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H.R. 4482: Stop NOAA Closures Act

This legislation, known as the Stop NOAA Closures Act, aims to establish a moratorium on actions related to the facilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Here is a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Moratorium on Facility Actions

The bill generally prohibits the following actions by the Secretary of Commerce, the NOAA Administrator, or the Administrator of General Services:

Closing or suspending NOAA facilities
Terminating leases related to these facilities
Ceasing construction of projects at these facilities
Consolidating facilities or limiting access to them

These prohibitions are in effect unless they fall under specific emergency exceptions or unless a certain process is followed, as outlined below.

Exceptions for Emergencies

Emergency actions that pose an immediate threat to personnel health or safety are exempt from the moratorium. This means that in urgent situations, the above actions can still be taken if necessary to protect individuals.

Requirements for Future Actions

If a closure, suspension, or other limitation on access to a facility is proposed in the future (after the initial moratorium period), the following process must be followed:

The Secretary of Commerce, NOAA Administrator, and Administrator of General Services must jointly submit a report to congressional committees at least 30 days prior to the proposed action.
This report must justify the decision and provide analysis on the criteria and methodology used in making the decision, including:

Criteria for selection of the facility impacted
Cost-benefit analysis of the proposed action, including anticipated savings and replacement service costs
Impact on NOAA services
Any other relevant factors deemed necessary

Timeline for Reporting

Not earlier than January 21, 2029, the Secretary and Administrators must submit a report that outlines how facilities have been chosen for possible closures, suspensions, or limitations in access during the moratorium period.

Effective Dates

The requirements for future actions will apply only after the moratorium outlined has been lifted, ensuring that no new limitations are placed on NOAA facilities until the specified processes have been completed.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Actions

3 actions

Date	Action
Jul. 18, 2025	Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Jul. 17, 2025	Introduced in House
Jul. 17, 2025	Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Corporate Lobbying

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