NOAA/SEC - gute Nachrichten zum Neuen Jahr *LINK*

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***********************Service Message**************************

From NOAA Space Environment Center, Space Weather Office

To Udo Langenohl

Scientific Broadcast Journalist

Phone +49602124167

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The Center issued the following service message at 21:23 12/31/03

Dear Friend,

In early October I wrote to apprise you of the dire situation the
Nation's civilian space weather service was facing. With your help,
as the old year turns into the new, the current situation is rather
brighter than three months ago; it now appears that Space Environment
Center (SEC) will be able to carry on in Fiscal Year 2004 at about
the same level of activity as in FY2003, and we have garnered a good
deal of support and appreciation in Washington. Nonetheless, we do
not yet have an appropriation, so the exact level is uncertain and
will remain so for about a month. More details are provided below.

All of us at SEC are deeply grateful for the strong and multitudinous
advocacy that you directed to decision makers about the importance of
space weather services and research and NOAA's roles. Your calls and
letters changed minds and helped set up the Congressional hearing in
October on "Space Weather and Who Should Forecast It?" Thank you for
your vigorous and effective support of SEC.

Ernie
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****
Ernest Hildner
Director, Space Environment Center Tel: 303-497-3311
Manager, NOAA Space Weather Program Fax: 303 497-3645
325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 www.sec.noaa.gov
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****

U.S. Space Weather Service Status
Late December 2003

Summary
It appears, barring surprises, that Space Environment Center (SEC)
will not suffer major layoffs in Fiscal Year 2004. Thus, SEC will
continue the products it has provided, Space Weather Week will be
held (April 13-16), and our customers will see little change in the
services they get.

Details
December 8, the House passed an omnibus appropriations bill for
Fiscal Year 2004 (now already a quarter gone). The Senate will not
take up the omnibus appropriation bill before January 20. The
current version of the bill restructures NOAA's budget and lumps
funding for SEC with the other NOAA research labs; as yet, the intent
of the House and Senate conferees regarding the exact amount of money
they expected to go to SEC (especially after overheads and other
expenses) is unclear.

However, the Conference Report accompanying the bill no longer
contains the Senate's earlier language zeroing out space weather in
NOAA, and it appears that the intent is to fund SEC in FY04 at about
the same level as in FY03. This level is about 60 % of what is
needed to keep SEC at its current size, but we have identified other,
one-time funding to make up the difference.

When the Senate acts, and we and others have our appropriation, we
will know our spending levels more exactly.

In early February, the President will present his FY05 budget request
to Congress. We anticipate it will request full restoration of
funding for SEC. If it does, I expect we will all campaign to
convince Congress that funding SEC at the requested level in FY05 is
the right thing to do.

Conclusions
Our friends' advocacy for SEC made all the difference in keeping the
Nation's civilian space weather service from being zeroed out.
(Thank you, thank you for your efforts.) In addition to our
customers, NOAA's Science Advisory Board and the Office of Science
and Technology Policy weighed in on SEC's behalf.

The decision makers' awareness of: space weather services; the
effects of space weather; and the close partnerships that enable SEC
to perform space weather services and research are all much higher
than before. The Congressional hearing held October 30 was widely
reported and influenced many.

With direct appropriations in FY04 at only 60 % of what it costs to
provide the current level of effort of SEC, the battle for proper
funding levels is not yet over.

...

Gutes Neues Jahr Euch allen,

Udo