Skip to content
Congress·Reported·4 months ago

Congress presses NOAA to use AI for faster weather and wildfire forecasts, with new public data releases

Also known as: TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(2)
Federal Employee
Neutral
Student
Neutral
Positive Impacts(4)
Housing Assistance
Helps
Child Tax Credit
Helps
Homeowner
Helps
Renter
Helps

Key Points

  • Congress would push NOAA to use artificial intelligence to improve weather, water, space weather, and wildfire forecasts and how alerts get shared.
  • NOAA would build and maintain big “training” datasets for forecasting within 4 years of the bill becoming law, using existing federal datasets when possible.
  • The bill encourages NOAA to develop and test AI-based weather models (global plus regional/local) while still supporting traditional forecasting and research.
  • NOAA would provide hands-on support so forecasters and emergency managers can test these AI tools and use them alongside traditional models when making decisions.
  • NOAA would make many AI models and related government-owned data free to the public, but could hold back details to protect national security, contracts, or trade secrets; it also requires security risk reports to Congress.
Artificial IntelligenceClimate ChangeEnvironmentNational SecurityTechnology

Milestones

4 milestones5 actions
Oct 21, 2025Senate

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 199.

Oct 21, 2025Senate

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-88.

Apr 30, 2025Senate

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

Apr 9, 2025Senate

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

Apr 9, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

After the bill is enacted (once funded)

NOAA starts work to expand AI use in forecasting and set up testing and support for forecasters and emergency managers.

You likely won’t see an instant change in forecasts, but this is when new tools, pilots, and training would begin inside NOAA and the National Weather Service.

Within 1 year after enactment

NOAA delivers a report to Congress on risks from foreign access to U.S. weather data.

This could shape future rules on what weather data or AI tools are shared publicly, especially if security risks are identified.

Within 2 years after enactment

NOAA submits the first required progress report on AI forecasting activities.

Congress and the public get a clearer picture of what improved, what didn’t, and what’s coming next in warnings and forecasts.

Every 2 years after the first report, through 2035

NOAA continues progress reports every 2 years through 2035.

Ongoing pressure to show results and keep improving tools that affect everyday warnings (storms, floods, wildfire conditions, and space weather).

No later than 4 years after enactment

NOAA completes comprehensive training datasets for AI weather forecasting.

This is a building block for better AI forecasts; once done, improvements in forecast accuracy and lead time are more likely to show up in products people use.

Related News

2 articles
FedScoop·11 months ago

Bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing NOAA’s AI use reintroduced in House, Senate

Covers the reintroduction of the TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act (S.1378/H.R.2770), detailing NOAA AI model development, training datasets, and partnerships.

C=
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)·11 months ago

Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | April 7 - April 11, 2025

Legislative roundup noting reintroduction of the TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act and summarizing its intent to use AI to improve forecasting and disaster response.

=

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act

Bill NumberS 1378
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionPlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 199.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(3)
D: 2R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.