Don Nickles: “As my colleague is aware, the National Weather Service has been undergoing a complete modernization and restructuring to…”

“As my colleague is aware, the National Weather Service has been undergoing a complete modernization and restructuring to prepare it to give even better service as the Nation enters the next century. With two thirds of this modernization complete, it is not time to begin the restructuring--realigning people and consolidating offices to gain the efficiencies and cost savings that modernization promises. An especially important step in the restructuring will come in fiscal year 1996--the activation of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Using the latest in communications and the best weather science, these centers will streamline the way the National Weather Service produces and disseminates forecasts. A good example is the new Storm Prediction Center now being organized in Norman, OK. This will provide detailed guidance and coordination to the Weather Service's new offices around the country on all severe weather except hurricanes. I believe the proper course is to fund the National Weather Service and its supporting laboratories at the level authorized by the House of Representatives which will allow modernization to continue and restructuring to proceed as planned.”