[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 86 (Thursday, June 19, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 18, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 437) to 
     reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and 
     for other purposes:


  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 437, the 
National Sea Grant College Program Authorization, which would extend 
through fiscal year 2000 a valuable program which has vastly improved 
our knowledge about ocean and coastal resources. Established more than 
30 years ago in 1966, the National Sea Grant College Program operates 
through a network of 26 Sea Grant College programs and three smaller 
designated institutional programs.
  The Sea Grant College Program at University of Hawaii in my State, 
within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, has made 
tremendous economic strides in aquaculture research and development on 
species such as the freshwater prawn and marine shrimp, working with 
State agencies. Sea Grant continues to look at marine issues of vital 
importance to Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean, such as risks of oil 
spills, coastal pollution, marine mammal strandings and entrapment, and 
health of reefs and coral populations.
  The program's past history includes supporting development of the 
first State plan for aquaculture and the Pacific Island Network--an 
entity which assists Pacific Islanders seeking to achieve self-
determination and economic self-sufficiency. Recently-retired Dr. Jack 
R. Davidson served 25 years as the program's director and built a 
strong reputation for Sea Grant in Hawaii and the Pacific Basin. Like 
achievements by other Sea Grant programs nationwide have enjoyed 
similar success.
  I am pleased that the bill before us, with agreement between the 
Resources and Science Committees, no longer continues a sunset clause 
that would have taken effect in fiscal year 2002. As stated by Dr. Rose 
Pfund, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program association 
director, ``At a time when our coastal and marine environments and 
resources are threatened by natural and manmade disasters, the need for 
academia's knowledge and capabilities for research is greater than 
ever.'' To approve a sunset date for the program would be to deny this 
need and shut down current programs generating valuable information to 
meet this need.
  I also rise to support an amendment that may be offered to H.R. 437 
that would reinstate a provision authorizing use of funds for research 
on all nuisance species, rather than solely on zebra mussels as 
approved by the Science Committee. This body should call for fairer 
distribution of the $2.8 million earmark in this bill--the level 
authorized annually under the 1990 Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act.
  I strongly urge that my colleagues support this amendment, should it 
be offered, and vote ``aye'' on H.R. 437 to reauthorize the National 
Sea Grant College Program.

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