Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5002
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Emergency Management
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-19: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-09T08:05:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 5002: Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to restore staffing and specific programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support preparation for and response to extreme weather events, addressing recent reductions in capacity.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill outlines congressional findings on the increasing frequency and cost of extreme weather events due to climate change, the role of NOAA in providing forecasts and alerts, and the impacts of recent staffing cuts, including the elimination of certain data products.
- NOAA Staffing and Personnel: Requires the Secretary of Commerce to fully staff NOAA and the National Weather Service within 30 days using existing funds, and to reinstate employees terminated between January 20, 2025, and the bill's enactment date who choose to return.
- Continuation of Programs: Mandates continuation of congressionally authorized programs supporting state and local extreme weather preparedness without reductions in access; specifically requires immediate reinstatement of the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product, the NOAA Marine Environmental Buoy Database, and the NOAA Global Ocean Currents Database.
- Funding: Appropriates $6,756,300,000 to the Department of Commerce for NOAA expenses in fiscal year 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a statutory mandate to reverse recent personnel reductions at NOAA, overriding any administrative decisions made after January 20, 2025, for affected employees who elect reinstatement.
- Requires restoration of specific data products and databases that had been discontinued, and prohibits changes to existing programs that would limit public access to extreme weather resources.
- Provides new dedicated appropriations for NOAA operations in the following fiscal year.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Directs the Department of Commerce and NOAA to restore full operational capacity, including forecasting, data collection, and research functions, potentially increasing agency workload and resource needs.
- Citizens: Enhances availability of weather alerts, forecasts, and resiliency tools, which could improve public safety and reduce economic losses from disasters for communities in weather-prone areas.
- International Relations: Limited direct effects, though reinstated ocean and environmental databases may support ongoing international data-sharing efforts related to climate and weather monitoring.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NOAA and National Weather Service employees, including those eligible for reinstatement.
- State and local governments that rely on NOAA resources for disaster preparedness.
- The Department of Commerce, as the overseeing agency.
- The general public, particularly residents in areas vulnerable to extreme weather.
- Congress, through its appropriations and oversight role.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Asserts congressional authority to direct agency staffing levels and program continuity via legislation and appropriations, potentially limiting executive discretion over NOAA operations.
- Uses specific statutory language to reinstate terminated personnel and restore eliminated products, which could raise questions about separation of powers if viewed as interfering with administrative management.
- Focuses on climate-related disaster mitigation without altering broader environmental laws, emphasizing public safety through restored federal services.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-19: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-19: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-19: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act — issued 2025-08-19 — PDF (5 pages)