{"format":1,"id":"118-hr-6093","congress":118,"number":"H.R. 6093","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To improve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2023-10-26","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2024-04-30","vote":{"id":"118-2024-h158","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"Weather Act Reauthorization Act","result":"Passed","yea":394,"nay":19,"present":0,"not_voting":15,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll158.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.","date":"2024-05-01"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2024-04-30","stage":"Passed House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2023 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research."},{"k":"p","t":"For example, the bill reauthorizes through FY2028 programs that are administered by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the U.S. Weather Research Program. It also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA)."},{"k":"p","t":"The bill also requires NOAA to establish programs that support weather forecasting technology, including improvements to radar accuracy, weather forecasting in underserved areas, and coastal flooding forecasting. NOAA must also contract with the private sector to obtain weather-related data and establish a pilot program to test the compatibility of this data with NOAA infrastructure."},{"k":"p","t":"In addition, NOAA must improve weather-related communication systems, including those related to hazardous weather events, through system upgrades that use more modern technology (e.g., cloud-based services) and that allow for expanded coverage (e.g., in rural areas)."},{"k":"p","t":"Finally, NOAA must administer programs that support weather forecasting for agricultural and water management, including pilot programs to improve precipitation forecasts in the western and central states and a soil moisture monitoring network."}],"words":207},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends and reauthorizes the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 and related laws to set National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs, authorizations of appropriations and reporting requirements for weather research, forecasting, commercial data acquisition, public weather communication, and agriculture and water forecasting.","cites":[{"label":"Title I","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H38D6A597497B49E7AECAFF054479A920"},{"label":"Title II","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H3E5DB5CE015B492B82BE843C33CFAA7B"},{"label":"Title III","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H815FCC7FC113432E90244272CAE155C2"},{"label":"Title IV","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H6B28A0DE1B2047268C2003E9EEC310A2"},{"label":"Title V","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H3A238342C21B4E71B455E2CBBF8BFA7C"}]},"core_areas":["Weather research and forecast improvement programs (tornado, hurricane, atmospheric river, coastal flooding, precipitation)","Tsunami warning and harmful algal bloom laws","Weather radar, aviation weather and National Weather Service systems and workforce","Commercial weather data acquisition and data management","Public communication of hazardous weather or water events","Drought, mesonet, soil moisture and water forecasting for agriculture and water management"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Authorizes appropriations to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research of $155,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, rising to $161,294,000 for fiscal year 2028, with set amounts for weather laboratories, the United States Weather Research Program, tornado and radar research, and technology transfer.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 102","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H78A53A29E53F4F569780E2D1789A994D"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to maintain programs to improve tornado forecasts and warnings and hurricane forecasts and warnings, with grants for research and a review of the system used to rate tornado severity.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 103","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HC3E0D2916C374EDC8D46E91B4ABA506E"}},{"text":"Authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for the Tsunami Warning and Education Act, and amends that Act's requirements for the tsunami warning centers, alert level evaluation, and a tsunami research and development plan.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 105","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HD8CF9D2345CE4C9E99056AEEFE1933CA"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to develop a plan to replace the NEXRAD weather radar system, with replacement completed by September 30, 2040, and allows contracts with third parties to fill radar data voids.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 202","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H16D038F9FC4B4DAE85F0CAFCA82098B6"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program and a coastal flooding and storm surge forecast improvement program, each with a plan due within 180 days of enactment.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 204","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HA97B50F02ED34C49A3A43DCF93EEFF85"}},{"text":"Replaces the Commercial Data Program section with one requiring NOAA to acquire weather and environmental data and services from private sector entities, and authorizes $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 301","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HE642A0750D2449EA8645F4BC0BAB4043"}},{"text":"Rewrites the hazardous weather or water event risk communication section to require a program that simplifies and improves how NOAA communicates watches and warnings to the public.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 402","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H0EBA851286D04D7490A67CBADA415219"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to expand coverage of NOAA Weather Radio and upgrade its telecommunications infrastructure, and to complete an assessment of access to it within one year of enactment.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 405","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H0A21488AC91F41D887B3BEE47A04B3FA"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to establish at least two pilot projects for subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasts, for water management in the western United States and agriculture in the central United States, and authorizes $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 501","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H4689D5A02B864105A080E2D50C977325"}},{"text":"Requires the Under Secretary to maintain the National Mesonet Program and authorizes up to $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024, rising to $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 503","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H7A32DE5F94F24A93ACAD5D6C039A4F81"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"off_subject","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 113","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H6B24770739694C21894AA8CF6601801E"},"heading":"Ocean observations","effect":"Amends the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 to add a ships-of-opportunity pilot program for contracting with research or commercial ship operators to collect ocean and atmospheric data, ending no later than September 30, 2029.","amount":null,"quote":"maintain pilot programs or projects to contract with research or commercial ship operators for data collection"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 506","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H04E0B1E435AA4DA58B8A527D6A1899EA"},"heading":"Satellite transfers report","effect":"Requires the Secretary of Commerce to report within 180 days on authorities and policies for transferring weather satellite systems to other federal departments or agencies, including decommissioning processes and transfer plans.","amount":null,"quote":"a report describing the Department of Commerce’s authorities, policies, and Federal Government-wide policies related to transferring any portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of Commerce"}]},{"category":"narrow_beneficiary","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 116","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H629829F197A74B919411C78CC5688D79"},"heading":"Amendments to Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998","effect":"Lets the Secretary make agreements with water and irrigation districts located in the focus areas described in subsections (c) and (d) of a Water Resources Development Act of 2020 section for the use or sale of new algal bloom technologies.","amount":null,"quote":"the Secretary may enter into agreements with water and irrigation districts located in the focus areas described in subsections (c) and (d) for the use or sale of any new technologies"}]},{"category":"named_funding","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 207","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H3C04276A277A4983BB98223965EC3405"},"heading":"NESDIS joint venture partnership transition program","effect":"Authorizes $20,000,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 for the NESDIS joint venture partnership program and its transition program for satellite technologies, spacecraft and instrument designs.","amount":"$20,000,000","quote":"there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out to this section"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 404","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HC314775A9BD8445799FB135A5AD64DA3"},"heading":"National Weather Service communications improvement","effect":"Requires the National Weather Service to replace its instant messaging service known as NWSChat with a commercial off-the-shelf solution by October 1, 2027, and allocates up to $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027.","amount":"$3,000,000","quote":"implementing, not later than October 1, 2027, a commercial off-the-shelf communications solution that replaces the instant messaging service commonly referred to as “NWSChat”."},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 505","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-H81B02A3A4F874C639D4347D07449B113"},"heading":"National water center","effect":"Amends the national water center provisions of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 and authorizes $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out the section.","amount":"$46,000,000","quote":"There is authorized to be appropriated $46,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section."}]},{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 406","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh#toc-HA3777C8CF49242FE9E86241EEB0F470A"},"heading":"Post-storm surveys and assessments","effect":"Exempts the collection of information during post-storm surveys and assessments from the federal paperwork review requirements in subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code.","amount":null,"quote":"Subchapter I of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection of information during the conduct of a survey or assessment authorized under subsection (a)."}]}],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2024-04-30","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-02","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6093/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/118-hr-6093.png","v":"7666d0ebad26","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 6093, 118th Congress: Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023. House: 394 Yea, 19 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 30 Apr 2024."}}