[House Report 106-146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    106-146

======================================================================



 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND RELATED AGENCIES AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1999

                                _______
                                

  May 18, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______


    Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on Science, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1553]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1553) 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 Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment 
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Amendment.......................................................2
  II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................5
 III. Background and Need for Legislation.............................5
  IV. Summary of Hearings.............................................6
   V. Committee Actions...............................................8
  VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................9
 VII. Section-By-Section Analysis and Committee Views................16
VIII. Cost Estimate..................................................20
  IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................21
   X. Compliance with Public Law 104-4...............................22
  XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............22
 XII. Oversight Findings and Recommendations by the Committee on 
      Government Reform..............................................23
XIII. Constitutional Authority Statement.............................23
 XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................23
  XV. Congressional Accountability Act...............................23
 XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported..........23
XVII. Committee Recommendations......................................24
XVIII.Minority Views.................................................25

 XIX. Proceedings of Committee on Science Markup.....................26

                              I. Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``National Weather Service and Related 
Agencies Authorization Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  For purposes of this Act, the term--
          (1) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
          (2) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the Operations, Research, and 
Facilities activities of the National Weather Service $617,897,000 for 
fiscal year 2000 and $617,897,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain 
available until expended. Of such amounts--
          (1) $449,441,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $450,411,000 for 
        fiscal year 2001 shall be for Local Warnings and Forecasts;
          (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 Atmospheric 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 located in Jasper and Marion 
        Counties, Illinois, and nine 300-watt National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio transmitters, to be 
        installed in appropriate locations throughout the State of 
        Illinois, and for maintenance costs related thereto.
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration 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 Generation 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 Computer Facilities Upgrades;
          (5) $8,350,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $8,350,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for Radiosonde Replacement;
          (6) $500,000 for fiscal year 2000 shall be for National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Operations 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 responsible for--
                  (A) forecasts and shall serve as the sole official 
                source of weather and flood warnings;
                  (B) the issuance of storm warnings;
                  (C) the collection, exchange, and distribution 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 service described in paragraph (1)(A) 
        or (B)) if that service is currently provided or can be 
        provided by commercial enterprise, unless--
                  (A) the Secretary finds that the private sector is 
                unwilling or unable to provide the service; or
                  (B) the service provides vital weather warnings 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 striking ``, 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 
        subsection and outlining a timetable for their termination.

SEC. 4. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Atmospheric Research 
        Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and 
        development activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        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 Climate and Global 
                Change; and
                  (D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $5,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Global Learning and 
                Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE).
          (3) Atmospheric programs.--Of the amounts authorized under 
        paragraph (1), $47,050,000 for fiscal 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;
                  (B) $4,350,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $4,350,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Wind Profiler; and
                  (C) $6,100,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $6,100,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Solar-Terrestrial 
                Services and Research.
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the Atmospheric Research 
Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction environmental research and 
development activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research $10,040,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $14,160,000 for fiscal 
year 2001, to remain available until expended. Of such amounts--
          (1) $5,700,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $8,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
        Laboratory Supercomputer; and
          (2) $4,340,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $6,160,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) 
        Follow-On Satellite/GEOSTORM.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Operations, Research, and 
        Facilities environmental research and development and related 
        activities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and 
        Information Service $103,092,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $103,092,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain available until 
        expended.
          (2) Satellite observing systems.--Of the amounts authorized 
        under paragraph (1), $59,236,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $59,236,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Satellite 
        Observing Systems, of which--
                  (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $2,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Global Disaster 
                Information Network (GDIN);
                  (B) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $4,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Ocean Remote Sensing; 
                and
                  (C) $53,236,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $53,236,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Environmental 
                Observing Services.
          (3) Environmental data management systems.--Of the amounts 
        authorized under paragraph (1), $43,856,000 for fiscal year 
        2000 and $43,856,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for 
        Environmental Data Management Systems, of which--
                  (A) $31,521,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $31,521,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Data and Information 
                Services; and
                  (B) $12,335,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $12,335,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Environmental Data 
                Systems Modernization.
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Procurement, Acquisition, and 
        Construction environmental research and development and related 
        activities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and 
        Information Service $413,657,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $476,183,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain available until 
        expended.
          (2) Systems acquisition.--Of the amounts authorized under 
        paragraph (1), $410,612,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $473,803,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Systems 
        Acquisition, of which--
                  (A) $140,979,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
                $114,594,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the 
                procurement and launch of, and supporting ground 
                systems for, Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites 
                (POES), K, L, M, N, and N,;
                  (B) $80,100,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $113,600,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the procurement and 
                launch of, and supporting ground systems for, the 
                National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental 
                Satellite System (NPOESS); and
                  (C) $189,533,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
                $245,609,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the 
                procurement and launch of, and supporting ground 
                systems for, Geostationary Operational Environmental 
                NEXT follow-on Satellites (GOES N-Q).
          (3) Construction.--Of the amounts authorized under paragraph 
        (1), $3,045,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $2,380,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration Operations Center Rehabilitation Construction.

SEC. 6. FACILITIES.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the 
Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and 
development and related activities required to meet recurring 
facilities operations costs associated with the David Skaggs Research 
Center in Boulder, Colorado, $3,850,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
$3,850,000 for fiscal year 2001.

SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS.

  (a) In General.--The Administrator shall exclude from consideration 
for grant agreements made after fiscal year 1999 by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the activities for which 
funds are authorized under this Act, any person who received funds, 
other than those described in subsection (b), appropriated for a fiscal 
year after fiscal year 1999, under a grant agreement from any Federal 
funding source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, 
merit-based award process, except as specifically authorized by this 
Act. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to this section shall be 
effective for a period of 5 years after the person receives such 
Federal funds.
  (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the receipt of 
Federal funds by a person due to the membership of that person in a 
class specified by law for which assistance is awarded to members of 
the class according to a formula provided by law.
  (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``grant 
agreement'' means a legal instrument whose principal purpose is to 
transfer a thing of value to the recipient to carry out a public 
purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United 
States, and does not include the acquisition (by purchase, lease, or 
barter) of property or services for the direct benefit or use of the 
United States Government. Such term does not include a cooperative 
agreement (as such term is used in section 6305 of title 31, United 
States Code) or a cooperative research and development agreement (as 
such term is defined in section 12(d)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d)(1))).

SEC. 8. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.

  The Administrator shall make available through the Internet home page 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the abstracts 
relating to all research grants and awards made with funds authorized 
by this Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or 
permit the release of any information prohibited by law or regulation 
from being released to the public.

                        II. Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 1553 is to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2000 and fiscal year 2001 for the National Weather 
Service (NWS), Atmospheric Research, and National Environmental 
Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) activities of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

              III. Background and Need for the Legislation

    NOAA was created on October 3, 1970, by President Nixon's 
Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 to consolidate many of the 
Nation's civil programs related to the oceans and atmosphere. 
NOAA's stated mission is ``to describe and predict changes in 
the Earth's environment, and to conserve and manage the 
Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable 
economic opportunities.''
    The NOAA programs for which the Committee on Science has 
sole jurisdiction include NWS, NESDIS, and NOAA's Office of 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate and Atmospheric 
programs. In addition, the Committee has jurisdiction over the 
associated line accounts for the aforementioned programs under 
the Facilities and Construction accounts.
    Since its creation, NOAA has obtained most of its program 
funding through direct appropriation without annual legislative 
authorization. In the 98th Congress, legislation authorizing 
NOAA activities for FY 1984, S. 1097, was vetoed on October 19, 
1984. In the 99th Congress, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-272) authorized 
various NOAA activities, including nautical and aeronautical 
chart programs, marine research and monitoring, ocean pollution 
research, and weather modification research. During the 100th 
Congress, provisions authorizing FY 1989 appropriations for 
NOAA's satellite, atmospheric, and weather programs (previously 
approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate as S. 
1667) were included in Title IV of S. 2209, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act for FY 
1989, which was signed into law on November 17, 1988 (Public 
Law 100-685).
    During the 102nd Congress, the first comprehensive NOAA 
authorization bill was approved and signed into law, the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization 
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567). With three exceptions, Public 
Law 102-567 only authorized funding for fiscal years (FYs) 1992 
and 1993. These exceptions include portions of the Next 
Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) program and the Geostationary 
Operational Environmental Satellites I, J, K, L, and M (GOES I-
M), which are authorized to completion. No comprehensive NOAA 
authorization bills have been signed into law since the 102nd 
Congress.
    In the 104th Congress, a one-year NOAA authorization bill 
(H.R. 3322), which focused on NOAA's weather, satellite, and 
atmospheric programs, passed the House but was not acted on in 
the Senate. And in the 105th Congress, a two-year authorization 
bill (H.R. 1278) was reported by the Committee on Science and 
the Committee on Resources, but was not acted on by the House.

