Sponsors (6)
The bill secures continuous, modernized manned hurricane reconnaissance and improved forecasting by committing substantial funding and flexible contracting, at the cost of significant federal spending, longer contractual commitments, and reduced adaptability to emerging technologies.
Local and state emergency managers, coastal communities, and researchers will continue to receive near‑real‑time hurricane and oceanographic observations from a resilient manned reconnaissance capability, improving forecasts and life‑saving warnings.
NOAA will operate a guaranteed fleet (at least 6, up to 9) of manned aircraft with modern sensors to collect and share meteorological, oceanographic, and atmospheric data, strengthening national forecasting and research capabilities.
Congress authorizes substantial funding ($1.5 billion for FY2027–2031 plus $45 million/year for operations) to recapitalize aircraft and sensors, enabling modernization of forecasting infrastructure and research programs.
Taxpayers will bear higher federal spending commitments — about $1.5 billion plus roughly $225 million in operations across five years — increasing federal outlays and potential budget pressures.
Mandating a minimum fleet size and specific manned mission capabilities could reduce NOAA's flexibility to adopt future technologies (e.g., unmanned systems), locking in higher long‑term costs or foreclosing more cost‑effective approaches.
Long multiyear contracting and exemptions to contract‑duration limits create contingent cancellation liabilities and reduce programmatic flexibility, risking higher termination or restructuring costs if requirements change.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Moves NOAA hurricane reconnaissance acquisition authority into the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, requires 6–9 manned aircraft, and authorizes $1.5B acquisition plus $45M/year operations for FY2027–2031.
Moves NOAA’s authority for acquiring and operating manned hurricane reconnaissance aircraft into the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act, requires NOAA to acquire and maintain 6–9 manned airborne reconnaissance aircraft with the ability to penetrate hurricanes and provide near-real-time meteorological and oceanographic observations, and modernize airborne radar/remote sensing. It authorizes multiyear contracting for aircraft, requires retention of NOAA Corps aviators, and provides new authorization levels of $1.5 billion for acquisition (FY2027–2031) plus $45 million annually for aviation operations and services for each of FY2027–2031. Sets procurement, operational, and continuity requirements to avoid single-point failure of hurricane reconnaissance capability, updates statutory placement of the authority, repeals an older statute, and adjusts the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act table of contents accordingly.
Official title: Provide for the acquisition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of aircraft for air, atmosphere, and weather reconnaissance and research missions, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 17, 2026 by Maria E. Cantwell · Last progress June 17, 2026