The following is a response an earlier e-mail to Senator Boxer who is on
the sub commitee hearing this bill.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++


August 1, 2005


Dear Mr. Hodgett:

Thank you for contacting me regarding
S.786, the National Weather Service Duties Act of
2005. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to
your views, and I share your concerns about this
bill.


S.786 seeks to severely restrict the
functions of the National Weather Service (NWS),
which is run by the federal National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. The NWS currently
offers a wide range of free weather services for
all Americans, including invaluable information
for airplane pilots, farmers, and those seeking
details about severe weather in their areas.
This bill would prevent the NWS from offering
these free weather services to the public.
Instead, private weather companies, which rely
primarily on the same data used by the NWS, would
charge Americans for their services.


The NWS provides a reliable and effective
public service that is utilized by over six
million Americans each day. S.786 eliminates
this valuable service and unfairly penalizes
people by requiring them to pay for information
that should be available free of charge. This
bill is currently in the Senate Commerce
Committee, of which I am a member. Rest assured
that I am not in favor of this bill and that I
will work with my colleagues to prevent this bill
from reaching the full Senate floor.


Again, thank you for writing to me. Please
do not hesitate to contact me again about this or
any other issue of concern to you.




Sincerely,


Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

================================================
Please do not reply to this e-mail. This is not an active e-mail
address.

If you wish to comment further on this issue or an any other
issue and want to ensure an answer--please complete the form at
http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++



Lew