[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING EFFORTS OF NOAA CORPS

  (Mr. CASE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, today, with my colleagues Mr. Young of Alaska 
and Mr. Huffman of California, I am proud to introduce the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps 
Amendments Act of 2019.
  The women and men of the NOAA Corps proudly and professionally 
operate NOAA's highly specialized fleet of research and survey ships 
and aircraft, including the famed Hurricane Hunter aviators. Several of 
those ships are based in my State of Hawaii and conduct surveys used to 
manage our fisheries and protected species and study and map the ocean 
floor.
  Like the other uniformed services, the NOAA Corps officers spend most 
of their careers away from home at sea, in the air, and in remote 
locations such as Antarctica conducting this important work but are 
often overlooked in the legislative and administrative process, 
resulting in a patchwork of statutory authorities, benefits, and 
obligations of service.
  Our bill will help the NOAA Corps improve recruitment, retention, and 
diversity to attract the best and the brightest commissioned officers 
and better align this great Corps with the other uniformed services as 
they continue their great service to NOAA and to our Nation.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill and 
support the efforts of the NOAA Corps.

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