[House Report 105-66]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                             Rept. 105-66
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    Part II
_______________________________________________________________________


 
 NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  1997

                                _______
                                

 June 20, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1278]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1278) to authorize appropriations for the activities of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal 
years 1998 and 1999, and for other purposes, having considered 
the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and 
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Oceanographic and 
Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 1997''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

         TITLE I--ATMOSPHERIC, WEATHER, AND SATELLITE PROGRAMS

Sec. 101. National Weather Service.
Sec. 102. Atmospheric research.
Sec. 103. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information 
Service.

               TITLE II--OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH

Sec. 201. Oceanography and marine research.

             TITLE III--PROGRAM SUPPORT AND OTHER ACCOUNTS

Sec. 301. Program support.
Sec. 302. Recoveries from prior years.

                  TITLE IV--STREAMLINING OF OPERATIONS

Sec. 401. Programs.
Sec. 402. Limitations on appropriations.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 501. Weather data buoys.
Sec. 502. Duties of the National Weather Service.
Sec. 503. Prohibition of lobbying activities.
Sec. 504. Notice.
Sec. 505. Sense of Congress on the Year 2000 problem.
Sec. 506. Buy American.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  For the purposes of this Act, the term--
          (1) ``Act of 1890'' means the Act entitled ``An Act to 
        increase the efficiency and reduce the expenses of the Signal 
        Corps of the Army, and to transfer the Weather Bureau to the 
        Department of Agriculture'', approved October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. 
        653);
          (2) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
          (3) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

