Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
H.R. 5002, the Protect Americans from Climate Disasters Act, would require the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore all employees and programs related to extreme weather preparation and disaster mitigation that were cut or eliminated since January 20, 2025. The bill mandates that within 30 days of enactment, the Secretary of Commerce reinstate any NOAA staff members who were involuntarily removed and restore specific programs including the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product, the Marine Environmental Buoy Database, and the Global Ocean Currents Database. The legislation is driven by concerns that staffing cuts have reduced NOAA's capacity to issue timely weather forecasts and alerts, which poses a public safety risk—particularly given that weather and climate disasters cost the nation over $746 billion between 2020 and 2024. The bill appropriates $6.76 billion to the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2026 to support NOAA operations and uses previously appropriated funds to cover immediate reinstatement costs.
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