; and (2) by inserting after section 602 the following new section: 603. Precipitation forecast improvement program (a) In general The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry, other Federal agencies, and academic partners, shall maintain a program to improve precipitation forecasting across timescales. (b) Goal The goal of the program under subsection (a) shall be to provide more accurate, reliable, and timely precipitation forecasts across timescales through the development and application of a fully coupled Earth system prediction model in order to reduce the loss of life or property related to precipitation extremes, with a focus on the following: (1) Improving the understanding and prediction of precipitation extremes from a variety of weather systems, including atmospheric rivers. (2) Evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations into operational monitoring and forecast systems to improve precipitation forecasts. (3) Improving earth system model predictions of precipitation extremes from atmospheric rivers, tropical cyclones, summer-time thunderstorms, winter storms, and other phenomena, in coordination with relevant programs. (4) Enhancing research transition to operations through testbeds, including the evaluation of physical and social science, technology, and other research to develop products and services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders. (5) Incorporating social, behavioral, and economic sciences best practices into operations for more effective and actionable watch and warning products that help drive public safety and damage mitigation decisions in coordination with the programs established in accordance with this Act. (6) Ensuring data and metadata management processes are in place to support data access and archive for long term research and operations among multiple partners. (c) Activities In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall support research-to-operations work, including relating