[MIham] Fwd: [Mw] NOAA "Space Weather" Service Threatened

[w8iss@amsat.org]

----- Message Forwarded on Wed, 22 Oct 2003 19:35:01 -0500
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From: Frank Kelly <fk@Event1.com>
To: "Microwave (E-mail)" <microwave@wa1mba.org>
Subject: [Mw] NOAA "Space Weather" Service Threatened
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:32:08 -0700


NOAA "Space Weather" Service Threatened

The service on which many amateurs depend for reports on
ionospheric conditions may have its funding sharply cut or
eliminated under two versions of a Congressional spending
plan for Fiscal Year 2004. The Space Environment Center,
part of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), provides "space weather"
reports on solar and geomagnetic activity that affect the
ionosphere, which in turn affects radio propagation. In
addition, solar flares and similar events can damage
satellites, so advance knowledge can help protect them.
Propagation predictions in CQ and other publications depend
on these space weather observations.

The Space Environment Center is actually operated jointly by
NOAA and the Air Force, but its funding is in the NOAA
budget. The SEC suffered a 40% budget cut in the current
fiscal year, and the House budget proposal for 2004 calls
for an additional 40% cut. The Senate version of the bill
cuts funding for the SEC altogether, along with the somewhat
cynical comment in an accompanying report that "the
'Atmospheric' in NOAA does not extend to the astral.
Absolutely no funds are provided for solar observation. Such
activities are rightly the bailiwick of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Air Force."

We understand from SEC staff that the House Science
Committee's Environment, Technology and Standards
Subcommittee will be holding a hearing next week (October
30) on the funding bill, and that letters and comments from
the public will be entered into the record. If you are
concerned about the possible loss of information gathered
and disseminated by the SEC, you may write to the House
Committee On Science, Environment, Technology and Standards
Subcommittee, 2320 Rayburn House Office Building,
Washington, DC 20515. You should direct your comments to the
Chairman, Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), ask that they be
included in the record of the Oct. 30 hearing, and explain
in NON-TECHNICAL terms how you benefit from the "space
weather" services provided by the SEC, and how you would be
adversely affected if those services were further reduced or
eliminated.
A full list of the members of the Environment, Technology
and Standards Subcommittee is below. If the list includes
your Representative, and you are inclined to write, you
might also send a letter or comment directly to your
Representative.
House Committee on Science
Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards

Republican Members
Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan, Chairman
Nick Smith, Michigan
Gil Gutknecht, Minnesota
Judy Biggert, Illinois
Wayne Gilchrest, Maryland
Timothy Johnson, Illinois
Michael Burgess, Texas

Democratic Members
Mark Udall, Colorado, Ranking Minority Member
Brad Miller, North Carolina
Lincoln Davis, Tennessee
Brian Baird, Washington
Jim Matheson, Utah
Zoe Lofgren, California

Ex-oficio members:
Sherwood L. Boehlert, New York, Chairman, House Science
Committee  Ralph M. Hall, Texas, Ranking Minority Member,
House Science Committee
To contact any Member of Congress by e-mail, go to
<http://www.house.gov> and follow prompts to find contact
information for the member you want to reach.
(CQ magazine newsletter)

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