[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2513-H2514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT
OF 2009
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2294) to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2294
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN
OBSERVATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2009.
The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of
2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking ``Council'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Committee'';
(2) in section 12303 (33 U.S.C. 3602)--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the heading, by striking ``Council'' and inserting
``Committee''; and
(ii) by striking ``National Ocean Research Leadership
Council'' and inserting ``Ocean Policy Committee''; and
(B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``conduct operational
oceanography measurements and'' after ``in order to'';
(3) in section 12304 (33 U.S.C. 3603)--
(A) by inserting ``and ocean'' after ``weather'' each place
it appears; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the heading of paragraph (1), by striking
``Council'' and inserting ``Committee''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(I) by redesignating clauses (vi) through (x) as clauses
(vii) through (xi), respectively; and
(II) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
``(vi) develop requirements and processes for regional
offices and federally funded projects of the agencies of the
Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to collaborate with
the regional coastal observing systems for data sharing at
regional levels;''; and
(4) in section 12311 (33 U.S.C. 3610)--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) $47,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Wittman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 2294, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2294, to reauthorize the
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, sponsored
by Representative Ezell from Mississippi.
The Integrated Ocean Observing System, or IOOS, is a public-private
partnership of coastal observation systems that provide local
decisionmakers with the latest science to prepare for and protect
coastal communities from disasters, while also supporting numerous
industries that operate in our marine waters.
The legislation before us would authorize the program through fiscal
year 2030, ensuring continued support for fisheries, maritime
industries, and coastal communities.
[[Page H2514]]
Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Ezell for his leadership, and I
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2294. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to support H.R. 2294, bipartisan
legislation to reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act, or IOOS, a commonsense, science-based solution that brings
together my colleagues on both sides of the aisle around our shared
commitment to protecting our coastal communities.
I am proud to work with my colleague, Representative Ezell, as one of
the bipartisan group of 25 cosponsors on this critical issue.
Timely ocean and coastal data is essential to keeping our coastal
economies, like the one I represent, running and to protecting our
communities.
H.R. 2294 reauthorizes the IOOS program that delivers that invaluable
data and that helps us with everything from our emergency preparedness
to our fisheries management programs in the States that we represent.
IOOS helps to track changing ocean temperatures, measure wave activity,
predict harmful algal blooms, monitor sea level rise, and improve storm
surge forecasts that help emergency managers make lifesaving evacuation
decisions.
IOOS provides data to States, ports, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and any
other business or agency that needs real-time access to ocean
conditions.
With natural disasters causing an estimated $12 billion in average
annual damages, sustained investment in IOOS remains essential to
ensure accurate weather and climate forecasts that protect our
infrastructure, public safety, and economic resilience.
This bipartisan bill extends IOOS through 2030, strengthening
partnerships with regional ocean observation systems and ensuring that
critical ocean data continues to flow to Federal, State, and local
decisionmakers who depend on it.
From the Gulf Coast to the golden coast of the Chesapeake Bay, when
Republicans and Democrats work together on science-based solutions, we
can protect both our natural resources and the communities that depend
on them.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1640
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Ezell), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. EZELL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my bill H.R.
2294, the Reauthorization of Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation
System Act of 2009.
This bill ensures the continued operation of the Integrated Ocean
Observing System, which is a nationwide network of buoys, radars,
underwater gliders, and forecasting models that collect critical ocean
and coastal data. These tools help provide real-time information on
ocean conditions, weather patterns, coastal hazards, and marine
ecosystems.
This information is essential for a wide range of Americans who rely
on our oceans and coastlines every single day. It supports commercial
fishermen, shipping and maritime operations, offshore energy
development, hurricane forecasting, and coastal disaster preparedness.
It also helps Federal, State, and local officials make informed
decisions to protect both lives and livelihoods along our coasts.
For coastal States like mine, Mississippi, and many others across the
country, accurate and timely ocean data is not a luxury. It is a
necessity. When hurricanes threaten our shores, when fishermen head out
to work, or when communities are preparing for coastal flooding, the
data collected through the Integrated Ocean Observing System helps
ensure they have the best information available to stay safe and make
informed decisions.
My bill simply reauthorizes this important program and strengthens
coordination between Federal agencies and regional observing systems so
that the data being collected is more accessible and more reliable and
more useful for the communities that depend on it.
This is a bipartisan commonsense measure that supports science,
strengthens coastal resilience, and ensures we continue to have the
tools necessary to understand and respond to changing ocean conditions.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues and Chairman Westerman for helping
get this bill on the floor. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
critical legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Fong).
Mr. FONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, the Save
Our Sequoias Act. I thank Chairman Westerman for his leadership and
collaboration.
I introduced this legislation with my California colleague
Representative Scott Peters to safeguard our remaining giant Sequoia
groves, the most in my district, by cutting red tape and restoring
resilience to our forests.
Giant sequoias, the world's largest trees, are only naturally found
in 70 groves across 37,000 acres in California.
Unfortunately, over the last century, fire suppression practices and
forest mismanagement have led to a dangerous buildup of fuels, which,
in combination with increasingly intense wildfires, has caused the
unparalleled destruction of these iconic trees.
In the last 5 years alone, there has been a nearly 20 percent loss of
our giant sequoias. That is not to mention that at its current pace it
would take the U.S. Forest Service 52 years to treat just the 19 most
at-risk giant sequoia groves.
Our giant sequoias are a true national treasure. We cannot afford to
let burdensome regulations prevent us from safeguarding them.
My bipartisan bill would enhance interagency coordination between
State, Federal, and Tribal partners, accelerate forest restoration
efforts, and provide important science-based resources to land managers
to protect these ancient trees from further destruction.
The world's only giant sequoia groves provide critical economic,
scientific, and cultural benefits for our local Tribes, researchers,
and our communities. Speeding up fuels reductions and wildfire
mitigation practices in these remaining groves will boost the
resilience of our forests and protect these giants for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the 29 Members from both sides of the aisle who
cosponsored this bill, as well as the staff on the House Committee on
Natural Resources for helping to pass this important bipartisan bill,
which would ensure California's remaining sequoias endure for
generations to come.
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
critical legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
This bill provides communities with real-time data and information
about the ocean and coastal areas and the Great Lakes. This helps them
remain strong and resilient even in the face of natural disasters.
Once again, I thank Mr. Ezell for his diligent work and attention to
this issue. It is incredibly important to coastal communities and
incredibly important to those who rely on the data and scientific
information that comes from our great waterways.
Mr. Speaker. I urge the passage of H.R. 2294, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2294, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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