The head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headed to Capitol Hill yesterday to defend a budget plan that appears to please no one.

The White House is seeking $5.1 billion for NOAA in fiscal 2013, 3 percent above current spending. The request would balance growing costs for NOAA's satellite programs by cutting funds for weather, oceans, fisheries and research programs, a move that has drawn ire from an agency employees' union, environmental groups and lawmakers alike.

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco defended the plan yesterday, arguing that her agency's "tough choices" were made with public safety in mind.

"One of the greatest challenges facing NOAA is the continuity of our satellite operations," she told the House Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Subcommittee. "Sustained funding for these satellites is essential."

More than 90 percent of the data that NOAA uses in its weather forecasting models comes from satellites, she said.

But the panel's chairman, Lousiana Republican John Fleming, didn't seem convinced. He repeatedly asked Lubchenco whether the White House plan for NOAA was "responsible."

"Something that sticks out like a sore thumb is the [National Environmental Data, Information and Satellites] account that's increased since 2008 by 114 percent," he said. "And that appears to be the largest item in the budget, and of course that's the satellites."

That line of questioning drew a terse defense from the NOAA chief.

"Mr. Chairman, do you not want adequate warnings and forecasts down the road?" Lubchenco said. "That's the choice."

The 2013 White House request includes $2 billion for NOAA's satellite division, an 8.7 percent increase from the 2012 level.

The agency has struggled in recent years to cover the rising costs of its Joint Polar Satellite System, which will provide weather and climate data that are not available from any other source.

Gap in future weather data a near certainty

Congress slashed JPSS's funding in fiscal 2011, awarding NOAA $382 million of the $910 million it sought. That shortfall hampered production of the program's first orbiter, delaying its launch and making a future gap in crucial weather and climate data a near certainty, according to both NOAA and the Government Accountability Office.

After an intense lobbying push last year, NOAA convinced lawmakers to hand over $924 million of the $1.07 billion it sought for JPSS.

That is enough to stabilize the program if Congress agrees to provide the agency its full $916 million request this year and repeats the feat in fiscal 2014, Lubchenco said.

"The data suggests we have turned this around and we are on track," she said. "I think that these satellites are too important to not be on the path to success, and we are committed to that end."

Lubchenco also defended the White House's plan to increase NOAA spending on climate research to $212 million next year, a jump of $29 million over fiscal 2012 spending but roughly in line with 2010 and 2011 expenditures.

"Why not take it from climate research?" House Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) said of the agency's stated need for more satellite money. "Why take it from the Weather Service?"

Lubchenco drew a connection between the administration's budget proposal and the severe weather that has dogged the United States over the last year, which saw a record-setting 14 natural disasters that caused $1 billion -- or more -- each in damages.

"There is a direct connection between our better understanding of how the climate system works and our ability to delegate information and help communities and business prepare weeks and months ahead, not just years ahead," she said. "Climate research is designed to help understand how the climate system works."

Lubchenco takes her budget presentation back to the Hill today, where she is scheduled to testify this afternoon before the Senate Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee.