,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ghac ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #e1 #bjbf,mr4 ,babin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,flood1 ,mr4 ,sorensen1 ,mrs4 ,bice1 and ,mr4 ,amo7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag to require the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere to expand and modernize the weather radio system of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,noaa ,weather ,radio ,modernization ,act4 #b4 ,,noaa ,weather ,radio 7a7 ,in general ,the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #heja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new title3 ,,vii ,,noaa ,weather ,radio #gja4 ,,noaa ,weather ,radio 7a7 ,in general ,the ,under ,secretary shall establish or maintain a nationwide weather radio network1 to be known as ,,noaa ,weather ,radio1 that-- 7#a7 broadcasts weather information1 including emergency weather watches1 warnings1 geological hazards1 and other hazard information2 7#b7 operates #bd hours a day1 #g days a week2 and 7#c7 is resilient to emergency hazards1 such as loss of power and cellular service4 7b7 ,coverage and reliability ,the ,under ,secretary shall ensure the reliability of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio by-- 7#a7 maintaining support for existing systems before new technologies are implemented1 especially such systems that serve areas not covered by or having poor quality cellular service2 and 7#b7 ensuring consistent maintenance and operations monitoring1 with timely repairs to broadcast transmitter site equipment and antennas4 7c7 ,modernization initiative 7#a7 ,in general ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,under ,secretary shall expand the coverage of and modernize ,,noaa ,weather ,radio to ensure it remains valuable to the public1 including by-- 7,a7 improving those methods of communicating the risks posed by hazardous weather events to the public that are most likely to result in informed decision-making regarding the mitigation of such risks2 7,b7 improving communication of hazardous weather warnings and the urgency of such warnings1 including to areas that experience a high frequency of such warnings2 7,c7 enhancing the ability to amplify non-weather emergency messages for the integrated public alert and warning system 7,,ipaws7 under section #agef of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cbao-#a7 through ,,noaa ,weather ,radio1 as necessary2 7,d7 acquiring additional transmitters1 as determined appropriate1 to expand coverage to-- 7i7 areas at high risk for rapid onset weather disasters that require short-fuse warnings2 7ii7 communities without-- 7,i7 broadband internet access service 7as such term is defined in section #h4a7;b7 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation771 and as depicted by a map created pursuant to section #hjb7;c77#a77;,c7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fdb7;c77#a77;,c772 7,,ii7 ,state or local emergency warning systems2 or 7,,iii7 satellite coverage2 and 7iii7 ,federal lands1 such as land in the ,national ,park ,system or the ,national ,forest ,system and ,national ,recreation ,areas2 7,e7 adding the capability to disseminate ,,noaa ,weather ,radio alerts-- 7i7 by satellite2 or 7ii7 through-- 7,i7 common internet protocols1 such as the ,cloud2 or 7,,ii7 other emerging technologies that satisfy the intent of this section4 7,f7 conducting research and development to modernize geographically specific warnings4 7#b7 ,elements ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,under ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 upgrade telecommunications infrastructure of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio to accelerate the transition of broadcasts to internet protocol-based communications over non-copper media2 7,b7 accelerate software upgrades to the ,advanced ,weather ,interactive ,processing ,system1 or any relevant system successors1 in order to implement partial county notifications and alerts2 7,c7 enhance accessibility and usability of data and feeds of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio with feedback from relevant stakeholders1 including the private sector2 7,d7 develop options1 including satellite backup capability and commercial provider partnerships1 for continuity of service of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio in the event of an outage at a weather forecast office2 7,e7 research and develop alternative options1 including microwave capabilities1 to transmit ,,noaa ,weather ,radio signals to transmitters that are remote or do not have internet protocol capability2 7,f7 transition critical applications to the ,integrated ,dissemination ,program1 or any relevant program successors2 and 7,g7 work with the ,general ,services ,administration1 and other relevant agencies1 to develop new1 alternative1 or updated expedited mechanisms to secure priority space capacity1 such as leased land and tower space1 for ,,noaa ,weather ,radio critical