PASSED: Senate Unanimously Approves Sen. Moran’s FORECAST Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) - a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation - applauded the Senate's unanimous passage this week of his legislation, the FORECAST Act, as a part of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (Weather Act), which includes more than 17 bipartisan bills to help address natural disaster preparedness, radar and satellite modernization, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio modernization and other programs focused on public safety and strengthening weather forecasting and communication. The Weather Act was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in March 2026.

"Kansans, particularly farmers and ranchers, rely on access to timely and reliable weather data every day," said Sen. Moran. "I'm pleased this bill incorporates my legislation, the FORECAST Act, to help make certain National Weather Service offices remain staffed to provide lifesaving 24/7 weather forecasting to their communities. Passage of this legislation is an important step to improve access to timely weather data for Kansans."

Sen. Moran's FORECAST Act would exempt certain National Weather Service (NWS) employees from any executive order or memorandum imposing a hiring freeze. The roles included in the exemption include positions responsible for issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment and protecting life and property. Last year, Sen. Moran secured a national exemption from a federal hiring freeze to enable the NWS to hire meteorologists and weather forecasters, which helped address staffing shortages at the Goodland, Kansas, NWS office by providing a temporary rotation of NWS employees from other offices as they worked to fill vacancies.

Click here to read the full text of the Weather Act.

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