VORTEX-USA program

(a) In general Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking Tornado warning improvement and extension and inserting VORTEX-USA; (2) in subsection (a), by striking establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program and inserting maintain a program for rapidly improving tornado forecast and warnings; (3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Warnings The program required by subsection (a) shall— (1) continue the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology for tornadoes; and (2) incorporate, as appropriate, hazard communication research. (e) Research (1) In general The Under Secretary shall, through the program required by subsection (a), award grants for research that focuses on improving— (A) the social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of information critical for saving lives and property related to tornadoes; and (B) the physical sciences, engineering, and technology related to tornado formation, the interactions of tornadoes with the built and natural environment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes. (2) Priority institutions (A) In general In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may prioritize awarding grants to minority-serving institutions. (B) Definition of minority-serving institution In this paragraph, the term minority-serving institution means— (i) a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)); (ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502(a) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))); (iii) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); (iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); (v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); (vi) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 318(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b))); (vii) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 320(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b))); or (viii) a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as defined in section 319(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b))).; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this section $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2032, of which not less than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for grants awarded under subsection (e).. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by striking the item relating to section 103 and inserting the following: Sec. 103. VORTEX-USA program..

(a) In general Section 103 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8513) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking Tornado warning improvement and extension and inserting VORTEX-USA; (2) in subsection (a), by striking establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program and inserting maintain a program for rapidly improving tornado forecast and warnings; (3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections (f) and (g), respectively; (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following: (d) Warnings The program required by subsection (a) shall— (1) continue the research necessary to develop and deploy probabilistic weather forecast guidance technology for tornadoes; and (2) incorporate, as appropriate, hazard communication research. (e) Research (1) In general The Under Secretary shall, through the program required by subsection (a), award grants for research that focuses on improving— (A) the social, behavioral, risk, communication, and economic sciences related to vulnerabilities, risk communication, and delivery of information critical for saving lives and property related to tornadoes; and (B) the physical sciences, engineering, and technology related to tornado formation, the interactions of tornadoes with the built and natural environment, and the interaction of tornadoes and hurricanes. (2) Priority institutions (A) In general In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary may prioritize awarding grants to minority-serving institutions. (B) Definition of minority-serving institution In this paragraph, the term minority-serving institution means— (i) a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)); (ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502(a) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a))); (iii) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b))); (iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); (v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b))); (vi) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 318(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b))); (vii) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 320(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b))); or (viii) a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as defined in section 319(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b))).; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary to carry out this section $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2032, of which not less than $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be used for grants awarded under subsection (e).. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–25; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by striking the item relating to section 103 and inserting the following: Sec. 103. VORTEX-USA program..