[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2811 Engrossed in House (EH)]

103d CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               H. R. 2811

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To authorize certain atmospheric, weather, and satellite programs and 
 functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
                          for other purposes.






103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2811

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To authorize certain atmospheric, weather, and satellite programs and 
 functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
                          for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Atmospheric and Satellite Program Authorization Act of 
1993''.

                TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 101. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

    (a) Operations and Research.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce (in this Act referred to as 
the ``Secretary'') to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out the operations and research duties of the 
National Weather Service, $473,256,000 for fiscal year 1994 and 
$492,185,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include meteorological, 
hydrological, and oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well 
as applied research in support of such warnings and forecasts.
    (b) Systems Acquisition.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out the public warning and forecast systems 
duties of the National Weather Service, $76,299,000 for fiscal year 
1994 and $14,600,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include the 
development, acquisition, and implementation of major public warning 
and forecast systems. None of the funds authorized under this 
subsection shall be used for the purposes for which funds are 
authorized under section 102(b) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567). None of 
the funds authorized under this subsection for fiscal year 1995 shall 
be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under 
subsections (c) and (d) of this section. No funds may be expended for 
Next Generation Doppler Weather Radar (NEXRAD) until the requirements 
of paragraph (2) (A) or (B) of such section 102(b) have been fulfilled 
by the Secretary. None of the funds authorized by such section 102(b) 
shall be expended for a particular NEXRAD installation unless--
            (1) it is identified as a National Weather Service NEXRAD 
        installation in the National Implementation Plan for 
        modernization of the National Weather Service for fiscal year 
        1994, required under section 703 of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public 
        Law 102-567);
            (2) the Secretary, in consultation with the Modernization 
        Transition Committee established under section 707 of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization 
        Act of 1992, has made a determination of technical and 
        programmatic necessity with respect to such installation and a 
        period of 60 legislative days after the transmittal to the 
        Congress of such determination, or the period between such 
        transmittal and the next October 1, whichever period is longer, 
        has passed; or
            (3) it is to be used only for spare parts, not as an 
        installation at a particular site.
For purposes of this subsection, the term ``legislative day'' means any 
day on which either House of Congress is in session.
    (c) ASOS Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an aggregate 
of $30,808,000, to remain available until expended, to complete the 
acquisition and deployment of--
            (A) the Automated Surface Observing System and related 
        systems, including multisensor and backup arrays for National 
        Weather Service sites at airports; and
            (B) Automated Meteorological Observing System and Remote 
        Automated Meteorological Observing System replacement units,
and to cover all associated activities, including program management 
and operations and maintenance through September 30, 1996.
    (2) No funds are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year 
under paragraph (1) unless, within 60 days after the submission of the 
President's budget request for such fiscal year, the Secretary--
            (A) certifies to the Congress that--
                    (i) the systems meet the technical performance 
                specifications included in the system contract as in 
                effect on February 20, 1991;
                    (ii) the systems can be fully deployed, sited, and 
                operational without requiring further appropriations 
                beyond amounts authorized under paragraph (1); and
                    (iii) the Secretary does not foresee any delays in 
                the systems deployment and operations schedule; or
            (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes--
                    (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification 
                under subparagraph (A);
                    (ii) remedial actions undertaken or to be 
                undertaken with respect to such circumstances;
                    (iii) the effects of such circumstances on the 
                systems deployment and operations schedule and systems 
                coverage; and
                    (iv) a justification for proceeding with the 
                program, if appropriate.
    (d) AWIPS Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided 
in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an 
aggregate of $315,887,000, to remain available until expended, to 
complete the acquisition and deployment of the Advanced Weather 
Interactive Processing System and NOAA Port and to cover all associated 
activities, including program management and operations and maintenance 
through September 30, 1999.
    (2) No funds are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year 
under paragraph (1) unless, within 60 days after the submission of the 
President's budget request for such fiscal year, the Secretary--
            (A) certifies to the Congress that--
                    (i) the systems meet the technical performance 
                specifications included in the system contract as in 
                effect on January 5, 1993;
                    (ii) the systems can be fully deployed, sited, and 
                operational without requiring further appropriations 
                beyond amounts authorized under paragraph (1); and
                    (iii) the Secretary does not foresee any delays in 
                the systems deployment and operations schedule; or
            (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes--
                    (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification 
                under subparagraph (A);
                    (ii) remedial actions undertaken or to be 
                undertaken with respect to such circumstances;
                    (iii) the effects of such circumstances on the 
                systems deployment and operations schedule and systems 
                coverage; and
                    (iv) a justification for proceeding with the 
                program, if appropriate.
    (e) Construction of Weather Forecast Offices.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out construction, repair, and 
modification activities relating to new and existing weather forecast 
offices, $62,784,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $14,739,000 for fiscal 
year 1995. Such activities include planning, design, and land 
acquisition related to such offices.

