[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 498 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 498

Recognizing 200 years of research, service to the people of the United 
   States, and stewardship of the marine environment by the National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor agencies, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2006

  Mr. Young of Alaska submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to 
the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION



Recognizing 200 years of research, service to the people of the United 
   States, and stewardship of the marine environment by the National 
 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor agencies, 
                        and for other purposes.

Whereas the Act of February 10, 1807 (chapter VIII; 2 Stat. 413), signed by 
        President Thomas Jefferson, authorized and requested the President ``to 
        cause a survey to be taken of the coast of the United States ... 
        together with such other matters as he may deem proper for completing an 
        accurate chart of every part of the coasts'';
Whereas the Coast Survey was established to carry out the duties established 
        under such Act, and was the first Federal science agency of the United 
        States;
Whereas over time additional duties were granted to such agency, including 
        geodetic surveying and tide and current monitoring and predictions, and 
        such agency was later renamed the Coast and Geodetic Survey;
Whereas in addition to providing charts and information vital to our young 
        Nation's economic and commercial success, such pioneering agency led 
        some of the Nation's earliest oceanographic research, undertaking 
        surveys of the Gulf Stream to determine temperatures, depths, direction, 
        and velocity, as well as the character of the seafloor and forms of 
        vegetation and marine life;
Whereas the early technicians and scientists of such agency invented and 
        supported the development of many innovative tools that led to advances 
        in hydrographic, shoreline, and geodetic surveying and cartographic 
        methods, the first real-time water level stations, and deep-sea 
        anchoring;
Whereas during the 20th century such agency, by then renamed the Coast and 
        Geodetic Survey, advanced the development and marine applications of 
        electronics and acoustics, including the development of Radar Acoustic 
        Ranging, radio sono-buoys, and the Roberts Radio Current Meter Buoy;
Whereas throughout their history these programs have provided services in 
        support of the Nation's commerce and defense, serving in all theaters of 
        the Civil War and in World Wars I and II as hydrographers, 
        cartographers, topographers, and scouts, including the production of 
        more than 100 million maps and charts for United States and Allied 
        forces;
Whereas as our Nation's interests and economy became increasingly interwoven 
        with the marine and atmospheric environment, a number of Federal science 
        agencies with complimentary functions, including the Weather Bureau and 
        the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, were combined with the Coast Survey 
        to create the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
Whereas today these mapping and charting, geodesy, and tide and current data 
        programs are located in the National Ocean Service of NOAA in the Coast 
        Survey, the National Geodetic Survey, and the Center for Operational 
        Oceanographic Products and Services;
Whereas these programs promote NOAA's commerce and transportation goals and 
        continue to support the research, development, and application of state-
        of-the-art surveying, mapping, charting, ocean observing, modeling, and 
        Internet-based product delivery services to promote safe and efficient 
        commerce and transportation and contributing to the advancement of 
        integrated ocean and earth observing systems;
Whereas these programs continue to demonstrate relevance, value, importance, and 
        service promoting and employing innovative partnerships with other 
        agencies, State and local authorities, academia, and the private sector;
Whereas these programs work internationally as the United States representative 
        to the International Hydrographic Organization and through other 
        organizations to promote integrated and uniform standards, protocols, 
        formats, and services;
Whereas in addition to commerce and transportation these programs also advance 
        NOAA's weather and water, climate, and ecosystem missions including 
        marine resource conservation, coastal management, and the protection of 
        life and property from coastal storms and other hazards, as most 
        recently demonstrated in responding to and facilitating the recovery of 
        communities and commerce in the hurricane stricken Gulf Coast; and
Whereas the devotion, industry, efficiency, and enterprise of these people and 
        programs over their 200-year history have set an enviable record of 
        public service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes that for over 200 years, the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor 
        agencies have been providing to the Nation research to improve 
        human understanding of the oceans and atmosphere, service, and 
        stewardship of the marine environment, through products and 
        services that protect lives and property, strengthen the 
        economy, and support and sustain our coastal and marine 
        resources;
            (2) recognizes the vision of President Thomas Jefferson in 
        supporting the advancement of science, and the survey of the 
        coast in particular, to the welfare and commercial success of 
        the Nation;
            (3) recognizes the contributions made over the last 200 
        years by the past and current employees and officers of the 
        Coast Survey, the National Geodetic Survey, and the Center for 
        Operational Oceanographic Products and Services of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States to salute 
        and share in the planned celebrations of these historic 
        programs during 2007 with ceremonies designed to give 
        appropriate recognition to one of our oldest and most respected 
        Federal agencies on the occasion of its bicentennial 
        anniversary.
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