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Calendar No. 319
109TH CONGRESS
S. 517
1ST SESSION
[Report No. 109202]

To establish the Weather Modification Operations and Research Board, and
for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 3, 2005


Mrs. HUTCHISON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation


A BILL

To establish the Weather Modification Operations and Research Board, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the `Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national weather modification policy and a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather modification research and development.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:

      (1) BOARD- The term `Board' means the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board.

      (2) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- The term `Executive Director' means the Executive Director of the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board.

      (3) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT- The term `research and development' means theoretical analysis, exploration, experimentation, and the extension of investigative findings and theories of scientific or technical nature into practical application for experimental and demonstration purposes, including the experimental production and testing of models, devices, equipment, materials, and processes.

      (4) WEATHER MODIFICATION- The term `weather modification' means changing or controlling, or attempting to change or control, by artificial methods the natural development of atmospheric cloud forms or precipitation forms which occur in the troposphere.

SEC. 4. WEATHER MODIFICATION ADVISORY AND RESEARCH BOARD ESTABLISHED.

    (a) IN GENERAL- There is established in the Department of Commerce the Weather Modification Advisory and Research Board.

    (b) MEMBERSHIP-

      (1) IN GENERAL- The Board shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, of whom--

        (A) at least 1 shall be a representative of the American Meteorological Society;

        (B) at least 1 shall be a representative of the American Society of Civil Engineers;

        (C) at least 1 shall be a representative of the National Academy of Sciences;

        (D) at least 1 shall be a representative of the National Center for Atmospheric Research of the National Science Foundation;

        (E) at least 2 shall be representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce;

        (F) at least 1 shall be a representative of institutions of higher education or research institutes; and

        (G) at least 1 shall be a representative of a State that is currently supporting operational weather modification projects.

      (2) TENURE- A member of the Board serves at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce.

      (3) VACANCIES- Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

    (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEES- The Board may establish advisory committees to advise the Board and to make recommendations to the Board concerning legislation, policies, administration, research, and other matters.

    (c) INITIAL MEETING- Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Board have been appointed, the Board shall hold its first meeting.

    (d) MEETINGS- The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair.

    (e) QUORUM- A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.

    (f) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR- The Board shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE BOARD.

    (a) PROMOTION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT- In order to assist in expanding the theoretical and practical knowledge of weather modification, the Board shall promote and fund research and development, studies, and investigations with respect to--

      (1) improved forecast and decision-making technologies for weather modification operations, including tailored computer workstations and software and new observation systems with remote sensors; and

      (2) assessments and evaluations of the efficacy of weather modification, both purposeful (including cloud-seeding operations) and inadvertent (including downwind effects and anthropogenic effects).

    (b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE- Unless the use of the money is restricted or subject to any limitations provided by law, the Board shall use amounts in the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund--

      (1) to pay its expenses in the administration of this Act, and

      (2) to provide for research and development with respect to weather modifications by grants to, or contracts or cooperative arrangements, with public or private agencies.

    (c) REPORT- The Board shall submit to the Secretary biennially a report on its findings and research results.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE BOARD.

    (a) STUDIES, INVESTIGATIONS, AND HEARINGS- The Board may make any studies or investigations, obtain any information, and hold any hearings necessary or proper to administer or enforce this Act or any rules or orders issued under this Act.

    (b) PERSONNEL- The Board may employ, as provided for in appropriations Acts, an Executive Director and other support staff necessary to perform duties and functions under this Act.

    (c) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES- The Board may cooperate with public or private agencies to promote the purposes of this Act.

    (e) CONDUCT AND CONTRACTS FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT- The Executive Director, with the approval of the Board, may conduct and may contract for research and development activities relating to the purposes of this section.

SEC. 7. COOPERATION WITH THE WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH BOARD.

    The heads of the departments and agencies of the United States and the heads of any other public or private agencies and institutions that receive research funds from the United States shall, to the extent possible, give full support and cooperation to the Board and to initiate independent research and development programs that address weather modifications.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) IN GENERAL- There is established within the Treasury of the United States the Weather Modification Research and Development Fund, which shall consist of amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) or received by the Board under subsection (c).

    (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Board for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2014. Any sums appropriated under this subsection shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until expended.

    (c) GIFTS- The Board may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect on October 1, 2005.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, they had to do something to make it official, having stole the original technology and possibly at least one physical attribute from the Russians some decades ago.

JeromeProphet said...

Dan,

Thank you for the link.

19, The Russians were very advanced in theoretical physics, and I can see where they would have wanted to have such a program. Russia has been saved by the weather on more than one occasion.

I agree it appears to make the program a white program. While the board gets a measly ten million the extent of expenditures in the covert sector probably runs into the billions.

At least there will be an opportunity for some civilian input. I was concerned to see that no representative from the insurance industry is on that board - which makes no sense at all.

I do not oppose such a program, but feel we could advance it to a high state of efficiency if it were brought out of the dark.

I suspect it has already save tens of billions of dollars - more than the cost of the program itself, and could be made even more efficient.

We could offer it as a service to poorer nations - at no charge - as part of a type of economic, military, and intelligence arrangement.

Which we may already do in a covert manner.

There are many issues which need to be worked out on such a program which essentially keeps it trapped in the world of black-ops.

For example, if somehow the U.S. restarted El Nino, altered the jet stream, and/or used "Dimming" to shut down the hurricane season in 2006, then not only did the U.S. benefit, but Cuba would have as well. Yet, Mexico depends upon precipitation from hurricanes for their agriculture.

How does one balance the decision making process so that the greatest good results?

What a mess.

JP

email jp

  • jeromeprophet@gmail.com

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