[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
                       ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

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                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2004

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased, along with my colleague 
from Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, to introduce the President's bill to 
establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 
As Chairmen of the House subcommittees with jurisdiction over NOAH, we 
are introducing this bill as a courtesy to the President.
  NOAA was created by Executive Order in 1970. Since that time Congress 
has not passed a comprehensive law describing the mission of the 
agency. On April 20, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released its 
long awaited Preliminary Report with recommendations for a coordinated 
national ocean policy. One of its key recommendations is that Congress 
should pass an organic act for NOAA. I have already introduced my bill 
creating such an organic act (H.R. 4546). This bill Mr. Gilchrest and I 
are introducing today is the Administration's response to the 
recommendation.
  I look forward to working with Mr. Gilchrest and the Members of the 
Science Committee and the Resources Committee as we consider 
comprehensive legislation for NOAA.

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