APRIL 2, 1968.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed Mr. STAGGERS, from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. Con. Res. 723] The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, to whom was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 723) requesting the President to take action to insure the United States will derive maximum benefits from an expanded and intensified effort to increase the accuracy and extend the time range of weather predictions, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent resolution do pass. PURPOSE OF THE RESOLUTION House Concurrent Resolution 723 has as its purpose a declaration by Congress that the United States should participate in and give full support to the world weather program. This includes a world weather watch and the conduct of a comprehensive program of research for the development of long-range weather predictions, the study and evaluation of inadvertent climate modifications, and the feasibility of intentional climate modifications. In section 2 there is an expression of the further sense of the Congress that the President should cooperate with other nations looking toward the improvement of the capability of the existing international weather system to observe the global atmosphere and to communicate and analyze worldwide weather data. This envisions a program to develop new technology for the observation of the atmosphere and for the communication and analysis of worldwide weather data, so that the needs of weather forecasting may be served. Other items set forth in section 2 include a program of research on wind systems and on the interactions between atmosphere and the underlying earth and oceans, and also a program for the training and education of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel. To carry 90-760 O-74-82 out the above objectives, section 2 also is addressed to the provision of appropriate technical and training assistance and facilities to other nations and international organizations. Section 3 expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should transmit before March 1 of each year a plan setting forth the proposed participation of the United States for the next fiscal year in international programs in meteorology. This resolution is merely a current statement of the Congress interest in the World Weather Program. It is further understood that the concerned executive departments are presently carrying out the various functions mentioned in the resolution, and that the resolution neither increases nor modifies the U.S. participation in the World Weather Program, nor does it constitute an authorization for additional appropriations. The Department of Commerce has a particular interest in the adoption of the resolution so that it may underscore the U.S. leadership in developing the concept of the World Weather Program and so that other nations will be made aware of the U.S. interest in continuing its role as defined by the provisions of the resolution setting forth this country's intention to participate and cooperate in a mutually advantageous program. In April and May 1968, two international meetings will be held concerning the World Weather Program. The joint group of the International Council of Scientific Unions/World Meteorological Organization for planning the global atmospheric research program will meet on April 16, and the World Meteorological Organization Executive Committee will meet in May. House Concurrent Resolution 723 was substituted for House Joint Resolution 688. The committee had earlier requested comments from departments and agencies on House Joint Resolution 688. The comments are equally applicable to House Concurrent Resolution 723 and therefore are appended. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, AGENCY REPORTS DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to your request to the Secretary of Defense for the views of the Department of Defense with respect to House Joint Resolution 688, 90th Congress, to provide for expanded and intensified effort to increase the accuracy and extend the time range of weather predictions and for other purposes. The Department of the Air Force has been designated to express the views of the Department of Defense. House Joint Resolution 688 would establish that it is the policy of the United States to participate in and give full support to certain world weather programs. In furtherance of this policy the Congress would request the President to cooperate with other nations in weather programs. Additionally, the resolution would require that the President transmit to the Congress before March 1 of each year a plan setting forth the proposed participation of the United States for the next fiscal year in international programs in meteorology: H.R. 1273 Any international program which contributes to more complete and efficient observation, communication, processing, and analysis of worldwide weather data and which may lead to the development of capabilities for long-range weather prediction or large-scale climate modification would obviously be of interest and benefit to the Department of Defense. In fact, this Department is constantly seeking, through research and development and day-to-day operations, to improve the understanding of the general circulation of the atmosphere as well as to extend and improve its forecast capability. These efforts, although undertaken in response to the specialized needs of the Department of Defense, can make an effective contribution to a world weather program. For example, the Automated Weather Network; the Military Rocketsonde Network; the aerial weather reconnaissance program; and the Solar Observing and Forecasting Network, to mention but a few, are programs pioneered by the Department of Defense which might complement a world weather program. Likewise, new equipments developed by the Department of Defense to meet rigid technical requirements may be effective in accomplishing future improvements in a world weather watch system, as has frequently been the case in the past with civilian weather services. However, because of the specialized nature of Department of Defense meteorological requirements, and because a proposed world weather program is a wholly civil undertaking, it is not considered desirable that any of these purely military programs become an integral part of an international system; nor can the Department of Defense become dependent upon an international civil cooperative program in fulfilling its meteorological requirements. The Department of Defense, therefore, interprets House Joint Resolution 688 as containing no restrictions on its responsibilities and functions in meteorological research, development, and operational activities. In view of the above, the Department of Defense defers to those Federal agencies primarily concerned with such a program. This report has been coordinated within the Department of Defense in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. The Bureau of the Budget advises that, from the standpoint of the administration's program, there is no objection to the presentation of this report for the consideration of the committee, and that enactment of this legislation would be consistent with administration objectives. Sincerely, ALEXANDER H. FLAX, Assistant Secretary, Research and Development. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, Washington, D.C., August 21, 1967. Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in further reply to your letter of July 10, 1967, requesting comments from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on House Joint Resolution 688, to provide H.R. 1273 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. House Joint Resolution 688 would declare it to be the policy of the United States to participate in and give full support to the world weather program. It would request the President to cooperate with other nations in programs for (1) improving the existing international weather system; (2) developing new technology, procedures and techniques for observing and communicating worldwide weather information; (3) cooperating in research on global wind systems and the interaction between atmosphere and earth and oceans; (4) training scientists, engineers and technicians in weather technology; and (5) providing technical training and assistance to other nations and to international organizations so that they can effectively participate in the international system. The bill would require the President, on or before March 1 of each year, to transmit to the Congress plans setting forth the participation of the United States for the next fiscal year in international programs on meteorology. The Interagency Committee on International Meteorological Programs, which is chaired by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and in which NASA and other agencies of the Federal Government with interests in the meteorological programs have representation, has reviewed the bill in the light of pending programs and has concluded that it represents an appropriate recognition of the role that should be played by the United States in meteorological research and operations. The proposal would support current and planned National Aeronautics and Space Administration programs in the meteorological area. In view of the foregoing, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration interposes no objection to the enactment of House Joint Resolution 688. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to the Congress, and that enactment of the legislation would be consistent with the administration's objectives. Sincerely yours, ROBERT F. ALLNUTT, Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs. Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in reply to your request of July 10, 1967, for a report 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 President to take action so that the peoples of the United States derive, at the H.R. 1273 |