Cruz, Cantwell Refile NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., led the refiling Thursday of the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act, as expected (see 2507300029). The bill, which the Senate approved by unanimous consent in 2023, would require NOAA to upgrade infrastructure to improve reliable transmission of emergency alerts and reduce the system’s use of copper wire transmissions (see 2312190081). Senate Homeland Security Committee ranking member Gary Peters, D-Mich., signed on as a co-sponsor, along with three other Commerce members: Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii; and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
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Cruz's office highlighted that the measure would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology “to develop standards for flash flood emergency alert systems within the 100-year floodplain,” given the deadly Texas floods over the Fourth of July weekend (see 2507090047). “When disaster is about to strike, there has to be multiple, reliable ways to notify those who are in harm’s way,” Cruz said. “While the Hill Country flood investigation continues, we do know that some people did not receive the warnings because of a lack of cell phone coverage.”
Cantwell said the bill “helps to upgrade the system with the best technology and communications systems, replacing copper with fiber to reach more people, especially in rural areas. It also directs NIST to develop standards for better warning technology and makes sure NOAA keeps its weather scientist and forecast jobs fully staffed.”