Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Increased NOAA Funding: On June 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee (Chair Thad Cochran, R-MS) approved the FY ‘06 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations (CJS) bill. Approved by the Committee was $4.5 billion for NOAA: $550.8 million above the FY ‘05 level and $894.8 million above the Administration request, according to a Committee
In his opening statement at the June 21 markup, Chair Shelby said: “We are disappointed that NOAA’s budget has again been targeted for severe reductions. I strongly believe, as do many of you, that NOAA’s budget should move in the opposite direction, and we have done that in this bill. The recent Ocean Commission report concluded, essentially, that we are not doing nearly enough towards the study our Oceans. Implementation of the recommendations of the Ocean Commission Report is among the Subcommittee’s top priorities; the recommendation includes $660 million for Ocean Commission initiatives.”
Subcommittee ranking member Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said: “In terms of this, the Commerce Department, yes, we’ve done a great deal to help NOAA. We particularly looked at the research capabilities for our oceans and protecting the coastal states. But I think we’ve done a good job on weather; whether you’re a coastal state or whether you are a mountain state worrying about tornadoes or other severe things, we’ve really backed NOAA and backed NOAA in terms of their weather capability.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) praised the restoration of $90 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund which had been cut to $50 million in the House mark. On June 15, the House by a vote of 418-7 approved HR 2862 which included $3.38 billion for NOAA, $546 million below the FY ’05 funding levels and $202 million below the request. The significant difference in recommended funding levels for NOAA will be subject to a House-Senate Conference Committee later this summer or fall.
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Increased NOAA Funding:
On June 23, the Senate Appropriations Committee (Chair Thad Cochran, R-MS) approved the FY ‘06 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations (CJS) bill. Approved by the Committee was $4.5 billion for NOAA: $550.8 million above the FY ‘05 level and $894.8 million above the Administration request, according to a Committee
press release. On June 21, the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee (Chair Richard Shelby, R-AL), reported the bill. No date has been set for Senate floor action.In his opening statement at the June 21 markup, Chair Shelby said: “We are disappointed that NOAA’s budget has again been targeted for severe reductions. I strongly believe, as do many of you, that NOAA’s budget should move in the opposite direction, and we have done that in this bill. The recent Ocean Commission report concluded, essentially, that we are not doing nearly enough towards the study our Oceans. Implementation of the recommendations of the Ocean Commission Report is among the Subcommittee’s top priorities; the recommendation includes $660 million for Ocean Commission initiatives.”
Subcommittee ranking member Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said: “In terms of this, the Commerce Department, yes, we’ve done a great deal to help NOAA. We particularly looked at the research capabilities for our oceans and protecting the coastal states. But I think we’ve done a good job on weather; whether you’re a coastal state or whether you are a mountain state worrying about tornadoes or other severe things, we’ve really backed NOAA and backed NOAA in terms of their weather capability.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) praised the restoration of $90 million for the
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund which had been cut to $50 million in the House mark. On June 15, the House by a vote of 418-7 approved HR 2862 which included $3.38 billion for NOAA, $546 million below the FY ’05 funding levels and $202 million below the request. The significant difference in recommended funding levels for NOAA will be subject to a House-Senate Conference Committee later this summer or fall.