Union Calendar No. 83
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1553
[Report No. 106–146]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2000
and fiscal year 2001 for the National Weather
Service, Atmospheric Research, and National En-
vironmental Satellite, Data and Information
Service activities of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, and for other pur-
poses.
MAY 18, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed
IB
Union Calendar No. 83
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1553
[Report No. 106–146]
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2001 for
the National Weather Service, Atmospheric Research, and National Envi-
ronmental Satellite, Data and Information Service activities of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 26, 1999
Mr. CALVERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science
MAY 18, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 26, 1999]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2000 and fiscal
year 2001 for the National Weather Service, Atmospheric
Research, and National Environmental Satellite, Data
and Information Service activities of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other pur-
poses.
(2) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$2,200,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Advanced
Hydrological Prediction System;
(3) $619,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $619,000
for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Susquehanna River
Basin Flood Systems;
(4) $35,596,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$35,596,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Aviation
Forecasts;
(5) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Weather
Forecast Offices (WFO) Facilities Maintenance;
(6) $37,081,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$37,081,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Central
Forecast Guidance;
(7) $3,090,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$3,090,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Atmos-
pheric and Hydrological Research;
(8) $39,325,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$39,325,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Next
Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD);
(9) $7,573,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$7,573,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Automated
Surface Observing System (ASOS);
(10) $38,002,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$38,002,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Advanced
Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS); and
(11) $970,000 for fiscal year 2000 shall be for
two 1,000-watt National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Weather Radio transmitters, to be lo-
cated in Jasper and Marion Counties, Illinois, and
nine 300-watt National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration Weather Radio transmitters, to be in-
stalled in appropriate locations throughout the State
of Illinois, and for maintenance costs related thereto.
(b) PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION, AND CONSTRUC-
TION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration to carry out the Procurement, Acquisition,
and Construction activities of the National Weather Service
$69,632,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $70,120,000 for fiscal
year 2001, to remain available until expended. Of such
amounts—
(1) $9,560,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$9,060,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Next Gen-
eration Weather Radar (NEXRAD);
(2) $4,180,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$6,125,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Automated
Surface Observing System (ASOS);
(3) $22,575,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$21,525,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Advanced
Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS);
(4) $11,100,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$12,835,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Com-
puter Facilities Upgrades;
(5) $8,350,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$8,350,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Radio-
sonde Replacement;
(6) $500,000 for fiscal year 2000 shall be for Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Op-
erations Center Rehabilitation; and
(7) $13,367,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$12,225,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Weather
Forecast Office (WFO) Construction.
(c) DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—To protect life and property,
the Secretary, through the National Weather Service,
except as provided in paragraph (2), shall be respon-
sible for—
(A) forecasts and shall serve as the sole offi-
cial source of weather and flood warnings;
(B) the issuance of storm warnings;
(C) the collection, exchange, and distribu-
tion of meteorological, hydrological, climatic,
and oceanographic data and information;
(D) the preparation of hydrometeorological
guidance and core forecast information; and
(E) the issuance of marine and aviation
forecasts and warnings.
(2) COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR.—The
National Weather Service shall not provide, or assist
other entities to provide, a service (other than a serv-
ice described in paragraph (1)(A) or (B)) if that serv-
ice is currently provided or can be provided by com-
mercial enterprise, unless—
(A) the Secretary finds that the private sec-
tor is unwilling or unable to provide the service;
or
(B) the service provides vital weather warn-
ings and forecasts for the protection of lives and
property of the general public.
(3) AMENDMENTS.—The Act of October 1, 1890
(26 Stat. 653) is amended—
(A) by striking section 3 (15 U.S.C. 313);
and
(B) in section 9 (15 U.S.C. 317), by strik-
ing ‘‘, and it shall be’’ and all that follows, and
inserting a period.
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
detailing all National Weather Service activities
which do not conform to the requirements of this sub-
section and outlining a timetable for their termi-
nation.
SEC. 4. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.
(a) OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Secretary to enable the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out the Atmospheric Research Operations, Research,
and Facilities environmental research and develop-
ment activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Research $173,250,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$173,250,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain available
until expended.
(2) CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY RESEARCH.—Of
the 
amounts 
authorized 
under 
paragraph 
(1),
$126,200,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $126,200,000
for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Climate and Air
Quality Research, of which—
(A) $16,900,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$16,900,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for
Interannual and Seasonal Climate Research;
(B) $34,600,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$34,600,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for
Long-Term Climate and Air Quality Research;
(C) $69,700,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$69,700,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Cli-
mate and Global Change; and
(D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Glob-
al Learning and Observations to Benefit the En-
vironment (GLOBE).
(3) ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS.—Of the amounts
authorized under paragraph (1), $47,050,000 for fis-
cal year 2000 and $47,050,000 for fiscal year 2001
shall be for Atmospheric Programs, of which—
(A) $36,600,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
$36,600,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for
Weather Research;