Observing system planning

Section 106 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8516) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) by inserting Federal before observing capabilities; and (B) by striking and after the semicolon; (2) in paragraph (4)— (A) by inserting, including private sector partnerships or commercial acquisition, after options; and (B) by striking the period and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (5) compare costs and schedule, including cost-benefit analyses, of Federal and private sector supplemental options to fill the observation data requirements under paragraph (1) and gaps identified pursuant to paragraph (3); and (6) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, submit to Congress a report that provides an analysis of the technical, schedule, cost, and cost-benefit analyses relating to placing an operational polar-orbiting environmental satellite capability in the early morning orbit to support the weather enterprise and the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration..