II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2170

To establish the Weather Modification Operations and Research Board and 

outline its duties and responsibilities. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 4, 2004

Mrs. HUTCHISON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL

To establish the Weather Modification Operations and 

Research Board and outline its duties and responsibilities.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Weather Modification 

5 Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

7 It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement 

8 a comprehensive and coordinated national weather modi9 fication policy and a national cooperative Federal and 
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1 State program of weather modification research and devel2 opment. 

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

5 (1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘board’’ means the 

6 Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board. 

7 (2) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘execu8 tive director’’ means the executive director of the 

9 Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board. 

10 (3) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—The term 

11 ‘‘research and development’’ means theoretical anal12 ysis, explorations, experimentation, and the exten13 sion of investigative findings and theories of sci14 entific or technical nature into practical application 

15 for experimental and demonstration purposes, in16 cluding the experimental production and testing of 

17 models, devices, equipment, materials, and processes. 

18 (4) WEATHER MODIFICATION.—The term 

19 ‘‘weather modification’’ means changing or control20 ling, or attempting to change or control, by artificial 

21 methods the natural development of atmospheric 

22 cloud forms or precipitation forms which occur in 

23 the troposphere. 
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1 SEC. 4. WEATHER MODIFICATION ADVISORY AND RE2 SEARCH BOARD ESTABLISHED. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the De4 partment of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory 

5 and Research Board. 

6 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The board shall consist of 

8 11 members appointed by the Secretary of Com9 merce, of whom—

10 (A) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

11 the American Meteorological Society; 

12 (B) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

13 the American Society of Civil Engineers; 

14 (C) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

15 the National Academy of Sciences; 

16 (D) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

17 the National Center for Atmospheric Research 

18 of the National Science Foundation; 

19 (E) at least 2 shall be representatives of 

20 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin21 istration of the Department of Commerce; 

22 (F) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

23 institutions of higher education or research in24 stitutes; and 
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1 (G) at least 1 shall be a representative of 

2 a State that is currently supporting operational 

3 weather modification projects. 

4 (2) SERVICE AS MEMBERS.—A member of the 

5 board shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of 

6 Commerce. 

7 (3) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy on the board 

8 shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap9 pointment. 

10 (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The board may estab11 lish advisory committees to advise the board and to make 

12 recommendations to the board concerning legislation, poli13 cies, administration, research, and other matters. 

14 (c) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 

15 the date on which all members of the board have been 

16 appointed, the board shall hold its first meeting. 

17 (d) MEETINGS.—The board shall meet at the call of 

18 the Chair. 

19 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 

20 board shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of 

21 members may hold hearings. 

22 (f) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The board shall select 

23 a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. 
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1 SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE BOARD. 

2 (a) PROMOTION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOP3 MENT.—In order to assist in expanding the theoretical 

4 and practical knowledge of weather modification, the 

5 board shall promote and fund research and development, 

6 studies, and investigations with respect to—

7 (1) improved forecast and decision-making tech8 nologies for weather modification operations, includ9 ing tailored computer workstations and software and 

10 new observation systems with remote sensors; and 

11 (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy 

12 of weather modification, both purposeful (including 

13 cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including 

14 downwind effects and anthropogenic effects). 

15 (b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—Unless the use of the 

16 money is restricted or subject to any limitations provided 

17 by law, the board shall use amounts in the Weather Modi18 fication Research and Development Fund—

19 (1) to pay its expenses in the administration of 

20 this Act, and 

21 (2) to provide for research and development 

22 with respect to weather modifications by grants to, 

23 or contracts or cooperative arrangements, with pub24 lic or private agencies. 
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1 (c) REPORT.—The board shall provide the Secretary 

2 with a report of its findings and research results bienni3 ally. 

4 SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE BOARD. 

5 (a) STUDIES, INVESTIGATIONS AND HEARINGS.—

6 The board may make any studies or investigations, obtain 

7 any information, and hold any hearings necessary or prop8 er to administer or enforce this Act or any rules or orders 

9 issued under this Act.

10 (b) PERSONNEL.—The board may hire an executive 

11 director and other support staff, as provided by the appro12 priations act, necessary to perform duties and functions 

13 under this Act. 

14 (c) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—The 

15 board may cooperate with public or private agencies to 

16 promote the purposes of this Act. 

17 (d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The board may 

18 enter into cooperative agreements with the agencies of the 

19 United States, States of the United States and their coun20 ties and cities, or with any private or public agencies or 

21 organizations for conducting weather modification activi22 ties or cloud-seeding operations. 

23 (e) CONDUCT AND CONTRACTS FOR RESEARCH AND

24 DEVELOPMENT.—The executive director, with approval of 

25 the board, may conduct and may contract for research and 
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1 development activities relating to the purposes of this sec2 tion. 

3 SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH THE WEATHER MODIFICATION 

4 OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH BOARD. 

5 Agencies of the United States and other public or pri6 vate agencies and institutions that receive research funds 

7 from the United States are directed to the extent possible 

8 to give full support and cooperation to the board and to 

9 initiate independent research and development programs 

10 that address weather modifications. 

11 SEC. 8. FUNDING. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established within the 

13 Treasury of the United States the Weather Modification 

14 Research and Development Fund, which shall consist of 

15 amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) or re16 ceived by the board under subsection (c). 

17 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

18 authorized to be appropriated to the board for the pur19 poses of carrying out the provisions of this Act 

20 $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2013. 

21 Any sums appropriated under this subsection shall remain 

22 available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended. 

23 (c) GIFTS.—The board may accept, use, and dispose 

24 of gifts or donations of services or property. 
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1 SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

2 The provisions of this Act shall apply on and after 

3 October 1, 2003.

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