H.R. 5089

Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sponsor: Frank D. Lucas

26 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2025 or the Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes, revises, and establishes several programs related to weather forecasting, monitoring, and research. 

For example, the bill reauthorizes through FY2030 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).

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 acquire weather-related data from the private sector and establish a pilot program to test the compatibility of this data with NOAA infrastructure. 

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).

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. 

Text of the bill

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I Reauthorization of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017

Sec. 102. United States weather research and forecasting

Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:

Text this section adds to the law

110. Authorization of appropriations

(a) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title the following:

(1) $163,794,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which—

(A) $91,058,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;

(B) $39,491,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;

(C) $21,125,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and

(D) $12,120,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.

(2) $165,432,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which—

(A) $91,968,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;

(B) $39,866,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;

(C) $21,336,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and

(D) $12,241,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.

(3) $167,086,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which—

(A) $92,888,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;

(B) $40,285,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;

(C) $21,550,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and

(D) $12,364,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.

(4) $168,757,000 for fiscal year 2029, of which—

(A) $93,817,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;

(B) $40,688,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;

(C) $21,765,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and

(D) $12,487,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 102(b)(4) of this title.

(5) $170,444,000 for fiscal year 2030, of which—

(A) $94,755,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;

(B) $41,094,000 is authorized for the United States Weather Research Program;

(C) $21,983,000 is authorized for tornado, severe storm, and next generation radar research; and

(D) $12,612,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in section 8512(b)(4) of this title.

(b) Limitation. No additional funds are authorized to carry out this title or the amendments made by this title.

II Enhancing Federal Weather Forecasting and Innovation

III Commercial Weather and Environmental Observations

IV Communicating Weather to the Public

V Improving Weather Information for Agriculture and Water Management