         TITLE I--ATMOSPHERIC, WEATHER, AND SATELLITE PROGRAMS

SEC. 101. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

  (a) Operations and Research.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out the operations and research duties of the 
National Weather Service, $458,131,000 for fiscal year 1998 and 
$451,074,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties include meteorological, 
hydrological, and oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well 
as applied research in support of such warnings and forecasts. Of the 
amounts authorized under this subsection for each of the fiscal years 
1998 and 1999, $3,600,000 shall be for the Tropical Prediction Center/
National Hurricane Center.
  (b) Systems Acquisition.--(1) 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, $89,713,000 for fiscal year 
1998 (including amounts as provided in subsection (c)) and $74,453,000 
for fiscal year 1999. Such duties include the development, acquisition, 
and implementation of major public warning and forecast systems, 
including the upgrade of computer facilities. None of the funds 
authorized under this subsection shall be used for the purposes for 
which funds are authorized under subsection (f).
  (2) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), $39,591,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 and $39,887,000 for fiscal year 1999 shall be for Next 
Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) program management, operations, and 
maintenance.
  (3) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), $11,377,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 and $11,224,000 for fiscal year 1999 shall be for 
remaining system acquisition, program management, support contracts, 
logistic support, and continued product improvement of NEXRAD systems.
  (c) New NEXRAD Installations.--Of the amount authorized under 
subsection (b)(1) for fiscal year 1998, $15,000,000 shall be for the 
acquisition and deployment of NEXRAD systems--
          (1) identified as necessary to prevent degradation of weather 
        service caused by gaps in radar coverage, in National Weather 
        Service follow-up studies to the Secretary's Report to Congress 
        on Adequacy of NEXRAD Coverage and Degradation of Weather 
        Services Under National Weather Service Modernization for 32 
        Areas of Concern, dated October 12, 1995; and
          (2) recommended and approved by the Secretary,
including program management, facilities, operations, and maintenance 
through September 30, 1999.
  (d) ASOS Program Authorization.--Of the sums authorized in subsection 
(b)(1), $9,835,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $9,942,000 for fiscal year 
1999 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, for the 
acquisition and deployment of--
          (1) the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and related 
        systems, including multisensor and backup arrays for National 
        Weather Service sites at airports; and
          (2) 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.
  (e) Computer Facility Upgrades.--Of the sums authorized in subsection 
(b)(1), $13,910,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $13,400,000 for fiscal 
year 1999 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for--
          (1) the continued lease and maintenance of the Cray C-90 
        supercomputer; and
          (2) the Upgrade of the Central Computer Facility (to provide 
        for payment toward the Cray J-916 systems buyout, to complete 
        the National Weather Service telecommunications gateway 
        upgrade, and to cover all associated activities, including 
        program management and operations and maintenance).
  (f) AWIPS Program Authorization.--(1) There are to be authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the acquisition, deployment, 
program management, operation, and maintenance of the Advanced Weather 
Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), $116,910,000 for fiscal year 
1998 and $82,029,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (2)(A) Of the sums authorized in paragraph (1), except as provided in 
paragraph (3), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1997, an aggregate 
of $186,300,000, to remain available until expended, to complete the 
acquisition and deployment of AWIPS and NOAAPort and to cover all 
associated activities, including program management and operations and 
maintenance through September 30, 1999.
  (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), $22,635,000 of the amount 
described in subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 1998 shall be derived 
from the use of unobligated prior year funds appropriated for the 
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program.
  (3) 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 August 11, 1995;
                  (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.
  (g) 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, $13,823,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $8,189,000 for fiscal 
year 1999. Such activities include planning, design, and land 
acquisition related to such offices.
  (h) National Centers for Environmental Prediction Restructuring.--
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out 
restructuring of the National Meteorological Center into the National 
Centers for Environmental Prediction, $700,000 for fiscal year 1998 and 
$809,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (i) Facilities.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out NEXRAD Weather Service Office maintenance, 
$2,950,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $2,950,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (j) Weather Service Modernization.--The Weather Service Modernization 
Act (15 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended--
          (1) in section 706--
                  (A) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
  ``(b) Certification.--The Secretary may not close, automate, or 
relocate any field office unless the Secretary has certified to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives that such 
action will not result in degradation of service to the affected area. 
Such certification shall be in accordance with the modernization 
criteria established under section 704.'';
                  (B) by striking subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f); 
                and
                  (C) by inserting after subsection (b) the following 
                new subsections:
  ``(c) Special Circumstances.--The Secretary may not close or relocate 
any field office which is located at an airport, if the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Committee, 
determines as a result of the Air Safety Appraisal, completed and 
signed by the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation 
Administration on December 9, 1996, that such action will result in 
degradation of service that affects aircraft safety.
  ``(d) Public Liaison.--The Secretary shall maintain for a period of 
at least two years after the closure of any weather office a program 
to--
          ``(1) provide timely information regarding the activities of 
        the National Weather Service which may affect service to the 
        community, including modernization and restructuring; and
          ``(2) work with area weather service users, including persons 
        associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency 
        preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision 
        of timely weather warnings and forecasts.''; and
          (2) in section 707--
                  (A) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
  ``(c) Duties.--The Committee shall advise the Congress and the 
Secretary on--
          ``(1) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual 
        development of the Plan, and establishment and implementation 
        of modernization criteria; and
          ``(2) matters of public safety and the provision of weather 
        services which relate to the comprehensive modernization of the 
        National Weather Service.''; and
                  (B) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
  ``(f) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate--
          ``(1) on September 30, 1997; or
          ``(2) 90 days after the deadline for public comment on the 
        modernization criteria for closure certification published in 
        the Federal Register pursuant to section 704(b)(2),
whichever occurs later.''.
  (k) Bi-Agency Working Group.--The National Weather Service is 
encouraged to follow through on the recommendation contained in the 
document entitled ``Secretary's Report to Congress on Adequacy of 
NEXRAD Coverage and Degradation of Weather Services Under National 
Weather Service Modernization for 32 Areas of Concern'', dated October 
12, 1995, to initiate a dialogue with the Federal Aviation 
Administration to form a bi-agency working group to assess further the 
potential for National Weather Service operational use of Federal 
Aviation Administration weather radar data, and to define engineering 
considerations that would be involved in implementing a data-sharing 
link between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National 
Weather Service.
  (l) NEXRAD Operational Availability and Reliability.--(1) The 
Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Administrator, shall take 
steps to ensure that NEXRADs operated by the Department of Defense that 
provide primary detection coverage over a portion of their ranges 
function as fully committed, reliable elements of the National Weather 
Radar Network, operating with the same standards, quality, and 
availability as the National Weather Service-operated NEXRADs.
  (2) NEXRADs operated by the Department of Defense that provide 
primary detection coverage over a portion of their ranges are to be 
considered as integral parts of the National Weather Radar Network.

SEC. 102. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

  (a) Climate and Air Quality Research.--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, $116,902,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $118,803,000 for 
fiscal year 1999. Such duties include interannual and seasonal climate 
research, long-term climate and air quality research, and high-
performance computing and communications.
  (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, 
$43,456,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $44,194,000 for fiscal year 1999. 
Such duties include research for developing improved prediction 
capabilities for atmospheric processes, as well as solar-terrestrial 
research and services.
  (c) Boulder Laboratory Administrative Support Center.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue the modifications to 
the Boulder Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, to meet programmatic 
requirements, $1,900,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $9,078,000 for fiscal 
year 1999.

