NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH.

SEC. 101. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH. (a) In General.— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the operations and research activities of the National Weather Service under law, $311,532,000 for fiscal year 1992 and $395,822,000 for fiscal year 1993. Moneys appropriated pursuant to this authorization shall be used to fund those activities relating to National Weather Service operations and research specified by the Act of 1890, the Act of 1947, and any other law involving such activities. Such activities include meteorological, hydrological, aviation, and oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well as applied research in support of such warnings and forecasts. (b) Pacific Weather Buoys.— Of the sums authorized under subsection (a), $840,000 for fiscal year 1992 and $1,135,000 for fiscal year 1993 are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of operating and maintaining weather buoys off the coast of California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. (c) Cooperative Weather Observer Program.— 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— 106 STAT. 4271 (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.