Bill · S. 613· Senate(119-S-613)
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/18/2025
- Last activity
- 10/21/2025 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.
- Sponsored by
- Brian Schatz
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025," directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to maintain the National Mesonet Program. The program aims to improve weather observations and forecasting for atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events. It focuses on increasing data density through various environmental monitoring stations and integrating diverse data sources. The act also provides for financial and technical assistance to various entities to expand these networks. Additionally, it establishes an advisory committee and requires regular briefings to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 14
Would farmers be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically focuses on improving soil and moisture data and agricultural forecasting capabilities.
Does this put more money into scientific research?+5
The bill funds the National Mesonet Program to advance weather observation and predictive model algorithms.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+4
The bill prioritizes providing assistance for monitoring stations in remote or underrepresented areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Safety and Economic Stability: By increasing the quantity and density of environmental observations, the program supports forecasts and warnings that protect individuals, businesses, agricultural production, food security, the military, and government agencies (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
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Improved Severe Weather Warnings: The bill aims to support the National Weather Service in reaching a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through better predictive model algorithms (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).
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Agricultural and Emergency Management Support: The acquisition of soil and moisture data supports operational forecasting, the National Integrated Drought Information System, and local commercial, agricultural, and emergency management needs (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Improved Transportation Safety: The program seeks to enhance environmental observational networks in roadway environments to provide real-time weather and surface conditions for surface transportation and related economic sectors (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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Support for Remote and Underrepresented Areas: The Under Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for the maintenance of monitoring stations in remote areas where it is financially unfeasible for a single entity to operate them (Section 2(c)(4)(B)).
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Empowerment of Local Entities: Financial assistance is available to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities to build, expand, or upgrade their own mesonet systems (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Financial Requirements for Recipients: Entities seeking financial assistance must demonstrate they can provide sufficient financial support from non-Federal Government sources and must be able to fully maintain the quality of the system and data standards for at least 5 years (Section 2(c)(6)).
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Requirement for Data Agreements: Before receiving financial assistance, entities are required to enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide data to the Program (Section 2(c)(3)).
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+6Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Native Americans+2Good For Low Income Households+1Good For Middle Class Households+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Improves Small Business Support+2Increases Job Creation+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+4Improves Rural Development+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+1
- 10/21/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-83.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.
- 3/12/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas