In April, Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) introduced a bill that would limit some of the duties of the National Weather Service. He introduced the bill because of a policy change in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration implemented in December. The change rescinded a 1991 provision that restricted the National Weather Service from providing products and services that compete with private weather forecasting firms. This includes specialized forecasts for farmers, marine interests, utilities and business.

Here is the text of the bill...

*109th CONGRESS
*1st Session
*S. 786
*To clarify the duties and responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, and for other purposes.
*IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
*April 14, 2005
*Mr. SANTORUM introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,Science, and Transportation
*A BILL
*To clarify the duties and responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service, 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 `National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005'.
*SEC. 2. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
* (a) NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE- To protect life and property, the Secretary of Commerce shall, through the National Weather Service, be responsible for the following:
* (1) The preparation and issuance of severe weather forecasts and warnings designed for the protection of life and property of the general public.
* (2) The preparation and issuance of hydrometeorological guidance and core forecast
information.
* (3) The collection and exchange of meteorological, hydrological, climatic, and oceanographic data and information.
* (4) The provision of reports, forecasts,warnings, and other advice to the Secretary of Transportation and other persons pursuant to section 44720 of title 49, United States Code.
* (5) Such other duties and responsibilities as the Secretary shall specify.
* (b) COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR- The Secretary of Commerce shall not provide, or assist other entities in providing, a product or service(other than a product or service described in subsection (a)(1)) that is or could be provided by the
private sector unless--
* (1) the Secretary determines that the private sector is unwilling or unable to provide such product or service; or
* (2) the United States Government is
obligated to provide such product or service under international aviation agreements to provide meteorological services and exchange meteorological information.
* (c) ISSUANCE OF DATA, FORECASTS, AND WARNINGS-
* (1) IN GENERAL- All data, information, guidance, forecasts, and warnings received, collected, created, or prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Weather Service shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be
issued in real time, and without delay for internal use, in a manner that ensures that all members of the public have the opportunity for simultaneous and equal access to such data, information, guidance, forecasts, and warnings.
* (2) MODE OF ISSUANCE- Data, information, guidance, forecasts, and warnings shall be issued under paragraph (1) through a set of data portals designed for volume access by commercial providers of products or services and by such other mechanisms as
the Secretary of Commerce considers appropriate for purposes of that paragraph.
* (d) PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DISCLOSURES- An officer, employee, or agent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service, or any other department or agency of the United States who by reason of that status comes into possession of any weather data, information, guidance, forecast, or warning that might influence or affect the market value of any product, service, commodity, tradable, or business may not--
* (1) willfully impart, whether directly or indirectly, such weather data, information, guidance, forecast, or warning, or any part thereof, before the issuance of such weather data, information, guidance, forecast, or warning to the public under subsection
" (c); or (2) after the issuance of such weather data, information, guidance, forecast, or warning to the public under subsection (c), willfully impart comments or qualifications on such weather data, information, guidance, forecast, or warning, or any part thereof, to the public, except pursuant to an issuance that complies with that subsection.
* (e) REGULATIONS- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe regulations to implement the provisions of this section.
* (f) PRODUCT OR SERVICE DEFINED- In this section, the term `product or service' means a product, service, device, or system that provides, senses, or communicates meteorological, hydrological, climatic, solar, or oceanographic data, forecasts, or other similar information.
* (g) EFFECTIVE DATE- The provisions of this section (other than subsection (e)) shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
* (h) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- The Act of October 1, 1890 (26 Stat. 653) is amended as follows:
* (1) Section 3 (15 U.S.C. 313) is repealed.
* (2) Section 9 (15 U.S.C. 317) is amended by striking `, and it shall be' and all that follows and inserting a period.
*SEC. 3. REPORT ON MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
* (a) REPORT- Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that sets forth--
* (1) a detailed statement of the activities, if any, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service that are inconsistent with the provisions of section 2;
* (2) a schedule for the modification of the activities referred to in paragraph (1) in order to conform such activities to the provisions of section 2; and
* (3) the regulations prescribed under section 2(e).
* (b) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED- In this section, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
* (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and
* (2) the Committee on Science of the Houseof Representatives.

Please read the bill and share your thoughts. We had some thought provoking comments last week and I am sure you have some more to add...

The Friday afternoon web video is on the server a little early today:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Weekend weather will be excellent; sunny warm days and fair pleasant nights. Gotta love it.

Next week, a weakening front will approach on Tuesday, but the GFS continues to look drier and drier on each run. We will maintain the risk of a shower or two on Tuesday, but with the upper support so far north I doubt if we see a big, widespread rain. Some spots could miss the showers completely.

And, then, it still looks like the warmest weather so far this year next week Wednesday through Friday with mid to upper 80s, and fairly high humidity levels. It will feel just like summer.

The front slipping in here in the May 13-15 time frame should produce showers, but once again the main upper support will be passing well to the north, and this might be another event with fairly light rain amounts.

The upper ridge wants to stay in place in the May 15-22 time frame as well, so warm and humid will be the key words with no organized severe weather threats or widespread rain events, if the models are correct!

Have a wonderful weekend... spend some time with your family; especially your MOM!

The Friday morning web video update is on the server:

http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb

Get set for a great weekend; sunny days, clear nights, and a nice warming trend. Look for mid 70s today, 80 tomorrow, and low 80s on Sunday.

NEXT WEEK: We will still mention a chance of showers Monday night and Tuesday with a weakening cold front, but with the main upper support passing well to the north of us and an upper ridge holding in place, I don't expect the rain amounts to be too great.

The ridge strengthens on Wednesday and Thursday, which might bring the warmest weather so far this year. Mid 80s look likely, upper 80s are possible in spots. Add to those warm temperatures the higher humidity values and it will feel just like summertime.

MID-MONTH: Still looks like a chance of showers and thunderstorms around May 13-14. But again, the best dynamic support passes north of the state, so any big threat of severe weather or really heavy rain looks unlikely at this point. And, the GFS lost the upper low it had yesterday northwest of Alabama, so we go back into a dry pattern beginning the 15th, if the latest run we have is correct.

THE LONG RANGE: Sure looks like summer in the May 15-21 time frame, with a big upper ridge in place here. Warm, sticky, and humid weather with little organized rain events.

Could we be finished with the spring tornado season? Guess it is possible looking at these maps, but don't forget we can have some rough weather in late May and early June. I am not saying it will happen, but I don't think you can totally write off the rest of the spring tornado season just yet...

Headed out to Bluff Park Elementary this morning to speak at the DARE graduation ceremony... be back later today for the afternoon update. Enjoy your Friday!