A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that at least an equivalent level of service will be supplied to the public and affected agencies before closing National Weather Service field stations.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 5, 1997

Amends the Weather Service Modernization Act to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from closing or relocating any National Weather field office that is located in, or serves, an area identified as an area of geographic concern in a specified report by the National Research Council, unless, prior to closing or relocating the field office, the Secretary: (1) evaluates, as part of the certification process, the effect of that closing or relocation on all weather information and services provided to users served by that field office (including State and affected agencies, farmers, and other local citizens); and (2) certifies that, after the closing or relocation, the level of weather services provided to the users will be at least equivalent to the level provided before such closing.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME] · R–ME

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 5, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Feb 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1022)
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 5, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.271 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.271, 105th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that at least an equivalent level of service will be supplied to the public and affected agencies before closing National Weather Service field stations.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/271

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s271/BILLS-105s271is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:02Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.271 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.271 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.271, 105th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that at least an equivalent level of service will be supplied to the public and affected agencies before closing National Weather Service field stations.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/271

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s271/BILLS-105s271is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:02Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.271 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.271 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.271, 105th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that at least an equivalent level of service will be supplied to the public and affected agencies before closing National Weather Service field stations.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/271

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s271/BILLS-105s271is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:02Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.271 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.271 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.271, 105th Congress: A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that at least an equivalent level of service will be supplied to the public and affected agencies before closing National Weather Service field stations.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/senate-bill/271

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1997-02-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/s271/BILLS-105s271is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:06:02Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.271 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.