Lucas Reintroduces Weather Act Reauthorization

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Lucas – former House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman – reintroduced comprehensive legislation to support substantial improvements in weather forecasting and prediction of high-impact weather events.

The Weather Act Reauthorization builds off the successful implementation of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, which President Trump signed into law in 2017. It not only reauthorizes critical research programs, but also establishes new programs to advance forecasting, expand commercial data partnerships, strengthen emergency preparedness, and advance tools for farmers, ranchers, and resource managers.

“Whether you work in Agriculture or on Main Street, weather conditions have an acute effect on all of us. From my time as the Science Committee Chairman to my time spent on the farm, I’ve seen firsthand that accurate and reliable weather forecasting is crucial for the day-to-day lives of Americans nationwide. This legislation will help citizens across the country, from telling us when to put rain boots on before work to when we need to shelter from a tornado,” said Congressman Frank D. Lucas. “It also bolsters our commercial partnerships and ensures the American weather enterprise continues to thrive as a dependable resource when critical weather events strike. Put simply, this is a necessary step in protecting lives and property throughout the United States in support of President Trump’s America First agenda.”

BACKGROUND:

Highlights of the Weather Act Reauthorization include:

• Improves severe weather forecasting by modernizing the critical research programs authorized by the 2017 Weather Act, including tornado warning capabilities and hurricane forecasting capacity.
• Supports cutting-edge forecasting by establishing new research and development programs related to the next generation of radar, atmospheric rivers, coastal flooding & storm surges, aviation weather, and more.
• Increases NOAA’s access to critical forecasting data by expanding its authority to contract with the private sector to acquire commercial weather data and codifying the Commercial Data Program to lead this work.
• Strengthens emergency preparedness by improving the communication of weather and water events to the public from critical warnings to emergency information.
• Provides farmers and ranchers better tools and services for agriculture and water management, including improvements to subseasonal to seasonal research and forecasting. 
• Authorizes the continuation of key public tools including the National Integrated Drought Information System, the National Mesonet Program, and the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network.

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