Washington D.C. – House Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Ralph Hall (R-TX) today announced his intention to initiate a formal Committee investigation into the formation of a "climate service" at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Hall's announcement follows nearly ten months of Committee inquiry and correspondence related to actions by NOAA to stand up a climate service, triggered by NOAA senior official Tom Karl's statement in a press interview that "We've moved in. We're waiting for the marriage certificate, but we're acting like we have a Climate Service." Despite Karl's statement, NOAA is precluded from establishing or implementing a climate service unless explicitly authorized by Congress to do so.
In March, Hall wrote NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco requesting documents related to the NOAA Climate Service, including any changes to the roles and responsibilities associated with the agency's organizational structure, reporting lines, review processes, program oversight, or program advocacy. A follow-up letter was sent on September 6.
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