Bill · H.R. 4302· House(119-HR-4302)
Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act
- Introduced
- 7/7/2025
- Last activity
- 7/7/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Sponsored by
- Jay Obernolte
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 4
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act aims to advance weather prediction skills for water management and atmospheric river events. It establishes a pilot project to improve subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasts, specifically targeting the western United States. The bill also creates an atmospheric river forecast improvement program to reduce life, property, and economic losses. This program involves research, data assimilation, and the use of new modeling technologies. Additionally, the Act authorizes specific funding for these pilot projects through the year 2030.
Yes· 3 of 11
Does this put more money into scientific research?+7
The bill authorizes significant funding for atmospheric and weather-related research projects.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+5
The bill enhances preparedness and reduces property damage from atmospheric river events.
Would farmers be better off under this?+4
Improved precipitation and water management forecasting is highly beneficial for agricultural planning.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Water Management: By improving subseasonal to seasonal precipitation forecasts, the bill helps address challenges in the western United States related to water management (Section 2, subsection a).
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Enhanced Weather Accuracy in Mountains: The bill seeks to improve model resolution to better understand precipitation intensity and the ratio of rain versus snow in mountainous terrain (Section 2, subsection a).
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Reduced Economic and Physical Loss: A primary goal of the atmospheric river forecast improvement program is to reduce the loss of life, property, and economic losses caused by atmospheric rivers (Section 3, subsection b).
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Better Hazard Communication: The program includes research to refine how weather and ocean hazards are categorized and communicated to the public, helping people understand when weather is beneficial versus hazardous (Section 3, subsection h).
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Improved Forecasting Tools: The development of next-generation modeling and tools aims to provide better forecasts for snow accumulation and other hydrologic components (Section 3, subsection b).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Farmers+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5Improves Public Land Management+4Improves Environmental Protections+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2
- 8/26/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/7/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
J. CorreaDemocrat · California
Vince FongRepublican · California
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia
George WhitesidesDemocrat · California