Farmer's Almanac of Bills for the National Weather Service

See the information below, shared by Steve Myers, for a series of bills that have been introduced reference weather forecasting. 

 

The "Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act," or H.R. 1561, aims to prioritize weather research in a way that improves weather data, warnings and forecasts. It is a bipartisan effort, led by Reps. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.).


The Senate passed a version with amendments from Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). The changes were not immediately clear, though Thune has authored a separate bill that similarly emphasizes weather research with an eye toward "seasonal forecasts" that can help agriculture and other industries better prepare.


The House passed H.R. 1561 more than one year ago. Bonamici has said that it fosters a "closer collaboration between research and forecasting," and lawmakers have expressed hope that it could lead to earlier warnings for tornadoes and other severe weather (Greenwire, March 25).
"The changes in this bill will make NOAA more forward-looking in developing and deploying forecast innovations and technology," Bonamici said last year. "For farmers or residents living in areas prone to severe weather events, it will help them prepare for potentially damaging weather."
The Senate also passed a second, more narrowly focused, weather bill yesterday: S. 2058.


The "Metropolitan Weather Hazards Protection Act" requires Doppler radar sites within 55 miles of all cities with populations of 700,000 or more. Written by North Carolina Republican Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, it ensures that Charlotte, N.C., gets better radar coverage (E&E Daily, Dec. 7, 2015). The bill also directs NWS to consider installing radars in counties that don't have adequate radar coverage below 10,000 feet. [I guess this keeps it from being an earmark]