SEC. 102. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

    (a) Climate and Air Quality Research.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out its climate and air quality 
        research duties, $105,922,000 for fiscal year 1994 and 
        $138,737,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include 
        interannual and seasonal climate research and long-term climate 
        and air quality research.
            (2) Climate and global change.--Of the sums authorized 
        under paragraph (1), $66,902,000 for fiscal year 1994 and 
        $84,573,000 for fiscal year 1995 are authorized to be 
        appropriated for the purposes of studying climate and global 
        change, including global observations, monitoring, and data and 
        information management relating to the study of changes in the 
        Earth's climatic system, and fundamental research on oceanic 
        and atmospheric processes critical to climate prediction and 
        diagnostics.
    (b) Atmospheric Programs.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out its atmospheric research duties, 
$42,103,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $52,980,000 for fiscal year 1995. 
Such duties include research for developing improved prediction 
capabilities for atmospheric processes, as well as solar-terrestrial 
research and services.

SEC. 103. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA, AND INFORMATION 
              SERVICE.

    (a) Satellite Observing Systems.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out its satellite observing systems 
duties, $206,383,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $217,710,000 for fiscal 
year 1995, except that no funds may be expended for Geostationary 
Operational Environmental Satellite until the requirements of section 
105(d)(2) (A) or (B) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567) have been 
fulfilled by the Secretary. Such duties include spacecraft procurement, 
launch, and associated ground station systems involving polar orbiting 
and geostationary environmental satellites, as well as the operation of 
such satellites. None of the funds authorized under this subsection 
shall be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under 
section 105(d) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567). None of the funds 
authorized under this subsection for fiscal year 1995 shall be used for 
the purposes for which funds are authorized under subsection (b) of 
this section.
    (b) POES Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided in 
paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an aggregate 
of $196,343,000, to remain available until expended, to complete the 
procurement of Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites J, K, L, and M, 
and the procurement of the launching and supporting ground systems of 
such satellites.
    (2) No funds are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year 
under paragraph (1) unless, within 60 days after the submission of the 
President's budget request for such fiscal year, the Secretary--
            (A) certifies to the Congress that--
                    (i) the satellite instruments meet the technical 
                performance specifications included in the satellite 
                contracts as in effect on July 27, 1988;
                    (ii) the procurements can be completed without 
                requiring further appropriations beyond amounts 
                authorized under paragraph (1); and
                    (iii) the Secretary does not foresee any gaps in 
                two-satellite service operations resulting from 
                nonperformance of the satellite contract; or
            (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes--
                    (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification 
                under subparagraph (A);
                    (ii) remedial actions undertaken or to be 
                undertaken with respect to such circumstances;
                    (iii) the effects of such circumstances on the 
                launch schedule and satellite coverage; and
                    (iv) a justification for proceeding with the 
                program, if appropriate.
    (3) No funds for Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites, other 
than for Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites J, K, L, and M, are 
authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) unless the Director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy submits an 
implementation plan for a single operational polar environmental and 
weather satellite system and the policy for polar satellite system 
convergence with the European Organization for the Exploitation of 
Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).
    (c) Environmental Data and Information Services.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its environmental 
data and information services duties, $34,068,000 for fiscal year 1994 
and $41,227,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include climate data 
services, geophysical data services, and environmental assessment and 
information services.

