Bill > S1958

This bill, known as the FORECAST Act (Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions And Storm Tracking Act), requires the Secretary of Commerce to exempt certain critical National Weather Service (NWS) positions from federal government hiring freezes. Specifically, the bill mandates that positions in meteorology (job series 1340), hydrology (job series 1315), and electronics technician (job series 856) cannot be subject to hiring freezes because these roles are essential for public safety, including issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment, and protecting life and property from weather-related hazards. The Secretary must implement this exemption within 30 days of the Act's enactment and submit annual reports to Congress about staffing levels in these positions. Additionally, the bill has a retroactive provision that would reinstate any job offers rescinded for these positions on or after January 20, 2025. By ensuring continuous staffing in these critical NWS roles, the bill aims to maintain the agency's ability to provide timely and accurate weather-related safety information to the public.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1958/all-info