US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017

115th Congress · Approved Apr 18, 2017 · 131 Stat. 91

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,

SECTION 1. Short Title; Table of Contents.

(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:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I— UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT

Sec. 101. Public safety priority.

Sec. 102. Weather research and forecasting innovation.

Sec. 103. Tornado warning improvement and extension program.

Sec. 104. Hurricane forecast improvement program.

Sec. 105. Weather research and development planning.

Sec. 106. Observing system planning.

Sec. 107. Observing system simulation experiments.

Sec. 108. Annual report on computing resources prioritization.

Sec. 109. United States Weather Research program.

Sec. 110. Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE II— SUBSEASONAL AND SEASONAL FORECASTING INNOVATION

Sec. 201. Improving subseasonal and seasonal forecasts.

TITLE III— WEATHER SATELLITE AND DATA INNOVATION

Sec. 301. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite and data management.

Sec. 302. Commercial weather data.

Sec. 303. Unnecessary duplication.

TITLE IV— FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION

Sec. 401. Environmental Information Services Working Group.

Sec. 402. Interagency weather research and forecast innovation coordination.

Sec. 403. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Weather Service exchange program.

Sec. 404. Visiting fellows at National Weather Service.

Sec. 405. Warning coordination meteorologists at weather forecast offices of National Weather Service.

Sec. 406. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration communication of hazardous weather and water events.

Sec. 407. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program.

Sec. 408. Department of Defense weather forecasting activities.

Sec. 409. National Weather Service; operations and workforce analysis.

Sec. 410. Report on contract positions at National Weather Service.

Sec. 411. Weather impacts to communities and infrastructure.

Sec. 412. Weather enterprise outreach.

Sec. 413. Hurricane hunter aircraft.

Sec. 414. Study on gaps in NEXRAD coverage and recommendations to address such gaps.

TITLE V— TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2017

Sec. 501. Short title.

Sec. 502. References to the Tsunami Warning and Education Act.

Sec. 503. Expansion of purposes of Tsunami Warning and Education Act.

Sec. 504. Modification of tsunami forecasting and warning program.

Sec. 505. Modification of national tsunami hazard mitigation program.

Sec. 506. Modification of tsunami research program.

Sec. 507. Global tsunami warning and mitigation network.

Sec. 508. Tsunami science and technology advisory panel.

Sec. 509. Reports.

Sec. 510. Authorization of appropriations.

Sec. 511. Outreach responsibilities.

Sec. 512. Repeal of duplicate provisions of law.

SEC. 2. Definitions.

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.