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This bill authorizes $120 million (for 2016 and 2017 respectively) to improve forecasting of severe weather events. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would be responsible for improving forecasting and for managing other related programs and research.

First, the bill tasks the Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) with running a program to increase public understanding and response to weather forecasts and warnings. The program would study things like how people currently interpret and use forecasts. It would also research how to improve and more widely distribute new forecast technology. A working group to improve the NOAA's forecasting ability would also be created.

Programs to improve and expand tornado and hurricane warning systems would be developed. It also charges the Assistant Administrator for OAR with coming up with a research plan every six months, while the the NOAA’s Chief Information Officer would have to make a report on how their agency will use technological advancements to improve forecasts. Meanwhile, the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere reevaluate what scientists observe to make forecasts.

The bill also amends existing law so that commercial providers can buy weather information from U.S. satellites, or place their own weather-detecting equipment on U.S. satellites. Accordingly, the Secretary of Commerce will give the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategy on public-private cooperation in spreading weather data.

Finally, there are several measures within this bill aimed at increasing coordination between agencies. They include an employee exchange between NWS and OAR, a postdoctoral fellow program at NWS and Inter-agency Committee for Advancing Weather Services, which the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy will establish in order to share weather information among scientific agencies.

","official_title":"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.","short_title":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2016","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015\n\n(Sec. 2) This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize weather research to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.\n\n(Sec. 3) NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) must conduct a program to develop an improved understanding of forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their impacts, with priority given to the development of more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.\n\nIn carrying out the program, the OAR must collaborate with and support the nonfederal weather research community by making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Congress urges that at least 30% of the funds authorized for research and development be made available for this purpose.\n\n(Sec...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $240 million over the 2016-2020 period. ","impact":"The National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, people who want to know what it’s like outside.","argument_for":"This bill orders a slew of studies and reports on weather to ensure that U.S. scientists are predicting the weather and disseminating information as quickly and accurately as possible. Forecasts are necessary for safety, industry, defense, and infrastructure — fund it.","argument_against":"This bill orders the National Weather Service and the Office of Atmospheric Research to jump through a bunch of hoops, in addition to their regular jobs. Should our forecasting system be improved? Sure. Does what we have now work? Yes. 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Does the U.S. Need to Improve its Weather Forecasting Systems?