is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d) and
inserting the following:
``(c) Program Components.--The Program conducted under subsection
(a) shall include the following:
``(1) Technical and financial assistance to coastal States,
territories, tribes, and local governments to develop and implement
activities under this section.
``(2) Integration of tsunami preparedness and mitigation
programs into ongoing State-based hazard warning, resilience
planning, and risk management activities, including predisaster
planning, emergency response, evacuation planning, disaster
recovery, hazard mitigation, and community development and
redevelopment planning programs in affected areas.
``(3) Coordination with other Federal preparedness and
mitigation programs to leverage Federal investment, avoid
duplication, and maximize effort.
``(4) Activities to promote the adoption of tsunami resilience,
preparedness, warning, and mitigation measures by Federal, State,
territorial, tribal, and local governments and nongovernmental
entities, including educational and risk communication programs to
discourage development in high-risk areas.
``(5) Activities to support the development of regional tsunami
hazard and risk assessments. Such regional risk assessments may
include the following:
``(A) The sources, sizes, and other relevant historical
data of tsunami in the region, including paleotsunami data.
``(B) Inundation models and maps of critical infrastructure
and socioeconomic vulnerability in areas subject to tsunami
inundation.
``(C) Maps of evacuation areas and evacuation routes,
including, when appropriate, traffic studies that evaluate the
viability of evacuation routes.
``(D) Evaluations of the size of populations that will
require evacuation, including populations with special
evacuation needs.
``(E) Evaluations and technical assistance for vertical
evacuation structure planning for communities where models
indicate limited or no ability for timely evacuation,
especially in areas at risk of near shore generated tsunami.
``(F) Evaluation of at-risk ports and harbors.
``(G) Evaluation of the effect of tsunami currents on the
foundations of closely-spaced, coastal high-rise structures.
``(6) Activities to promote preparedness in at-risk ports and
harbors, including the following:
``(A) Evaluation and recommendation of procedures for ports
and harbors in the event of a distant or near-field tsunami.
``(B) A review of readiness, response, and communication
strategies to ensure coordination and data sharing with the
Coast Guard.
``(7) Activities to support the development of community-based
outreach and education programs to ensure community readiness and
resilience, including the following:
``(A) The development, implementation, and assessment of
technical training and public education programs, including
education programs that address unique characteristics of
distant and near-field tsunami.
``(B) The development of decision support tools.
``(C) The incorporation of social science research into
community readiness and resilience efforts.
``(D) The development of evidence-based education
guidelines.
``(8) Dissemination of guidelines and standards for community
planning, education, and training products, programs, and tools,
including--
``(A) standards for--
``(i) mapping products;
``(ii) inundation models; and
``(iii) effective emergency exercises; and
``(B) recommended guidance for at-risk port and harbor
tsunami warning, evacuation, and response procedures in
coordination with the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
``(d) Authorized Activities.--In addition to activities conducted
under subsection (c), the program conducted under subsection (a) may
include the following:
``(1) Multidisciplinary vulnerability assessment research,
education, and training to help integrate risk management and
resilience objectives with community development planning and
policies.
``(2) Risk management training for local officials and
community organizations to enhance understanding and preparedness.
``(3) In coordination with the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, interagency, Federal, State, tribal, and territorial
intergovernmental tsunami response exercise planning and
implementation in high risk areas.
``(4) Development of practical applications for existing or
emerging technologies, such as modeling, remote sensing, geospatial
technology, engineering, and observing systems, including the
integration of tsunami sensors into Federal and commercial
submarine telecommunication cables if practicable.
``(5) Risk management, risk assessment, and resilience data and
information services, including--
``(A) access to data and products derived from observing
and detection systems; and
``(B) development and maintenance of new integrated data
products to support risk management, risk assessment, and
resilience programs.
``(6) Risk notification systems that coordinate with and build
upon existing systems and actively engage decisionmakers, State,
local, tribal, and territorial governments and agencies, business
communities, nongovernmental organizations, and the media.
``(e) No Preemption With Respect to Designation of At-risk Areas.--
The establishment of national standards for inundation models under
this section shall not prevent States, territories, tribes, and local
governments from designating additional areas as being at risk based on
knowledge of local conditions.
``(f) No New Regulatory Authority.--Nothing in this Act may be
construed as establishing new regulatory authority for any Federal
agency.''.
(c) Report on Accreditation of TsunamiReady Program.--Not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives a report on which authorities and
activities would be needed to have the TsunamiReady program of the
National Weather Service accredited by the Emergency Management
Accreditation Program.

