News and Updates
May 2008
Hearing on Climate Modeling
On May 8, the Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and Director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Dr. Sandy MacDonald, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-HI) on NOAA's climate modeling activities. Dr. MacDonald's testimony covered why climate models are important; our activities, role, and expertise in climate change computing; applications for improved models of climate change; and computing needs of the future.
Hearing on Atlantic Menhaden
On May 8, the Director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, Peyton Robertson, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans (Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) on management, conservation, and science related to Atlantic menhaden. The hearing also reviewed two bills that would prohibit commercial harvest of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in the coastal waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone:
- HR 3840, proposed by Representative Jim Saxton (R NJ-3)
- HR 3841, proposed by Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R MD-1)
NHC Director Visits Members of Congress
On May 6 and 7, the Director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC), Bill Read, met with a number of Members of Congress, or their staff, including:
- Senator David Vitter (R-LA)
- Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)
- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) - staff
- Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL)
- Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) - staff
- Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
- Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
- Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation) – staff
- Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) – staff
- Staff from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D FL-20)
- Representative Alan Mollohan (D WV-1)
- Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-18)
- Representative Charlie Melancon (D LA-3)
- Representative Nick Lampson (D TX-22)
- Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R FL-25)
- Representative Bob Inglis (R SC-4)
- Representative Ron Klein (D FL-22)
- Representative Henry Brown (R SC-1) - staff
Bill Read became Director of the NHC in January, and discussed on-going operations at the NHC and preparations for the 2008 hurricane season, which begins June 1.
Hearing on FY 2009 Budget
On May 6, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.), testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chairman Maria Cantwell, D-WA) on the FY 2009 NOAA Budget Request.
The hearing also addressed two bills related to sanctuary expansion that would more than double the size of existing marine sanctuaries off the coast of northern California and in the Great Lakes:
- S 2635, the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on February 13.
- S 2281, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act, introduced by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) on November 1, 2007. Jeff Gray, Superintendent of Thunder Bay, testified as the NOAA witness.
Hearing on Aviation Emissions
On May 6, a research physicist at NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Dr. David Fahey, testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation (Chairman Jerry Costello, D IL-12) on the affect of aviation emissions on the environment. The goal of the hearing was to educate the Members on the affect of aviation emissions on climate change, which has been heavily discussed in Europe but not yet in the United States.
Maine Delegation Praise NWS Efforts
On May 2, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Representative Tom Allen (D ME-1) and Representative Michael Michaud (D ME-2) attended a briefing on the historical flood event on the St. John River in Fort Kent, Maine. The briefing was hosted by emergency managers and law enforcement representatives, who were joined by staff from NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Caribou, Maine. The WFO was praised for the timely and accurate information they provided and the 24/7 support given during the flood.
The Members of the Maine Delegation thanked the NWS staff in attendance for the timely warning information and great teamwork provided.
“The Caribou Weather Station played an integral role in coordinating with emergency responders to obtain and disseminate vital information that I am convinced helped save lives."
- Senator Olympia Snowe
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| Left to right - WFO Caribou Service Hydrologist Mark Turner, WFO Caribou MIC Hendricus Lulofs, Senator Snowe. | Left to right - Representative Michael Michaud, WFO Caribou Service Hydrologist Mark Turner |