News and Updates Archive

October, November, December 2011

 

December 2011


House Committee Hearing on Marine Debris Bill

On December 15, the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) held a hearing on HR 1171, the Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011, and S 363, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey NOAA property to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

HR 1171 reauthorizes NOAA's Marine Debris Program through FY 2016 and makes some technical adjustments to the existing law, including restating list of purposes to specify "address the adverse impacts of marine debris", includes further detail on the program components including: investigation and assessment; prevent, reduce, and remove; national and regional coordination; development of tools and products; and international cooperation. The bill also includes a definition of Marine Debris.

S 363, would allow Pascagoula to “swap” two small parcels of land already in use by NOAA as well as other contiguous space in exchange for the federal government transferring a section of its land where the City would like to develop. 

The Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Dr. Holly Bamford, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

Senators Inouye, Begich, Whitehouse, Murkowski and Senate and House Staff Briefed on Port State Measure Agreement

On December 13, Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Senator Mark Begich (D-AK), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and all interested Senate and House staff were briefed on the Administration bill to implement the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, participated and the briefing was a panel-style briefing with Members of Congress, officials from NOAA and the U.S. State Department, and stakeholders.

Senator Murkowski
Senator Inouye
Dr. Lubchenco greets Senator Murkowski.
Dr. Lubchenco greets Senator Inouye.
Senator Whitehouse
Dr. Lubchenco greets Senator Whitehouse and a panelist.
Senator Inouye Senator Begich
Senator Inouye provides opening remarks.
Senator Begich provides opening remarks.

 

House Committee Hearing on the RESTORE Act

On December 7, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chair, Representative John Mica, R FL-7) held a hearing titled, “Restoring Jobs, Coastal Viability and Economic Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico: HR 3096, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2011 (RESTORE Act).” The Deputy Chief of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration's Assessment and Restoration Division, Tony Penn, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

House Committee Hearing on the ESA

On December 6, the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) held a hearing titled, “The Endangered Species Act (ESA): How Litigation is Costing Jobs and Impeding True Recovery Efforts.” The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

Senate and House Staff Briefing on ICCAT

On December 2, all interested Senate and House staff were briefed by NOAA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, Russell Smith, on the results of the recent meeting of the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). ICCAT is the international body responsible for the conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks in the Atlantic, including bluefin tuna, swordfish, and blue and white marlin. The annual ICCAT meeting was held from November 11-19, in Istanbul, Turkey, with several positive results.

 

House Committee Hearing on Magnuson Issues

On December 1, the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) held a hearing on a number of bills that would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NOAA did not testify specifically on the bills, but instead discussed a number of Magnuson-related issues including annual catch limits, catch shares, rebuilding deadlines, and science. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

November 2011


Senate Hearing on Weather and Climate Services

On November 16, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) held a hearing titled, “Sustaining Innovation in Weather and Climate Services.” The hearing provided oversight of NOAA’s weather, climate, research and satellite programs and covered topics ranging from how satellites are critical for weather forecasting and the impending polar satellite data gap to how NOAA works with the private sector on innovative technologies and Research-to-Operations transition. NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary of Operations, Mary M. Glackin, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

Representative’s Fattah and Serrano Attend Event for Educational Partnership Program

On November 15, Representative ChakaFattah (D PA-2) and Representative Jose Serrano (D NY-16) joined NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenc, other NOAA officials, and several University Presidents and Center Directors at the award announcement event for NOAA's Educational Partnership Program (EPP) on Capitol Hill where they spoke in support of NOAA and EPP. Representatives Fattah and Serrano co-hosted the event, along with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D MD), who was unable to attend.

 

Representative Shuler Visits NCDC

On November 9, Representative Heath Shuler (D NC-11) visited NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina, where he received an update on programs activities.

 

Senator Cantwell Press Event on Salmon Virus

On November 6, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined officials from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service at a press event in Seattle, Washington. The event highlighted what the Senator and U.S. government are doing to keep U.S. farmed, hatchery, and wild salmon safe from Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV) in the wake of a report in mid-October of a potential ISAV finding in migrating sockeye salmon in British Columbia.

 

Representative Sarbanes Attends Environmental Education Summit

On November 2, Representative John Sarbanes (D MD-3) joined NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, and other NOAA officials, at the mid-Atlantic Literacy Summit in Chevy Chase, Maryland. NOAA has been hosting this Summit every two years since 2003. Representative Sarbanes was invited to discuss the goals and objectives of No Child Left Inside during the opening kick-off and press conference. The Summit was an important dialogue between federal, state, and non-governmental leaders about the future of environmental science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the mid-Atlantic region.

