National Weather Service Communications Improvement Act
This bill requires the National Weather Service (NWS) to replace its outdated internal messaging system (NWSChat) with a commercial cloud-based solution to improve communication among staff. It mandates the NWS Director to implement this upgrade by 2027, using up to $3 million annually from existing NWS funding for fiscal years 2024-2027. The new system must support future growth and handle increased user demand. This directly affects NWS personnel who rely on internal communications for weather forecasting and public safety operations. The bill focuses solely on updating the technology infrastructure, not on new weather policies or public services.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 9, 2023
Last action May 16, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 118-61.
lower
Mar 29, 2023
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
lower
Mar 9, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
lower
Mar 9, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Randy Feenstra
RRepublican
Co
Ashley Hinson
RRepublican
Co
Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen
RRepublican
Co
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
Co
Deborah K. Ross
DDemocratic
Co
Doug LaMalfa
RRepublican
Co
Eric A. "Rick" Crawford
RRepublican
Co
Eric Sorensen
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff Jackson
DDemocratic
Co
Jenniffer González-Colón
RRepublican
Co
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
RRepublican
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