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, $342,544,000 for fiscal year 1998 (reduced by $12,400,000) and 
$518,455,000 for fiscal year 1999 (reduced by $7,000,000), to remain 
available until expended. 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).
  (b) POES Program Authorization.--Of the sums authorized in subsection 
(a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$82,905,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $172,684,000 for fiscal year 1999, 
to remain available until expended, for the procurement and launch of, 
and supporting ground systems for, Polar Orbiting Environmental 
Satellites (POES), K, L, M, N, and N,.
  (c) NPOESS Program Authorization.--Of the sums authorized in 
subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary, $51,503,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $35,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1999, to remain available until expended, for the procurement of 
the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 
(NPOESS), and the procurement and launch of, and supporting ground 
systems for, such satellites.
  (d) GOES N-Q.--Of the sums authorized in subsection (a), there are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $147,819,000 for fiscal 
year 1998 and $256,421,000 for fiscal year 1999 to procure up to three 
Geostationary Operational Environmental NEXT follow-on Satellites (GOES 
N-Q), instruments, launching, and supporting ground systems.
  (e) Other Programs.--Of the sums authorized in subsection (a), there 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $9,970,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 and $5,400,000 for fiscal year 1999, for the Wallops 
Island backup, product development, and operating adjustment activities 
of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program.
  (f) Environmental Observing Services.--Of the sums authorized in 
subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
to carry out Environmental Observing Services, $50,347,000 for fiscal 
year 1998 and $48,950,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (g) 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, $43,835,000 for fiscal year 1998 
and $43,835,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties include climate data 
services, geophysical data services, and environmental assessment and 
information services.

               TITLE II--OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH

SEC. 201. OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH.

  (a) Coastal Ocean Program.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out the Coastal Ocean Program, $15,200,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 and $15,458,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (b) Acquisition of Data.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out data acquisition activities of the Office 
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, $15,400,000 for fiscal year 1998 
and $15,700,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (c) Ocean Remote Sensing.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out ocean remote sensing activities, $3,800,000 
for fiscal year 1998 and $3,800,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (d) Oceanography and Marine Prediction Research.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out marine prediction 
research activities under the Act of 1890, and any other law involving 
those activities, $19,851,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $19,851,000 for 
fiscal year 1999.
  (e) Arctic Research.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out the Arctic research activities of the 
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research $2,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 1998 and 1999.
  (f) Undersea Research Program.--
          (1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration to carry out the National Undersea 
        Research Program, $18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 and 
        1999.
          (2) Peer review.--No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act 
        may be obligated for any research grant unless such grant is 
        competitively awarded and subject to a peer review process 
        established pursuant to the plan submitted under paragraph (3).
          (3) Restructuring plan.--By January 15, 1998, the Secretary 
        shall submit to the Committees on Resources and Science of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for carrying 
        out the National Undersea Research Program that will ensure the 
        quality of scientific research carried out by the Program, the 
        responsiveness of the Program to the mission needs of the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
        responsiveness of the Program to key national needs in 
        oceanographic research.
  (g) Ocean Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out ocean services duties, $2,800,000 for 
fiscal year 1998 and $2,848,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties 
include acquisition of sea-surface and ocean temperature profiles from 
specially instrumented commercial vessels, and storing and archiving 
the acquired data.
  (h) National Oceanographic Partnership Program.--The National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration is authorized to participate in the 
National Oceanic Partnership Program established by the National 
Oceanic Partnership Act (Public Law 104-201).

             TITLE III--PROGRAM SUPPORT AND OTHER ACCOUNTS

SEC. 301. PROGRAM SUPPORT.

  (a) Executive Direction and Administrative Activities.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out executive direction 
and administrative activities under the Act of 1970 and any other law 
involving those activities, $18,240,000 for fiscal year 1998 and 
$17,328,000 for fiscal year 1999.
  (b) Systems Acquisition Office.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out Systems Acquisition Office 
activities, $1,423,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $1,351,000 for fiscal 
year 1999.
  (c) Central Administrative Support.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out central administrative support 
activities under the Act of 1970 and any other law involving those 
activities, $31,350,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $29,783,000 for fiscal 
year 1999.
  (d) Aircraft Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out aircraft services activities (including 
aircraft operations, maintenance, and support) under the Act of 1970 
and any other law involving those activities, $9,900,000 for fiscal 
year 1998 and $9,900,000 for fiscal year 1999.

SEC. 302. RECOVERIES FROM PRIOR YEARS.

  The total amount authorized to be appropriated pursuant to title I is 
reduced by $25,500,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $14,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1999 to reflect the use of prior year balances.

                  TITLE IV--STREAMLINING OF OPERATIONS

SEC. 401. PROGRAMS.

  (a) Programs.--No funds are authorized to be appropriated for the 
following programs and accounts:
          (1) Federal/State Weather Modification Grants.
          (2) The Southeast Storm Research Account.
          (3) National Institute for Environmental Renewal.
          (4) National Weather Service non-Federal, non-wildfire Fire 
        Weather Service.
          (5) National Weather Service Regional Climate Centers.
          (6) Goddard Science Center.
          (7) National Weather Service Samoa Weather Forecast Office 
        Repair and Upgrade Account.
  (b) 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 certifying that all the 
programs listed in subsection (a) will be terminated no later than 
September 30, 1997.

SEC. 402. LIMITATIONS ON APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Maximum Amounts; Operations, Research, and Facilities.--No more 
than $1,039,206,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $1,020,131,000 for fiscal 
year 1999 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary by title I 
of this Act to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out all activities associated with Operations, 
Research, and Facilities for which funds are authorized by this Act.
  (b) Maximum Amounts; Capital Assets Acquisition.--No more than 
$410,808,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $548,101,000 for fiscal year 1999 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary by title I of this 
Act to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
carry out all activities associated with Capital Assets Acquisition for 
which funds are authorized by this Act.

                         TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 501. WEATHER DATA BUOYS.

  (a) Prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to 
remove, change the location of, obstruct, willfully damage, make fast 
to, or interfere with any weather data buoy established, installed, 
operated, or maintained by the National Data Buoy Center.
  (b) Civil Penalties.--The Administrator is authorized to assess a 
civil penalty against any person who violates any provision of this 
section in an amount of not more than $10,000 for each violation. Each 
day during which such violation continues shall be considered a new 
offense. Such penalties shall be assessed after notice and opportunity 
for a hearing.
  (c) Rewards.--The Administrator may offer and pay rewards for the 
apprehension and conviction, or for information helpful therein, of 
persons found interfering, in violation of law, with data buoys 
maintained by the National Data Buoy Center; or for information leading 
to the discovery of missing National Weather Service property or the 
recovery thereof.

SEC. 502. DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

  (a) In General.--To protect life and property and enhance the 
national economy, the Secretary, through the National Weather Service, 
except as outlined in subsection (b), shall be responsible for--
          (1) forecasts and shall serve as the sole official source of 
        weather and flood warnings;
          (2) the issue of storm warnings;
          (3) the collection, exchange, and distribution of 
        meteorological, hydrological, climatic, and oceanographic data 
        and information; and
          (4) the preparation of hydrometeorological guidance and core 
        forecast information.
  (b) Competition With Private Sector.--The National Weather Service 
shall not compete, or assist other entities to compete, with the 
private sector when a service not specified in subsection (a) is 
currently provided or can be provided by commercial enterprise, unless 
the Secretary finds that the private sector is unwilling or unable to 
provide the services.
  (c) Amendments.--The Act of 1890 is amended--
          (1) by striking section 3 (15 U.S.C. 313); and
          (2) in section 9 (15 U.S.C. 317), by striking all after 
        ``Department of Agriculture'' and inserting in lieu thereof a 
        period.
  (d) 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 section and outlining a timetable for their termination.

SEC. 503. PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.

  None of the funds authorized by this Act shall be available for any 
activity whose purpose is to influence legislation pending before the 
Congress, except that this subsection shall not prevent officers or 
employees of the United States or of its departments or agencies from 
communicating to Members of Congress on the request of any Member or to 
Congress, through the proper channels, requests for legislation or 
appropriations which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of 
the public business.

SEC. 504. NOTICE.

  (a) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds authorized by this Act are 
subject to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided 
to the Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, notice of such action shall concurrently be provided to the 
Committees on Science and Resources of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
  (b) Notice of Reorganization.--The Administrator shall provide notice 
to the Committees on Science, Resources, and Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 15 days 
before any major reorganization of any program, project, or activity of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. 505. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.

  With the year 2000 fast approaching, it is the sense of Congress that 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should--
          (1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-related 
        problems in its computer systems to ensure that those systems 
        continue to operate effectively in the year 2000 and beyond;
          (2) assess immediately the extent of the risk to the 
        operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration posed by the problems referred to in paragraph 
        (1), and plan and budget for achieving Year 2000 compliance for 
        all of its mission-critical systems; and
          (3) develop contingency plans for those systems that the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is unable to 
        correct in time.

SEC. 506. BUY AMERICAN.