SEC. 104. PROGRAM SUPPORT.

    (a) Administration and Services.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary for Administration and Services, 
$73,319,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $76,252,000 for fiscal year 1995.
    (b) Aircraft Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary for Aircraft Services and Aircraft Critical Safety and 
Instrumentation, $9,495,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $9,875,000 for 
fiscal year 1995.

SEC. 105. LIMITATION ON APPROPRIATIONS.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in 
section 101(c) and (d) and section 103(b), no funds are authorized to 
be appropriated for any fiscal year after fiscal year 1995 for carrying 
out the programs for which funds are authorized by this Act. This 
section shall not apply to the programs described in section 102(a)(2) 
or section 104(a).

                   TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES.

    (a) Assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an assessment of the 
long-term role and mission of the Environmental Research Laboratories 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the 
relevance of the research conducted therein to issues of global and 
national importance. In conducting such assessment, the Secretary shall 
take into consideration--
            (1) the adequacy of resources provided to support the 
        missions of the Environmental Research Laboratories;
            (2) the ability of the Environmental Research Laboratories 
        to provide research support for the coastal and ocean 
        management and regulatory responsibilities of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
            (3) the capacity of the Environmental Research Laboratories 
        to process and disseminate environmental data and information 
        collected and processed, or expected to be collected and 
        processed, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration and other appropriate Federal departments and 
        agencies;
            (4) the mission of the Environmental Research Laboratories 
        to provide solar-terrestrial services to the Nation;
            (5) the ability of the Environmental Research Laboratories 
        to provide continued support for the modernization of weather 
        services;
            (6) the responsibilities of the Environmental Research 
        Laboratories to monitor, assess, and predict changes in the 
        Earth's climate;
            (7) the capability of the Environmental Research 
        Laboratories to integrate and interpret scientific data in 
        order to provide information useful to policy makers for 
        responding to national and global environmental concerns;
            (8) the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the 
        Environmental Research Laboratories;
            (9) the interaction of the Environmental Research 
        Laboratories with the academic community, including Joint and 
        Cooperative Institutes, and the ability of these interactions 
        to improve the quality and effectiveness of research;
            (10) the number, location, and geographic distribution of 
        the Environmental Research Laboratories; and
            (11) any other issues that the Secretary may identify.
    (b) Comprehensive Strategic Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee 
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives a 
comprehensive strategic plan, based on the assessment conducted under 
subsection (a), to modernize and improve the role and mission of the 
Environmental Research Laboratories of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. The assessment conducted under subsection 
(a) shall be submitted along with such plan.

SEC. 202. HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH AND FLOOD FORECAST MODERNIZATION 
              REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of 
other appropriate Federal agencies, shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives a report identifying the actions required to improve 
the hydrological research programs and to modernize the Flood 
Forecasting System of the National Weather Service.
    (b) Report Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) 
shall include consideration of--
            (1) current, planned, and potential technological 
        improvements in the collection of observational hydrological 
        data;
            (2) use of additional satellite remote-sensing data and 
        airborne surveys, including those systems operated by other 
        Federal agencies, for hydrological data collection;
            (3) improvements in data analysis and computer modeling in 
        support of flood forecasts and predictions; and
            (4) full integration of the River Forecast Centers in the 
        National Weather Service Modernization Plan.

SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that any transfers of National Weather 
Service employees from field offices necessitated by the National 
Implementation Plan for Modernization of the National Weather Service 
be carried out in a manner that will not result in the degradation of 
services in the service area of such field office.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 20, 1993.

            Attest:






                                                                 Clerk.

HR 2811 EH