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2.15-NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ATMOSPHERIC AND SATELLITE PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1987 (S. 1667)

An original bill to authorize certain atmospheric and satellite programs and functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

Background and Summary of Legislation

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was created in 1970 to be the nation's primary oceanic and atmospheric research and services agency. NOAA has five components, three of which are under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: the National Weather Service; the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service; and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather forecast information and alerts. Supporting research for NOAA programs is conducted through the Office of Ocean and Atmospheric Research (OAR). Ongoing studies include efforts related to climate research and forecasting, acid rain, ozone depletion research, greenhouse effect monitoring and research, and development of remote sensing equipment. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) provides satellite remote sensing services for NOAA and the public.

S. 1667 authorizes appropriations of $769,766,000 in FY 1988 and $870,423,000 in FY 1989 for NOAA's Ocean and Atmospheric Research, the National Weather Service, and National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services.

Title I of the bill authorizes $277,628,000 in FY 1988 and $288,733,000 in FY 1989 for operations and research activities of the National Weather Service. It also authorizes $84,000,000 in FY 1988 and $132,000,000 in FY 1989 for the development, acquisition, and implementation of improvements in the forecast and warning systems of the National Weather Service.

Title II of the bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a plan for the modernization of the National Weather Service and prohibits the closure or relocation of any Weather Service Office unless the Secretary has certified to Congress that such action will not result in any degradation of weather services provided to the affected area.

Title II authorizes $40,521,000 in FY 1988 and $42,142,000 in FY 1989 for climate and air quality research. It authorizes $44,404,000 in FY 1988 and $46,180,000 in FY 1989 for atmospheric research and services.

Title III also reauthorizes the National Climate Program and amends the National Climate Program Act to authorize studies on the impact of man's activities on global climate, and directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a Climate Change Report every five years. Title III further directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit a plan to Congress for a world-wide system of ground-based systems to monitor chemicals which affect the stratospheric ozone layer.

Title IV of the bill authorizes $298,326,000 in FY 1988 and $334,685,000 in FY 1989 for NOAA satellite observations systems, including Landsat 4 and 5 operations, Landsat 7 technical requirements study, Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) systems and Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite (POES) systems. Title IV further authorizes $24,887,000 for FY 1988 and $25,883,000 for FY 1989 for data and information services. This title also authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to assess user fees for access to environmental data archived by the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

Legislative History

S. 1667 was introduced August 12, 1987, and passed by the Senate on September 10, 1987. In the House, the bill was referred to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, September 15, 1987, and then to the Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research and Environment on September 16, 1987.

The Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research and Environment held a hearing on the bill October 1, 1987. Witnesses at the hearing included Mr. J. Curtis Mack II, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; Professor George Benton, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The John Hopkins University; Dr. Francis Bretherton, Visiting Professor, Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin; and Professor Michael Fritsch, Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania University. S. 1667 was forwarded to the Committee by the Subcommittee on October 8, 1987, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

The Committee on Science, Space and Technology ordered the bill reported October 15, 1987, amended (H. Rept. 100-406). S. 1667 passed the House on November 20, 1987, by a roll call vote of 341 ayes to 65 nays.

On August 9, 1988, the provisions of S. 1667 passed the Senate as Title II of S. 2209, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1989; in S. 2209, as amended by the House on October 19, 1988, its provisions became Title IV. Ultimately, the provisions of S. 1667 were enacted as Title IV of P.L. 100-685, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1989 on November 19, 1988. Committee Publication Number 10061; H. Rept. 100-406; P.L. 100-685.

2.16-COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 100-1, SCIENCE ATTACHE RESOLUTION (H. CON. RES. 369)

On August 11, 1988, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology adopted Committee Resolution 100-1, "to commend the Department of State's Science and Technology Officers on their outstanding performance and to recognize the importance of their work to the Congress and to the Nation." The Resolution was the culmination of meetings held by the Committee during 1987 and 1988 with the U.S. Department of State Science Attaches.

Subsequently, the Committee resolution was introduced in the House on September 22, 1988, by Chairman Roe, as H. Con. Res. 369. H. Con. Res. 369 was referred to the Committee on Foreign Af

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fairs, which ordered it reported on September 22, 1988. The resolution passed the House on September 26, 1988, and the Senate on October 19, 1988.

