Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025," directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to maintain the National Mesonet Program. The program aims to improve weather observations and forecasting for atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events. It focuses on increasing data density through various environmental monitoring stations and integrating diverse data sources. The act also provides for financial and technical assistance to various entities to expand these networks. Additionally, it establishes an advisory committee and requires regular briefings to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +6
Would farmers be better off under this?
The bill specifically focuses on improving soil and moisture data and agricultural forecasting capabilities.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill funds the National Mesonet Program to advance weather observation and predictive model algorithms.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes providing assistance for monitoring stations in remote or underrepresented areas.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Safety and Economic Stability: By increasing the quantity and density of environmental observations, the program supports forecasts and warnings that protect individuals, businesses, agricultural production, food security, the military, and government agencies (Section 2(b)(1)(A)).
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Improved Severe Weather Warnings: The bill aims to support the National Weather Service in reaching a 30-minute warning time for severe weather through better predictive model algorithms (Section 2(b)(1)(D)).
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Agricultural and Emergency Management Support: The acquisition of soil and moisture data supports operational forecasting, the National Integrated Drought Information System, and local commercial, agricultural, and emergency management needs (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Improved Transportation Safety: The program seeks to enhance environmental observational networks in roadway environments to provide real-time weather and surface conditions for surface transportation and related economic sectors (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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Support for Remote and Underrepresented Areas: The Under Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance for the maintenance of monitoring stations in remote areas where it is financially unfeasible for a single entity to operate them (Section 2(c)(4)(B)).
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Empowerment of Local Entities: Financial assistance is available to State, Tribal, private, and academic entities to build, expand, or upgrade their own mesonet systems (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Financial Requirements for Recipients: Entities seeking financial assistance must demonstrate they can provide sufficient financial support from non-Federal Government sources and must be able to fully maintain the quality of the system and data standards for at least 5 years (Section 2(c)(6)).
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Requirement for Data Agreements: Before receiving financial assistance, entities are required to enter into an agreement with the Under Secretary to provide data to the Program (Section 2(c)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill specifically focuses on improving soil and moisture data and agricultural forecasting capabilities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes providing assistance for monitoring stations in remote or underrepresented areas. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides assistance for monitoring stations in remote or underrepresented areas, which can include Tribal lands. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved food security through better agricultural forecasting can benefit low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increased weather safety and predictable agricultural outcomes can provide stability for middle-class agricultural workers.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improved weather forecasting and early warnings support more efficient operations for the agricultural and transportation sectors. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Enhanced weather data and warnings can help small businesses in agriculture and transport better prepare for severe weather events. Is this likely to create jobs? — The expansion of weather observation networks and environmental monitoring stations may support job stability in agriculture and transportation sectors.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill increases monitoring of drought, fire, and water events to better manage environmental risks. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides assistance to maintain monitoring stations in remote and underrepresented areas.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds the National Mesonet Program to advance weather observation and predictive model algorithms.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires regular annual briefings to Congress regarding the program's activities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill mentions protecting the military through better weather forecasts.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Improved agricultural forecasting can help stabilize food security, which is a factor in poverty reduction.
- 10/21/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-83.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 194.
- 3/12/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas