Frank Pallone: “as a former Sea Grant extension agent, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3389, a bill to reauthorize the National…”

“as a former Sea Grant extension agent, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3389, a bill to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program Act. There is little more that I can add to the summary of the legislation provided by the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen). However, I wanted to say that this final version of H.R. 3389 reflects a fair and noncontroversial compromise between legislation passed by the House in June by a 407 to 2 vote and the companion legislation passed by the other body. Certainly the higher authorized levels for program appropriations, revised rating and evaluation procedures, and new requirements to enhance cooperation and coordination between Federal agencies and Sea Grant programs will help ensure that the National Sea Grant Program stays on the cutting edge of applied marine research, technology transfer, education, and outreach. Perhaps most important, Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a clear repudiation by the Congress of the administration's ill-advised budget proposal to transfer the National Sea Grant Program from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to the National Science Foundation. While I approve and respect NSF's mission and scientists, and while I continue to support full funding for NSF, I, like many other Members, believe that the national interest is best served by keeping Sea Grant in NOAA.”