Bill > S1523

This bill modifies the operations of the National Water Center (NWC) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by expanding its role and responsibilities. Specifically, the bill establishes the NWC within the Office of Water Prediction of the National Weather Service and tasks it with leading the federal government's water research transition into operational capabilities. The bill designates the NWC as the primary center for water research and forecast activities, requiring coordination across multiple federal agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Geological Survey, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. It also requires the NOAA Under Secretary to use the Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System to support advanced water resources modeling and incorporate these capabilities into a unified forecast system. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Under Secretary supervise River Forecast Centers, coordinate their operations with the National Water Center, and manage the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology. The bill authorizes funding for these expanded activities for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, representing a significant effort to improve water prediction and research capabilities at the federal level.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1523/all-info