Congressional Testimony and Views Letters

 

Views Letters

Views letters are statements of the Agency's, Department's, and Administration's position, thoughts, and comments, on specific issues or legislation being considered by Congress.

None to date.

 

Testimony

115th Congress: 2017-2018

 

2018

Senate Hearing on the Future of the Fleets: Coast Guard and NOAA Ship Recapitalization

On October 11, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing titled, “The Future of the Fleets:  Coast Guard and NOAA Ship Recapitalization.” NOAA’s Director for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and Director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, Rear Admiral Michael J. Silah, submitted written testimony for the record. A copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Becky Cruz Lizama

 

Senate Hearing on Oil Spill Response

On August 20, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [hearing chair, Senator Gary Peters (D-MI)] held a field hearing titled, "Pipeline Safety in the Great Lakes: Incident Prevention and Response Efforts at the Straits of Mackinac” in Traverse City, Michigan. The Chief of the Emergency Response Division of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Scott Lundgren, testified and copy of the written statement may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Mike Jarvis

 

Senate Hearing on the Blue Economy

On July 24, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing titled, “NOAA’s Blue Economy Initiative: Supporting Commerce in American Oceans and Great Lakes.” A vibrant U.S. economy depends on healthy ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes’ resources - the "blue economy" - and the science and management to conserve and sustainably use these resources is at the heart of NOAA’s mission. NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, testified and copy of the written testimony may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Makeda Okolo

 

House Hearing on ESA

On June 7, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy [Chair, Representative Fred Upton (R MI-6)] held a hearing on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and hydropower. The hearing focused broadly on the permitting process including the ESA and forward looking plans to reduce project timelines, including implementation of the Executive Order 13807, Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Chris Oliver, testified and a copy of the final testimony may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Becky Cruz Lizama

 

House Hearing on the Arctic

On June 7, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation [Chair, Representative Duncan Hunter (R CA-50)] held a hearing on the United States' role with maritime transportation in the Arctic. NOAA’s Senior Arctic Advisor, David Kennedy, testified and a copy of the final testimony may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Mike Jarvis

 

Senate Hearing on Digital Coast

On June 5, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard  [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing titled, “A Decade of the Digital Coast Partnership Program: Successes and Opportunities.” The hearing covered the initiation of the program, community engagement and the Digital Coast Partnership. The Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Nicole LeBoeuf, testified and a copy of the final testimony may be viewed on the Committee’s website.
OLIA Lead: Makeda Okolo

 

House Committee Hearing - Space Weather

On April 26, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Space [Chair, Representative Brian Babin (R TX-36)] and the Subcommittee on Environment [Chair, Representative Andy Biggs (R AZ-5)] held a hearing titled, “Surveying the Space Weather Landscape.” NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Neil Jacobs, testified.
OLIA Lead: Sierra Jones, Matt Borgia

 

Senate Committee Hearing - MMPA

On April 25, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing on reauthorization of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and potential changes to the statute. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Chris Oliver, testified.
OLIA Lead: Becky Cruz Lizama

 

House Committee Hearing - Fisheries Bills

On April 17, the House Committee on Natural resources, Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans [Chair, Representative Doug Lamborn (R CO–5)] held a hearing on three bills related to fisheries:

The Director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Alan Risenhoover, testified.

OLIA Lead: Topher Holmes, Craig Woolcott

 

House Committee Hearing - NOAA’s FY19 Budget

On April 12, the House Committee on Natural Resources [Chair, Representative Rob Bishop (R UT-1)] will hold a hearing on NOAA’s FY19 budget request. NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, testified.

 

Senate Committee Hearing - Hurricane Preparedness and Response

On April 12, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science [Chair, Senator John Thune (R-SD)] will hold a hearing on hurricane preparedness and response. NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, testified.

 

House Committee Hearing - NOAA’s FY19 Budget

On April 11, the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee [Chair, Representative John Culberson (R TX-7)] held a hearing on NOAA’s FY19 budget request. NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, testified.

 

2017

 

House Legislative Hearing

On November 2, the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans [Chair, Representative Doug Lamborn (R CO-5)] held hold a legislative hearing. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Dr. Russell Callender, testified and provided the Administration's views on HR 221 and HR 1176. The three bills the hearing addressed included:

 

House Committee Hearing on Fisheries

On September 26, the House Committee on Natural resources, Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans [Chair, Representative Doug Lamborn (R CO-5)], held a hearing on fisheries-related legislation and legislation to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Chris Oliver, testified.
OLIA Lead: Topher Holmes

 

Senate Committee Hearing on Magnuson Reauthorization

On August 1, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing titled, “Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act: NOAA and Council Perspectives.” This hearing was the first in a series to examine the state of our nation’s fishery laws and guide the reauthorization of the Act. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Chris Oliver, testified.
OLIA Lead: Topher Holmes

 

Senate Committee Hearing on Marine Debris

On July 25, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard [Chair, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK)] held a hearing on marine debris. The hearing was an opportunity to highlight efforts across the U.S. to assess, remove, and reduce marine debris. Other federal witnesses include the Department of State and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Director of the Marine Debris Program in the Office of Response and Restoration, at NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Nancy Wallace, testified.
OLIA Lead: Mike Jarvis

 

House Hearing on Endangered Salmon

On June 23, NOAA submitted to the House Committee on Natural Resources Committee written testimony for the record on HR 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act related to a hearing the Committee held on June 8 that NOAA did not testify at.

 

House Hearing on Red Snapper

On May 2, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Interior, Energy, and Environment [Chair, Representative Blake Farenthold (R TX-14)] held a hearing titled "Examining the Management of Red Snapper Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico." Witnesses will discuss management of the rebuilding stock of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico, including the commercial sector, private anglers, and the for-hire fleet. The Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Earl Comstock, testified.
OLIA Lead: Topher Holmes

 

Senate Hearing on Forecasting Water-Related Hazards

On April 4, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies [Chair, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)] held a hearing on mitigating the impacts of water hazards-including those from severe floods, droughts, and coastal storm surge, among others. The Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Weather Service, Dr. Louis Uccellini, testified.
OLIA Lead: Matt Borgia