S.590 - Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The "Improving Flood and Agricultural Forecasts Act of 2025" (S.590) aims to enhance weather forecasting capabilities by maintaining and improving the National Mesonet Program. The program focuses on obtaining environmental observations to improve forecasts for atmospheric, drought, fire, and water events. It also emphasizes leveraging commercial, academic, and non-federal government data to enhance coordination across sectors.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely lead to more accurate and timely weather forecasts, benefiting agriculture, emergency management, and various economic sectors. It also promotes collaboration between government, academic, and private entities in weather data collection and analysis. The Act allocates funding for financial and technical assistance to state, tribal, private, and academic entities to build and upgrade mesonet systems.
Potential Benefits
- Improved weather forecasting, particularly for flood and agricultural forecasts.
- Enhanced coordination between federal, state, tribal, private, and academic entities.
- Increased data density and quality for weather prediction models.
- Support for local and regional environmental monitoring networks.
- Financial and technical assistance for building and upgrading mesonet systems.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased government spending, with specific appropriations authorized.
- Possible challenges in ensuring data quality and cost-effectiveness from non-federal sources.
- Risk of bureaucratic hurdles in coordinating between various agencies and entities.
- Dependence on continued funding and appropriations for the program's success.
- Potential for uneven distribution of financial assistance, favoring certain entities over others.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act aligns with the Constitution's mandate to "promote the general Welfare" (Preamble) by improving public safety and economic stability through better weather forecasting. Congress's power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8) is also relevant, as the Act impacts agriculture, transportation, and other sectors. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).