NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7813
Last Updated: July 13, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

ID: B001291

Follow the money

The bill

NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act

HR. 7813, 119th Congress — read as touching Telecommunications.

The sponsor

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$81,700 raised

23 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

69% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Introduction" section, p. 708-710 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

March 17, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill from the esteemed members of Congress, because what this country really needs is more bureaucratic busywork and taxpayer-funded boondoggles.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act (HR 7813) aims to update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather radio system. Because, apparently, the current system is as outdated as a flip phone. The bill's sponsors claim it will improve emergency alerts, expand coverage, and enhance communication of hazardous weather warnings.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 by adding new requirements for NOAA's weather radio system. It mandates that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere establish a nationwide weather radio network, ensure its reliability, and modernize it to include satellite capabilities, internet protocol-based communications, and other emerging technologies.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: NOAA, the General Services Administration, and various private sector stakeholders who will likely benefit from government contracts. Oh, and let's not forget the taxpayers, who will foot the bill for this "modernization" effort.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of bureaucratic mission creep. It's a solution in search of a problem, designed to justify more funding and resources for NOAA's weather radio system. The real motivation behind this bill? To create jobs, secure government contracts, and pad the resumes of its sponsors.

In reality, the impact will be minimal. The current system is already adequate for most purposes, and the proposed changes are largely cosmetic. But hey, who needs actual results when you can tout "modernization" and "innovation" to justify more spending?

Diagnosis: This bill suffers from a bad case of "Government-itis," a disease characterized by an insatiable appetite for taxpayer dollars, a lack of accountability, and a penchant for bureaucratic busywork. Treatment? A healthy dose of skepticism, a strong stomach for the absurdity of it all, and a willingness to call out the obvious lies and spin.

In short, this bill is a waste of time and money. But hey, what's new in Washington D.C.?

Related Topics

Telecommunications & Broadband AccessClimate Change & SustainabilityWater & Air Quality Regulations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$81,700
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$9,100
Committees
$0
Individuals
$72,600

No PAC contributions found

1
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
2 transactions
$6,600
2
TIGUA INDIAN RESERVATION - YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO
1 transaction
$2,500

No committee contributions found

1
WORTHAM, ROBERT JUDGE
1 transaction
$6,600
2
WORTHAM, ROBERT J. JUDGE
1 transaction
$6,600
3
OZMEN, FATIH M. MRS.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
BARTLETT, BRUCE
1 transaction
$3,300
5
MCINGVALE, JAMES F.
1 transaction
$3,300
6
MCINGVALE, LINDA
1 transaction
$3,300
7
ALLEN, ROGER
1 transaction
$3,300
8
JOHNSON, JOEL
1 transaction
$3,300
9
BANSAL, NEERU
1 transaction
$3,300
10
SMITH, LAMAR MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
FLOURNOY, CHARLES H. MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SCOTT, GAY MS.
1 transaction
$3,300
13
SCOTT, JAMES M. MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
SCOTT, JAMIE R. MRS.
1 transaction
$3,300
15
SCOTT, LINDSEY
1 transaction
$3,300
16
SCOTT, RICHARD THOMAS MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
17
SCOTT, WILLIAM F. MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
18
SCOTT, WILLIAM F. II
1 transaction
$3,300
19
TUCKER, BRADFORD MR.
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 5 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]

ID: F000474

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
2
DEMOCRACY ENGINE, LLC
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$1,919
Jun 24, 2024
3
SUGAR CREEK REALTY
OrganizationSAINT LOUIS, MO
$1,500
Oct 1, 2024
4
DEMOCRACY ENGINE, LLC
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$959
May 28, 2024
5
LAMA COMMUNITY TRUST
OrganizationSAN CRISTOBAL, NM
$833
Jun 26, 2024
6
RADCLIFFE GILBERTSON & BRADY
OrganizationLINCOLN, NE
$500
Oct 20, 2024
7
CASSLING, MICHAEL
CASSLINGCEO
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$13,200
Mar 13, 2023
8
BRADFORD VI, DANA
C3 BRANDSCEO
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,600
Mar 28, 2023
9
HAWKINS JR, FRED
HAWKINS CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,600
May 11, 2024
10
DUGGER, CATHERINE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,600
Oct 21, 2024

Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

ID: S001225

Top Contributors

10

1
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
OrganizationBELCOURT, ND
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
2
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationRED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 8, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 8, 2023
5
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,500
May 25, 2023
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Jun 29, 2024
7
PEROT, MARGOT B.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$5,000
Apr 29, 2024
8
SCHULER, MARY JO
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualOAK PARK, IL
$3,300
Oct 15, 2024
9
TAYLOR, KAT
OFFICE OF KAT TAYLORPRINCIPAL
IndividualREDWOOD CITY, CA
$3,300
Oct 9, 2024
10
KAUFER, STEPHEN
GIVE FREELY, LLCCEO
IndividualNEWTON, MA
$3,300
Sep 26, 2024

Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]

ID: B000740

Top Contributors

10

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
COMCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
COMTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
3
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
COMTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Jun 10, 2024
4
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
COMCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Dec 19, 2023
5
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND
PACBANNING, CA
$1,000
Mar 31, 2024
6
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
COMOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Aug 7, 2024
7
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
COMLAKESIDE, CA
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
COMOKMULGEE, OK
$500
Dec 5, 2023
9
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$3,300
Dec 24, 2023
10
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$3,300
May 22, 2024

Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

ID: A000380

Top Contributors

10

1
HOFFMAN, REID
GREYLOCK PARTNERSVENTURE CAPITALIST
IndividualANACORTES, WA
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
2
HOFFMAN, REID
GREYLOCK PARTNERSVENTURE CAPITALIST
IndividualANACORTES, WA
$6,600
Sep 29, 2023
3
CHACE, ARNOLD
CORNISH ASSOCIATESREAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
IndividualPROVIDENCE, RI
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
4
FISHER, CYNTHIA
PATIENTRIGHTSADVOCATE.ORGFOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Oct 24, 2024
5
MOCARSKI, THADEUS
NOVACAP MANAGEMENTINVESTOR
IndividualTIVERTON, RI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
6
SCHOENFELDER, LUKE
ALTAMIRA HOLDING COMPANYCHAIRMAN
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
7
LANDRY, BARRIE
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
8
LAVINE, JEANNIE
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
9
LAVINE, JONATHAN
BAIN CAPITALINVESTOR
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
10
HIRSCH, JEFFREY
STARZEXECUTIVE
IndividualBEVERLY HILLS, CA
$3,300
Feb 22, 2024

Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

ID: K000399

Top Contributors

10

1
AIPAC- EARMARKS
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$2,000
Oct 22, 2024
2
PEAKE FOR SENATE
COMLYNCHBURG, VA
$500
Jan 9, 2024
3
PEAKE FOR SENATE
COMLYNCHBURG, VA
$250
Jan 9, 2024
4
KEHOE, MICHAEL
KINSALE MGMT INCCEO
IndividualRICHMOND, VA
$13,200
Jun 8, 2023
5
MITCHUM, ELZA
C & M INDUSTRIESPRESIDENT
IndividualCHESAPEAKE, VA
$6,600
Oct 18, 2023
6
SILVERMAN, JEFFREY
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$6,600
Oct 17, 2023
7
PERRY, J DOUGLAS
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualNORFOLK, VA
$6,600
Nov 6, 2023
8
WEEKLEY, RICHARD
SELF EMPLOYEDREAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
IndividualHOUSTON, TX
$6,600
Nov 8, 2023
9
GILLIAM, MARVIN
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualBRISTOL, VA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2024
10
BOHANNON, DAVID
LONDON BRIDGE TRADING INC.PRESIDENT
IndividualVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$6,600
May 23, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 52 nodes and 38 connections (38 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $125,819

Top Donors - Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs19 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.

  • +Telecommunicationsconfidence 0.90

    Section 2(c)(1)(D)(ii)(I) and (II) mention expanding NOAA Weather Radio via common internet protocols and emerging technologies, which could benefit telecom providers involved in broadband and internet infrastructure. Section 2(c)(1)(D)(i) also references areas without broadband internet access service, implying potential expansion of telecom services to underserved areas.

  • Section 2(c)(2)(G) involves working with GSA to secure priority space capacity for NOAA Weather Radio critical infrastructure, including transmitters and antennas, which would require construction and engineering services for tower sites, land leases, and infrastructure development.

  • Section 2(c)(1)(D)(ii)(I) references 'common internet protocols, such as the Cloud' for disseminating NOAA Weather Radio alerts, indicating potential use of cloud computing services, which benefits AI & Cloud Infrastructure providers.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.