 

October 2011


Representative Edwards and Senate and House Staff Attend NPP Launch Viewing

On October 28, Representative Donna Edwards (D MD-4) and staff from several Senate and House Member offices and committees attended the launch viewing of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) in Suitland, Maryland. They were joined by NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco; NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan; and other NOAA, NASA, and local officials. Some of the Senate and House Member offices and committees that had staff in attendance included:

Please click here for video of the launch from NASA.


Senator Cantwell Visits WFO

On October 27, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) visited NOAA’s National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Seattle, Washington. Senator Cantwell toured the office and learned more about is mission, programs, and activities. She also met with forecast office staff and took time to discuss forecasting and operations. In addition, the Senator used the office for a backdrop during an interview for a local PBS-affiliate documentary on the new Langley Hill coastal radar. The documentary is expected to air by the end of the year.

 

House Committee Hearing on the National Ocean Policy

On October 26, the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) held a hearing on “The President’s New National Ocean Policy - A Plan for Further Restrictions on Ocean, Coastal and Inland Activities.” NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

Senate and House Staff Attend Tsunami Conference

On October 21, all interested Senate and House attended the NOAA West Coast Tsunami Conference in Seattle, Washington, that focused on education, awareness, and preparedness on the tsunami threat to the U.S. West Coast. As a result of the Japan tsunami earlier this year, Representative Frank Wolf (R VA-10) called on NOAA to host two conferences on tsunami outreach and preparedness. This was the second conference, following up on the East Coast conference from June.

The congressional staff and over 150 other attendees were joined by NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, and other NOAA officials.

 

House Field Hearing on Stellar Sea Lions

On October 17, the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) held an oversight field hearing titled, “NOAA’s Steller Sea Lion Science and Fishery Management Restrictions, Does the Science Support the Decisions?” The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

 

Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse Welcome Home the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer

On October 17, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, as they welcomed home the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, which will be homeported for the next decade at Pier One in the Port of Davisville, Rhode Island. The event also provided an opportunity for the guests to learn about the ship’s mission and research as the Okeanos is the first government ship dedicated solely to ocean exploration.

The Okeanos Explorer is part of the NOAA fleet of ships and aircraft operated, managed, and maintained by NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, which includes civilians as well as commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States.

 

Dr Lubchenco
Left to right: Dr. Lubchenco, Senator Whitehouse, and Senator Reed abord the Okeanos.
Dr Lubchenco
Dr. Lubchenco and the crew of the Okeanos.

 

Senate Staff Visit the NOAA Ship Pisces

On October 6, staff from the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation visited the NOAA Ship Pisces when it was in port in Pascagoula, Mississippi. During their visit, they were briefed by the Commander and other officers from the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps about the ship, its missions, and activities.

Homeported in Pascagoula, the Pisces is part of the NOAA fleet of ships and aircraft operated, managed, and maintained by NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, which includes civilians as well as commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps, one of the seven uniformed services of the United States.

Pisces
NOAA Ship Pisces

 

Senate Field Hearing on New England Groundfish

On October 3, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a field hearing in Boston, Massachusetts. The hearing discussed the progress that has been made, the challenges that continue to affect industry, and the improvements necessary to ensure a sustainable, profitable, and well-managed New England groundfish fishery. NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, testified and a copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Congressional Testimony page of the OLIA website.

Some of the Members and other elected officials who attended include:


Representative Kaptur and Senator Brown Staffer Attend Great Lakes Jobs Event

On October 3, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D OH-9) and a staffer from the office of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined representatives from NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) at a jobs event in Toledo, Ohio. The Great Lakes Inter-Agency (GLRI) Jobs Challenge event announced the first projects that will be funded through this initiative. In August, EPA issued a challenge to the federal departments and agencies on the Great Lakes Inter-Agency Task Force to propose small-scale, civilian conservation corps-type projects to help meet the goals of the GLRI Action Plan. Representatives from EPA, NOAA, and FWS joined Representative Kaptur to announce the funding for three projects in the Lake Erie basin to help restore the Great Lakes and put unemployed people back to work. Out of the funds provided for this challenge by the EPA, NOAA will receive $1 million to control invasive plants in the Lower Black River and another $811,252 to restore habitat in the Maumee River Area of Concern. The FWS will receive $480,000 for conservation, restoration and outreach at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge on the southwest shore of Lake Erie. These three projects are expected to put 80 people back to work.