Radar Gap Elimination Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2646
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-18T08:05:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Radar Gap Elimination Act (H.R. 2646) aims to improve the United States' weather radar system by establishing a program to evaluate and plan the replacement of the existing Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) system. It focuses on eliminating gaps in radar coverage, enhancing performance, and ensuring better weather forecasting and warnings across the U.S. and its territories.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Radar Next Program: The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (who oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA) must create this program in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service (NWS). The program requires:
- Developing performance and coverage standards for the national weather radar network, including U.S. territories.
- Collaborating with the "weather enterprise" (a term defined in prior law as groups involved in weather research, forecasting, and services) to identify update solutions.
- Creating a detailed plan to replace the current NEXRAD system.
- Details of the Replacement Plan:
- Estimates improvements in radar performance, coverage, and accuracy from potential new systems.
- Develops a proof-of-concept phased array radar (a type of advanced radar technology that scans electronically for faster detection) to test specifications.
- Incorporates recommendations from a 2023 NOAA advisory report on observing system frameworks to define a new radar architecture.
- Establishes a weather surveillance radar testbed to evaluate commercial radars for replacement or supplementation of NEXRAD, and to assist with small, gap-filling radars in challenging terrains or non-viable areas for large systems.
- Seeks input from academia, meteorologists, emergency managers, and public safety or utility officials on system requirements.
- Identifies prioritized and expected deployment locations, including sites more than 75 miles from existing NEXRAD stations and other suitable spots.
- Outlines planned enhancements to weather and water-related forecasts and warnings.
- Requires full implementation of the plan by September 30, 2040.
- Radar-as-a-Service Option: NOAA may partner or contract with non-government entities (e.g., private companies) to use diverse radars and data technologies to fill coverage gaps, supplement low-level and wide-area detection, maintain network performance, and improve severe weather detection over populated areas. Considerations include prior testbed participants, national mesonet programs (networks of weather sensors), cooperative research agreements, and even weather camera systems in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Reporting Requirements: NOAA must provide periodic updates to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new mandates not previously required under current law. It establishes the Radar Next Program and a binding timeline for NEXRAD replacement by 2040, which did not exist before. It also authorizes novel partnerships like "Radar-as-a-Service" with private entities to address gaps, building on but expanding prior weather innovation laws (e.g., the 2017 Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act). No direct repeals or amendments to existing statutes are specified, but it integrates recommendations from recent NOAA advisory reports into federal planning.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: NOAA and NWS will face increased responsibilities for program development, testing, planning, and partnerships, potentially requiring additional resources and coordination with other agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration. Periodic congressional updates ensure oversight but may add administrative burdens.
- On Citizens: Improved radar coverage could lead to more accurate and timely weather forecasts, warnings for severe events (e.g., storms, floods), and reduced risks in underserved areas like remote or topographically challenging regions, enhancing public safety and emergency preparedness.
- On International Relations: Primarily domestic, but enhanced U.S. weather data could indirectly support international weather sharing through global networks, potentially aiding cross-border disaster response without direct foreign policy changes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: NOAA (including NWS) as the primary implementer; congressional committees for oversight.
- Weather and Research Community: The weather enterprise, academia, meteorologists, and participants in testbeds or cooperative programs.
- Public Safety and Infrastructure: Emergency managers, public safety officials, and utility providers who rely on accurate weather data.
- Private Sector: Commercial radar developers, contractors, and entities involved in partnerships or gap-filling technologies.
- General Public: Residents in areas with current radar gaps, particularly in U.S. territories and rural or mountainous regions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill imposes a statutory deadline (2040) and specific planning elements on NOAA, creating enforceable obligations that could lead to future litigation if unmet. It promotes public-private partnerships, which may raise questions about data sharing, procurement rules, and federal contracting standards under laws like the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; it aligns with Congress's authority to regulate commerce and promote general welfare through science and technology investments, particularly for public safety.
- Political: Emphasizes long-term infrastructure investment in weather services, potentially bipartisan appeal due to disaster preparedness benefits. It could influence budget debates, as implementation may require congressional appropriations (not specified in the bill), and highlights regional priorities for radar deployments in underrepresented areas.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Radar Gap Elimination Act — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (6 pages)