H.R. 4482 — Stop NOAA Closures Act

This section imposes a moratorium—except in emergencies posing an immediate threat to personnel health or safety—on the Secretary of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator, or General Services Administrator closing, suspending, terminating leases of, ceasing construction on, consolidating, or limiting access to NOAA facilities. The moratorium ends 180 days after these officials jointly submit to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation—not earlier than January 21, 2029—a report analyzing selection criteria and cost-benefit factors (i.e., anticipated savings, replacement costs, service impacts, other relevant factors) for such actions. After the moratorium ends, this section requires a similar report at least 30 days before any such future actions on NOAA facilities, again excepting emergencies. (NOAA facilities support ocean, atmospheric, weather, climate, and fisheries research, observations, and management.)