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FLOODS Act

Became Public Law No: 117-316.

Official summary

Version 49 · Public Law · Dec 27, 2022

Flood Level Observation, Operations, and Decision Support Act or the FLOODS Act

This act addresses forecasting and the communication of flood, tornado, and hurricane events by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For example, the act directs NOAA to establish a National Integrated Flood Information System to inform and provide for timely decisions to reduce flood-related effects and costs.

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NOAA must also establish partnerships with institutions of higher education and federal agencies to improve total water predictions. In addition, NOAA must (1) evaluate and improve flash flood watches and warnings, (2) estimate and communicate the frequency of precipitation, and (3) identify gaps in the availability of snow-related data to assess and predict floods and flood impacts.

Further, NOAA must ensure that the tornado warning improvement and extension program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets (i.e., a network of certain weather observing stations).

In addition, the National Weather Service must designate a service coordination hydrologist at each of its River Forecast Centers to increase impact-based decision support services at the state and local level.

Finally, the act establishes an Interagency Committee on Water Management and Infrastructure to ensure that federal agencies that engage in water-related matters work together where such agencies have joint or overlapping responsibilities.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] · R–MS

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Became Public Law No: 117-316.

  2. Became Public Law No: 117-316.

  3. Signed by President.

  4. Signed by President.

  5. Presented to President.

  6. Presented to President.

  7. Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1518, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1082, as amended; H.R. 5349; H.R. 6218; H.R. 6220; H.R. 6221; H.R. 6611, as amended; H.R. 6630; H.R. 6725; H.R. 7077, agreed to Senate amendment; H.R. 7832; H.R. 8665; S. 558; and S. 789. S. 558; and S. 789. (consideration: CR H9803-9810; text: CR H9805-9809)

  8. Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 1518, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1082, as amended; H.R. 5349; H.R. 6218; H.R. 6220; H.R. 6221; H.R. 6611, as amended; H.R. 6630; H.R. 6725; H.R. 7077, agreed to Senate amendment; H.R. 7832; H.R. 8665; S. 558; and S. 789. S. 558; and S. 789.

  9. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1518, proceedings on S. 558 are considered vacated.

  10. At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 558.

  12. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9653, H9656-9658; text: CR H9653-9656)

  13. Mr. Beyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  14. Held at the desk.

  15. Received in the House.

  16. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  17. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6857-6860)

  18. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S6857-6860)

  19. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6856-6860)

  20. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

  21. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

  22. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  23. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  24. Introduced in Senate

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