c956dfda59dcf02d2172c602b7f9661722b8c4e425e7a8156abac55ed451ce7c

Section 806 (33 U.S.C. 3205) is amended--
(1) in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking ``The
Administrator shall'' and all that follows through ``establish or
maintain'' and inserting the following:
``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall, in consultation with
such other Federal agencies, State, tribal, and territorial
governments, and academic institutions as the Administrator considers
appropriate, the coordinating committee under section 805(d), and the
panel under section 808(a), support or maintain'';
(2) in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1), by
striking ``and assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical
forecast modeling. Such research program shall--'' and inserting
the following: ``assessment for tsunami tracking and numerical
forecast modeling, and standards development.
``(b) Responsibilities.--The research program supported or
maintained under subsection (a) shall--''; and
(3) in subsection (b), as designated by paragraph (2)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) consider other appropriate and cost effective solutions
to mitigate the impact of tsunami, including the improvement of
near-field and distant tsunami detection and forecasting
capabilities, which may include use of a new generation of the
Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis array, integration
of tsunami sensors into commercial and Federal telecommunications
cables, and other real-time tsunami monitoring systems and
supercomputer capacity of the Administration to develop a rapid
tsunami forecast for all United States coastlines;'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``include'' and inserting ``conduct'';
and
(ii) by striking ``and'' at the end;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5);
(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) develop the technical basis for validation of tsunami
maps, numerical tsunami models, digital elevation models, and
forecasts; and''; and
(E) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (C),
by striking ``to the scientific community'' and inserting ``to
the public and the scientific community''.

aebab62a5511611f26f7f78f12a3f645692a577a506021a12a5394a25c88df3f

Section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Support for Development of an International Tsunami Warning
System.--The Administrator shall, in coordination with the Secretary of
State and in consultation with such other agencies as the Administrator
considers relevant, provide technical assistance, operational support,
and training to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the
World Meteorological Organization of the United Nations, and such other
international entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, as
part of the international efforts to develop a fully functional global
tsunami forecast and warning system comprised of regional tsunami
warning networks.'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shall'' each place it
appears and inserting ``may''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``establishing'' and
inserting ``supporting''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``establish'' and inserting
``support''; and
(ii) by striking ``establishing'' and inserting
``supporting''.

3467ead166fa6bb2f117790aeb4979ce1ed07dc6cfc2ce48255b43733e764375

(a) In General.--The Act is further amended--
(1) by redesignating section 808 (33 U.S.C. 3207) as section
809; and
(2) by inserting after section 807 (33 U.S.C. 3206) the
following:
``SEC. 808. TSUNAMI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY PANEL.
``(a) Designation.--The Administrator shall designate an existing
working group within the Science Advisory Board of the Administration
to serve as the Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel to
provide advice to the Administrator on matters regarding tsunami
science, technology, and regional preparedness.
``(b) Membership.--
``(1) Composition.--The Panel shall be composed of no fewer
than 7 members selected by the Administrator from among individuals
from academia or State agencies who have academic or practical
expertise in physical sciences, social sciences, information
technology, coastal resilience, emergency management, or such other
disciplines as the Administrator considers appropriate.
``(2) Federal employment.--No member of the Panel may be a
Federal employee.
``(c) Responsibilities.--Not less frequently than once every 4
years, the Panel shall--
``(1) review the activities of the Administration, and other
Federal activities as appropriate, relating to tsunami research,
detection, forecasting, warning, mitigation, resiliency, and
preparation; and
``(2) submit to the Administrator and such others as the
Administrator considers appropriate--
``(A) the findings of the working group with respect to the
most recent review conducted under paragraph (1); and
``(B) such recommendations for legislative or
administrative action as the working group considers
appropriate to improve Federal tsunami research, detection,
forecasting, warning, mitigation, resiliency, and preparation.
``(d) Reports to Congress.--Not less frequently than once every 4
years, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report
on the findings and recommendations received by the Administrator under
subsection (c)(2).''.
(b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The 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 808 and inserting the
following:
``Sec. 808. Tsunami Science and Technology Advisory Panel.
``Sec. 809. Authorization of appropriations.''.

