House directs NOAA to prioritize weather

The House of Representatives has approved legislation that would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to focus more on predicting storms and less on studying climate change.

The Weather Forecasting Improvement Act, approved on 1 April, directs NOAA to “prioritize weather-related activities, including the provision of improved weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy”. It proposed a rebalancing of NOAA’s funding to reflect that shift.

The legislation was sponsored by Republican Representative Jim Bridenstine from Oklahoma, who described it as aiming to “protect lives and property by shifting funds from climate change research to severe weather forecasting research”. The measure had strong bipartisan support from members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.