ITO Update(May 7, 2015) The President’s FY16 Budget proposes eliminating the ITO. Once again, NWSEO is using its resources to save this position and to convey to Congress the critical role of the ITO in the National Weather Service’s mission of saving lives and property. NWSEO Legislative Director and General Counsel Richard Hirn has been meeting with key members of the Commerce Justice and Science Appropriations Committee, who have the responsibility for writing the NOAA budget, to specifically detail the important role of the ITO. In March, ITO members and non-members submitted narratives for recent Awards they received related to their duties as ITOs. Mr. Hirn presented members of the CJS Appropriations Committee more than one hundred of those awards to highlight the NWS’s recognition of the critical work you do. “This hard proof stack of award letters glowing with management comments about the accomplishments of the ITOs is very convincing,” said Richard Hirn. Most recently, Mr. Hirn personally discussed this issue with both the Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee in the House of Representatives. Every year, for the past four years, the ITO position has been saved thanks to the diligent work of our professional organization and the ITOs who are members of NWSEO. This work, however, comes at a great expense to NWSEO’s resources. To our NWSEO members who are supporting this initiative, thank you for your support. If you are not a member, we’d like to ask you to complete the attached 1187 form to join NWSEO and email it to Lisa Luciani at mediarelations@nwseo.org or fax it to 202-600-2145. NWSEO is the only organization with the ability to lobby Congress and the Administration to preserve NWS jobs, promote better working conditions and career promotions for NWS, and participate in collective bargaining. -NWSEO- No one cares more for National Weather Service employees than
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