[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 2 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E91]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE MARINE RESOURCES REVITALIZATION ACT OF 1997

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                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 1997

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce the Marine 
Resources Revitalization Act of 1997, a bill to reauthorize the 
National Sea Grant College Program.
  By way of background, the National Sea Grant College Program was 
established by Congress in 1966 in an effort to improve our Nation's 
marine resource conservation efforts, to better manage those resources, 
and to enhance their proper utilization. Housed within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sea Grant is modeled after the 
highly successful Land Grant College Program created in 1862.
  Over the past 30 years, Sea Grant has dramatically defined our 
capabilities to make decisions about marine, coastal, and Great Lakes 
resources--vast, publicly owned resources which are of vital economic, 
social, and cultural importance to our rapidly growing coastal 
populations. In doing so, Sea Grant promotes high quality, peer-
reviewed scientific research. Furthermore, Sea Grant distributes 
scientific results regionally and locally through educational and 
advisory programs at over 300 universities and affiliated institutions 
nationwide. Twenty-nine of these are specifically designated as Sea 
Grant colleges or institutional programs, and they serve to coordinate 
Sea Grant activities on a State-by-State basis.
  The Marine Resources Revitalization Act of 1997 authorizes funding 
for Sea Grant through fiscal year 2000; simplifies the definition of 
issues under Sea Grant's authority; clarifies the responsibilities of 
State and national programs; consolidates and clarifies the 
requirements for the designation of Sea Grant colleges and regional 
consortia; repeals the post-doctoral fellowship and international 
programs, both of which have never been funded; and makes several minor 
clerical or conforming amendments.
  I would like to acknowledge three of my distinguished colleagues--Don 
Young of Alaska, Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, and Sam Farr of 
California--for their leadership in this reauthorization effort. We 
firmly believe that this legislation represents a realistic approach to 
reauthorizing the Sea Grant Program--the bill is inherently 
noncontroversial and has been fully endorsed by the administration. By 
enacting this legislation, we send a clear message supporting the 
protection and wise use of our marine and coastal resources.

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