National Weather Service Integral to National SecurityJune 09, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN-04), in a recent interview on National Public Radio, came out against a measure limiting the role of the National Weather Service in distributing forecasts.

“A strong National Weather Service is like a strong national defense,"Davis told N.P.R. “Farmers and families alike in my district and throughout the country depend heavily on the National Weather Service. Why would you endanger how quickly Americans can retrieve possible life saving information?”

The National Weather Services Duties Act of 2005 introduced recently in the Senate limits information the National Weather Service can provide to the public by restricting competition with private companies. It seeks to reverse a 2004 policy change by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), allowing the weather service to provide some services the private sector could also offer.

“Speaking directly of my district and Tennessee, we’ve recently had tornado’s rip through leaving a wake of total destruction. There has also been major flooding due to excessive rains prompting our Governor to call for federal disaster aid. I don’t want Tennesseans exposed to these dangers without being forewarned. Minutes can mean life or death.”

It has been reported that some six million people access weather service data on NOAA’s website alone. This figure does not include the various services NOAA provides to other publicly accessed news outlets. One such group that relies heavily on these services is airline pilots who work to assure the safest travel possible.