Rick Allen: “as a cochair of the House Oceans Caucus, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Mr. Gilchrest to increase the…”

“as a cochair of the House Oceans Caucus, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Mr. Gilchrest to increase the base funding for NOAA. Both the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the independent Pew Commission have called on Congress to increase NOAA's budget to more than $6 billion. Yet this bill funds NOAA at roughly half that, $3.4 billion, a cut of more than $500 million below last year. Relative to their size and economic value, funding for ocean research and management pales in comparison to other natural resource programs, like management of public lands and space exploration. When we derive so much from our oceans, how can we invest so little in the understanding of them? This amendment will allow us to better manage our fisheries, institute an integrated ocean observation system based on what we already have in the Gulf of Maine, and protect our coast from erosion and pollution. I urge support of the Gilchrest amendment.”