Introduction

Moderate68.7%
Pages: 708-710

— 675 — Department of Commerce l The National Ocean Service (NOS); l The Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR); l The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS); l The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); and l The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and NOAA Corps. Together, these form a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity. This industry’s mission emphasis on prediction and management seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable. That is not to say NOAA is useless, but its current organization corrupts its useful func- tions. It should be broken up and downsized. NOAA today boasts that it is a provider of environmental information services, a provider of environmental stewardship services, and a leader in applied scientific research. Each of these functions could be provided commercially, likely at lower cost and higher quality. Focus the NWS on Commercial Operations. Each day, Americans rely on weather forecasts and warnings provided by local radio stations and colleges that are produced not by the NWS, but by private companies such as AccuWeather. Studies have found that the forecasts and warnings provided by the private com- panies are more reliable than those provided by the NWS.2 The NWS provides data the private companies use and should focus on its data-gathering services. Because private companies rely on these data, the NWS should fully commercialize its forecasting operations. NOAA does not currently utilize commercial partnerships as some other agencies do. Commercialization of weather technologies should be prioritized to ensure that taxpayer dollars are invested in the most cost-efficient technol- ogies for high quality research and weather data. Investing in different sizes of commercial partners will increase competition while ensuring that the govern- ment solutions provided by each contract is personalized to the needs of NOAA’s weather programs. The NWS should be a candidate to become a Performance-Based Organization to better enforce organizational focus on core functions such as efficient delivery of accurate, timely, and unbiased data to the public and to the private sector.3 Review the Work of the National Hurricane Center and the National Environmental Satellite Service. The National Hurricane Center and National Environmental Satellite Service data centers provide important public safety and — 676 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise business functions as well as academic functions, and are used by forecasting agen- cies and scientists internationally. Data continuity is an important issue in climate science. Data collected by the department should be presented neutrally, without adjustments intended to support any one side in the climate debate. Transfer NOS Survey Functions to the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Geo- logical Survey. Survey operations have historically accounted for almost half the NOS budget. These functions could be transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Geological Survey to increase efficiency. NOS’ expansion of the National Marine Sanctuaries System should also be reviewed, as discussed below. Streamline NMFS. Overlap exists between the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Overly simplified, the NMFS handles saltwater species while the Fish and Wildlife Service focuses on fresh water. The goals of these two agencies should be streamlined. Harmonize the Magnuson–Stevens Act with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Under the auspices of NOS, marine sanctuaries (including no-fishing zones) are being established country-wide, often conflicting with the goals of the Magnu- son–Stevens Act fisheries management authorities of NOAA Fisheries, regional fishery management councils, and relevant states. Withdraw the 30x30 Executive Order and Associated America the Beautiful Ini- tiative. The 30x30 Executive Order and the American the Beautiful Initiative are being used to advance an agenda to close vast areas of the ocean to commercial activities, including fishing, while rapidly advancing offshore wind energy devel- opment to the detriment of fisheries and other existing ocean-based industries. Modify Regulations Implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. These acts are currently being abused at a cost to fisheries and Native American subsistence activities around the U.S. Allow a NEPA Exemption for Fisheries Actions. All the requirements for robust analysis of the biological, economic, and social impacts of proposed regulatory action in fisheries are contained with the Magnuson–Stevens Act, the guiding Act for fisheries. NEPA overlays these requirements with onerous, redundant, and time-consuming process requirements, which routinely cause unnecessary delays in the promulgation of timely fisheries management actions. The Department of Commerce and the Council on Environmental Quality should collaborate to reduce this redundancy. Downsize the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. OAR provides theoretical science, as opposed to the applied science of the National Hurricane Center. OAR is, however, the source of much of NOAA’s climate alarmism. The preponderance of its climate-change research should be disbanded. OAR is a large network of research laboratories, an undersea research center, and several joint research institutes with universities. These operations should be reviewed with an aim of consolidation and reduction of bloat.

Introduction

Moderate68.7%
Pages: 708-710

— 675 — Department of Commerce l The National Ocean Service (NOS); l The Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR); l The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS); l The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); and l The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and NOAA Corps. Together, these form a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity. This industry’s mission emphasis on prediction and management seems designed around the fatal conceit of planning for the unplannable. That is not to say NOAA is useless, but its current organization corrupts its useful func- tions. It should be broken up and downsized. NOAA today boasts that it is a provider of environmental information services, a provider of environmental stewardship services, and a leader in applied scientific research. Each of these functions could be provided commercially, likely at lower cost and higher quality. Focus the NWS on Commercial Operations. Each day, Americans rely on weather forecasts and warnings provided by local radio stations and colleges that are produced not by the NWS, but by private companies such as AccuWeather. Studies have found that the forecasts and warnings provided by the private com- panies are more reliable than those provided by the NWS.2 The NWS provides data the private companies use and should focus on its data-gathering services. Because private companies rely on these data, the NWS should fully commercialize its forecasting operations. NOAA does not currently utilize commercial partnerships as some other agencies do. Commercialization of weather technologies should be prioritized to ensure that taxpayer dollars are invested in the most cost-efficient technol- ogies for high quality research and weather data. Investing in different sizes of commercial partners will increase competition while ensuring that the govern- ment solutions provided by each contract is personalized to the needs of NOAA’s weather programs. The NWS should be a candidate to become a Performance-Based Organization to better enforce organizational focus on core functions such as efficient delivery of accurate, timely, and unbiased data to the public and to the private sector.3 Review the Work of the National Hurricane Center and the National Environmental Satellite Service. The National Hurricane Center and National Environmental Satellite Service data centers provide important public safety and

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.

Full Policy Text

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