H.R. 8846

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8846 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8846

To improve tornado detection, forecasting, warning dissemination, and 
community resilience, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2026

Mr. Bell introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To improve tornado detection, forecasting, warning dissemination, and 
community resilience, 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 ``Tornado Preparedness Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Tornadoes and severe storms pose a persistent and 
growing threat to communities across the United States, 
particularly in high-risk regions such as the Midwest and 
Southeast.
(2) In May 2025, a tornado in the St. Louis, Missouri 
metropolitan region resulted in significant damage and exposed 
critical failures in local emergency warning systems, including 
failures in siren activation and delays in public notification.
(3) A subsequent public report on the May 2025 St. Louis 
tornado identified breakdowns in emergency management 
coordination, unclear lines of authority for alert activation, 
and insufficient redundancy in warning systems.
(4) Recent tornado events across the United States have 
resulted in loss of life, destruction of homes and 
infrastructure, and long-term economic disruption.
(5) Advances in forecasting and detection technologies have 
improved warning capabilities, but gaps remain in providing 
timely, localized, and actionable alerts to the public.
(6) Many communities, including low-income and underserved 
areas, lack adequate access to storm shelters, resilient 
infrastructure, and reliable warning systems.
(7) Improving coordination between Federal, State, and 
local agencies is critical to ensuring effective tornado 
preparedness, warning dissemination, and response.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL TORNADO DETECTION AND WARNING IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

(a) In General.--The Administrator of NOAA, in coordination with 
the Administrator of FEMA, shall establish a program to improve tornado 
detection, forecasting, and warning capabilities.
(b) Program Elements.--The program established under subsection (a) 
shall include--
(1) investment in next-generation radar, satellite, and 
sensor technologies;
(2) development of advanced forecasting models, including 
the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning;
(3) expansion of localized, impact-based warning systems;
(4) improvements to warning systems; and
(5) integration of Federal forecasting capabilities into 
State and local emergency management systems.

SEC. 4. COMMUNITY TORNADO RESILIENCE GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--The Administrator of FEMA shall establish a 
program to award grants to State and local emergency management 
agencies to support tornado preparedness and resilience in high-risk 
areas.
(b) Eligible Uses.--Grants awarded under this section may be used 
for--
(1) construction or retrofitting of community storm 
shelters, including shelters located in schools, mobile home 
communities, and other high-risk locations;
(2) installation or modernization of warning systems;
(3) deployment of backup power for warning systems;
(4) development of local emergency preparedness plans and 
public education initiatives; and
(5) other projects determined appropriate by the 
Administrator to enhance tornado resilience.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall prioritize--
(1) communities with high tornado risk;
(2) underserved and low-income communities; and
(3) communities with limited access to existing warning 
systems or shelters.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

The Administrator of NOAA and the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall coordinate with State, local, Tribal, 
and territorial governments to improve tornado preparedness and 
response, including by--
(1) data sharing and integration of forecasting systems;
(2) joint planning for emergency response; and
(3) support for public education and outreach campaigns.

SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

(a) In General.--Upon implementation of this Act, the Administrator 
of NOAA, in coordination with the Administrator of FEMA, shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on such 
implementation.
(b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include a description of--
(1) any improvements in tornado detection and forecasting 
capabilities;
(2) the status of upgrades to warning systems;
(3) grants awarded under section 4, and how such grants 
have been used to support tornado preparedness and resilience;
(4) any remaining gaps in tornado preparedness and 
resilience; and
(5) any recommendations for further legislative or 
administrative action.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committees on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs, Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, and Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) FEMA.--The term ``FEMA'' means the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency.
(3) High-risk area.--The term ``high-risk area'' means a 
geographic area identified by the Administrator, in 
coordination with NOAA, as having a high frequency or elevated 
risk of tornado activity.
(4) NOAA.--The term ``NOAA'' means the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
<all>