                        IV. Summary of Hearings

    The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the Committee 
on Science held a hearing on February 24, 1999 to hear 
testimony on the Administration's FY 2000 budget request 
forNOAA. Appearing as witnesses before the Subcommittee were: Dr. D. 
James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, and Administrator, NOAA; Mr. Joel C. Willemssen, Director, 
Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and Information 
Management Division, U.S. General Accounting Office, accompanied by Mr. 
L. Nye Stevens, Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues, 
General Government Division, U.S. General Accounting Office; and Dr. 
Richard A. Anthes, Chair, National Research Council National Weather 
Service Modernization Committee, and President, University Corporation 
for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado.
    Dr. Baker testified that NOAA's FY 2000 request is for $2.6 
billion in total budget authority, which includes $2.5 billion 
in discretionary budget authority. This request collectively 
represents a 12.9% increase over the total budget authority 
appropriated for FY 1999, and Dr. Baker highlighted the 
following items relevant to the programs authorized in this 
bill:
     Funding to maintain NOAA's supercomputing capacity 
at the National Weather Service (NWS) Central Computing 
Facility in Suitland, Maryland, and the Forecast Systems Lab 
(FSL) in Boulder, Colorado, while acquiring a massively 
parallel, scaleable computer to be located at the OAR's 
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab (GFDL), in Princeton, New 
Jersey.
     Recurring lease and/or operations costs at a 
number of NOAA facilities coming on-line in FY 1999 and FY 
2000, including the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, 
Colorado.
     Adjustments-to-base for pay related and 
inflationary cost increases to the NWS, as well as for the FY 
2000 pay raise for the remaining Line Offices; and
     Funds to begin replacing outdated climate/weather 
observing equipment in order to maintain continuity of core 
data and services and provides funds for continuing technology 
infusion for systems developed under the Weather Service 
Modernization.
    Mr. Willemssen's testimony discussed, among other things, 
the status of the NWS systems modernization. GAO findings 
included the following:
     Although the NWS is nearing completion of its 
systems modernization effort, two significant challenges face 
it this year--deploying the Advanced Weather Interactive 
Processing System (AWIPS), the final system of the 
modernization, and ensuring that all of its mission-critical 
systems are Year 2000 compliant. NWS has made progress on the 
development and operational testing of the forecaster 
workstations and its Year 2000 testing and contingency 
planning. However, cost, schedule, and technical risks 
associated with the workstations continue to be concerns. 
Further, the results of NWS' Years 2000 end-to-end testing and 
business continuity and contingency plans are expected to be 
delivered soon.
    Dr. Anthes' testimony summarized the work to date of the 
National Research Council's National Weather Service 
Modernization Committee (NWSMC), and focused on the ongoing 
modernization and restructuring of the NWS. The NWSMC was 
established under a NOAA contract executed with the National 
Research Council on December 29, 1989 to monitor the technical 
aspects of the modernization and restructuring of the NWS. To 
date, the NWSMC has completed 15 reports, three of which were 
letter reports--representing a total of more than 10,000 hours 
of volunteered time by 37 professionals from a range of 
science, engineering, weather and information technologies, and 
organizational management specialties, who provided oversight 
and independent advice to NOAA and the NWS during the past nine 
years.
    At this time, the NWSMC finds the following:
     Three of the five major technical components of 
the modernization--the Weather Surveillance Radar-1998 Doppler 
(WSR-88D), more commonly referred to as NEXRAD; to Automated 
Surface Observing System (ASOS); and the Next Generation 
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-
NEXT)--are in place, operational, and contributing to improved 
weather forecasts nationwide.
     The fourth component--AWIPS--has experienced 
delays caused by a mixture of technical and management 
problems, and is now being deployed in a configuration that is 
somewhat less capable than originally specified. However, even 
with its somewhat reduced capability, it provides a data 
integration and communications tools to the forecasters that is 
far superior to the old technology in use at weather offices.
     The fifth component of the modernization, 
supercomputers at the National Centers for Environmental 
Prediction, are clearly deficient to meet current and climate 
modeling needs. A program to buy a class 8 supercomputer is in 
place, but there needs to be a longterm commitment to upgrade 
periodically and regularly computers at the National Centers.
    Dr. Anthes concluded his testimony by summarizing the 
latest NWSMC report, ``A New Vision for the National Weather 
Service: Roadmap for the Future.''

                          V. Committee Actions

    As summarized above, the Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment of the Committee on Science heard testimony 
relevant to the programs authorized in H.R. 1553 at a hearing 
held on February 24, 1999.
    On April 26, 1999, Mr. Ken Calvert, Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, introduced H.R. 1553, 
the National Weather Service and Related Programs Authorization 
Act of 1999, a bill to authorize appropriations for FY 2000 and 
FY 2001 for the NWS, Atmospheric Research, and NESDIS 
activities of NOAA.
    The Committee on Science met to consider H.R. 1553 on 
Thursday, April 29, 1999, and entertained the following 
amendments and report language.
    Amendment 1.--Mr. Calvert, Chairman of the Science 
Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, offered a 
manager's amendment making technical and conforming changes, 
which was adopted by voice vote.
    Amendment 2.--Mr. Ewing offered an amendment to provide, 
within available funds authorized for NWS ORF, $970,000 for two 
1,000 watt NOAA Weather Radio transmitters, to be located in 
Jasper and Marion Counties, Illinois, and nine 300-watt NOAA 
Weather Radio transmitters, to be installed in appropriate 
locations throughout the State of Illinois, and for maintenance 
costs related thereto. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Amendment 3.--Mr. Costello offered an amendment: (1) making 
the NWS the sole official source of flood warnings and 
responsible for the issuance of marine and aviation forecasts 
and warnings; and (2) prohibiting the NWS from providing or 
assisting other entities to provide a service--other than 
forecasts and weather and flood warnings or the issuance of 
storm warnings--unless (A) the Secretary finds that the private 
sector is unwilling or unable to provide the service, or (B) 
the service provides vital weather warnings and forecasts for 
the protection of lives and property of the general public. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Amendment 4.--Mr. Costello offered an amendment providing a 
3-percent increase above the levels authorized for FY 2000 for 
all ORF accounts in the bill. The amendment was rejected by a 
vote of 16 ayes to 18 noes.
    Amendment 5.--Mr. Costello offered an amendment providing 
$13,500,000 for FY 2000 and $13,500,000 for FY 2001 for NOAA's 
High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program. 
After a discussion clarifying that it was the Chairman's 
intention for the Committee to act on separate legislation that 
will authorize appropriations the HPCC program--including 
NOAA's portion--as well as the proposed Information Technology 
for the 21st Century Initiative for those agencies under the 
Committee's jurisdiction, Mr. Costello withdrew the amendment.
    Amendment 6.--Mr. Kuykendall offered an amendment requiring 
the NOAA Administrator to make available through NOAA's 
Internet home page abstracts relating to all research grants 
and awards made with funds authorized by this Act, with the 
proviso that nothing in the amendment shall be construed to 
require or permit the release of any information prohibited by 
law or regulation from being released to the public. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote.
    Amendment 7.--Mr. Wu offered report language regarding the 
unique geography of the Astoria/Warrenton Airport at the Port 
of Astoria, Oregon and the challenges it represents for the 
NWS. The language was adopted by voice vote.
    With a quorum present, Mr. Costello moved that the 
Committee favorably report the bill, H.R. 1553, as amended, to 
the House with the recommendation that bill as amended do pass, 
that the staff be instructed to prepare the legislative report 
and make necessary technical and conforming changes, and that 
the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before 
the House for consideration. The motion was approved by voice 
vote.
    Mr. Sensenbrenner asked and received unanimous consent 
that: (1) the bill be reported in the form of a single 
amendment in the nature of a substitute reflecting amendments 
adopted; (2) that pursuant to clause 1 of Rule XXII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Chairman may offer 
such motions as may be necessary in the House to go to 
conference with the Senate on H.R. 1553 or a similar Senate 
bill; and (3) Members have two subsequent calendar days in 
which to submit supplemental, minority or additional views on 
the measure.

              VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

    As shown in Table 1, H.R. 1553 authorizes a total of 
$1,391,418,000 for FY 2000 and $1,458,552,000 for FY 2001 for 
the NWS, the Atmospheric Research programs of OAR, NESDIS, and 
related Facilities, including (1) $687,529,000 for FY 2000 and 
$688,017,000 for FY 2001 for the NWS; (2) $183,290,000 for FY 
2000 and $187,410,000 for FY 2001 for Atmospheric Research 
within the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
(OAR); (3) $516,749,000 for FY 2000 and $579,275,000 for FY 
2001 for the NESDIS; and (5) $3,850,000 for each of FYs 2000 
and 2001 for Facilities. A detailed breakdown of the 
authorizations contained in the bill is contained in Table 2.
    Excluded from this authorization legislation is NOAA's High 
Performance Computing and Communications Program, which will be 
authorized under separate authorization legislation. Also 
excluded are any additional authorizations for GOES I-M, which 
were authorized to completion by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public 
Law 102-567).

                          TABLE 1.--H.R. 1553--NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND RELATED AGENCIES AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1999: SUMMARY
                                                                [In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           FY 2000                           FY 2001
                                                                                                        recommendation                    recommendation
                                                        FY 1999                           FY 2000       compared with       FY 2001       compared with
                 Program/activity                    appropriation   FY 2000 request   recommendation    (+ or -) FY     recommendation    (+ or -) FY
                                                                                                             1999                              2000
                                                                                                        appropriation                     appropriation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Weather Service..........................          658,653          687,529          687,529          +28,876          688,017             +488
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research........          168,850          196,790          183,290          +14,440          187,410           +4,120
National Environmental Satellite, Data and                  574,994          593,831          593,831          +18,837          637,890          +44,059
 Information Service (NESDIS) Budget Authority....
    Less GOES I-M PAC Budget Authorization........          -82,376          -77,082          -77,082           +5,294          -58,615          +18,467
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NESDIS Budget Authorization.......................          492,618          516,749          516,749          +24,131          579,275          +62,526
Facilities........................................            3,000            3,850            3,850             +850            3,850                0
Construction......................................            7,220                0                0           -7,220                0                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, H.R. 1553 Budget Authority...........        1,412,717        1,482,000        1,468,500          +55,783        1,517,167          +48,667
      Total, H.R. 1553 Budget Authorization.......        1,330,341        1,404,918        1,391,418          +61,077        1,458,552          +67,134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                              TABLE 2.--H.R. 1553--NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND RELATED AGENCIES AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1999
                                                                [In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           FY 2000                           FY 2001
                                                                                                        recommendation                    recommendation
                                                        FY 1999                           FY 2000       compared with       FY 2001       compared with
      Program/activity/appropriation account         appropriation   FY 2000 request   recommendation    (+ or -) FY     recommendation    (+ or -) FY
                                                                                                             1999                              2000
                                                                                                        appropriation                     appropriation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE (NWS)

     Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF)
                   Appropriation

Operations and Research:
    Local Warnings and Forecasts..................          357,034          450,411          449,441          +92,407          450,411             +970
        MARDI.....................................           64,036                0                0          -64,036                0                0
        Radiosonde Replacement....................            2,000                0                0           -2,000                0                0
        Advanced Hydrological Prediction System...                0            2,200            2,200           +2,200            2,200                0
        Susquehanna River Basin Flood Systems.....            1,250              619              619             -631              619                0
        Aviation Forecasts........................           35,596           35,596           35,596                0           35,596                0
        WFO Maintenance...........................                0            4,000            4,000           +4,000            4,000                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal................................          459,916          492,826          491,856          +31,940          492,826             +970
        Central Forecast Guidance.................           35,574           37,081           37,081           +1,507           37,081                0
        Atmospheric and Hydrological Research.....            2,964            3,090            3,090             +126            3,090                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total, Operations and Research ORF                498,454          532,997          532,027          +33,573          532,997             +970
           Budget Authority.......................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
Systems Acquisition:
    Public Warning and Forecast Systems:
        Next Generation Weather Radars (NEXRAD)...           38,346           39,325           39,325             +979           39,325                0
        Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).            7,116            7,573            7,573             +457            7,573                0
        Advanced Weather Interactive Processing              12,189           38,002           38,002          +25,813           38,002                0
         System (AWIPS)/NOAAPort..................
        NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters...........                0                0              970             +970                0             -970
        Computer Facility Upgrades................            4,600                0                0           -4,600                0                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total, Systems Acquisition ORF Budget              62,251           84,900           85,870          +23,619           84,900             -970
           Authority..............................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
          Total, NWS ORF Budget Authority.........          560,705          617,897          617,897          +57,192          617,897                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
  Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC)
                   Appropriation

Systems Acquisition:
    NEXRAD........................................            7,000            9,560            9,560           +2,560            9,060             -500
    ASOS..........................................            3,855            4,180            4,180             +325            6,125           +1,945
    AWIPS.........................................           67,667           22,575           22,575          -45,092           21,525           -1,050
    Computer Facility Upgrades....................            9,900           11,100           11,100           +1,200           12,835           +1,735
    Radiosonde Replacement........................                0            8,350            8,350           +8,350            8,350                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Systems Acquisition PAC Budget               88,422           55,765           55,765          -32,657           57,895           +2,130
       Authority..................................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
Construction:
    NOAA Operations Center (NORC) Rehabilitation..                0              500              500             +500                0             -500
    NWS WFO Construction..........................            9,526           13,367           13,367           +3,841           12,225           -1,142
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Construction PAC Budget Authority....            9,526           13,867           13,867           +4,341           12,225           -1,642
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, NWS PAC Budget Authority.............           97,948           69,632           69,632          -28,316           70,120             +448
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, NWS Budget Authority/Authorization...          658,653          687,529          687,529          +28,876          688,017             +488
                                                   =====================================================================================================
 OFFICE OF OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH (OAR)

     Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF)
                   Appropriation

Climate and Air Quality Research:
    Interannual and Seasonal Climate Research.....           14,900           16,900           16,900           +2,000           16,900                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................           14,900           16,900           16,900           +2,000           16,900                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
    Long-Term Climate & Air Quality Research......           30,000           34,600           34,600           +4,600           34,600                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        High Performance Computing and                       12,000           13,500                0          -12,000                0                0
         Communications...........................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal................................           42,000           48,100           34,600           -7,400           34,600                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
    Climate and Global Change.....................           63,000           69,700           69,700           +6,700           69,700                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    GLOBE.........................................            2,500            5,000            5,000           +2,500            5,000                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal....................................           65,500           74,700           74,700           +6,700           74,700                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, Climate and Air Quality Research.....          122,400          139,700          126,200           +1,300          126,200                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
Atmospheric Programs:
    Weather Research..............................           36,100           36,600           36,600             +500           36,600                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Wind Profiler.............................            4,350            4,350            4,350                0            4,350                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Subtotal................................           40,450           40,950           40,950             +500           40,950                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
    Solar-Terrestrial Services and Research.......            6,000            6,100            6,100             +100            6,100                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total, Atmospheric Programs.............           46,450           47,050           47,050             +600           47,050                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
          Total, OAR ORF Budget Authority.........          168,850          186,750          173,250           +1,900          173,250                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
  Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC)
                   Appropriation

Systems Acquisition:
    Geophysical Fluid Dyn. Lab (GFDL)                             0            5,700            5,700           +5,700            8,000           +2,300
     Supercomputer................................
    Advance Composition Explorer (ACE) Satellite                  0            4,340            4,340           +4,340            6,160           +1,820
     Follow-on/GEOSTORMS..........................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, OAR PAC Budget Authority.............                0           10,040           10,040          +10,040           14,160           +4,120
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, OAR Budget Authority/Authorization...          168,850          196,790          183,290          +14,440          187,410           +4,120
                                                   =====================================================================================================
    NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND
           INFORMATION SERVICE (NESDID)

     Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF)
                   Appropriation

Satellite Observing Systems:
    Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN)....                0            2,000            2,000           +2,000            2,000                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ocean Remote Sensing..........................            4,000            4,000            4,000                0            4,000                0
    Enviornmental Observing Services..............           53,300           53,236           53,236              -64           53,236                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Satellite Observing Systems ORF                 57,300           59,236           59,236           +1,936           59,236                0
       Budget Authority...........................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
Enviornmental Data Management Systems (EDMS):
    Data and Informatino Services.................           33,550           31,521           31,521           -2,029           31,521                0
    Environmental Data Systems Modernization......           16,335           12,335           12,335           -4,000           12,335                0
    Regional Climate Centers......................            2,750                0                0           -2,750                0                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, EDMS ORF Budget Authority............           52,635           43,856           43,856           -8,779           43,856                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, NESDIS ORF Budget Authority..........          109,935          103,092          103,092           -6,843          103,092                0
                                                   =====================================================================================================
  Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC)
                   Appropriation

Systems Acquisition:
    Polar Spacecraft and Launching:
        Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental            149,917          140,979          140,979           -8,938          114,594          -26,385
         Satellites (POES) K-N....................
        National Polar-Orbiting Environmental                50,000           80,100           80,100          +30,100          113,000          +33,500
         Satellite System (NPOESS)................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Total, Polar Spacecraft and Launching...          199,917          221,079          221,079          +21,162          228,194           +7,115
                                                   =====================================================================================================
    Geostationary Spacecraft and Launching:
        Geostationary Operational Environmental
         Satellites:
             (GOES) I-M...........................           82,376           77,082           77,082           -5,294           58,615          -18,467
            GOES N-Q..............................          182,766          189,533          189,533           +6,767          245,609          +56,076
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Total, Geostationary Spacecraft and           265,142          266,615          266,615           +1,473          304,224          +37,609
               Launching..........................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
              Total, Systems Acquisition PAC                465,059          487,694          487,694          +22,635          532,418          +44,724
               Budget Authority...................
              Less GOES I-M PAC Budget                      -82,376          -77,082          -77,082           +5,194          -58,615          +18,467
               Authorization......................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Total, Systems Acquisition PAC                382,683          410,612          410,612          +27,929          473,803          +63,191
               Budget Authorization...............
                                                   =====================================================================================================
Construction:
    NOAA Operations Center (NORC) Rehabilitation..                0            3,045            3,045           +3,045            2,380             -665
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Construction PAC Budget Authority....                0            3,045            3,045           +3,045            2,380             -665
                                                   =====================================================================================================
      Total, NESDIS PAC Budget Authority..........          465,059          490,739          490,739          +25,680          534,798          +44,059
      Total, NESDIS PAC Budget Authorization......          382,683          413,657          413,657          +30,974          476,183          +62,526
      Total, NESDIS Budget Authority..............          574,994          593,831          593,831          +18,837          637,890          +44,059
      Total, NESDIS Budget Authorization..........          492,618          516,749          516,749          +24,131          579,275          +62,526
                    FACILITIES

     Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF)
                   Appropriation

NWS WFO Facilities Maintenance....................            3,000                0                0           -3,000                0                0
David Skaggs Research Center (Boulder, CO)                        0            3,850            3,850           +3,850            3,850                0
 Facilities Operations............................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, FACILITIES ORF Budget Authority/                 3,000            3,850            3,850             +850            3,850                0
       Authorization..............................
                                                   =====================================================================================================
                   CONSTRUCTION

  Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC)
                   Appropriation

Boulder Laboratory Above Standard Cost............            6,370                0                0           -6,370                0                0
National Centers for Environmental Prediction                   850                0                0             -850                0                0
 (NCEP)...........................................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, Construction PAC Budget Authority/               7,220                0                0           -7,220                0                0
       Authorization..............................
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, ORF Budget Authority/Authorization...          842,490          911,589          895,589          +53,099          895,589                0
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, PAC Budget Authority.................          570,227          570,411          570,411             +184          619,078          +48,667
          Less GOES I-M PAC Budget Authorization..          -82,376          -77,082          -77,082           +5,294          -58,615          +18,467
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total, PAC Budget Authorization.............          487,851          493,329          493,329           +5,478          560,463          +67,134
      Total, H.R. 1553 Budget Authority...........        1,412,717        1,482,000        1,468,500          +55,783        1,517,167          +48,667
      Total, H.R. 1553 Budget Authorization.......        1,330,341        1,404,918        1,391,418          +61,077        1,458,552          +67,134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          VII. Section-by-Section Analysis and Committee Views


                         Section 1. Short Title

    Section 1 cites the Act as the ``National Weather Service 
and Related Agencies Authorization Act of 1999.''

