United StatesRecapitalizes NOAA hurricane-hunter aircraft and authorizes funding
Modernizing and funding hurricane-hunter aircraft helps maintain storm tracking, improve forecasts and warnings, and reduce risks to communities.
What it does
Moves and consolidates the aircraft acquisition authority into the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (to appear as section 413).
Specifies mission requirements: real-time data sharing, safe direct hurricane penetration capability, and continuity/backups during recapitalization.
Increases authorized acquisition funding from $800 million to $2.5 billion for fiscal years 2027–2031 and adds $45 million per year for OMAO aviation operations.
Authorizes multiyear contracts for acquisition and maintenance of aircraft and exempts them from certain duration limits while requiring Title 41 contract clauses and safeguards.
Requires maintenance or replacement of airborne radar and remote sensing (including Tail Doppler Radar or successor technologies).
Argument forImproves storm observations and forecasting by requiring near-real-time meteorological and atmospheric data collection and sharing.
Argument againstThe authorized $2.5 billion and ongoing operation funds increase federal spending and will require future appropriations, which could compete with other priorities.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 22Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.Latest
- Jun 17Introduced in Senate
- Jun 17Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Introduced
Emergency ManagementPublic SafetyEnvironment & Energy