H.R. 4141: Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act

This bill, known as the Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act, aims to enhance weather and climate prediction capabilities in the United States through innovative computing technologies. It outlines several key initiatives and requirements:

Computing Research Initiative

The bill directs the Under Secretary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to:

• Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to optimize NOAA's computing functions.
• Expand or establish centers of excellence that focus on the application of next-generation computing capabilities, including:
• Creating public-private partnerships for workforce training and infrastructure.
• Developing software tools necessary for high-performance computing systems.
• Applying advanced data analysis technologies to tackle current and future challenges.
• Exploring quantum computing partnerships to improve weather prediction accuracy.

Multi-Year Contracts

The bill allows the Under Secretary to enter into multi-year contracts for operations, research, and development related to high-performance computing, ensuring compliance with established contract rules.

Reporting Requirements

Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, must deliver a report to Congress that evaluates:

• The value of high-resolution weather forecasting.
• The computing needs for cloud and quantum computing.
• A timeline for implementing new weather prediction models and computing strategies.

The report will also define "hazardous weather or water events," which encompass severe storms, winter storms, and other extreme weather conditions that pose significant risks.

Strategic Plan for High-Performance Computing

The bill mandates the publication of a 10-year strategic plan within one year of enactment, which must be updated every five years until 2035. This plan should:

• Outline high-performance computing and data management requirements for NOAA.
• Discuss computing resources and projected needs.
• Detail the use of emerging technologies, such as AI and cloud computing.
• Identify the distribution of computing resources and current workforce needs.

Public Involvement and Reporting

The Under Secretary is required to invite public feedback while developing the strategic plan. Furthermore, annual briefings to Congress must be conducted to report on progress until 2030, including evaluations of the strategic plan's implementation.

Relevant Companies

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