                         Section 2. Definitions

    Section 2 defines: (1) the ``Administrator'' as the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration; and (2) the ``Secretary'' as the Secretary of 
Commerce.

                  Section 3. National Weather Service

    Subsection 3(a) authorizes $617,897,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001, to remain available until expended, to carry out 
the Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) activities of 
the NWS, including--(1) $449,441,000 for FY 2000 and 
$450,411,000 for FY 2001 for Local Warnings and Forecasts; (2) 
$2,200,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for the Advanced 
Hydrological Prediction System; (3) $619,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for Susquehanna River Basin Flood Systems; (4) 
$35,596,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for Aviation 
Forecasts; (5) $4,000,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for 
Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) Facilities Maintenance; (6) 
$37,081,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for Central Forecast 
Guidance; (7) $3,090,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for 
Atmospheric and Hydrological Research; (8) $39,325,000 for each 
of FYs 2000 and 2001 for NEXRAD; (9) $7,573,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for ASOS; (10) $38,002,000 for each of FYs 2000 
and 2001 for Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System; 
and (11) $970,000 for two 1,000 watt NOAA Weather Radio 
transmitters, to be located in Jasper and Marion Counties, 
Illinois, and nine 300-watt NOAA Weather Radio transmitters, to 
be installed in appropriate locations throughout the State of 
Illinois, and for maintenance costs related thereto.
    Subsection (3)(b) authorizes $69,632,000 for FY 2000 and 
$70,120,000 for FY 2001, to remain available until expended, to 
carry out the Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction (PAC) 
activities of the NWS, including--(1) $9,560,000 for FY 2000 
and $9,060,000 for FY 2001 for NEXRAD; (2) $4,180,000 for FY 
2000 and $6,125,000 for FY 2001 for ASOS; (3) $22,575,000 for 
FY 2000 and $21,525,000 for FY 2001 for AWIPS; (4) $11,100,000 
for FY 2000 and $12,835,000 for FY 2001 for Computer Facilities 
Upgrades; (5) $8,350,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 for 
Radiosonde Replacement; (6) $500,000 for FY 2000 for NOAA 
Operations Center Rehabilitation; and (7) $13,367,000 for FY 
2000 and $12,225,000 for FY 2001 for WFO Construction.
    Subsection 3(c) provides (1) that the Secretary of 
Commerce, through the National Weather Service, except as 
provided in paragraph (2), shall be responsible for--(A) 
forecasts and shall serve as the sole official source of 
weather and flood warnings; (B) the issuance of storm warnings; 
(C) the collection, exchange, and distribution of 
meteorological, hydrological, and climatic data and 
information; (D) the preparation of hydrometeorological 
guidance and core forecast information; and (E) the issuance of 
marine and aviation forecasts and warnings.
    Subsection 3(c)(2) stipulates that the NWS will not 
provide, or assist other entities to provide a service--other 
than forecasts and weather and flood warnings or the issuance 
of storm warnings--unless (A) the Secretary finds that the 
private sector is unwilling or unable to provide the service, 
or (B) the service provides vital weather warnings and 
forecasts for the protection of lives and property of the 
general public.
    Subsection 3(c)(3) amends the Act of October 1, 1890 (26 
Stat. 653) accordingly.
    Subsection 3(c)(4) requires the Secretary submit a report 
to Congress no later than 60 days after the enactment of this 
Act detailing all NWS activities that do not conform to the 
requirements of this subsection and outlining a timetable for 
their termination.

Committee views

            Astoria/Warrenton Airport
    The Committee notes the unique geography of the Astoria/
Warrenton Airport at the Port of Astoria, Oregon and the 
challenges it represents for the National Weather Service. It 
is the Committee's hope that the Director of the National 
Weather Service should work with airport officials to ensure 
that the newly installed ASOS, in conjunction with pilot and 
ground observations, allows the NWS to effectively carry out 
its mission in the region. Moreover, the Director shall ensure 
that a local representative is trained in making reports for 
NWS in the event of an ASOS failure. If these additional pilot 
and ground observations fail to address the special needs of 
this airport, further solutions should be investigated and 
implemented.

Committee views

            The National Weather Service and the private sector
    The Committee supports privatizing specialized weather 
services provided by NWS and recommends that the Secretary of 
Commerce develop criteria for determining which services should 
be privatized. The Committee notes that NWS has a good working 
relationship with the commercial weather service sector and 
supports the continuation of their relationship. The Committee 
recommends that NWS continue its practice of collecting, 
exchanging, and distributing weather data and information in 
real time and in a non-discriminatory manner.
    The Committee believes that NWS should not directly or 
indirectly compete with the private sector. The Committee 
believes that in carrying-out its duties as described in the 
legislation, NWS should not compete with the private sector by 
confining its activities to those that protect the lives and 
property of the general public. Additionally, the weather 
service should not enter into exclusive agreements, fee-based 
or otherwise, with any organization, for profit or otherwise, 
for distribution of weather data if the orgainzation uses the 
data to generate marketable products.
    The Committee also reiterates that NWS is the sole official 
source of weather and flood warnings. The Committee further 
notes, however, that this designation should in no way preclude 
private weather forecasters from issuing weather forecasts.

                    section 4. atmospheric research

    Subsection 4(a)(1) authorizes $170,250,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001, to remain available until expended, to carry out 
the ORF environmental research and development activities of 
OAR.
    Subsection 4(a)(2) authorizes $126,200,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for Climate and Air Quality Research, of which--
(A) $16,900,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for 
Interannual and Seasonal Climate Research; (B) $34,600,000 for 
each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for Long-Term Climate and Air 
Quality Research; (C) $69,700,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 
is for Climate and Global Change; and (D) $5,000,000 for each 
of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for Global Learning and Observations to 
Benefit the Environment (GLOBE); and
    Subsection 4(a)(3) authorizes $47,050,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for Atmospheric Programs, of which--(A) 
$36,600,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for Weather 
Research; (B) $4,350,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for 
Wind Profiler; and (C) $6,100,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 
is for Solar-Terrestrial Services and Research.
    Subsection 4(b) authorizes $10,040,000 for FY 2000 and 
$14,160,000 for FY 2001, to remain available until expended, to 
carry out the PAC environmental research and development 
activities of OAR, including--(1) $5,700,000 for FY 2000 and 
$8,000,000 for FY 2001 for the GFDL Supercomputer; and (2) 
$4,340,000 for FY 2000 and $6,160,000 for FY 2001 for the 
Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) Follow-On/GEOSTORM 
Satellite.

Committee views

    The lack of authorization for NOAA's HPCC program in H.R. 
1553 should not be construed as a lack of endorsement of the 
program. The Committee intends to act on separate legislation 
that will authorize appropriations for the HPCC program--
including NOAA's portion--as well as the proposed Information 
Technology for the 21st Century Initiative for those agencies 
under its jurisdiction.

   section 5. national environmental satellite, data and information 
                                service

    Subsection 5(a)(1) authorizes $103,092,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001, to remain available until expended, to carry out 
the ORF environmental research and development and related 
activities of NESDIS.
    Subsection 5(a)(2) authorizes $59,236,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for Satellite Observing Systems, of which--(A) 
$2,000,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for the Global 
Disaster Information Network; (B) $4,000,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 is for Ocean Remote Sensing; and (C) $53,236,000 
for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for Environmental Observing 
Services.
    Subsection 5(a)(3) authorizes $43,856,000 for each of FYs 
2000 and 2001 for Environmental Data Management Systems, of 
which--(A) $31,521,000 for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 is for 
Data and Information services; and (B) $12,335,000 for each of 
FYs 2000 and 2001 is for Environmental Data Systems 
Modernization.
    Subsection 5(b)(1) authorizes $413,657,000 for FY 2000 and 
$476,183,000 for FY 2001, to remain available until expended, 
to carry out the PAC environmental research and development and 
related activities of NESDIS.
    Subsection 5(b)(2) authorizes $410,612,000 for FY 2000 and 
$473,803,000 for FY 2001 for Systems Acquisition, of which--(A) 
$140,979,000 for FY 2000 and $114,594,000 for FY 2001 is for 
the procurement and launch of, and supporting ground systems 
for, Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES), K, L, M, 
N, and N,; (B) $80,100,000 for FY 2000 and $113,600,000 for FY 
2001 use for the procurement and launch of, and supporting 
ground systems for, the National Polar-Orbiting Operational 
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS); and (C) $189,533,000 
for FY 2000 and $245,609,000 for FY 2001 is for the procurement 
and launch of, and supporting ground systems for, Geostationary 
Operational Environmental NEXT follow-on Satellites (GOES N-Q).
    Subsection 5(b)(3) authorizes $3,045,000 for FY 2000 and 
$2,380,000 for FY 2001 is for WFO Construction.

Committee views

    As was noted above, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law, 102-567) 
authorized to completion the procurement of GOES I-M. 
Consequently, H.R. 1553 does include specific authorizations 
for GOES I-M. The Committee does, however, support the 
Administration's FY 2000 request of $77,082,000, as well as the 
FY 2001 estimate of $58,615,000 for GOES I-M.

                         Section 6. Facilities

    Section 6 provides a two-year authorization of $3,850,000 
for each of FYs 2000 and 2001 to enable NOAA to carry out the 
ORF environmental research and development and related 
activities required to meet recurring facilities operations 
costs associated with the David Skaggs Research Center in 
Boulder, Colorado.

