News and Updates
May 2012
House Floor Debate on FY 2013 Budget Bill – Bill Passed
On May 8-10, the House held a floor debate on HR 5326, the Commerce, Justice, Science funding bill, which as approved by the committee would have provided $4,967.6 million for NOAA. However, there were a number of NOAA-related amendments introduced that addressed funding levels for fisheries and other activities and made various cuts. There were also several floor statements made in support of proposed funding levels for specific programs, including coral reefs.
The House passed the final bill with a vote of 247 to 163, which will then go to conference once the Senate passes their version in order to resolve any final differences in specific funding.
Senate and House Staff Briefing on Sea Grant
On May 8, all interested Senate and House staff were briefed by officials from NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Sea Grant Program, on how Sea Grant programs are helping fishermen develop innovative business models and practices that are generating new revenue streams, ensuring a safe and sustainable supply of seafood to local consumers, and revitalizing the fishing industry. The briefing focused on small-scale fishers in coastal communities who, thanks to the help of Sea Grant, are developing new opportunities to sell their fish locally, and in many cases directly to the consumer.
Florida Delegation Staff Attends Weather Ready Nation Rollout
On May 1, staff from the offices of Representative Bill Young (R FL-10), Representative Kathy Castor (D FL-11), and Representative Gus Bilirakis (R FL-9) attended the rollout event for NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Ready Nation pilot project for the Tampa area that was held in St. Petersburg, Florida. This is the second of a series of NOAA Weather Ready Nation pilot projects designed to build resilient communities and economies. Initial projects the team will work on include: development of a Marine Route Forecast, collaborating with the National Ocean Service to enhance current Harmful Algae Bloom forecasts, improving the local provision of storm surge warning information, and development of graphical smoke plume and visibility hazard forecasts.