  (a) Compliance With Buy American Act.--No funds appropriated pursuant 
to this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that 
in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 
through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c, popularly 
known as the ``Buy American Act'').
  (b) Sense of Congress.--In the case of any equipment or products that 
may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided 
under this Act, it is the sense of Congress that entities receiving 
such assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only 
American-made equipment and products.
  (c) Notice to Recipients of Assistance.--In providing financial 
assistance under this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall provide to 
each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made 
in subsection (a) by the Congress.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1278 is to authorize certain programs 
within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA) for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
consists of five line offices: National Ocean Service (NOS), 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Weather Service (NWS), and 
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 
(NESDIS). The Resources Committee has jurisdiction over 
programs in NMFS and NOS. The Resources and Science Committees 
share jurisdiction over certain of the ocean and marine-related 
components of OAR and NESDIS. The Science Committee has 
jurisdiction over NWS and the weather and atmospheric 
components of OAR and NESDIS.
    NOS includes: the Coast Survey, which produces charts and 
navigational information crucial to the conduct of safe marine 
and aviation navigation; the National Geodetic Survey, which 
maintains the Nation's vertical reference system; the Coastal 
Ocean Program, which conducts research to improve the quality 
of information available to coastal resource managers; the 
Office of Resources Conservation and Assessment, which conducts 
environmental monitoring, hazardous materials planning and 
response, and environmental restoration; and the Office of 
Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, which oversees the 
Coastal Zone Management and National Marine Sanctuaries 
programs.
    NMFS is responsible for the management of marine and 
anadromous fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, 
including implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. NMFS is also responsible for 
the implementation of the Endangered Species Act for marine and 
anadromous species and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
    OAR provides the research and technology development 
necessary to improve NOAA services and provide the scientific 
foundation for national policy decisions on marine resources, 
ocean, climate, and atmospheric issues. Research is conducted 
by NOAA and university scientists through a network of 11 
Environmental Research Laboratories, 29 National Sea Grant 
programs, six Undersea Research Centers, and eight cooperative 
laboratories with universities.
    NOAA needs a certain number of days at sea on NOAA-owned or 
contracted vessels to acquire the data it needs to prepare 
nautical charts, assess fishery stocks, conduct oceanographic 
measures and to otherwise carry out its mission. In prior 
years, ship time was provided from a central Marine Services 
Account. In Fiscal Year 1997, the central account was replaced 
by ``Acquisition of Data'' line items in NOS, NMFS, and OAR. 
This change was made to provide line offices with the maximum 
amount of flexibility in determining how to acquire ship time. 
The Administration's Fiscal Year 1998 Budget Request proposed 
reductions in these line items. The Resources Committee 
strongly opposes these reductions. If NOAA cannot go to sea, it 
cannot gather the data it needs to carry out the 
responsibilities Congress has given it. Therefore, the 
Resources Committee reported version of H.R. 1278 increases the 
authorization for OAR's Acquisition of Data line to $15.4 
million.
    The vast majority of NOAA's oceanography and fisheries 
programs are authorized by separate statute, such as the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the 
Coastal Zone Management Act, title II of the Marine Protection, 
Research and Sanctuaries Act, the Coastal and Geodetic Survey 
Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. These programs 
are not authorized under H.R. 1278 as reported from the 
Committee on Resources. Rather, H.R. 1278 provides more 
specific authority for certain programs which have been created 
administratively under NOAA's more general authority.
    The version of H.R. 1278 reported from the Committee on 
Resources removes the authorization of appropriations and 
deletes other provisions for programs within the Committee's 
jurisdiction. While the Committee is sympathetic to the idea of 
a NOAA authorization bill as a convenient one-stop financial 
statement for NOAA and as a vehicle for policy change, the 
Committee strongly believes that it should provide the 
appropriate authorization levels and other policy changes for 
its programs. Therefore, section 402 of the Committee on 
Resources-reported bill should not be read as an overall 
authorization level for NOAA. The section 402 cap applies only 
to the activities authorized under title I of the bill, which 
contains programs within the Committee on Science's 
jurisdiction. The overall numbers in section 402 remain 
unchanged from those in H.R. 1278 as introduced even though the 
cap applies to only a subset of NOAA activities; the Committee 
on Resources did not presume to create an overall authorization 
level for programs not under its jurisdiction.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 1278 was introduced on April 10, 1997, by Congressman 
Ken Calvert (R-CA). The bill was referred to the Committees on 
Science and Resources. Within the Resources Committee, the bill 
was referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans. On February 27, 1997, the Subcommittee 
held a hearing on NOAA's Fiscal Year 1998 budget. The Honorable 
Diana Josephson, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans 
and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce, testified on the budget 
request. This hearing reviewed many of the issues and programs 
addressed in H.R. 1278.
    On May 22, 1997, the Subcommittee met to mark up H.R. 1278. 
An amendment in the nature of a substitute was offered by 
Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ), and adopted by voice vote. The 
substitute made several changes to the bill as introduced. 
First, it amends the title of the bill to ``The Oceanographic 
and Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 1997.'' The 
Science Committee entitled the bill ``The National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1997.'' The 
bill does not deal with NOAA's fisheries, coastal zone 
management or marine sanctuary programs, and the substitute 
drops the provisions in the bill that deal with navigation 
services, coastal monitoring and assessment, and the NOAA 
Commissioned Officer Corps and Fleet. Therefore, the bill does 
not provide an agency-wide authorization.Second, the amendment 
increases the authorization level for the National Undersea Research 
Program (NURP), and deletes the requirement to establish two new NURP 
oversight entities; Third, the amendment drops provisions authorizing 
navigation services and coastal monitoring and assessment, areas that 
are not within the jurisdiction of the Science Committee. Fourth, the 
amendment deletes the provisions dealing with the NOAA Commissioned 
Officer Corps and the NOAA Fleet. The Corps and Fleet issues primarily 
affect the agency's hydrographic and fisheries responsibilities, not 
the agency's oceanographic work.
    In addition, Congressman Neil Abercrombie offered an 
amendment to the Saxton amendment that authorized $7 million in 
Fiscal Year 1998 and Fiscal Year 1999 for the Global Learning 
and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. 
The amendment was accepted by unanimous consent. The Saxton 
amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was 
adopted by voice vote, and the bill, as amended, was ordered 
favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote.
    On June 11, 1997, the Full Resources Committee met to 
consider H.R. 1278. An amendment to reduce NOAA's 
administrative costs by five percent was offered by Congressman 
Calvert, and adopted by voice vote. The bill as amended was 
then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives 
by voice vote.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of Rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 1278.