                   Section 7. Eligibility for Awards

    Subsection 7(a) requires the NOAA Administrator to exclude 
from consideration for grant agreements made after FY 1999 by 
the NOAA, under the programs for which funds are authorized 
under this Act, any person who received funds, other than those 
described in subsection 7(b), appropriated for a fiscal year 
after FY 1999, under a grant agreement from any Federal funding 
source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, 
merit-based award process, unless specifically authorized by 
this Act. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to this 
section shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the 
person receives such Federal funds.
    Subsection 7(b) provides that subsection 7(a) shall not 
apply to the receipt of Federal funds by a person due to the 
membership of that person in a class specified by law for which 
assistance is awarded to members of the class according to a 
formula provided by law.
    Subsection 7(c) defines the term ``grant agreement'' to 
mean a legal instrument whose principal purpose is to transfer 
a thing of value to the recipient to carry out a public purpose 
of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United 
States, and does not include theacquisition (by purchase, 
lease, or barter) of property or services for the direct benefit or use 
of the United States Government. Such term also does not include a 
cooperative agreement (as such term is used in section 6305 of title 
31, United States Code) or a cooperative research and development 
agreement (as such term is defined in section 12(d)(1) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3710a(d)(1))).

Committee views

    The Committee has a long-standing position that awards 
should be based on a competitive merit-based process. Merit 
review allows taxpayers' dollars to be spent in the most cost-
effective manner.

            section 8. internet availability of information

    Section 8 requires the NOAA Administrator to make available 
through NOAA's Internet home page of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration the abstracts relating to all 
research grants and awards made with funds authorized by this 
Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or 
permit the release of any information prohibited by law or 
regulation from being released to the public.

Committee views

    The Committee believes that by giving public access to 
information about how tax dollars are spent, it is acting as a 
responsible steward of taxpayer resources. Such information can 
also stimulate additional public and private sector research by 
informing the research community.

                          VIII. Cost Estimate

    Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(2) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that each report of a committee on a 
public bill or public joint resolution contain: (A) an estimate 
by the committee of the costs that would be incurred in 
carrying out the bill or joint resolution in the fiscal year in 
which it is reported, and in each of the five fiscal years 
following that fiscal year (or for the authorized duration of 
any program authorized by such bill or joint resolution, if 
less than five years); (B) a comparison of the estimate of 
costs described in subdivision (A) made by the committee with 
any estimate of such costs made by a Government agency and 
submitted to such committee; and (C) when practicable, a 
comparison of the total estimated funding level for the 
relevant programs with the appropriate levels under current 
law. However, House Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(3)(B) provides that 
this requirement does not apply when a cost estimate and 
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 has been included in the report pursuant to House Rule 
XIII, clause 3(c)(3). A cost estimate and comparison prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been 
timely submitted to the Committee on Science prior to the 
filing of this report and is included in Section IX of this 
report pursuant to House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3).
    Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that the report of a committee on a 
measure that has been approved by the committee providing new 
budget authority (other than continuing appropriations), new 
spending authority, or new credit authority, or changes in 
revenues or tax expenditures include the statement required by 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, except 
that an estimate of new budget authority shall include, when 
practicable, a comparison of the total estimated funding level 
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under 
current law. H.R. 1553 does not contain any new budget 
authority, new spending authority, or new credit authority, or 
changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming that the sums 
authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R. 1553 does 
authorize additional discretionary spending, as described in 
the Congressional Budget Office report on the bill, which is 
contained in Section IX of this report.

             IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that the report of a committee on a 
measure that has been approved by the committee include an 
estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 if timely submitted to the 
committee before the filing of the report. The Committee on 
Science has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 1553 
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                       Washington, DC, May 7, 1999.
Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
Chairman, Committee on Science,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1553, the National 
Weather Service and Related Agencies Authorization Act of 1999.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Gary Brown.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 1553--National Weather Service and Related Agencies Authorization 
        Act of 1999

    Summary: H.R. 1553 would authorize the appropriation of 
$1,391 million in fiscal year 2000 and $1,459 million in 2001 
for weather and atmospheric research programs of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Specifically, 
the bill would authorize funding for NOAA programs carried out 
by the National Weather Service, the Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research, and the National Environmental Satellite, 
Data and Information Service.
    CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1553 would result in 
additional outlays of $2,828 million over the 2000-2004 period, 
assuming the appropriation of the authorized amounts. Enacting 
the bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 1553 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (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. 1553 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).
    For the purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R. 
1553 will be enacted by the end of fiscal year 1999 and that 
all amounts authorized by the bill will be appropriated for 
each fiscal year. Estimated outlays are based on historical 
spending rates for these programs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               By fiscal years, in millions of dollars--
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1999      2000      2001      2002      2003      2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending Under Current Law:
    Budget Authority\1\.............................     1,413         0         0         0         0         0
    Estimated Outlays...............................     1,313       630       257       103        23         0
Proposed Changes:
    Authorization Level.............................         0     1,391     1,459         0         0         0
    Estimated Outlays...............................         0       747     1,159       564       249       107
Spending Under H.R. 1553:
    Authorization Level \1\.........................     1,413     1,391     1,459         0         0         0
    Estimated Outlays...............................     1,313     1,378     1,416       667       272       107
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1999 level is the amount appropriated for that year for activities conducted by the National Weather
  Service, The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and
  Information Service that would be authorized by H.R. 1553.

    Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1553 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments. Some of the funds authorized in this bill 
would be used to provide grants for research at public 
universities.
    Estimate prepared by: Gary Brown.
    Estimte approved by: Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                  X. Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    H.R. 1553 contains no unfunded mandates.

          XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that the report of a committee on a 
measure that has been approved by the committee include 
oversight findings and recommendations under clause 2(b)(1) of 
rule X. The Committee on Science's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

    XII. Oversight Findings and Recommendations by the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

    Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that the report of a committee on a 
measure that has been approved by the committee include a 
summary of oversight findings and recommendations made by the 
Committee on Government Reform under clause 4(c)(2) of rule X 
if such findings and recommendations have been submitted to the 
reporting committee in time to allow it to consider such 
findings and recommendations during its deliberations on the 
measure. The Committee on Science has received no such findings 
or recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform.

                XIII. Constitutional Authority Statement

    Rule XIII, clause 3(d)(1) of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires that each report of a committee on a 
public bill or public joint resolution contain a statement 
citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the 
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint 
resolution. Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the 
United States grants Congress the authority to enact Y.R. 1553.

               XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    H.R. 1553 does not establish or authorize the establishment 
of any advisory committee.

                  XV. Congressional Accountability Act

    The Committee finds that H.R. 1553 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

       XVI. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3(e) 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 and 
existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

                         ACT OF OCTOBER 1, 1890


CHAP. 1226.--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].

                    XVII. Committee Recommendations

    On April 29, 1999, a quorum being present, the Committee 
favorably reported H.R. 1553, the National Weather Service and 
Related Agencies Authorization Act of 1999, as amended, by a 
voice vote, and recommended its enactment.

                         XVIII. MINORITY VIEWS

    The minority is satisfied that the exclusion of the 
authorization of appropriations for NOAA's portion of the High 
Performance Computing and Communication program is done without 
prejudice. This funding supports advancements in NOAA's 
computational ability which will enable NOAA to improve both 
short and long-range forecasting. The Chairman indicated the 
Committee will move separate legislation within the coming few 
weeks to authorize appropriations for the HPCC program in its 
entirety, including the authorization for NOAA's portion of the 
program. We understand that the bill will provide 
authorizations of appropriations for all Departments and 
Agencies which participate in the government-wide HPCC program, 
as well as in the proposed Information Technology for the 21st 
Century initiative.
    The Chairman's bill shows flat funding in program accounts 
from FY 2000 to FY 2001. The minority are concerned that these 
out-year funding numbers are insufficient to provide for the 
real needs of the Nation. This flat funding authorization will 
produce a decline in the real work being done by NOAA as 
inflation has to be absorbed from those numbers. Reduced 
funding will impact our Weather Service and studies on 
environmental atmospheric change. While the nominal dollars 
from FY 2000 to FY 2001 appear to be the same, the level of 
services supported will decline in real terms.
    Consequently, Mr. Costello offered an amendment to raise 
the authorization level for FY 2001 by 3%. A 3% increase would 
increase program authorizations by less than $27 million. This 
level of increase is consistent with the Committee's past three 
Views and Estimates produced by the majority. The majority 
endorsed a 3% increase in FY 1998 and FY 2000 and a 4% increase 
in FY 1999. We would add that in February, the majority 
released an analysis of the President's outyear request numbers 
for science and technology accounts. That analysis criticized 
the President for weak outyear numbers for the programs under 
the Science Committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, the 
Chairman's press release noted that ``in the out years, the 
Administration's civilian R&D budget fails to keep pace with 
inflation.'' Ironically, the numbers used for FY 2000 in H.R. 
1552 came from the President's request for FY 2000.
    We would add that the Costello amendment was consistent 
with the findings in Rep. Ehlers' report on Federal Science 
policy. That report called for stable and substantial funding 
for science programs. It is hard to see how funding can be 
stable and substantial if we routinely let inflation eat away 
at our programs.
    The goal of this amendment was to send a signal to the 
Administration, as it develops its FY 2001 budget request for 
NOAA, that the Committee values these programs. Further, we 
wanted to offer some flexibility to the appropriators in FY 
2001 in case the budget situation continues to improve and 
there is fiscal room to enhance our funding for NOAA's work. In 
any event, these arguments produced a straight party line vote 
in which the amendment was defeated and NOAA's authorization 
will fail to keep pace with inflation in FY 2001.

                                   George E. Brown, Jr.
                                   Mike Doyle.
                                   John B. Larson.
                                   Mark Udall.
                                   Zoe Lofgren.
                                   Michael E. Capuano.
                                   Nick Lampson.
                                   Lynn N. Rivers.
                                   Jerry F. Costello.
                                   Sheila Jackson Lee.
                                   Debbie Stabenow.
                                   Bart Gordon.
                                   Eddie Bernice Johnson.
                                   David Wu.
                                   Jim Barcia.
                                   Lynn Woolsey.
                                   Anthony D. Weiner.

