[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4756-S4757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COASTAL INSTITUTE IS WELL UNDERWAY

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I rise to object to any amendment affecting 
Cooperative State Research Service funding that would rescind funds, 
already obligated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for building 
educational facilities at the University of Rhode Island.
  USDA already had obligated $6.2 million, appropriated in fiscal year 
1993, fiscal year 1994, and fiscal year 1995 for the Federal matching 
share of funds to build the University of Rhode Island's Coastal 
Institute. I have been personally involved in this project since the 
1980's, but it will be destroyed if these funds are rescinded.
  Both the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee and the full 
Appropriations Committee decided not to rescind this $6.2 million. 
These funds represent the authorized, appropriated, and obligated 
Federal share of an ongoing agricultural education building project.
  Rhode Island already has completed construction of one Coastal 
Institute building and I plan to attend a formal groundbreaking for the 
second building in about 3 weeks. These buildings constitute the State 
match--totaling $12.56 million--for a third building to be built with 
anticipated Federal matching funds.
  Mr. President, it strikes me as poor policy for the Federal 
Government to require Rhode Island to spend $12.56 million to receive a 
like amount of Federal funds only to reneg on the Federal share once 
the State had spent more than enough funds to meet its match.
  I also want to emphasize that this is not a project that came in 
through a backdoor. The University of Rhode Island's Coastal Institute 
went through the most rigorous USDA feasibility review, including a 
peer review, and its funding has been approved step by step in the 
appropriations process for more than 5 years.
  I would like to tell you just a bit about why the USDA approved 
matching funding for the Coastal Institute and what the facilities can 
do for both Rhode Island and the Nation. First and foremost, I want to 
underscore why the coastal area is clearly an agricultural concern.
  The coastal area includes the continental shelf, the shore area--
including highly productive estuaries and wetlands, and the land areas 
which make up the first tier of inshore watersheds.
  This encompasses rich agricultural lands, forest resources, and both 
urban and rural communities. Coastal lands are among the most 
productive and the most heavily populated on the earth.
  The primary mission of the Coastal Institute is to carry out research 
and analyze policies to better enable society to manage its coastal 
resources wisely. This research and analysis includes such USDA 
priorities as agricultural production, aquaculture production, rural 
welfare, watershed management, and the maintenance of water quality.
  USDA is concerned about nonpoint source pollution from agriculture 
and rural homes--pollution which hurts the productivity of our coastal 
estuaries. The Coastal Institute will investigate the origins, 
transport, and fate of these contaminants and will develop improved 
practices to reduce them.
  It also will evaluate policy alternatives for implementation that 
recognize the legitimate interests of all groups involved, especially 
the rural and farm communities.
  USDA also must address management of water resources in complex 
coastal areas. The Coastal Institute will investigate salt and other 
loadings of drainage water from irrigated agriculture and subsequent 
effects on soils, rivers, streams, and adjacent wetlands. It also will 
investigate salt water intrusion as a result of ground water 
withdrawals--a worldwide problem. The Coastal Institute will follow 
through by evaluating improved management practices and mitigating 
policies.
  The Coastal Institute also will focus on fish and aquaculture as an 
area of intensive research.
  The Coastal Institute will be working to develop aquaculture first, 
as a source of affordable fish for consumers; second, as a way to 
reduce our annual trade deficit of almost $3 billion in fisheries 
products; third, as a potential market for feed products such as 
soymeal; and fourth, as a means to provide employment and increase the 
welfare of our rural communities.
  Mr. President, I regret to say that, in general, the United States is 
lagging behind other nations in technological innovations that will 
allow the expansion of aquaculture systems.
  Scientists of the Coastal Institute will continue: first, to develop 
environmentally sustainable aquaculture technologies for new species 
and for multiproduct aquaculture systems; second, analyze international 
trade and 
[[Page S4757]] help U.S. producers capture larger market shares; and 
third, evaluate the impact of U.S. regulatory policies on the industry.
  The facilities which are being built by Rhode Island, along with 
those recommended for Federal financing, are not a duplication of 
facilities anywhere. The emphasis of the Coastal Institute is on a 
multidisciplinary teams to address complex problems in a holistic 
manner. The facility is designed to take advantage of the information 
superhighway and long distance interactive communication.
  The private sector has been involved in the concept and design of 
components of the facility, such as the policy simulation laboratory, 
and is expected to be an active participant in its programs. The 
Coastal Institute is the outgrowth of decades of research which has 
gained international stature. The facilities are a logical next step 
and are in the Nation's interest.


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