Sens. Cruz, Cantwell, Colleagues Applaud Unanimous Senate Passage of Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Weather Forecasting Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas-36), Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of the bipartisan Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Weather Act).

Senate passage reflects a bicameral agreement on this legislation reauthorizing many weather forecasting and hazard communication programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In light of this agreement, it is anticipated that the House of Representatives will take up and send the Weather Act to the President's desk before the end of the 119th Congress.

Sen. Cruz said, "The Senate took a pivotal step toward ensuring Americans are prepared for severe weather. Texans know all too well the devastation storms can bring. The lives lost in the July 4, 2025, Texas floods are a heartbreaking reminder of what is at stake. The Weather Act brings together over a dozen bipartisan bills to modernize radar systems, deliver more accurate and timely forecasts, and improve warnings so families and first responders have more time to act, no matter where they are and no matter the time of day. These improvements will help protect property and, more importantly, save lives in Texas and across the country."

Sen. Cantwell said, "Americans are facing increasingly dangerous and costly weather disasters, and better forecasts give communities more time to prepare and get out of harm's way. The Weather Act will advance next-generation weather radar, modernize lifesaving warning systems, and improve forecasts for atmospheric rivers and wildfires, like the devastating fires that forced thousands to evacuate in Spokane last month. Today's Senate passage brings us one step closer to giving forecasters, emergency managers, and communities the tools they need to save lives and protect property."

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-Texas-36) said, "Reliable weather forecasts and timely warnings are essential to protecting American lives and property. Last year's devastating floods in Texas served as a tragic reminder of the need to better predict severe weather and communicate critical information to communities in harm's way. The Weather Act Reauthorization represents an opportunity to modernize our nation's forecasting capabilities and strengthen emergency preparedness. Building on the legislation the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee advanced last September, the Senate-passed bill reflects a bipartisan, bicameral compromise and a shared commitment to protecting American communities. I thank Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Lofgren, Rep. Lucas, and our colleagues in both chambers for their hard work in reaching this agreement. I look forward to continuing our efforts to get this legislation across the finish line.

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) said, "This is a long time coming. The Weather Act Reauthorization will give NOAA the support it needs to carry out its critical mission. I want to thank Chairman Babin, my former Committee partner, Mr. Lucas, and the dedicated staff on both sides of the aisle for getting this to the finish line. The World Meteorological Organization just released its State of the Climate update emphasizing that the supersized El Niño we are experiencing is expected to bring record heat, flooding, and drought conditions for the next year. Now more than ever, more observations and data are needed to bolster our nations forecasting capabilities to protect lives, property, the economy, and national security. We have to ensure that NOAA has the tools, staffing, and infrastructure to help support communities prepare for and respond to disasters. This bill will help us do that."

In addition to Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Senate cosponsors include Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).

Read the bill text here.

BACKGROUND:

More than a dozen bipartisan bills are in the Weather Act, including Chairman Cruz's NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act. The Radio Modernization Act upgrades weather radio equipment to make broadcasts of emergency notices during severe weather more reliable and accessible nationwide. This bill, along with numerous other underlying measures in the Weather Act, came about as a response to gaps identified after the deadly July 2025 floods in Texas' Hill Country.

The legislation would:

• Reauthorize multiple weather forecasting programs while advancing next-generation forecasting technologies and improving research-to-operations transition efforts.
• Improve forecasting for flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, landslides, wildfires, and atmospheric rivers.
• Enhance public communication of weather risks - including through NOAA weather radio -to ensure warnings are clear, timely, and actionable.
• Modernize NOAA's aging radar network through planning and deployment of next-generation weather radar and targeted efforts to close radar coverage gaps, including gaps in flash-flood prone and under-observed regions such as the Texas Hill Country.
• Improve coastal marine fog forecasting where dense fog can disrupt shipping and maritime commerce.
• Advance long-range weather forecasting to support farmers, ranchers, and water managers by improving weather outlooks weeks to months in advance.

Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell and a bipartisan group of Commerce Committee members introduced the Weather Act in February 2026. The bill was unanimously advanced out of the Commerce Committee the following month.