            XIX. Proceedings of Committee on Science Markup

    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The final bill on the calendar 
today is H.R. 1553, The National Weather Service and Related 
Agencies Authorization Act of 1999, which authorizes a total of 
$1.391 billion for Fiscal 2000; $1.468 billion for Fiscal 2001 
for the National Weather Service, the NOAA Office of Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Research Program, the National Environmental 
Satellite Data and Information Service and related agencies.
    I would ask unanimous consent that the balance of my 
statement be included in the record before recognizing the 
Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Minority Members for opening 
statements, let me say that it is the intention of the Chair 
when we reach a roll call, which can be anywhere from 20 to 50 
minutes not to come back. And if this bill is not approved and 
reported out by the time bell rings and we have to adjourn, it 
will be placed at the top of the agenda at our next markup. So 
those who really want this bill to be reported, are urged to 
make their statements brief and quick and to the point.
    The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. 
Calvert, for a brief 5 minutes.
    [The statement of Mr. Sensenbrenner follows:]

             Statement of Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.

    H.R. 1553, the National Weather Service and Related 
Agencies Authorization Act of 1999, authorizes a total of 
$1.391 billion for FY 2000 and $1.468 billion for FY 2001 for 
the National Weather Service, the NOAA Office of Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Research programs, the National Environmental 
Satellite, Data and Information Service and related Facilities.
    Similar to H.R. 1552, the programs in H.R. 1553 are 
authorized at the FY 2000 level requested by NOAA and are 
consistent with the FY 2001 estimates contained in NOAA FY 2000 
budget request except this bill excludes NOAA's High 
Performance Computing and Communications Program, which will be 
authorized under separate authorization legislation. Also 
excluded are any additional authorizations for the 
Geostationary Operational Satellites, I, J, K, L, and M (GOES 
I-M), which were authorized to completion by the NOAA 
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567).

    Mr. Calvert. Mr. Chairman, I had an opening statement that 
pretty much explained both bills in that statement. I would 
just like to move to the amendment process.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from Illinois, Mr. 
Costello.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I will follows Chairman 
Calvert's lead and let me just say that I am pleased that we 
are bringing this bill before the Committee today. I have the 
same concern with this legislation as far as the authorization 
level as I did with the last bill. I will be offering my 
amendment at the appropriate time.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the two opening 
statements just referred to will be inserted into the record at 
this point. Also, without objection, other Members may insert 
opening statements into the record at this point. Further 
without objection, the bill is read a first time, open for 
amendment at any point and the Chair recognizes Mr. Calvert of 
California who has the first amendment which is a technical and 
conforming amendment.
    [The information follows:]

                               H.R. 1553

    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 Weather Service and Related 
Agencies Authorization Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

  For purposes of this Act, the term--
          (1) ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
          (2) ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the Operations, Research, and 
Facilities activities of the National Weather Service $617,897,000 for 
fiscal year 2000 and $617,897,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain 
available until expended. Of such amounts--
          (1) $450,411,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $450,411,000 for 
        fiscal year 2001 shall be for Local Warnings and Forecasts;
          (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 Atmospheric 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); and
          (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).
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration 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 Generation 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 Computer Facilities Upgrades;
          (5) $8,350,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $8,350,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for Radiosonde Replacement;
          (6) $500,000 for fiscal year 2000 shall be for National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Operations 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 responsible for--
                  (A) forecasts and shall serve as the sole official 
                source of weather warnings;
                  (B) the issuance of storm warnings;
                  (C) the collection, exchange, and distribution of 
                meteorological, hydrological, climatic, and 
                oceanographic data and information; and
                  (D) the preparation of hydrometeorological guidance 
                and core forecast information.
          (2) Competition with private sector.--The National Weather 
        Service shall not provide, or assist other entities to provide, 
        a service (other than a service described in paragraph (1)(A)) 
        if that service is currently provided or can be provided by 
        commercial enterprise, unless--
                  (A) the Secretary finds that the private sector is 
                unwilling or unable to provide the service; or
                  (B) the service provides vital weather warnings 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 striking ``, 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 
        subsection and outlining a timetable for their termination.

SEC. 4. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Atmospheric Research 
        Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and 
        development activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        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 Climate and Global 
                Change; and
                  (D) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $5,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Global Learning and 
                Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE).
          (3) Atmospheric programs.--Of the amounts authorized under 
        paragraph (1), $47,050,000 for fiscal 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;
                  (B) $4,350,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $4,350,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Wind Profiler; and
                  (C) $6,100,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $6,100,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Solar-Terrestrial 
                Services and Research.
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the Atmospheric Research 
Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction environmental research and 
development activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research $10,040,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $14,160,000 for fiscal 
year 2001, to remain available until expended. Of such amounts--
          (1) $5,700,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $8,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
        Laboratory Supercomputer; and
          (2) $4,340,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $6,160,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) 
        Follow-On Satellite/GEOSTORM.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICE.

  (a) Operations, Research, and Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Operations, Research, and 
        Facilities environmental research and development and related 
        activities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and 
        Information Service $103,092,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $103,092,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain available until 
        expended.
          (2) Satellite observing systems.--Of the amounts authorized 
        under paragraph (1), $59,236,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $59,236,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Satellite 
        Observing Systems, of which--
                  (A) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $2,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Global Disaster 
                Information Network (GDIN);
                  (B) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $4,000,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Ocean Remote Sensing; 
                and
                  (C) $53,236,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $53,236,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Environmental 
                Observing Systems.
          (3) Environmental data management systems.--Of the amounts 
        authorized under paragraph (1), $43,856,000 for fiscal year 
        2000 and $43,856,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for 
        Environmental Data Management Systems, of which--
                  (A) $31,521,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $31,521,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Data and Information 
                Services; and
                  (B) $12,335,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $12,335,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Environmental Data 
                Systems Modernization.
  (b) Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out the Procurement, Acquisition, and 
        Construction environmental research and development and related 
        activities of the National Environmental Satellite, Data and 
        Information Service $413,657,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $476,183,000 for fiscal year 2001, to remain available until 
        expended.
          (2) Systems acquisition.--Of the amounts authorized under 
        paragraph (1), $410,612,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
        $473,803,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for Systems 
        Acquisition, of which--
                  (A) $140,979,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
                $114,594,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the 
                procurement and launch of, and supporting ground 
                systems for, Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites 
                (POES), K, L, M, N, and N,;
                  (B) $80,100,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $113,600,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the procurement and 
                launch of, and supporting ground systems for, the 
                National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental 
                Satellite System (NPOESS); and
                  (C) $189,533,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
                $245,609,000 for fiscal year 2001 shall be for the 
                procurement and launch of, and supporting ground 
                systems for, up to three Geostationary Operational 
                Environmental NEXT follow-on Satellites (GOES N-Q).
          (3) Construction.--Of the amounts authorized under paragraph 
        (1), $3,045,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $2,380,000 for fiscal 
        year 2001 shall be for National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration Operations Center Rehabilitation Construction.

SEC. 6. FACILITIES.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the 
Operations, Research, and Facilities environmental research and 
development and related activities required to meet recurring 
facilities operations costs associated with the David Skaggs Research 
Center in Boulder, Colorado, $3,850,000 for fiscal year 2000 and 
$3,850,000 for fiscal year 2001.

SEC. 7. ELIGIBILITY FOR AWARDS.

  (a) In General.--The Administrator shall exclude from consideration 
for grant agreements made after fiscal year 1999 by the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the programs for which 
funds are authorized under this Act, any person who received funds, 
other than those described in subsection (b), appropriated for a fiscal 
year after fiscal year 1999, under a grant agreement from any Federal 
funding source for a project that was not subjected to a competitive, 
merit-based award process. Any exclusion from consideration pursuant to 
this section shall be effective for a period of 5 years after the 
person receives such Federal funds.
  (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the receipt of 
Federal funds by a person due to the membership of that person in a 
class specified by law for which assistance is awarded to members of 
the class according to a formula provided by law.
  (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``grant 
agreement'' means a legal instrument whose principal purpose is to 
transfer a thing of value to the recipient to carry out a public 
purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United 
States, and does not include the acquisition (by purchase, lease, or 
barter) of property or services for the direct benefit or use of the 
United States Government. Such term does not include a cooperative 
agreement (as such term is used in section 6305 of title 31, United 
States Code) or a cooperative research and development agreement (as 
such term is defined in section 12(d)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d)(1))).
                                 ______
                                 
                    Statement of Hon. Jerry Costello
    Mr. Chairman, my district in Southern Illinois lies along the 
Mississippi River and we are subject to flooding and a host of ill-
tempered storms, especially in the summer months. Consequently, I am a 
big fan of the National Weather Service and happy to take up a bill 
that authorizes NWS as well as all the other important atmospheric 
research work at NOAA.
    As with H.R. 1552, this bill reflects the President's request for 
FY2000 and I am pleased by the numbers for next year. I am concerned 
that the FY 2001 numbers would lead to a decline in real support for 
the work of the National Weather Service and other NOAA accounts and 
will offer an amendment to plus the out-year authorization up by a 
modest 3%. I hope the Chairman can join me on this amendment.
    There are a few other issues that my colleagues hope to improve 
through judicious amendments and would ask for the support of my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle. In general this is a good 
bill that we want to make better.

    Mr. Calvert. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The clerk will report the 
amendment.
    The Clerk. ``Amendment to H.R. 1553, offered by Mr. 
Calvert.''
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is 
considered as read. And the gentleman from California is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
    [The information follows:]
             Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Calvert
    Page 10, line 11, strike ``systems'' and insert ``Services''.
    Page 12, line 4, strike ``up to three''.
    Page 12, line 25, strike ``programs'' and insert ``activities''.
    Page 13, line 6, insert ``, except as specifically authorized by 
this Act'' after ``award process''.