                        Cost of the Legislation

    Clause 7(a) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 1278. However, clause 7(d) of that Rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     Compliance With House Rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 
1278 does not contain any new budget authority, credit 
authority, or an increase or decrease in tax expenditures. 
Enactment of H.R. 1278 could result in additional discretionary 
spending and also, by establishing a civil penalty for the 
tampering with data buoys, could increase Federal Government 
receipts.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 1278.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 
1278 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, June 19, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1278, the 
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 
1997.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Gary Brown 
(for federal costs), and Marge Miller (for the State and local 
impact).
            Sincerely,
                                             James L. Blum,
                                   (for June E. O'Neill, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1278--Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 
        1997

    Summary: H.R. 1278 would authorize appropriations for 
certain programs and activities of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal years 1998 and 
1999. NOAA's mission is to describe and predict changes in the 
Earth's environment, and to conserve and manage coastal and 
marine resources. Other provisions in the bill would authorize 
NOAA to use carryover balances from certain programs for other 
purposes within the agency, eliminate certain NOAA programs, 
and authorize NOAA to collect civil penalties from individuals 
for tampering with weather data buoys.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO 
estimates that enacting H.R. 1278 would result in additional 
discretionary spending of about $2.8 billion over the 1998-2002 
period. The legislation could affect governmental receipts by 
establishing a civil penalty for tampering with data buoys; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. However, CBO 
estimates that any new receipts would be negligible. The bill 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 1278 is shown in the following table.

                                    [By fiscal year, in millions of dollars]                                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              1997     1998     1999     2000     2001     2002 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION                                       
Spending under current law:                                                                                     
    Budget Authority \1\..................................    1,381        0        0        0        0        0
    Estimated Outlays.....................................    1,381      591      206      102        3        1
Proposed Changes:                                                                                               
    Authorization Level...................................        0    1,308    1,469        0        0        0
    Estimated Outlays.....................................        0      726    1,142      544      241      104
Spending under H.R. 1278:                                                                                       
    Authorization Level \1\...............................    1,381    1,308    1,469        0        0        0
    Estimated Outlays.....................................    1,381    1,317    1,348      646      244      105
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1997 level is the amount appropriated for that year for the activities authorized in this bill.         

    The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 
300 (natural resources and environment).

                           basis of estimate

Spending subject to appropriation

    For purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes that all amounts 
authorized in H.R. 1278 will be appropriated by the start of 
each fiscal year and that outlays will follow the historical 
spending patterns for the authorized programs.
    H.R. 1278 would authorize new budget authority of $1,308 
million in fiscal year 1998 and $1,469 million in 1999. Those 
levels include downward adjustments from the gross 
authorization levels stated in the bill. Those adjustments 
reflect a directive in the bill requiring that NOAA use $26 
million in 1998 and $14 million in 1999 from prior-year 
balances and reducing authorizations of appropriations by those 
amounts. CBO estimates that provisions in H.R. 1278 directing 
NOAA to use unobligated balances from various programs for 
other purposes within the agency.
    Total authorizations estimated for this bill reflect (1) 
authorizations of $1,196 million for 1998 and $1,347 million in 
1999 for atmospheric, weather, and satellite programs in NOAA, 
(2) reductions from those amounts of $26 million and $14 
million, respectively, to come from prior-year balances, and 
(3) authorizations of $138 million in 1998 and $136 million in 
1999 for oceanography research, marine research, program 
support, and other accounts. The bill contains an overall 
limitation on authorizations of appropriations for atmospheric, 
weather, and satellite programs that is more than $200 million 
greater in each of fiscal years 1998 and 1999 than the sum of 
the bill's specific authorizations for these programs, but it 
does not authorize these additional amounts.
    We expect that the amounts authorized under the bill would 
be sufficient to pay for the costs of terminating those NOAA 
programs targeted for elimination.

