Title 15Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73

§325 Authority for certain functions and activities

Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE › § 325

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

National Weather Service funds must cover meals and lodging (no repayment) for Arctic staff; equipment and upkeep of U.S. and overseas weather stations; repairs and grounds work (including outbuildings and adjacent sidewalks); communications at Secretary of Commerce–set rates when advantageous; and tabulating cards and continuous-form paper.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §325

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

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.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Cooperative Weather Observer Program Pub. L. 102–567, title I, § 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.”

Executive Documents

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 325

Title 15Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73