    Mr. Calvert. And as the Chairman mentioned, this bill--this 
amendment is only technical and conforming changes and I would 
urge its adoption.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Further discussion on the Calvert 
amendment?
    Hearing none, all those in favor of agreeing to the 
amendment will signify by saying aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. And the 
amendment is agreed to.
    The second amendment on the list is one by the gentleman 
from Illinois, Mr. Ewing. For what purpose does the gentleman 
seek recognition?
    Mr. Ewing. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The clerk will report the 
amendment.
    The Clerk. ``Amendment to H.R. 1553, offered by Mr. 
Ewing.''
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is 
considered as read and open for amendment at any point. And the 
gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Ewing, is recognized for 5 
minutes.
    [The information follows:]
              Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Ewing
    Page 2, line 20, strike ``$450,411,000'' and insert 
``$449,441,000''.
    Page 3, line 21, strike ``and''.
    Page 3, line 25, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
    Page 3, after line 25, insert the following new paragraph:
          (11) $970,000 for fiscal year 2000 shall be for two 1,000-
        watt National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather 
        Radio transmitters, to be located in Jasper and Marion 
        Counties, Illinois, and nine 300-watt National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio transmitters, to be 
        installed in appropriate locations throughout the State of 
        Illinois, and for maintenance costs related thereto.
    Page 13, line 6, insert ``, except as specifically authorized by 
this Act'' after ``award process''.

    Mr. Ewing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for 
considering this amendment which is extremely important to a 
large section of rural Illinois. The amendment takes $970,000 
authorized for Local Warnings and Forecast Division of the 
National Weather Service to purchase, install, and cover the 
initial cost to build NOAA weather radio transmitters for the 
region of Illinois not already covered by the NOAA Weather 
Radio Alert System.
    The tornadoes which recently tore through Illinois and took 
the life of one of my constituents in Ashton, Illinois brought 
home the importance of these Weather Alert Systems. There are 
17 counties in Illinois without Weather Alert Systems or are 
only partially covered. It is especially important that rural 
areas have a system in place to warn people of oncoming storms 
and dangerous weather. The map that shows where these will be 
located also is very important because it is almost a vanguard 
on the west side of the large metropolitan area of Chicago 
which is so heavily populated and has been hit a number of 
times by tornadoes with great loss of property and lives.
    I believe the safety concerns and the fact that the funds 
are coming from existing NOAA programs makes the amendment 
easily supportable, and I thank the Chairman for allowing the 
amendment to be offered.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman yields back 
thebalance of his time. The gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Costello.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I just want to----
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Recognized for 5 minutes.
    Mr. Costello. I want to associate myself with the remarks 
made by Mr. Ewing, and I support his amendment.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman yields back the 
balance of time. Further discussion on the Ewing amendment?
    Hearing none, all those in favor of agreeing to the 
amendment will signify by saying aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. And the 
amendment is agreed to.
    Amendment number three on the roster is by the gentleman 
from Illinois, Mr. Costello. For what purpose do you arise?
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The clerk will report the 
amendment.
    The Clerk. ``Amendment to H.R. 1553, offered by Mr. 
Costello.''
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. This is amendment number three, 
correct?
    Mr. Costello. Yes, it is.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is 
considered as read and the gentleman is recognized for 5 
minutes.
    [The information follows:]

             Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Costello

    Page 5, line 14, insert ``and flood'' after ``source of weather''.
    Page 5, line 18, strike ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C).
    Page 5, line 20, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
    Page 5, after line 20, insert the following new subparagraph:
                  (E) the issuance of marine and aviation forecasts and 
                warnings.
    Page 5, line 24, insert ``or (B)'' after ``paragraph (1)(A)''.

    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that the 
majority is willing to accept this amendment. I can either be 
brief or use my 5 minutes.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Will the gentleman yield?
    Mr. Costello. I will be happy to.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The majority will accept this 
amendment with the understanding that we may want to work with 
interested parties on this section to work out an acceptable 
compromise before this bill comes to the Floor. So we accept 
the amendment. We have to modify it a bit after some interested 
parties come to the table that have not been coming to the 
table in the past.
    Mr. Costello. Reclaiming my time. It is my understanding 
then that we will attempt to work this out before we go to the 
Floor.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Yes, that is my understanding as 
well.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I yield back my time.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Further discussion on Costello 
amendment number three?
    Hearing none, all those in favor will signify by saying 
aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. And amendment 
number three is adopted.
    Amendment number four is also by Mr. Costello. For what 
purpose do you arise?
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The clerk will report the 
amendment.
    The Clerk. ``Amendment to H.R. 1553, offered by Mr. 
Costello.''
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is 
considered as read and the gentleman from Illinois is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
             Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Costello
    Page 14, after line 2, insert the following new section:

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION INCREASE.

    Each of the amounts authorized for fiscal year 2001 by this Act, 
except for the amounts authorized by sections 3(b), 4(b), and 5(b), 
shall be increased by 3 percent.

    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today leaves funding 
for NOAA program accounts flat from Fiscal Year 2000 to Fiscal Year 
2001. My amendment would rectify this situation. It would----
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Will the gentleman yield? This appears to 
be amendment number six on the roster. It is fine if we go ahead with 
amendment number six.
    Mr. Costello. Can we do six now and then we'll go back.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Yes, let's do six now and then we can go 
back.
    So the question is on agreeing to amendment number six and the 
Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois for the balance of his 5 
minutes.
    Mr. Costello. I assume we will be able to dispense with this 
amendment quicker than the next. Mr. Chairman, this is a similar 
amendment that I offered to H.R. 1552. It would provide for a 3 percent 
increase in the authorization level for Fiscal Year 2001. It is 
consistent with the action of this Committee in the past, the views and 
estimates which call for a 3 percent increase for Fiscal Year 1998, a 4 
percent increase in Fiscal Year 1999, and a 3 percent increase for 
2000. I made my arguments and the arguments concerning this 
authorization increase is the same. And I do believe, for Mr. 
Rohrabacher's information, that it is a responsible amendment in 
standing up for the taxpayers just for the record.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Does the gentleman yield back the balance 
of his time?
    Mr. Costello. I do.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Does the gentleman from California wish his 
remarks in the previous amendment incorporated by reference into the 
record at this point?
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, in the fear of being redundant, I would 
accept that.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Costello follows:]
                    Statement of Hon. Jerry Costello
    Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today leaves funding for NOAA 
program accounts flat from FY2000 to FY2001. My amendment would rectify 
this situation by simply reaching back into the bill to increase the 
authorized levels for FY2001 by 3%. Excluded from this increase would 
be construction and procurement accounts because in those cases we are 
working with real projected out-year numbers. The total increase in the 
bill's authorization level is just under $27 million.
    Flat funding means that all the increased inflationary costs for 
doing work will be absorbed by the programs--leading to an effective 
cut in funding.
    This Committee has gone on record time and again calling for 
steady, stable funding for our programs. The Ehlers report called for 
Federal funding to be ``stable and substantial''--it can't be stable 
and substantial if we let inflation erode the funding from year to 
year. The Chairman has chided the administration on several occasions 
for failing to provide adequate out-year funding in its budget requests 
leading to net declines in inflation-adjusted funding.
    This level of increase is consistent with the Committee's recent 
past Views and Estimates which called for a 3% increase for FY1998, a 
4% increase for FY1999 and a 3% increase for FY2000. Almost all of us 
supported those calls for increases; I would hope we could agree now to 
support a similar recommended increase in FY2000.
    The administration is now beginning its FY2001 budget process. We 
can send a signal to the administration that there are those in 
Congress who value these programs.
    Finally, we would be providing needed flexibility to appropriators 
and the Administration for FY2001. We can't know what may be needed 128 
months out or what GPRA performance evaluations may suggest. A small 
increase such a I am suggesting--totaling just under $27 million--would 
allow the flexibility to react to such things.

    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay. Further discussion on 
Costello amendment number six?
    Hearing none, all those in favor will signify by saying 
aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The noes appear to have it.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I have to ask for a roll call.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay, the noes have it. A roll call 
is requested and will be granted.
    Those in favor of amendment number six will signify by 
saying aye.
    Those opposed, no. And the clerk will call the roll.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sensenbrenner?
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Sensenbrenner votes no. Mr. Boehlert.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Smith of Texas.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Morella.
    Mrs. Morella. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Morella votes no. Mr. Weldon of 
Pennsylvania.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Rohrabacher.
    Mr. Rohrabacher. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Rohrabacher votes no. Mr. Barton.
    Mr. Barton. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Barton votes no. Mr. Calvert.
    Mr. Calvert. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Calvert votes no. Mr. Smith.
    Mr. Smith of Michigan. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Smith votes no. Mr. Bartlett.
    Mr. Bartlett. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Bartlett votes no. Mr. Ehlers.
    Mr. Ehlers. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Ehlers votes no. Mr. Weldon of Florida.
    Mr. Weldon of Florida. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Weldon votes no. Mr. Gutknecht.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Ewing.
    Mr. Ewing. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Ewing votes no. Mr. Cannon.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Brady.
    Mr. Brady. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Brady votes no. Mr. Cook.
    Mr. Cook. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Cook votes no. Mr. Nethercutt.
    Mr. Nethercutt. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Nethercutt votes no. Mr. Lucas.
    Mr. Lucas. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Lucas votes no. Mr. Green.
    Mr. Green. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Green votes no. Mr. Kuykendall.
    Mr. Kuykendall. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Kuykendall votes no. Mr. Miller.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mrs. Biggert.
    Mrs. Biggert. No.
    The Clerk. Mrs. Biggert votes no. Mr. Sanford.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Metcalf.
    Mr. Metcalf. No.
    The Clerk. Mr. Metcalf votes no. Mr. Brown.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Hall.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Gordon.
    Mr. Gordon. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Gordon votes yes. Mr. Costello.
    Mr. Costello. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Costello votes yes. Mr. Barcia.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Ms. Johnson.
    Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas. Yes.
    The Clerk. Ms. Johnson votes yes. Ms. Woolsey.
    Ms. Woolsey. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Woolsey votes yes. Mr. Hastings.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Ms. Rivers.
    Ms. Rivers. Yes.
    The Clerk. Ms. Rivers votes yes. Ms. Lofgren.
    [No response.]
    The Clerk. Mr. Doyle.
    Mr. Doyle. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Doyle votes yes. Ms. Jackson Lee.
    Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas. Aye.
    The Clerk. Ms. Jackson Lee votes yes. Ms. Stabenow.
    Ms. Stabenow. Yes.
    The Clerk. Ms. Stabenow votes yes. Mr. Etheridge.
    Mr. Etheridge. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Etheridge votes yes. Mr. Lampson.
    Mr. Lampson. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Lampson votes yes. Mr. Larson.
    Mr. Larson. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Larson votes yes. Mr. Udall.
    Mr. Udall. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Udall votes yes. Mr. Wu.
    Mr. Wu. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Wu votes yes. Mr. Weiner.
    Mr. Weiner. Yes.
    The Clerk. Mr. Weiner votes yes. Mr. Capuano.
    Mr. Capuano. Yes.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Are there any Members in the 
chamber that wish to cast their vote or change their votes? The 
gentleman from Michigan?
    Mr. Barcia. I would like to cast my vote aye.
    The Clerk. Mr. Barcia votes yes.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Further Members in the chamber who 
wish to cast or change their votes? There are none. The clerk 
will report.
    The Clerk. Mr. Chairman, yes is 16; no is 18.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. and the amendment is not agreed to.
    
