[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 84 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

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                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 26, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4690) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2001, and for other purposes:

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Chairman, I regret having to oppose this amendment 
offered by my good friend colleague from Illinois. While I appreciate 
what the gentleman is trying to do, I cannot support a reduction of $15 
million dollars in the National Weather Service budget.
  This bill does not provide sufficient funding for many valuable 
programs, and it fails to provide any funding for many others. The 
funding level provided in the bill for NOAA, which administers the 
National Weather Service is already $500 million below the 
Administration's request and the gentleman's amendment would 
essentially level fund the weather service at last year's level. That 
is simply unacceptable.
  Every American in this country relies upon the weather service--at 
times to provide information that is vital to save lives and property. 
Weather Service programs cost each taxpayer a few dollars per year--a 
modest price to pay for the protection of life and property.
  We have entered hurricane season. The gentleman's amendment would cut 
funding from the operations budget of the Hurricane Center in Miami and 
from other critical weather prediction centers around the country. Base 
operations at the 121 weather forecast offices around the country also 
would be impaired by this cut. This is simply too high a price to pay.
  As the gentleman knows, the Administration included $15 million for 
The PRIME Technical Assistance Grants in its budget request. I am 
certain there are many Members who share the gentleman's desire to see 
this program funded, however it should not be funded by cutting funds 
from corps programs of the National Weather Service.

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