Skip to main content
S 2058 114th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Atmospheric science and weather Urban and suburban affairs and development

An act to require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting.

Introduced: September 17, 2015 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 12 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 2, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Dec 2, 2016
Received in the House.
Dec 2, 2016
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 1, 2016
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 1, 2016
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 1, 2016
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6679)
Dec 1, 2016
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6679-6680; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S6679)
Sep 15, 2016
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 629.
Sep 15, 2016
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-351.
Dec 9, 2015
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 17, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 17, 2015
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(Sec. 1) This bill directs the Department of Commerce to complete, within 90 days after enactment of this bill, a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (NEXRAD).

In conducting this study, Commerce shall identify areas in the United States with limited or no NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level of the surrounding terrain.

For those areas identified, Commerce shall also:

  • identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection;
  • identify additional sources of observations for high impact weather available and operational for such areas, including Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and cooperative network observers; and
  • assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to integrate and upgrade federal radar capabilities in such areas that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar capabilities of the FAA and the Department of Defense.

In addition, under such study Commerce shall:

  • assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating state-operated and other nonfederal radars into the operations of the National Weather Service;
  • identify options to improve radar coverage in all of the areas identified as having limited or no NEXRAD coverage; and
  • estimate the cost of, and develop a timeline for, carrying out each of the options identified.

After completing the study, Commerce shall submit a plan for improving radar coverage in the identified areas by integrating and upgrading, where practicable, additional observation solutions to improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting.

Commerce shall seek third-party reviews on scientific methodology related to, and the feasibility and advisability of, implementing the plan to improve radar coverage, including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the National Weather Service would be improved by additional NEXRAD coverage.

What's happening now December 2, 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1