Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, recent scientific findings have shown that the Arctic sea ice is shrinking with significantly smaller amounts of summer sea ice cover. Consequently, more open water space in the Arctic Ocean will be available for ship travel, which will present a changed landscape for international marine commerce and national security interests and greater accessibility to natural resources. These activities are likely to create substantial new demands on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide hydrographic data and hydrographic services in the near term. I support this noncontroversial legislation to amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act to give NOAA specific authorization to conduct hydrographic surveys and to provide other hydrographic services in the Arctic, and I urge Members on both sides to do likewise.”