Sec. 709. Acquisition of aircraft for extreme weather reconnaissance
308 words·~1 min read·
/bill/117/s/4802/rs/section-709A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere shall acquire adequate aircraft platforms with the necessary observation and modification requirements— to meet agency-wide air reconnaissance and research mission requirements, particularly with respect to hurricanes and tropical cyclones, and also for atmospheric chemistry, climate, air quality for public health, full-season fire weather research and operations, full-season atmospheric river air reconnaissance observations, and other mission areas; and to ensure data and information collected by the aircraft are made available to all users for research and operations purposes.
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall negotiate and enter into 1 or more contracts or other agreements, to the extent practicable and necessary, with 1 or more governmental, commercial, or nongovernmental entities. For each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026, amounts to support the implementation of paragraphs
(1)and
(2)shall be derived— from amounts appropriated to the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and available for the purpose of atmospheric river reconnaissance; and if amounts described in subparagraph
(A)are insufficient to support the implementation of paragraphs
(1)and (2), from amounts appropriated to that Office and available for purposes other than atmospheric river reconnaissance. Not later than September 30, 2023, the Under Secretary shall enter into a contract for the acquisition of 6 aircraft to replace the WP–3D aircraft that provides for— the first newly acquired aircraft to be fully operational before the retirement of the last WP–3D aircraft operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the second newly acquired aircraft to be fully operational not later than 1 year after the first such aircraft is required to be fully operational under subparagraph (A). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary $1,800,000,000, without fiscal year limitation, for the acquisition of the aircraft under paragraph (1).