[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11505-S11506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Gregg, Mr. Lott, Mr. Reed, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Salazar, Mr.

[[Page S11506]]

Akaka, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Smith, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Cochran) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 628

       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;
       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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