Revenues

    H.R. 1278 would establish a civil penalty of $10,000 for 
tampering with weather data buoys established, installed, or 
maintained by the National Data Buoy Center. Collections from 
imposing this penalty would be governmental receipts. CBO 
expects that any collections from this penalty would total 
significantly less than $500,000 a year.
    Pay-as-you-go considerations: Section 252 of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 sets up pay-
as-you-go procedures for legislation affecting direct spending 
or receipts through 1998. The bill's provision establishing a 
penalty for tampering with data buoys could affect receipts, 
but CBO estimates that any new revenues would be negligible.
    Estimated impact on State, local, and tribal governments: 
H.R. 1278 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in 
UMRA, and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments. The bill would abolish five NOAA programs that 
provide research funds or grants to state governments and 
universities. Three of these programs did not receive funding 
in fiscal year 1997; the other two programs received a total of 
$3 million for the year.
    Two provisions in the bill concern NOAA grant conditions 
and procedures for awarding grants. One provision would require 
compliance with the ``Buy American Act.'' Another would require 
that all research grants funded under this bill be 
competitively awarded and subject to peer review. Based on 
information provided by NOAA officials, CBO expects that the 
first provision would impose no additional costs on grantees. 
Grantees and grant applicants would incur some additional costs 
as a result of the latter provision, however, and NOAA grants 
could go to different institutions. CBO cannot predict how the 
share of research funding awarded to public universities and 
colleges would change, however.
    Estimated impact on the private sector: The bill would 
impose no new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
    Previous CBO estimate: On April 21, 1997, CBO provided an 
estimate for H.R. 1278, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1997, as ordered reported 
by the House Committee on Science. Assuming appropriation of 
the authorized amounts, CBO estimated that enacting that 
version of the bill would result in additional discretionary 
spending of about $3 billion over the 1998-2002 period--about 
$200 million more than the version approved by the Resources 
Committee.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Gary Brown; Impact on 
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller.
    Estimate approved by: James R. Horney for Paul N. Van de 
Water, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    H.R. 1278 contains no unfunded mandates.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the 
bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed 
to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is 
printed in italics, existing law in which no change is proposed 
is shown in roman):

                   WEATHER SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT

          * * * * * * *

SEC. 706. RESTRUCTURING FIELD OFFICES.

  Sec. 706. (a) * * *
  [(b) Certification.--The Secretary shall not close, 
consolidate, automate, or relocate any field office, unless the 
Secretary has certified that such action will not result in any 
degradation of service. Such certification shall include--
          [(1) a description of local weather characteristics 
        and weather-related concerns which affect the weather 
        services provided within the service area;
          [(2) a detailed comparison of the services provided 
        within the service area and the services to be provided 
        after such action;
          [(3) a description of any recent or expected 
        modernization of National Weather Service operations 
        which will enhance services in the service area;
          [(4) an identification of any area within any State 
        which would not receive coverage (at an elevation of 
        10,000 feet) by the next generation weather radar 
        network;
          [(5) evidence, based upon operational demonstration 
        of modernized National Weather Service operations, 
        which was considered in reaching the conclusion that no 
        degradation in service will result from such action; 
        and
          [(6) any report of the Committee submitted under 
        section 707(c) that evaluates the proposed 
        certification.]
  [(c) Public Review.--Each certification decision shall be 
preceded by--
          [(1) publication in the Federal Register of a 
        proposed certification; and
          [(2) a 60-day period after such publication during 
        which the public may provide comments to the Secretary 
        on the proposed certification.
  [(d) Final Decision.--If after consideration of the public 
comment received under subsection (c) the Secretary, in 
consultation with the Committee, decides to close, consolidate, 
automate, or relocate any such field office, the Secretary 
shall publish a final certification in the Federal Register and 
submit the certification to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
  [(e) Special Circumstances.--The Secretary may not close or 
relocate any field office--
          [(1) which is located at an airport, unless the 
        Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        Transportation and the Committee, first conducts an air 
        safety appraisal, determines that such action will not 
        result in degradation of service that affects aircraft 
        safety, and includes such determination in the 
        certification required under subsection (b); or
          [(2) which is the only office in a State, unless the 
        Secretary first evaluates the effect on weather 
        services provided to in-State users, such as State 
        agencies, civil defense officials, and local public 
        safety offices, and includes in the certification 
        required under subsection (b) the Secretary's 
        determination that a comparable level of weather 
        services provided to such in-State users will remain.
  [(f) Liaison Officer.--The Secretary may not close, 
consolidate, automate, or relocate a field office until 
arrangements have been made to maintain for a period of at 
least 2 years at least one person in the service area to act as 
a liaison officer who--
          [(1) provides timely information regarding the 
        activities of the National Weather Service which may 
        affect service to the community, including 
        modernization and restructuring; and
          [(2) works with area weather service users, including 
        persons associated with general aviation, civil 
        defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media, 
        with respect to the provision of timely weather 
        warnings and forecasts.]
  (b) Certification.--The Secretary may not close, automate, or 
relocate any field office unless the Secretary has certified to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives that such action will not result in degradation 
of service to the affected area. Such certification shall be in 
accordance with the modernization criteria established under 
section 704.
  (c) Special Circumstances.--The Secretary may not close or 
relocate any field office which is located at an airport, if 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Transportation and the Committee, determines as a result of the 
Air Safety Appraisal, completed and signed by the National 
Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration on 
December 9, 1996, that such action will result in degradation 
of service that affects aircraft safety.
  (d) Public Liaison.--The Secretary shall maintain for a 
period of at least two years after the closure of any weather 
office a program to--
          (1) provide timely information regarding the 
        activities of the National Weather Service which may 
        affect service to the community, including 
        modernization and restructuring; and
          (2) work with area weather service users, including 
        persons associated with general aviation, civil 
        defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media, 
        with respect to the provision of timely weather 
        warnings and forecasts.

