Weather Workforce Improvement Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3809 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3809 To waive certain legal requirements to permit the Director of the National Weather Service to expeditiously hire for positions that are critical for public safety, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 6, 2025 Mr. Flood (for himself, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Sorensen, and Mr. Moskowitz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To waive certain legal requirements to permit the Director of the National Weather Service to expeditiously hire for positions that are critical for public safety, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Workforce Improvement Act''. SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) accurate and timely weather forecasting is of vital importance; (2) employees of the National Weather Service, particularly employees responsible for the regular launching of weather balloons, are critical for public safety; and (3) staffing positions relating to the regular launching of weather balloons should be prioritized and categorized as critical for public safety. SEC. 3. STAFFING FOR POSITIONS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. (a) Direct Hire Authority.--The Director of the National Weather Service may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 (other than sections 3303, 3307, and 3328 of such chapter) of title 5, United States Code, qualified candidates to any of the following positions to satisfy critical staffing needs and fill vacancies at the S