Legis Daily

TORNADO Act

USA118th CongressS-1284| Senate 
| Updated: 12/13/2023
Roger F. Wicker

Roger F. Wicker

Republican Senator

Mississippi

Cosponsors (10)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act or the TORNADO Act This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate and improve its communications about hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and other hazardous weather events. Specifically, NOAA must establish a Risk Communication Office to evaluate the effectiveness of NOAA's communications and to identify ways to provide simpler and clearer information to the public about hazardous weather events. NOAA must also (1) establish a research program to modernize its communication systems, and (2) establish a pilot program to implement the research with respect to communications about tornadoes. Additionally, the bill requires NOAA to develop a strategic plan for implementing the Warn-on-Forecast System, which aims to provide more advanced warnings of thunderstorm-related events (e.g., tornadoes). The bill also requires NOAA to evaluate its tornado rating system and to conduct post-storm assessments of significant events. The bill also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA), a collaborative project between meteorologists and social scientists to study the conditions that contribute to dangerous tornadoes in the Southeast and the best ways to communicate these events to the public. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the National Weather Service's communication technology, particularly with respect to timely notices of hazardous weather events.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3817
TORNADO Act
Apr 25, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Apr 25, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 10, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 4, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 4, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.
Dec 13, 2023
By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3817
    TORNADO Act


  • April 25, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 25, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • May 10, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 4, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 4, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.


  • December 13, 2023
    By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-258: TORNADO Act
Atmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightEarth sciencesEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFloods and storm protectionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsNatural disastersPerformance measurementResearch and development

TORNADO Act

USA118th CongressS-1284| Senate 
| Updated: 12/13/2023
Tornado Observations Research and Notification Assessment for Development of Operations Act or the TORNADO Act This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to evaluate and improve its communications about hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and other hazardous weather events. Specifically, NOAA must establish a Risk Communication Office to evaluate the effectiveness of NOAA's communications and to identify ways to provide simpler and clearer information to the public about hazardous weather events. NOAA must also (1) establish a research program to modernize its communication systems, and (2) establish a pilot program to implement the research with respect to communications about tornadoes. Additionally, the bill requires NOAA to develop a strategic plan for implementing the Warn-on-Forecast System, which aims to provide more advanced warnings of thunderstorm-related events (e.g., tornadoes). The bill also requires NOAA to evaluate its tornado rating system and to conduct post-storm assessments of significant events. The bill also provides statutory authority for NOAA's Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (known as VORTEX-USA), a collaborative project between meteorologists and social scientists to study the conditions that contribute to dangerous tornadoes in the Southeast and the best ways to communicate these events to the public. Finally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the National Weather Service's communication technology, particularly with respect to timely notices of hazardous weather events.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3817
TORNADO Act
Apr 25, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Apr 25, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 10, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 4, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 4, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.
Dec 13, 2023
By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3817
    TORNADO Act


  • April 25, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 25, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • May 10, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 4, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 4, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.


  • December 13, 2023
    By Senator Cantwell from Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation filed written report. Report No. 118-138.
Roger F. Wicker

Roger F. Wicker

Republican Senator

Mississippi

Cosponsors (10)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)John Boozman (Republican)John Thune (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • S 119-258: TORNADO Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Atmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightEarth sciencesEmergency communications systemsEmergency planning and evacuationFloods and storm protectionGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsNatural disastersPerformance measurementResearch and development