Opening Statement: 

Chairman Brian Babin

Full Committee Markup of:

H.R. 5089, Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 - Favorably reported to the House by voice vote 

Improves the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather research, supports advancements in weather forecasting and prediction, and expands commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data.

Expands NOAA's tornado research to prioritize research on evolving tornado threats.

Maintains the NOAA NASA partnership for the development of weather satellites.

Prohibits the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research from procuring drones from adversarial nations and requires the Assistant Administrator to submit a report within one year detailing how they will comply with this prohibition.

Requires that priority be given to programs, projects, or activities that directly benefit communities most affected by harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events.

Adds research into rip current forecasts as a priority of the Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Forecast Improvement Program.

Requires the Director of the National Weather Service to provide guidance for and ensure adequate staffing of each Central Weather Service Unit in future interagency agreements.

Establishes the National Integrated Heat Health Information System within NOAA and the National Integrated Heat Health Information System Interagency Committee to improve heat preparedness, planning, and response. Establishes financial assistance programs to address heat effects.

Re-inserting Section 211 (Artificial Intelligence for Weather Forecasting) from H.R. 3816 to H.R. 5089.

This amendment would direct the Under Secretary of Commerce to provide a briefing on ocean observation networks and programs.

Directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to conduct a project to improve forecasts of coastal marine fog. Increasing the number of marine-based observations through additional Federal platforms and commercially acquired observations in locations where impacts from marine fog and reduced visibility have major safety and economic impacts.