Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§9442 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Artificial Intelligence Center

Title 15 › CHAPTER 119 — NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INITIATIVE › SUBCHAPTER III — DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES › § 9442

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must set up a Center for Artificial Intelligence (the Center) to lead and grow NOAA’s work on AI. The Center will run a program to improve how NOAA uses AI. Its main tasks are to coordinate AI research and tools across NOAA, set data rules and keep a central store of AI projects, speed turning research into real operations, train NOAA staff, team up with government, private groups, and colleges, and make NOAA data ready for AI. The Center must work with many partners and use existing AI research. Congress authorized $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 to carry out this work. If needed to protect national security, the Administrator may keep certain models or data secret, after consulting the Secretary of Defense when appropriate.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §9442

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (hereafter referred to as “the Administrator”) shall establish, a Center for Artificial Intelligence (hereafter referred to as “the Center”).

(b)Center goals

The goals of the Center shall be to—

(1)coordinate and facilitate the scientific and technological efforts related to artificial intelligence across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and

(2)expand external partnerships, and build workforce proficiency to effectively transition artificial intelligence research and applications to operations.

(c)Comprehensive program

Through the Center, the Administrator shall implement a comprehensive program to improve the use of artificial intelligence systems across the agency in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(d)Center priorities

The priorities of the Center shall be to—

(1)coordinate and facilitate artificial intelligence research and innovation, tools, systems, and capabilities across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(2)establish data standards and develop and maintain a central repository for agency-wide artificial intelligence applications;

(3)accelerate the transition of artificial intelligence research to applications in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(4)develop and conduct training for the workforce of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to artificial intelligence research and application of artificial intelligence for such agency;

(5)facilitate partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other public sector organizations, private sector organizations, and institutions of higher education for research, personnel exchange, and workforce development with respect to artificial intelligence systems; and

(6)make data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration accessible, available, and ready for artificial intelligence applications.

(e)Stakeholder engagement

In carrying out the activities authorized in this section, the Administrator shall—

(1)collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders including private sector entities and institutions of higher education;

(2)leverage the collective body of research on artificial intelligence and machine learning; and

(3)engage with relevant Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of data and methods made available through the Center.

(f)Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.

(g)Protection of national security interests

(1)In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as appropriate, may withhold models or data used by the Center if the Administrator determines doing so to be necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.

(2)Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any other provision of law governing the protection of the national security interests of the United States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 9442

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110