H.R. 1115

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1115 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1115

To develop the next generation of weather radar, authorize supplemental 
gap radar coverage, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 7, 2025

Mr. Crawford (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To develop the next generation of weather radar, authorize supplemental 
gap radar coverage, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Radar Coverage Improvement 
Act''

SEC. 2. NEXT GENERATION PHASED ARRAY RADAR.

(a) In General.--The Under Secretary, in consultation with the 
Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a plan to 
replace the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather 
Service (``NEXRAD'') system in existence as of the date of the 
enactment of this section.
(b) Procurement Deadline.--The Under Secretary shall take such 
actions as may be necessary to ensure the replacement described in 
subsection (a) is completed by not later than September 30, 2040.
(c) Elements.--The plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
(1) Estimates of quantifiable improvements in coverage and 
accuracy to be made from replacement of the NEXRAD system 
referred to in such subsection.
(2) Development of a prototype digital phased array radar 
to test and determine the specifications and requirements for 
such replacement.
(3) Establishment of a weather surveillance phased array 
radar testbed for the following:
(A) Evaluation of commercial radars with the 
potential to replace or supplement the NEXRAD system.
(B) Providing technical assistance for the use of 
small, gap filling radars in regions where geographical 
topography prevents full utilization of larger systems.
(4) Consultation and input solicited from meteorologists, 
emergency managers, and public safety officials regarding the 
specifications and requirements for replacement of the NEXRAD 
system referred in such subsection.
(d) Radar-as-a-Service.--
(1) In general.--In order to supplement gaps in radar 
coverage in existence as of the date of the enactment of this 
section and ensure the continued performance of weather radar 
capabilities, the Director of the National Weather Service may 
utilize and contract with third party entities to fill such 
radar gaps using diverse weather radars and data assimilation 
technologies to better detect significant precipitation and 
severe weather over a greater area across the population.
(2) Priority.--In carrying out the activities under 
paragraph (1), the Director of the National Weather Service 
shall prioritize utilizing and contracting with third party 
entities that have participated in the testbed established in 
accordance with subsection (c)(3).
(3) Weather camera systems.--In carrying out the activities 
under paragraph (1), the Director of the National Weather 
Service may consider weather camera systems and services as 
viable technologies to supplement gaps in radar coverage.
(e) Updates to Congress.--The Under Secretary shall provide to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate periodic updates on the implementation of 
this section.
(f) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Under Secretary'' has 
the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501).
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