30/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 30/04/2024 17:38
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6093, The Weather Act Reauthorization. Introduced by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and cosponsored by 29 Republican and Democratic members, the bill ensures that the U.S. weather enterprise is at the forefront of accurate and reliable weather forecasting, modeling, and prediction.
H.R. 6093 was crafted with significant input from stakeholders nationwide and has over 50 letters of support. The Reauthorization includes provisions from 20 different standalone bills and touches on the interests of 63 bipartisan members who cosponsored those bills.
"I cannot stress enough how crucial it is to invest in our country's weather system. The tornadoes that occurred over the weekend serve as a reminder of the need for early and accurate forecasting of severe weather. And it's not only in emergencies but also in our daily routines, from deciding what to wear in the morning to efficiently planning when to plant crops," Chairman Lucas said. "H.R. 6093 builds upon the successes of the Weather Act of 2017 while continuing to advance new research and development programs. The bill will increase NOAA's access to critical commercial forecasting data and strengthen emergency preparedness to ensure communities across the country have timely and useful information to prepare for high-impact weather events. I want to thank Ranking Member Lofgren, my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and our valuable stakeholders for supporting this critical piece of legislation. I am proud to lead another comprehensive weather bill that will undoubtedly impact every American."
Highlights of the Weather Act Reauthorization include:
Read the Executive Summary, Section by Section, and Fact Sheet.