cb0f5d1751b872d36b6d099a73fabc2540cd5927651244856541a3658cc42cc2

(a) Report on Implementation of Tsunami Warning and Education
Act.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration shall submit to Congress a report on
the implementation of 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; 33
U.S.C. 3201 et seq.), as amended by this Act.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A detailed description of the progress made in
implementing sections 804(d)(6), 805(b), and 806(b)(4) of the
Tsunami Warning and Education Act the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (Public
Law 109-479; 33 U.S.C. 3201 et seq.).
(B) A description of the ways that tsunami warnings and
warning products issued by the Tsunami Forecasting and Warning
Program established under section 804 of the Tsunami Warning
and Education Act (33 U.S.C. 3203), as amended by this Act, may
be standardized and streamlined with warnings and warning
products for hurricanes, coastal storms, and other coastal
flooding events.
(b) Report on National Efforts That Support Rapid Response
Following Near-shore Tsunami Events.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary of
Homeland Security shall jointly, in coordination with the Director
of the United States Geological Survey, Administrator of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Chief of the National
Guard Bureau, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as the
Administrator considers appropriate, submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the national efforts in effect
on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act that
support and facilitate rapid emergency response following a
domestic near-shore tsunami event to better understand domestic
effects of earthquake derived tsunami on people, infrastructure,
and communities in the United States.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A description of scientific or other measurements
collected on the day before the date of the enactment of this
Act to quickly identify and quantify lost or degraded
infrastructure or terrestrial formations.
(B) A description of scientific or other measurements that
would be necessary to collect to quickly identify and quantify
lost or degraded infrastructure or terrestrial formations.
(C) Identification and evaluation of Federal, State, local,
tribal, territorial, and military first responder and search
and rescue operation centers, bases, and other facilities as
well as other critical response assets and infrastructure,
including search and rescue aircraft, located within near-shore
and distant tsunami inundation areas on the day before the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(D) An evaluation of near-shore tsunami response plans in
areas described in subparagraph (C) in effect on the day before
the date of the enactment of this Act, and how those response
plans would be affected by the loss of search and rescue and
first responder infrastructure described in such subparagraph.
(E) A description of redevelopment plans and reports in
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act
for communities in areas that are at high-risk for near-shore
tsunami, as well identification of States or communities that
do not have redevelopment plans.
(F) Recommendations to enhance near-shore tsunami
preparedness and response plans, including recommended
responder exercises, predisaster planning, and mitigation
needs.
(G) Such other data and analysis information as the
Administrator and the Secretary of Homeland Security consider
appropriate.
(3) Appropriate committees of congress.--In this subsection,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the
Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives.

a7808ab7c1593cd5458d1482e251356172cc81593bd74e5f19c380bc5cd2e99e

Section 809 of the Act, as redesignated by section _08(a)(1) of
this Act, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) $25,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021,
of which--
``(A) not less than 27 percent of the amount appropriated
for each fiscal year shall be for activities conducted at the
State level under the tsunami hazard mitigation program under
section 805; and
``(B) not less than 8 percent of the amount appropriated
shall be for the tsunami research program under section 806.''.

1cf0165a662d9e9a3ecb3ba3167a29dee1ee52b6b66d98b9ea2800665ed09d26

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, in coordination with State and local emergency
managers, shall develop and carry out formal outreach activities to
improve tsunami education and awareness and foster the development of
resilient communities. Outreach activities may include--
(1) the development of outreach plans to ensure the close
integration of tsunami warning centers supported or maintained
under section 804(d) of the Tsunami Warning and Education Act (33
U.S.C. 3203(d)), as amended by this Act, with local Weather
Forecast Offices of the National Weather Service and emergency
managers;
(2) working with appropriate local Weather Forecast Offices to
ensure they have the technical knowledge and capability to
disseminate tsunami warnings to the communities they serve; and
(3) evaluating the effectiveness of warnings and of
coordination with local Weather Forecast Offices after significant
tsunami events.

76159acc5242806e170b6bbd98bdd65eee24620489a6bec80a7dd8b81e3ea678

(a) Repeal.--The Tsunami Warning and Education Act enacted by
Public Law 109-424 (120 Stat. 2902) is repealed.
(b) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to
repeal, or affect in any way, 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; 33 U.S.C.
3201 et seq.).
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.

b6af4d3e41a8fb08cda6e43e7725d93dd62fcfe159f53d8bfdf3199006a242e9

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017

Other Sections

TITLE III

TITLE IV

TITLE V

TITLE I

TITLE II

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