§ 325. — Authority for certain functions and activities.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC325]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 9--NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Sec. 325. Authority for certain functions and activities
Appropriations now or hereafter provided for the National Weather
Service shall be available for (a) furnishing food and shelter, without
repayment therefor, to employees of the Government assigned to Arctic
stations; (b) equipment and maintenance of meteorological offices and
stations, and maintenance and operation of meteorological facilities
outside the United States by contract or otherwise; (c) repairing,
altering, and improving of buildings occupied by the National Weather
Service, and care and preservation of grounds, including the
construction of necessary outbuildings and sidewalks on public streets
abutting National Weather Service grounds; (d) arranging for
communication services at rates to be fixed by the Secretary of Commerce
by agreement with the companies performing the services when determined
to be advantageous to the Government; and (e) purchasing tabulating
cards and continuous form tabulating paper.
(June 2, 1948, ch. 373, Sec. 1, 62 Stat. 286; 1965 Reorg. Plan No. 2,
1970 eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318; 1970 Reorg. Plan
No. 4, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090.)
Transfer of Functions
Weather Bureau consolidated with Coast and Geodetic Survey to form
new agency in Department of Commerce known as Environmental Science
Services Administration by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13,
1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318, set out as a note under section 311
of this title. Functions of Bureau and Chief of Bureau transferred to
Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan. Subsequently, Environmental
Science Services Administration abolished and National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration established. By Department Organization Order
25-5A, Secretary delegated to NOAA his functions under this chapter of
the Code. By order of Acting Associate Administrator of NOAA,
organizational name of Weather Bureau changed to National Weather
Service. For further details, see Codification note set out under
section 311 of this title.
Cooperative Weather Observer Program
Pub. L. 102-567, title I, Sec. 101(c), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat.
4270, provided that: ``The Secretary of Commerce may use funds otherwise
available for conducting weather observations to strengthen the
Cooperative Weather Observer Program and encourage public participation
in the program. The Secretary may--
``(1) provide distinctive insignia or paraphernalia to
Cooperative Weather Observers; and
``(2) make awards of nominal value to recognize continued
participation in the program by observers or to recognize
outstanding achievements by such observers or groups of observers
without regard to any law restricting expenditures for such purposes
to Federal employees.''
