Weather Modification Operations and Research Board

In the 109th Congress, S. 517: A bill to establish a Weather Modification Operations and Research Board, and for other purposes, was introduced March 3, 2005, by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas). The text of the bill, with the resulting act to be cited as the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act of 2005.

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill stated that the act was to take effect October 1, 2005. 

Following the Committee's November 17, 2005, vote to approve the bill, it was sent forward to the full Senate for its consideration. On December 8, 2005, the bill was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 319. 

Senator Hutchison introduced the same bill March 4, 2004.

House Bill
On June 19, 2005, Representative Mark Udall (D-Colorado) introduced: To establish the Weather Modification Operations and Research Board, and for other purposes. The bill was referred Jun 26, 2005, to the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards.

Purpose
The purpose of the act is "to develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated national weather modification policy and a national cooperative Federal and State program of weather modification research and development."

Composition of the Board
The Board shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, of whom
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of the American Meteorological Society;
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of the American Society of Civil Engineers;
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of the National Academy of Sciences;
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of the National Center for Atmospheric Research of the National Science Foundation;
 * at least 2 shall be representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce;
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of institutions of higher education or research institutes; and
 * at least 1 shall be a representative of a State that is currently supporting operational weather modification projects.

Weather Control Forbidden
It should be noted that "weather control", as well as "weather tampering", is expressly forbidden dating from at least December 10, 1976, when the "United Nations General Assembly Resolution 31/72, TIAS 9614 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques" was adopted.

The Convention was: Signed in Geneva May 18, 1977; Entered into force October 5, 1978; Ratification by U.S. President December 13, 1979; U.S. ratification deposited at New York January 17, 1980.

Profiles

 * Weather Modification Operations and Research Board in the Wikipedia.

Documents

 * Introduction of S. 2170, The Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Authorization Act, U.S. Senate Floor Speech by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, March 4, 2004 (Congressional Record, Page: S2232).
 * Press Release: Hearing: "Weather Modification," U.S. Senate Commerce Committee's Science and Space Subcommittee and Disaster Prevention and Prediction Subcommittee, November 10, 2005. Includes video link to hearing and opening remarks by witnesses
 * Press Release: "Commerce Committee Approves the Weather Modification Research and Technology Transfer Act of 2005," U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, November 17, 2005.

Articles & Commentary

 * Drake Bennett, "Don't like the weather? Change it. The weird science of weather modification makes a comeback," Boston Globe, July 3, 2005.
 * Press Release: "Senator Hutchison Holds Hearing on Weather Modification," Office of Kay Bailey Hutchison, November 10, 2005.
 * Press Release: "Senator Hutchison's Weather Modification Bill Approved by Commerce Committee. Committee passage clears way for consideration by full Senate," Office of Kay Bailey Hutchison, November 17, 2005.