[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 628 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 628

Supporting the 200th anniversary of the nation's nautical charting and 
 related scientific programs, which formed the basis for what is today 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 7, 2006

  Mr. Stevens (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
 Gregg, Mr. Lott, Mr. Reed, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
Akaka, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Smith, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Cochran) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the 200th anniversary of the nation's nautical charting and 
 related scientific programs, which formed the basis for what is today 
 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 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. 4113), 
            signed by President Thomas Jefferson, authorized and 
            requested the President ``to cause a survey 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, including geodetic surveying 
            and tide and current monitoring and predictions, were 
            bestowed upon the agency, which was first known as the U.S. 
            Coast Survey and later the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey;
    Whereas, in addition to providing charts and information vital to 
            the 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 re-named 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 U.S. and Allied forces;
    Whereas 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 such agency 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, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that for over 200 years, the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor 
        agencies have been providing the Nation research, 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 past 200 
        years by the past and current employees and officers of the 
        Office of 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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