House Appropriations Committee guts NOAA Funding
But Spares the National Weather Service
(July 15, 2011) As a result of NWSEO lobbying and media relations efforts, this week the House Appropriations Committee approved full funding for the National Weather Service for fiscal year 2012, approving the President’s request for
$908 million for NWS operations. This amounts to an increase of $36 million above previously enacted levels. The Committee rejected the President’s proposal to transfer the Climate Prediction Center from the NWS to a new National Climate Service, and kept funding for the CPC within the NWS budget.
The Committee, however, reduced the overall NOAA budget by over $400 million for next year- cutting the National Oceans Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Office of Atmospheric Research by 29 percent, 25 percent and 22 percent respectively. Unfortunately, without explanation, the Committee reduced the funding for the Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa by 40 percent, from $29 million to $17 million. NWSEO represents the employees at AOC, and will attempt to restore full funding for AOC when the appropriations bills move to the Senate.
Two other units in NOAA where NWSEO represents employees – the NOAA Office of General Counsel and the Wallops Island Command and Data Acquisition Station may see minor impacts on their funding. Funding for the Office of the Under Secretary, which includes NOAA Office of General Counsel, was reduced by $1.4 million, or about 5 percent, below the President’s request. Funding for NESDIS Satellite Command and Control, which includes Wallops CDA, was reduced by about $500,000, or 1 percent, below the President’s request. NWSEO also represents employees at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Miami, which is part of OAR. It is too early to tell whether or how the proposed cuts in funding for OAR would affect these employees.
The Department of Commerce funding measure will now be sent to the full House of Representatives for approval, and then to the Senate for consideration. Then any differences will be reconciled.
NWSEO has developed a positive relationship with the Republican Chairman of the House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, and the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee, Rep. Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania, and has worked closely with their staff.
“NWSEO has been working diligently and strategically to keep the National Weather Service funded in this very tight budget year,” said NWSEO President Dan Sobien. ““In light of the fact that we are a relatively small union, NWSEO leadership, stewards and members have contributed a great deal to this accomplishment. We are continuing our efforts on behalf of all NWSEO bargaining units. This success and our future success are on the shoulders of our members. Our union strength comes from membership.”
-NWSEO-