PROVSISONS OF HOUSE JOINT RESO LUTION 688 DESCRIBING ACTIVI TIES COMPARABLE EXISTING AUTHORITY nations and to international orga- tion of the World Meteorological nizations so that they may effec- Organization. tively participate in an international system for the observation of the global atmosphere and the rapid and efficient communication, processing, and analysis of worldwide weather data and so that they may fully utilize the data, charts, analyses, and other information provided by such a system. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, The Bureau of the Budget recommends favorable consideration of that resolution, enactment of which would be consistent with the administration's objectives. Sincerely yours, WILFRED H. ROMMEL, Assistant Director for Legislative Reference. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D.C., October 30, 1967. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. STAGGERS: Your committee has requested a report on House Joint Resolution 688, a joint resolution to provide for an expanded and intensified effort to increase the accuracy and extend the time range of weather predictions and to request the President to take action so that the peoples of the United States derive, at the earliest possible time, the social and economic benefits that would accrue from achievement of this new level of capability in weather predictions. We recommend that the resolution be enacted. House Joint Resolution 688 would provide for support of a worldwide system of observation, communication, processing, and analysis H.R. 1273 of weather data, and a research program utilizing these data for the development of a capability in long-range weather prediction. It would also provide for studies and evaluation of inadvertent climate modification and the feasibility of intentional climate modification. It would provide for the training and education of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel for the development, operation, and conduct of any system in which the President is authorized to participate. It would provide for technical and training assistance and facilities to other nations or to international organizations in order to assure their effective participation in such a program. Under provisions of the resolution the President is to submit a plan to the Congress before March 1 of each year setting forth the proposed participation of the United States for the next fiscal year, a statement of the activities to be conducted, and the department or agency which is to conduct the activities and which shall seek appropriations therefor. Enactment of the resolution would promote a significant improvement in long-range forecasting, which in turn would result in material benefit to this Department's reclamation program generally, and to the atmospheric water resources program in particular. The broad language of the resolution does not permit any estimate of the cost of support and participatoin in the proposed program. the costs would be determined by the kind and number of observations, which in turn would be determined to a great extent by the application and results of data obtained from prior observations. The implementation of the program would necessarily demand a strict review of the data requirements of each participant to avoid duplication, and also to assure that all participants have the benefit of results obtained from all studies. The results gained from the worldwide program would be of material value in advancing our atmospheric water resources research program. With more detailed and reliable short-range and long-range weather predictions, we would be able to conduct field operations and experiments with a greater degree of accuracy. Furthermore, the results of such operations and experiments could be determined more precisely. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the administration's program, and that enactment of this legislation would be consistent with the administration's objectives. Sincerely yours, KENNETH HOLUM, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, Washington, D.C., October 27, 1967. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in further reply to your request of August 2, 1967, for comments on House Joint Resolution 688 to provide for an expanded and intensified effort to increase the accuracy and extend the time range of weather predictions and to request the H.R. 1273 President to take action so that the peoples of the United States derive, at the earliest possible time, the social and economic benefits that would accrue from achievement of this new level of capability in weather predictions. The National Science Foundation strongly endorses House Joint Resolution 688 and hopes that the Congress will act favorably upon it. The world weather program is a truly cooperative project coordinated domestically by the National Academy of Sciences and interagency committees, and internationally by the International Council of Scientific Unions and the World Meteorological Organization. The National Science Foundation has participated in the design of the program. We feel that not only will the world weather program aid in the development of long-range weather prediction, but also that the associated theoretical studies will provide the necessary tools to evaluate the phenomenon of inadvertent climate modification and the feasibility of intentional climate modification. Adoption of House Joint Resolution 688 will aid in the realization of these goals, and the plan to be submitted annually to the Congress under section 3 should provide useful information. The Bureau of the Budget has advised us that it has no objection to the submission of this report and that enactment of this legislation would be consistent with the administration's objectives. Sincerely yours, LELAND J. HAWORTH, Director. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, August 22, 1967. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Secretary has asked me to reply to your letter of July 10, 1967, enclosing for comment a copy of House Joint Resolution 688 which calls for U.S. participation in expanded World Weather Programs which include a World Weather Watch and a comprehensive program of research for the development of a capability in long-range weather prediction and the study and evaluation of climate modification programs. In the opinion of the Department of State active U.S. participation in these programs is in the interest of the United States. The World Weather Watch will provide an expanded international system for the observation of the atmosphere over the entire globe and for the rapid communication and processing of global weather data. The proposed research program will provide a better scientific understanding of the physical processes of the atmosphere essential to developing a capability for long-range weather predication. The 128 members of the World Meteorological Organization are joining together in the cooperative implementation of these expanded World Weather Programs. The United States is in the forefront of scientific and technological advances in this field. The other 127 members of the World Meteor H.R. 1273 ological Organization will be looking to us for continued leadership. With our leadership and active participation in these programs, the other members of the Organization are much more likely to contribute significantly to the success of these programs. The United States will benefit substantially by their participation in these programs because we need their input for a meaningful weather program in this country. The programs of the World Meteorological Organization are an extraordinary example of international cooperation substantially benefiting every one of the 128 members of the Organization. The global atmosphere is an indivisible whole. The principal obstacles to long-range weather prediction and a determination of the feasibility of large-scale weather modification are the lack of adequate global data and an understanding of the physical processes of the atmosphere. Expanded U.S. participation in these programs will contribute significantly to meeting these obstacles. The Department of State accordingly supports the approval of House Joint Resolution 688. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report and that enactment of this legislation would be consistent with the administration's objectives. Sincerely, WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. STAGGERS: This letter is in reply to your request of July 11, 1967, for the views of this Department with respect to House Joint Resolution 688, a joint resolution to provide for an expanded and intensified effort to increase the accuracy and extend the time range of weather predictions and to request the President to take action so that the peoples of the United States derive, at the earliest possible time, the social and economic benefits that would accrue from achievement of this new level of capability in weather predictions. The joint resolution would declare it to be the policy of the United States to participate in and give full support to the world weather program. Additionally, the joint resolution would request the President to cooperate with other nations in specific programs implementing the overall world weather program. The Department recommends adoption of such a national policy. Cooperation with other nations in the overall world weather program would include a program to communicate, process, and analyze worldwide weather data; a program to develop new technology procedures and techniques for the observation of global atmosphere; a program of research on global wind systems; a program for the training and education of appropriate personnel to participate in the world weather program; and a program to provide appropriate technical and training assistance and facilities to other nations and to international organizations to enable their participation in the overall program. The emphasis indicated, particularly with regard to collection of weather data, would undoubtedly create impact on some current Coast Guard missions and operations. The need for ocean-station vessels would be reinforced. Development of national and international data buoy networks would probably be accelerated. Obvious benefits would accrue to transportation systems, particularly air and marine transportation. The World Weather Program is a forwardlooking plan which should contribute greatly to the social and economic benefit of all nations. The Bureau of the Budget advises that from the standpoint of the administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report for the consideration of the committee in that enactment of this legislation would be consistent with administration objectives. Sincerely, |