SEC. 707. MODERNIZATION TRANSITION COMMITTEE.

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(c) Duties.--(1) The Committee may review any proposed 
certification under section 706 for which the Secretary has 
provided a notice of intent to certify in the Plan, and should 
review such a proposed certification if there is a significant 
possibility of degradation of service within the affected 
service area. Upon the request of the Committee, the Secretary 
shall make available to the Committee the supporting documents 
developed by the Secretary in connection with the proposed 
certification. The Committee may prepare and submit to the 
Secretary, prior to publication of the proposed certification, 
a report which evaluates the proposed certification on the 
basis of the modernization criteria and with respect to the 
requirement that there be no degradation of service.
  [(2) The Committee shall advise the Congress and the 
Secretary on--
          [(A) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual 
        development of the Plan, and establishment and 
        implementation of modernization criteria; and
          [(B) matters of public safety and the provision of 
        weather services which relate to the comprehensive 
        modernization of the National Weather Service.]
  (c) Duties.--The Committee shall advise the Congress and the 
Secretary on--
          (1) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual 
        development of the Plan, and establishment and 
        implementation of modernization criteria; and
          (2) matters of public safety and the provision of 
        weather services which relate to the comprehensive 
        modernization of the National Weather Service.
          * * * * * * *
  [(f) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on December 
31, 1999.]
  (f) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate--
          (1) on September 30, 1997; or
          (2) 90 days after the deadline for public comment on 
        the modernization criteria for closure certification 
        published in the Federal Register pursuant to section 
        704(b)(2),
whichever occurs later.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              


                       THE ACT OF OCTOBER 1, 1890

An act to increase the efficiency and reduce the expenses of the Signal 
     Corps of the Army, and to transfer the Weather Service to the 
                       Department of Agriculture.

          * * * * * * *
  [Sec. 3. That the Chief of the Weather Bureau, under the 
direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, on and after July 
first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, shall have charge of 
the forecasting of weather, the issue of storm warnings, the 
display of weather and flood signals for the benefit of 
agriculture, commerce, and navigation, the gauging and 
reporting of rivers, the maintenance and operation of sea-coast 
telegraph lines and the collection and transmission of marine 
intelligence for the benefit of commerce and navigation, the 
reporting of temperature and rain-fall conditions for the 
cotton interests, the display of frost and cold-wave signals, 
the distribution of meteorological information in the interests 
of agriculture and commerce, and the taking of such 
meteorological observations as may be necessary to establish 
and record the climatic conditions of the United States, or as 
are essential for the proper execution of the foregoing 
duties.]
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 9. That on and after July first, eighteen hundred and 
ninety-one, the appropriations for the support of the Signal 
Corps of the Army shall be made with those of other staff corps 
of the Army, and the appropriations for the support of the 
Weather Bureau shall be made with those of the other bureaus of 
the Department of Agriculture [and it shall be the duty of the 
Secretary of Agriculture to prepare future estimates for the 
Weather Bureau which shall be hereafter specially developed and 
extended in the interests of agriculture.].
          * * * * * * *

                                
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