Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 3771
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 3771Science, Technology, Communications
Protecting Coasts and Cities from Severe Weather Act
INTRO JUN 5· LAST ACTION JUN 5
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because severe weather events, especially coastal flooding and storm surges, are becoming more frequent and intense, threatening lives, homes, and critical infrastructure. Better forecasts mean communities can evacuate more effectively, protect property, and allocate resources more efficiently, reducing economic damage and loss of life. If this bill becomes law, we could see earlier and more precise warnings for coastal residents, allowing them to prepare better for events like hurricanes and even everyday high-tide flooding.
Currently, many areas lack sufficient weather observation, leading to gaps in forecast accuracy and decision-making capabilities during emergencies. This bill seeks to fill those gaps and improve the tools available to local officials and first responders. Without this bill, improvements to weather forecasting and observation in vulnerable areas might be slower and less coordinated, leaving communities more exposed to the devastating impacts of severe coastal weather.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Establishes a "Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Forecast Improvement Program" at NOAA to develop more accurate and actionable warnings.
This centralizes efforts to protect lives and property from increasingly frequent and severe coastal weather events.
PROVISION 02
Prioritizes using advanced technologies like sensors, machine learning, and uncrewed systems to enhance predictions.
Integrating modern technology can significantly improve forecast accuracy and lead times.
PROVISION 03
Directs NOAA, National Weather Service, and FEMA to identify and improve weather observations in currently under-observed and highly vulnerable regions.
Closing "data voids" in critical areas means more reliable local forecasts and better emergency preparedness where it's most needed.
PROVISION 04
Requires the establishment of pilot projects for interagency collaboration to use localized weather data for infrastructure and emergency management decisions.
This ensures practical application of improved data, directly aiding critical infrastructure protection and emergency response.
PROVISION 05
Mandates a program plan within 180 days detailing research, development, and data activities, followed by annual budget submissions to Congress.
This creates accountability and a clear roadmap for the program's implementation and funding.
This bill matters because severe weather events, especially coastal flooding and storm surges, are becoming more frequent and intense, threatening lives, homes, and critical infrastructure. Better forecasts mean communities can evacuate more effectively, protect property, and allocate resources more efficiently, reducing economic damage and loss of life. If this bill becomes law, we could see earlier and more precise warnings for coastal residents, allowing them to prepare better for events like hurricanes and even everyday high-tide flooding.
Currently, many areas lack sufficient weather observation, leading to gaps in forecast accuracy and decision-making capabilities during emergencies. This bill seeks to fill those gaps and improve the tools available to local officials and first responders. Without this bill, improvements to weather forecasting and observation in vulnerable areas might be slower and less coordinated, leaving communities more exposed to the devastating impacts of severe coastal weather.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Establishes a "Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge Forecast Improvement Program" at NOAA to develop more accurate and actionable warnings.
This centralizes efforts to protect lives and property from increasingly frequent and severe coastal weather events.
high
Prioritizes using advanced technologies like sensors, machine learning, and uncrewed systems to enhance predictions.
Integrating modern technology can significantly improve forecast accuracy and lead times.
high
Directs NOAA, National Weather Service, and FEMA to identify and improve weather observations in currently under-observed and highly vulnerable regions.
Closing "data voids" in critical areas means more reliable local forecasts and better emergency preparedness where it's most needed.
med
Requires the establishment of pilot projects for interagency collaboration to use localized weather data for infrastructure and emergency management decisions.
This ensures practical application of improved data, directly aiding critical infrastructure protection and emergency response.
med
Mandates a program plan within 180 days detailing research, development, and data activities, followed by annual budget submissions to Congress.
This creates accountability and a clear roadmap for the program's implementation and funding.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act
Under Secretary shall develop a plan detailing research, development, data acquisition, and technology transfer activities, resources, and timelines for the program.
Annually after the development of the plan
Under Secretary shall, not less frequently than annually, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities identified in the program plan.
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
This is the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a scientific agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on the ocean, major waterways like the Great Lakes, and the atmosphere.
Coastal flooding
When land along the coast gets covered by water from the ocean, including everyday high tides (often called "high tide flooding") or during storms.
Storm surge
An abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide, caused by strong winds pushing water onshore.
Probabilistic forecasts
Weather predictions that describe the likelihood or chance of an event happening (e.g., a 40% chance of rain), rather than just saying it will or won't happen.
In situ distributed sensors
Weather or environmental measuring devices that are placed directly in the environment (e.g., on the ground, in the ocean) and spread out over an area to collect data from multiple points.
Data-void areas
Regions or locations where there is a lack of sufficient weather observation equipment or data collection points, making it harder to accurately predict local weather.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
JUN 5, 25
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
JUN 5, 25
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Systems and assets that are so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof. Examples include dams, power grids, and transportation networks.
Mesonet data
Weather data collected from a network of automated weather stations that are spaced relatively close together (like a "mesoscale" network), providing highly localized and detailed weather information.