    
    The next amendment on the roster going back in order is 
amendment number four, which I understand will be offered by 
Mr. Costello. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois?
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, thank you. I have an amendment 
at the desk, please.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The clerk will report the 
amendment.
    The Clerk. ``Amendment to H.R. 1553, offered by Mr. 
Costello.''
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is 
considered as read and the gentleman from Illinois is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
    [The information follows:]
             Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Costello
    Page 7, line 14, strike ``$126,200,000'' and insert 
``$139,700,000''.
    Page 7, line 15, strike ``$126,200,000'' and insert 
``$139,700,000''.
    Page 7, line 25, strike ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (C).
    Page 8, line 4, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
    Page 8, after line 4, insert the following new subparagraph:
                  (E) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2000 and $13,500,000 
                for fiscal year 2001 shall be for High Performance 
                Computing.

    sMr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, thank you. Mr. Chairman, this 
amendment would restore funding for the High Performance 
Computing Program. As you know, this Committee has had a long 
history of involvement in the development of advanced computing 
and communications systems.
    This year, the Administration proposed a New Information 
for the 21st Century, IT2. The leadership of this Committee, 
the majority has proposed deleting the funding for the HPCC and 
NGI activities to be bundled together in a larger computing 
authorization to be done mid-year. This action raises a number 
of questions, Mr. Chairman, and I hope I can withdraw this 
amendment----
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Will the gentleman yield?
    Mr. Costello. Yes.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. It is the intention of the Chair 
relatively soon to offer a bill which deals with High 
Performance Computing and the IT2 initiative of the 
Administration. And it is my belief that we should look at this 
entire issue holistically and to advance legislation for 
consideration on the House Floor which deals with all of this 
issue in one package. From a strategic standpoint, as with the 
NGI bill, which we did in the last Congress, I think it is 
important that we wrap all of this up in one bill because we 
have scattered success in the Senate with authorization bills. 
And some of them will be enacted into law and some of them will 
drop into the black hole over in the Senate, never to be seen 
again. And I don't think that that is the way we should be 
dealing with High Performance Computing or the IT2 initiative. 
And I think the way we can get the authorizations for all of 
the agencies that deal with this subject, which includes NOAA, 
NASA, NIST, Department of Energy, NSF, Department of Defense, 
and the National Institutes of Health is with one comprehensive 
package and then have the whole fell swoop be passed and 
hopefully land on the President's desk so that we don't do this 
in piecemeal manner because I think that that would be a very 
serious error on the part of the Congress. So I am looking 
forward to working with the gentleman and the minority as we 
can advance this package bill.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time quickly, if 
I can ask just a few questions?
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Surely.
    Mr. Costello. From a timetable standpoint, since the 
Appropriations Committee will be marking up and reporting their 
bills by mid-summer, where does that leave us? What kind of 
message are we sending?
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. It is my hope that we will have the 
legislation ready for introduction within a few weeks time and 
definitely before the Memorial Day break, which is two days 
long this year. And it is my intention to put this legislation 
on a fast track.
    Mr. Costello. So it is your intention to get the 
legislation through the Committee over to the appropriators 
before they mark up?
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. I would hope so. But that is 
depending upon how quickly the appropriators move. And, as you 
know, we are in the period of time, you know, where the good 
intentions about quick movement are frequently stated by them 
before the wheel starts falling off.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I would yield to Mr. Doyle the 
balance of my time.
    Mr. Doyle. Thank you, Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I just 
want to voice my strong support for Mr. Costello's amendment. 
High Performance Computing is probably one of the most 
important and faster growing areas under the jurisdiction of 
this Committee. High performance super computers and computer 
scientists at the top of their profession are conducting 
important work at centers, such as the Pittsburgh Super 
Computer Center, Universities of Illinois and San Diego and 
many other schools.
    And I just want to close, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to 
working with you on this legislation.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay.
    Mr. Kuyendall. Would the gentleman yield?
    Chairman  Sensenbrenner. If we would like to get thisbill 
reported out, can we put the statements in the record? Will the 
gentleman withdraw his amendment?
    Mr. Costello. I do, Mr. Chairman.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay, the amendment is withdrawn. 
We have an amendment by Mr. Kuykendall. For what purpose does 
the gentleman from California arise?
    Mr. Kuykendall. I have an amendment at the table.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay, the clerk will report the 
amendment. Without objection, the amendment is considered as 
read. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes. Without objection, his statement will appear in the 
record. He yields back the balance of his time. Is there 
further discussion on the Kuykendall amendment? [Laughter.]
    [The information follows:]
            Amendment to H.R. 1553 Offered by Mr. Kuykendall
    Page 14, after line 2, insert the following new section:

SEC. 8. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.

    The Administrator shall make available through the Internet home 
page of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the 
abstracts relating to all research grants and awards made with funds 
authorized by this Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
require or permit the release of any information prohibited by law or 
regulation from being released to the public.
                                 ______
                                 
             Opening Statement of Hon. Steven T. Kuykendall
    Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment to H.R. 1553, the National 
Weather Service authorization bill. Like the other three amendments I 
have offered this morning, this amendment would require the National 
Weather Service to post abstract information of its grant awards on its 
internet site. By giving public access to information about how tax 
dollars are spent, we are acting as responsible stewards of taxpayer 
resources. We also stimulate additional public and private sector 
research by informing the research community of efforts already 
underway. I urge my colleagues to adopt this good government, good 
fiscal measure and yield back the balance of my time.

    Mr. Kuykendall. I would urge an aye vote.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. All those in favor will signify by 
saying aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes have it. And the amendment is agreed to.
    That completes the number of amendments on the roster. Are 
there further amendments?
    Mr. Wu. Mr. Chairman, I have report language at the desk.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. I will get to the report language 
in just a second. There are no further amendments. Report 
language? The gentleman from Oregon, Mr. Wu, has report 
language at the desk. Without objection, the report language is 
read. The gentleman from Oregon is recognized for 5 minutes. 
Without objection, his statement will appear in the record.
    [The information follows:]
              Report Language Offered by Mr. Wu of Oregon
    The Committee notes the unique geography of the Astoria/Warrenton 
Airport at the Port of Astoria, Oregon, and the challenges it 
represents for the National Weather Service. It is the Committee's hope 
that the Director of the National Weather Service should work with 
airport officials to ensure that the newly installed Automated Surface 
Observing System (ASOS), in conjunction with pilot and ground 
observations, allows the National Weather Service to effectively carry 
out its mission in the region. Moreover, the Director shall ensure that 
a local representative is trained in making reports for the NWS in the 
event of an ASOS failure. If these additional pilot and ground 
observations fail to address the special needs of this airport, further 
solutions should be investigated and implemented.

    Mr. Wu. Thank you.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. And will he yield back the balance 
of his time like Mr. Kuykendall did?
    Mr. Wu. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman knows that when you 
got the votes, you vote.
    All those in favor of the report language will signify by 
saying aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. And Mr. Wu is 
a winner.
    Further report language? Hearing none, the Chair now 
recognizes the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Costello, for a 
motion to report.
    Mr. Costello. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee 
favorably report H.R. 1553, as amended, to the House with the 
recommendation that the bill as amended do pass. Furthermore, I 
move that the staff be instructed to prepare the legislative 
report and make necessary technical and conforming amendments 
and that the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the 
bill before the House for consideration.
    Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay. You have heard the motion. Is 
there discussion? Hearing none, the Chair notes the presence of 
a reporting quorum.
    Those in favor of reporting the bill favorably will say 
aye.
    Opposed, no.
    The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. The bill is 
reported.
    Without objection, the bill will be reported in the form of 
a single amendment in the nature of a substitute reflecting 
amendments adopted today. Without objection, pursuant to Rule 
22, the Chair is authorized to make motions in the House to go 
to conference with the Senate on the bill. Members will have 
two subsequent calendar days in which to submit supplemental, 
minority, or additional views on the measure.
    Does the gentleman from Tennessee wish to make--I will 
recognize you at the beginning of the next meeting. And the 
Committee is adjourned. Thank you all. It shows that when we 
get down to business, we can accomplish a lot.
    [Whereupon, at 12:04 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]

                                  
