---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 9442"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "9442"
heading: "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Artificial Intelligence Center"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/9442"
units:
  - "Chapter 119 — National Artificial Intelligence Initiative"
  - "Subchapter III — Department of Commerce Artificial Intelligence Activities"
---

# §9442. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Artificial Intelligence Center

- (a) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) (hereafter referred to as “the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1)”) shall establish,[^1] a Center for [Artificial Intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) (hereafter referred to as “the Center”).
- (b) **Center goals—** The goals of the Center shall be to—
  - (1) coordinate and facilitate the scientific and technological efforts related to [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1); and
  - (2) expand external partnerships, and build workforce proficiency to effectively transition [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) research and applications to operations.
- (c) **Comprehensive program—** Through the Center, the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) shall implement a comprehensive program to improve the use of [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) systems across the agency in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1).
- (d) **Center priorities—** The priorities of the Center shall be to—
  - (1) coordinate and facilitate [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) research and innovation, tools, systems, and capabilities across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (2) establish data standards and develop and maintain a central repository for agency-wide [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) applications;
  - (3) accelerate the transition of [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) research to applications in support of the mission of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (4) develop and conduct training for the workforce of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) related to [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) research and application of [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) for such agency;
  - (5) facilitate partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) and other public sector organizations, private sector organizations, and institutions of higher education for research, personnel exchange, and workforce development with respect to [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) systems; and
  - (6) make data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) accessible, available, and ready for [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) applications.
- (e) **Stakeholder engagement—** In carrying out the activities authorized in this section, the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) shall—
  - (1) collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders including private sector entities and institutions of higher education;
  - (2) leverage the collective body of research on [artificial intelligence](/usc/15/9401.md?p=3) and [machine learning](/usc/15/9401.md?p=11); and
  - (3) engage with relevant Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of data and methods made available through the Center.
- (f) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021.
- (g) **Protection of national security interests—**
  - (1) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), in consultation with the Secretary of Defense as appropriate, may withhold models or data used by the Center if the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) determines doing so to be necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.
  - (2) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any other provision of law governing the protection of the national security interests of the United States.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–283, div. E, title LIII, § 5303, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4539.)