---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8543"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8543"
heading: "Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Weather Service exchange program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8543"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal Weather Coordination"
---

# §8543. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Weather Service exchange program

- (a) **In general—** The Assistant [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of National[^1] Weather Service may establish a program to detail Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research personnel to the National Weather Service and National Weather Service personnel to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
- (b) **Goal—** The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction between the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s world-class scientists and the National Weather Service’s operational staff.
- (c) **Elements—** The program shall allow up to 10 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research staff and National Weather Service staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly selected by the Assistant [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service.
- (d) **Annual report—** Not less frequently than once each year, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on participation in such program and shall highlight any innovations that come from this interaction.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–25, title IV, § 403, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 107.)