infrastructure1 including transmitters and antennas1 that are best suited for the national security and public safety missions of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio4 7#c7 ,priority ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,under ,secretary shall prioritize practices1 capabilities1 and technologies recommended in accordance with the assessment under subsection 7d7 to maximize the accessibility of ,,noaa ,weather ,radio1 particularly in areas of the ,united ,states described in subparagraph 7,d77i7 of such paragraph4 7d7 ,assessment for management and distribution 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,under ,secretary shall complete an assessment of access to ,,noaa ,weather ,radio4 7#b7 ,elements ,in conducting the assessment required under paragraph 7#a71 the ,under ,secretary shall take into consideration and provide to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate recommendations regarding the following3 7,a7 ,input from relevant stakeholders within the weather enterprise1 including third-party platforms that provide online services1 such as websites and mobile device applications4 7,b7 ,the manner by which existing or new ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration management systems may promote consistent1 efficient1 and compatible access to ,,noaa ,weather ,radio4 7,c7 ,the ability of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration to aggregate real-time broadcast feeds at one or more central locations1 as a redundancy to the broadcast feed from the nearest weather forecast office4 7,d7 ,effective coordination between agencies with responsibilities relating to emergencies and natural disasters4 7,e7 ,the potential effects of an electromagnetic pulse or geomagnetic disturbance on ,,noaa ,weather ,radio4 7e7 ,definition ,in this section3 7#a7 ,geological hazard ,the term geological hazard means a tsunami1 forest fire1 mudflow1 volcanic eruption1 volcanic ash1 landslide1 geomagnetic storm1 or other similar such hazard4 7#b7 ,short-fuse warning ,the term short-fuse warning means a warning relating to a tornado1 severe thunderstorm1 or flash flood4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,under ,secretary-- 7#a7 for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca1 #bj1jjj1jjj to operate ,,noaa ,weather ,radio under subsections 7a7 and 7b72 and 7#b7 for fiscal year #bjbf1 #ajj1jjj1jjj1 which shall remain available until expended1 to carry out subsections 7c7 and 7d74 4 7b7 ,weather ready all hazards award program ,section #djg of the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #hedf7 is-- 7#a7 transferred to title ,,vii of such ,act1 as added by subsection 7a72 7#b7 inserted after section #gja of such ,act1 as added by subsection 7a72 and 7#c7 redesignated as section #gjb4 7c7 ,clerical amendments ,the table of contents for the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the item relating to section #djg2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new items3 ,title ,,vii--,,noaa ,weather ,radio ,sec4 #gja4 ,,noaa ,weather ,radio4 ,sec4 #gjb4 ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration ,weather ,ready ,all ,hazards ,award ,program4 4 #c4 ,national standards for weather warning systems in flash flood zones 7a7 ,in general ,the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,standards and ,technology1 in consultation with the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 may support the development of standards for flash flood emergency alert systems with respect to a #ajj-year floodplain 7as such term is defined in section #ajjbjb7;a7 of the ,biggert-,waters ,flood ,insurance ,reform ,act of #bjab 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #djjd7;a7774 7b7 ,requirements ,if the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,standards and ,technology supports the development of standards under subsection 7a71 the ,under ,secretary shall ensure that such standards-- 7#a7 meet the needs of communities without-- 7,a7 broadband internet access service 7as such term is defined in section #h4a7;b7 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation77 and as depicted by a map created pursuant to section #hjb7;c77#a77;,c7 of the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #fdb7;c77#a77;,c772 7,b7 ,state or local emergency warning systems2 or 7,c7 satellite coverage2 and 7#b7 will result in reliable flash flood emergency alert systems with respect to a #ajj-year floodplain referred to in subsection 7a71 especially during hazardous events4 7c7 ,report required ,if the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,standards and ,technology supports the development of standards under subsection 7a71 the ,under ,secretary shall1 not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 submit to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report that includes a summary of such standards4 #d4 ,classification of and staffing plan for employees 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iv