Political Quotes

“I am in strong support for funding the National Sea Grant College Program in H.R. 5326, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes. First, I want to commend the Administration and my colleagues in the Congress for not making any significant budgetary changes for our National Sea Grant College Program, or Sea Grant, given our budget limitations and push for fiscal responsibility. The National Sea Grant College Program, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, continues to play a significant role in the stewardship of our lakes and oceans. Our coastal communities have continued to work closely with Sea Grant's national network of more than 30 universities in all parts of the U.S, including our Territories. Like our land-grant universities, Sea Grant conducts research, training, and extended science-based projects that are beneficial for the conservation and use of our aquatic and coastal resources. I strongly believe that we as a nation are not investing enough in Sea Grant as we have done so with land-grant universities. In the last decade, the U.S. has imported an astonishing almost 20 million tons of seafood from around the world. I feel that this is an opportunity, through the many training and research programs by Sea Grant, we can continue to diversify and support a more sustainable seafood supply.…”