Overview
Title
To establish the Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 9219 is a plan to make sure weather data used by the government is correct and trustworthy by creating a special group to check it, and this group will work together with others to share the information they find.
Summary AI
H.R. 9219 aims to create the Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling within the Department of Commerce. This Commission would develop standards to ensure that weather risk data and models used by government agencies are accurate and reliable. It would also promote collaboration among governmental and private entities, facilitate data sharing, and make recommendations for improving weather data quality. The bill includes provisions to prohibit federal agencies from using unapproved weather risk data and models.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, known as the "Weather Data Taxpayer Protection Act," seeks to establish a Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling. This body would operate under the Department of Commerce with the primary aim of ensuring the accuracy and reliability of weather risk data and models derived from the private sector. The Commission would be tasked with setting standards for data evaluation, coordinating efforts among different government and industry groups, and requiring federal agencies to utilize only validated weather data within two years of the law's enactment.
Summary of Significant Issues
One major issue surrounding the bill is the potential for unnecessary bureaucracy. Existing federal agencies already manage many aspects of weather data and modeling, which could make the creation of a new commission redundant. Additionally, the stringent validation requirements could cause abrupt transitions and complications for existing data and models, possibly disrupting federal operations and contracts. Moreover, the bill does not specify how members of the commission will be selected, raising concerns about impartiality and potential favoritism, particularly toward stakeholders in the banking and insurance industries.
The absence of a specified budget or funding source is another significant concern. Without clear financial backing, the Commission's operations might be underfunded, hindering its effectiveness. The proposed compensation plan for non-federal commission members could also be perceived as an inefficient use of taxpayer resources if their contributions do not justify the costs.
Impact on the Public
The bill could have broad implications for the general public. Accurate weather risk data is crucial for effective disaster preparedness and response, which directly affects public safety and economic stability. Standardizing data and ensuring reliability could enhance these efforts, potentially saving lives and reducing property damage costs in the event of natural hazards.
On the downside, the potential bureaucratic overlap and funding uncertainties could delay the implementation of improved weather risk data systems. Such delays might hamper timely responses to natural disasters, thereby affecting communities that rely on precise and prompt weather forecasting and modeling.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The bill could positively impact several stakeholders. For instance, state, local, and Tribal governments may benefit from improved access to standardized weather risk data, aiding in better planning and disaster response efforts. Industries such as insurance and banking could have more reliable data for assessing risks and setting premiums or interest rates, potentially stabilizing markets.
However, the bill might negatively impact certain stakeholders, particularly those in the private sector who currently provide weather risk data. The new validation standards could impose additional costs and regulatory burdens. Entities engaged in existing federal contracts may face disruptions due to the requirement to transition to validated models within two years.
Furthermore, the ambiguous criteria for selecting commission members might lead to unequal representation, potentially disadvantaging smaller organizations or less powerful industry voices compared to larger, more influential stakeholders.
Overall, while the bill aims to improve weather risk data management and usage, careful consideration of the outlined issues is essential to ensure that its implementation does not inadvertently create new challenges or inefficiencies.
Issues
The establishment of the Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling might create unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication, as stated in Section 2(a), particularly since numerous federal agencies already handle weather data and modeling. This could lead to inefficiencies in government operations and resource allocations.
Section 2(c) and (f) impose stringent validation standards for weather risk models, with a potential abrupt transition period of two years, risking discontinuity or disruptions in existing federal operations and contractual obligations without clear guidelines on handling current contracts.
The lack of clear selection criteria or qualifications, as noted in Section 2(b)(3) and 2(c), could lead to biases in the appointment of Commission members, allowing potential favoritism towards certain stakeholders in the insurance and banking industries, thus impacting the neutrality of the Commission's work.
The absence of specification regarding the budget or funding source for the Commission, as highlighted in Section 2(a), could result in budgetary oversights or insufficient funding for its operations, impacting its effectiveness.
The payment structure for Commission members who are not federal employees, detailed in Section 2(c)(4), might be viewed as an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars if their contributions do not equate to the compensation received.
The use of vague terms such as 'to the maximum extent practicable' in Sections 2(c)(3) and 2(c)(4), may lead to inconsistencies in application and interpretation, providing loopholes that could be exploited.
Section 1 raises potential concerns about the appropriateness of the short title “Weather Data Taxpayer Protection Act”, which may not accurately represent the detailed scope or financial impacts of the Act, potentially misleading stakeholders.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this bill states that the official name of the act is the “Weather Data Taxpayer Protection Act.”
2. Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Federal Commission on Weather Risk Data and Modeling will be set up by the Department of Commerce to ensure the accuracy and reliability of weather risk data and models from the private sector. This involves creating standards for data evaluation, coordinating with various governmental and industry groups, and ensuring that only validated weather data can be used by federal agencies within two years of the law's enactment.