Political Quotes

“my amendment would add $20.5 million to the National Weather Service budget. Specifically, it increases the local warnings and forecast budget by $5 million. It increases the computer facility upgrades budget by $4 million. It increases the advanced weather interactive processing system budget by $11.5 million, for a total of $20.5 million. The entire increase is offset by a reduction of $20.5 million in the polar convergent satellite program, which is a cost-shared program with the Defense Department. Since the defense authorization bill recently passed by this body only authorized $19 million for this program, yet the Committee on Science's mark still continued $39.5 million, we are reducing that amount to offset this increase, so that this increase is fully accounted for by spending reductions in other areas. Why would we do this? The importance of the National Weather Service's modernization effort. We know great work has been accomplished through the Department of Commerce upgrading our National Weather Service system, implementing the NEXRAD radar system, in next generation radar nationwide.”