Bills · HR 4302
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 4302Emergency communications systemsGeography and mapping
Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act
INTRO JUL 7· LAST ACTION JUL 7
READING
8MIN
COSPONSORS
5
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because more accurate and longer-range weather forecasts, especially for significant precipitation events like atmospheric rivers, directly impact public safety and economic stability. If this bill becomes law, communities could have better advance warning to prepare for severe weather, allowing for more effective evacuation plans, infrastructure protection, and resource allocation. This could lead to fewer lives lost, less property damage, and better management of critical resources like water.
Without this legislation, improvements in forecasting these powerful and often destructive weather systems might be slower, less coordinated, or lack dedicated funding. This could leave communities more vulnerable to the unpredictable and costly impacts of floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events linked to atmospheric rivers, hindering their ability to adapt to a changing climate.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishes at least one pilot project within NOAA's U.S. Weather Research Program to improve medium-to-long-range precipitation forecasts for water management in the western United States.
This helps communities in the Western U.S. better plan for droughts and floods by providing more advanced and accurate information.
PROVISION 02
Creates a nationwide Atmospheric River Forecast Improvement Program to reduce loss of life and property from these intense storms through better research, development, and actionable forecasts.
Better forecasts of atmospheric rivers can save lives and property and reduce economic losses across the country by giving people more time to prepare.
PROVISION 03
Requires the pilot projects to address key scientific challenges, such as improving weather models for mountainous terrain, understanding atmospheric boundary layers, and predicting storm tracks.
This ensures the forecast improvements are based on cutting-edge scientific understanding and address specific geographic and meteorological complexities.
PROVISION 04
Authorizes $15 million annually for five fiscal years (2026-2030) for the Subseasonal to Seasonal Forecasting Pilot Projects.
Provides dedicated funding to ensure the research and development for improved forecasts can proceed consistently over several years.
PROVISION 05
Mandates collaboration with the U.S. weather industry, academic partners, and social and behavioral scientists for the Atmospheric River program.
This ensures a broad range of expertise contributes to the program and that forecasts are not only accurate but also understandable and useful to the public and stakeholders.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 5
R· California
YRS IN OFFICE
5
BILLS LED
31
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 40%
DEM 4 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUL 7
Introduced in House
JUL 7
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 4302
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJul 7, 2025
Last actionJul 7, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUL 7, 2025
House BillHR 4302Emergency communications systemsGeography and mapping
Improving Atmospheric River Forecasts Act
INTRODUCED JUL 7, 2025· LAST ACTION JUL 7, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
8 min
COSPONSORS
5
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
