[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2509]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING 200 YEARS OF RESEARCH SERVICE, AND STEWARDSHIP BY NOAA AND 
                        ITS PREDECESSOR AGENCIES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 
147, which recognizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) 200th anniversary. When President Thomas 
Jefferson originally established the first Federal science agency, 
Survey of the Coast, in 1807, its mandate was to create charts for safe 
navigation. Over the years, bureaus related to the regulation and 
protection of our fisheries, the study of weather and climate change, 
and many other important responsibilities were added. Today, this 
agency, now known as NOAA, has a global reach and a broad range of 
programs that touch all our lives.
  From promoting waterborne commerce and fisheries to predicting 
weather and global climate change, NOAA's role is crucial to our 
Nation. I'm particularly proud of the National Marine Sanctuaries, 
which were created under NOAA's jurisdiction in 1972. In Northern 
California, we are privileged to have three such sanctuaries, the 
Monterey National Marine Sanctuary, the Gulf of the Farallones National 
Marine Sanctuary, and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. With 
our oceans and marine life increasingly threatened, these sanctuaries 
play an invaluable role in enhancement and protection.
  The importance of the sanctuaries was recently highlighted when an 
oil spill polluted the precious waters of the San Francisco Bay with 
58,000 gallons of oil. NOAA and marine sanctuary staff stepped in and 
provided key assistance in the clean-up and oil containment efforts. We 
were lucky to have them there. It's events like this that really 
highlight some of the important work done by NOAA and the marine 
sanctuaries.
  This resolution is the product of the Resource Committee's leadership 
and I appreciate their introducing this resolution to honor NOAA's 
important work over the last 200 years. I hope that over the next 200 
years, we are able to provide NOAA and the marine sanctuaries with the 
necessary resources and assistance to continue and expand upon the key 
work that it does.

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