Gives the National Weather Service Director temporary special hiring authority to speed-fill critical public-safety jobs — including staff who launch weather balloons — and requires workforce and health assessments and new reporting. It also states a Sense of Congress that weather-balloon launch staff are critical to public safety and directs the NWS to prioritize those positions.

The special hiring authority lasts up to two years or until needed positions are filled, and the bill adds related reporting requirements and amendments to existing weather research/forecasting law to track workforce needs and health assessments.