CHAPTER III-OVERSIGHT, INVESTIGATIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING SELECTED SUBCOMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

3.1-COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY

3.1(a)-Agency Posture Hearings

Agency posture hearings are held by the Committee each Congress. The purpose of the hearings is to place into the broadest perspective the research and development budgets of the individual agencies, and to describe and discuss the general, longer-term considerations which form the policy framework for the individual agency budgets within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

During the 100th Congress, the following agency heads testified before the Committee:

January 28, 1987-Dr. William R. Graham, Science Advisor to the President and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President (Committee Publication Number 100-1);

February 5, 1987-Dr. James C. Fletcher, Admninistrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Committee Publication Number 100-35);

March 17, 1987-Mr. John S. Herrington, Secretary, Department of Energy (Committee Publication Number 100-33);

March 24, 1987-Mr. Erich Bloch, Director, National Science Foundation (Committee Publication Number 100-13);

February 23, 1988-Dr. William R. Graham, Science Advisor to the President and Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President (Committee Publication Number 100-81).

3.1(b)—Technology Policy Task Force

During the 100th Congress the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology initiated a study of technology policy as a major priority in carrying out its jurisdictional responsibility to Congress and the Nation.

At the beginning of the 100th Congress the Technology Policy Task Force was established, comprised of 18 Members of both political parties, to accomplish the study's goals.

During the First Session of the 100th Cognress hearings were held by the Technology Policy Task Force on the following subjects: "Review of Previous Studies"; "Communications and Computers in the 21st Century"; "The Effects of Technological Change on the Labor Force"; "Cooperation in Industrial Research and Technology Development"; "The Commercial Development of Medical Biotechnology"; "Automobile Development and Production"; "Technology

and Economics in a Shrinking World"; and "Competitiveness and the Role of Large Corporations."

The study addressed factors that are crucial to achieving the national goal of economic strength through industrial and technological leadership. The study examined the role of the Federal Government in the advancement of technology, exploring those factors which directly and indirectly affect everything from original innovation to the achievement of commercialization.

The Second Session was devoted to developing and producing a policy statement and report. On October 13, 1988, the Committee adopted the report of the Technology Policy Task Force entitled, "Technology Policy and Its Effect on the National Economy" and the accompanying policy statement, "National Policy on Technology." The reprot included recommendations on policies that could represent a cohesive and consistent national approach in support of technology development and utilization for the nation. The report was filed in the House on October 19, 1988 (H. Rept. 100-1093). Committee Publication Numbers 100-24, 100-28, 100-29, 100-31, 100-32, 100-51, 100-64, 100-E, 100-F, 100-H, H. Rept. 100-1093. 3.1(c)—Committee Meetings With U.S. Department of State Science and Technology Officers

As part of a biennial professional development conference in Washington, D.C., the Department of State's science and technology diplomatic corps met for the first time this year with the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The meeting provided a forum for the science attaches to brief Members on the current pertinent situations in their respective assigned countries, and for Members to respond with their interests and concerns regarding international science and technology issues.

Country briefings by the 23 attaches included highlights of Brazilian and Argentine science and technology agreements with the U.S.; China's space program; the Toshiba diversion and Japan's handling of the situation; and the cancellation of Israel's Lavi fighter plane project. The in-country perspectives of these and other matters provided Committee Members with useful advice on international scientific cooperative matters, as well as an enhanced appreciation for the value of these scientific/diplomatic personnel to the interests of U.S. foreign policy.

The Chairman advised the diplomatic corps that international science and technology issues will continue to increase in importance to the U.S. and the Congress as the size of international science endeavors increase, requiring greater cooperation and costsharing; and that the ability of the U.S. to maintain industrial competitiveness will require effective monitoring of foreign technologies and creative sharing of technology with our allies.

Following the meeting with the Department of State Science and Technology Officers in 1987, the Committee urged the Department to convene its Washington, D.C. conference for this diplomatic corps on an annual, rather than biennial, basis. On September 28, 1988, as part of the second annual conference, the Committee met with 23 science attaches in an exchange of views on science and

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