[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 124 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 124

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the National Sea Grant College 
 Program is a valuable program that protects and enhances the coastal 
             communities and economy of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 7, 2017

 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker, 
  Mr. Coons, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Brown, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Wyden, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Franken, Mr. Leahy, 
   Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Peters, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Nelson, Mr. 
  Sanders, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Cantwell, and Mrs. 
 Feinstein) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
         the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the National Sea Grant College 
 Program is a valuable program that protects and enhances the coastal 
             communities and economy of the United States.

Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program, established in 1966, serves 31 
        States and 2 territories to strengthen the health and stewardship of 
        local, State, and national coastal and marine resources;
Whereas 42 percent of the United States population lives or works in a coastal 
        area, and coastal counties contribute over $7,600,000,000,000 annually 
        to the economy;
Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program is critical in improving the 
        health of coastal ecosystems, supporting sustainable fisheries and 
        aquaculture, building resilient communities and economies, improving 
        environmental literacy, and developing the next generation of students 
        in science and technology;
Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program had an economic impact of 
        $575,000,000 in 2015 from a Federal investment of $67,300,000, which is 
        an 854-percent return on investment;
Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program creates or sustains more than 
        20,000 jobs and 2,900 businesses annually;
Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program has supported 1,175 John A. 
        Knauss Marine Policy Fellows in Congress and throughout Federal agencies 
        since 1979; and
Whereas the National Sea Grant College Program has supported thousands of 
        undergraduate and graduate students at institutions of higher education 
        across the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the National Sea 
Grant College Program is--
            (1) of vital importance to improving the economy, health, 
        stewardship, and preparedness of the United States;
            (2) an exceptional example of effective partnerships 
        between Federal, State, and local governments; and
            (3) a valuable investment for the Federal Government.
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