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119-s-1484119th CongressWALLET

FORECAST Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

Boost NOAA’s subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecasting and build the people who run the models. This bill would expand NOAA’s research and operational work on S2S temperature and precipitation forecasts and create a new workforce program to train data assimilation and Earth system modeling experts.

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  • Families and communities: Better S2S forecasts and a public Internet clearinghouse aim to give earlier, more usable guidance on risks like droughts, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, and winter storms. This could help planners prepare days to months in advance.
  • Researchers and NOAA partners: The bill would fund multi-model ensemble systems, coupled data assimilation, and the operational use of AI and unmanned systems. It instructs NOAA to accelerate moving research tools into operations and to align work with the 2018 S2S forecasting report.
  • Students and the weather workforce: A Weather and Earth System Modeling and Data Assimilation Workforce Innovation Program would create education, recruitment, and hiring pathways, use agreements with colleges and nonprofits, and require annual workforce planning updates.

*Authorizes $28.5 million for 2026 and $28.5 million for 2027 plus additional unspecified funds for cross-development and workforce activities, increasing federal spending for NOAA’s S2S forecasting and workforce efforts.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Better weeks-to-months weather forecasts

If enacted, NOAA would expand research and operations to improve forecasts that cover weeks to months. It would prioritize multi-model ensembles, better coupled data assimilation, and use of AI and unmanned systems. NOAA would create a national website to publish these forecasts. It would link forecasts to disaster risks like floods, droughts, and heat waves. The bill would authorize $28.5 million for NOAA for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and "such sums as may be necessary" for related model development.

NOAA weather workforce training program

If enacted, the bill would create a NOAA workforce program for weather and earth system modeling. NOAA would make and annually update a workforce plan that identifies gaps and hiring challenges. The agency could offer scholarships, fellowships, research grants, and new hiring and direct-hire pathways. NOAA must report on program effectiveness within two years after first funding is provided to a university or nonprofit.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

  • Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 4/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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