of the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #heda et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #djf the following new section3 #djg4 ,classification of and staffing plan for employees 7a7 ,classification of certain employees 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,under ,secretary shall coordinate with the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget to categorize each position in the ,national ,oceanographic and ,atmospheric ,administration specified in paragraph 7#b7 as a protective service occupation under the ,standard ,occupational ,classification ,system4 7#b7 ,positions specified ,the positions specified in this paragraph are the following occupational positions in the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 as defined by the ,director of the ,office of ,personnel ,management3 7,a7 ,meteorology ,series 7#acdj74 7,b7 ,hydrology ,series 7#acae74 7,c7 ,general ,physical ,science ,series 7#acja74 7,d7 ,electronics ,technical ,series 7#jhef74 7,e7 ,information ,technology ,management ,series 7,,gs-#bbaj74 7#c7 ,requirements relating to staffing changes ,the ,under ,secretary may not carry out any staffing change in any of the occupational positions specified in paragraph 7#b7 unless-- 7,a7 a period of #cj days has passed after the receipt by the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate of a report by the ,under ,secretary containing a description of the staffing change proposed to be taken and the facts and circumstances relied upon in support of such staffing change2 or 7,b7 each such committee before the expiration of such period has transmitted to the ,under ,secretary written notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to such proposed staffing change4 7b7 ,five-year staffing plan for the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a five-year staffing plan for-- 7#a7 the ,national ,weather ,service2 and 7#b7 any positions within the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration that support forecasts and warnings to protect human life and property1 including positions that involve-- 7,a7 collection of data for incorporation into watches and warnings2 7,b7 operation and maintenance of equipment for collection of data described in subparagraph 7,a72 7,c7 maintenance of information technology systems2 7,d7 modeling for forecasts and warnings2 and 7,e7 research to improve forecasts1 warnings1 and communication of such warnings to better protect human life and property4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents for the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #djf the following new item3 ,sec4 #djg4 ,classification of and staffing plan for employee4 4 #e4 ,staffing for positions of public safety at the ,national ,weather ,service 7a7 ,assessment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,weather ,service shall submit to the ,under ,secretary of ,commerce for ,oceans and ,atmosphere1 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives1 and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate an assessment of the critical staffing needs of the ,national ,weather ,service1 including the needs of every ,weather ,forecast ,office and every ,center ,weather ,service ,unit4 7#b7 ,elements ,the assessment under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following elements3 7,a7 ,the number and corresponding occupational series of employees needed to fully staff each ,weather ,forecast ,office and ,center ,weather ,service ,unit of the ,national ,weather ,service that maximize efficiency while considering the following3 7i7 ,safety4 7ii7 ,morale4 7iii7 ,changing seasonal needs4 7iv7 ,forecasting complexity of the geographical area at issue4 7,b7 ,historical staffing needs versus historical vacancies for each such ,weather ,forecast ,office and ,center ,weather ,service ,unit4 7b7 ,direct hire authority 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director of the ,national ,weather ,service may appoint1 without regard to sections #ccjh through #ccai1 #ccbg1 and #cccj of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 qualified candidates to any of the following positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and fill vacancies determined in accordance with the assessment under subsection 7a73 7,a7 ,employees performing public safety mission functions1 including the following3 7i7 ,meteorologists 7classification series #acdj74 7ii7 ,hydrologists 7classification series #acae74 7iii7 ,general physical scientists 7classification series #acja74 7iv7 ,computer specialists 7classification series #bbaj74 7v7 ,electronic technicians 7classification series #jhef74 7,b7 ,other positions for which primary responsibilities include equipment operations1 maintenance1 analysis1 information technology1 or engineering4 7#b7 ,sunset ,the authority under paragraph 7#a7 shall expire on the date on which all positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and vacancies under such paragraph have been filled4