WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a long-time advocate for environmental and marine sciences and research, and Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will be honored tonight by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation at their Annual Leadership Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

“Each year the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation recognizes members of Congress who have demonstrated long-term leadership in the policies and investments benefiting our nation’s coastal and ocean environments,” said Bob Talbot, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and celebrated marine photographer and filmmaker. “Senator Mikulski’s influence over the budgets of our nation’s key scientific institutions has been largely responsible for modernizing our nation’s scientific infrastructure and giving us the ability to monitor human impacts on our earth and ocean.”

“It is an honor to accept this award from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which has been a partner with me in the fight for non-politicized science and research. Oceans contribute $120 billion to our economy and support over 2 million jobs. Investments to protect and understand our oceans provide enormous value to our taxpayers,” said Senator Mikulski. “As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds 85 percent of the nation’s climate change research, including NOAA, I am proud to fight for the investments in the federal checkbook to make a down payment on critical research initiatives. I will continue the fight to support the research, restoration and preservation of our nation’s waterways.”

In June 2006, Senator Mikulski received the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative’s (JOCI) report, “From Sea to Shining Sea: Priorities for Ocean Policy Reform,” which recommended robust funding for ocean research, education, observation and exploration. Senator Mikulski requested the report after organizing a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues as part of a national initiative to increase visibility and conservation for oceans. Since its release, Senator Mikulski has fought for a federal investment to implement the recommendations, with a $700 million down payment in the 2007 CJS spending bill, which was never brought up for a vote. She has pledged to again fight for funding to implement the JOCI recommendations in this year’s spending bill.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the private, non-profit partner to the federally managed National Marine Sanctuary Program, which is funded by NOAA. It was created to inspire all people to preserve, protect and promote our nationwide network of marine sanctuaries. The Leadership Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with the 2008 Capitol Hill Ocean Week, a three-day symposium that features ocean policy experts from government, private industry, nonprofits and academia. Participants seek to raise awareness of the important ocean and coastal issues among our nation’s leaders and to build bridges among various ocean constituencies.