|
|
Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
06/24/08
Contact: |
Rob Blumenthal w/Inouye 202-224-8374
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
Jenilee Keefe w/Inouye 202-224-7824
|
|
Email This
Print This
|
|
|
Commerce Committee Approves Sea Grant Reauthorization
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today unanimously approved a bill to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant), which provides education, training, and technical assistance programs that promote the understanding and utilization of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. The National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 (S. 3160), reauthorizes Sea Grant for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 through FY 2014.
Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and John Kerry (D-Mass.) co-sponsored the bill. Modeled after the Land Grant College System, the National Sea Grant College Program Act of 1966 created Sea Grant. The Program is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), university based programs, coastal and Great Lakes states, industry, and 300 partner institutions that addresses national, regional, and local coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes issues.
This bill would reauthorize Sea Grant for the tenth time since its inception.
“I am pleased that the Commerce Committee has moved so quickly to reauthorize this important program,” said Senator Inouye, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “Sea Grant fellows have provided expertise and leadership on any number of issues relating to our ocean and coastal resources. The Sea Grant program has been invaluable to the cause of ensuring that these resources and ecosystems will be protected for future generations.”
“The National Sea Grant College Program has been valuable in providing research and outreach to Alaska’s fishing community and has helped Alaska maintain its status as a leader in sustainable fisheries,” said Senator Stevens, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. “I am glad that the Commerce Committee has approved this bill which is vital to keeping America’s oceans and coasts healthy.”
The Act would authorize $675 million for FY 2009 through FY 2014. The bill also would invest in services that integrate scientific research and extension services, and encourage increased collaboration among state Sea Grant programs.
The major provisions of the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008 would:
- Authorize appropriations of $100 million for FY 2009, $105 million for FY 2010, $110 million for FY 2011, $115 million for FY 2012, $120 million for FY 2013, and $125 million for FY 2014, which will be used to implement regional coordination and allow for the program as a whole to sustain ongoing research, education, and outreach efforts;
- Direct Sea Grant to provide integrated research and extension services;
- Place an increased emphasis on collaboration among state Sea Grant programs, specifically at the regional level;
- Replace the current cumbersome rating system that required ranking individual programs with one that is based on metrics related to their strategic plans that incorporate local, regional, and national priorities;
- Exempt five percent of grants, rather than one percent, from requiring a 33 and 1/3 percent match from external funds, which would allow for the funding of special grants, increased cooperative efforts with other federal agencies and organizations, and exempt Knauss Fellowships from this requirement;
- Redesignate the National Sea Grant Review Panel as the National Sea Grant Advisory Board to better reflect its current role, including advising the Sea Grant Director regarding national priorities and designating Sea Grant Colleges and Institutes, and increase the terms of office of Advisory Board members from three to four years;
- Require the National Sea Grant Advisory Board to provide a biennial report to the Congress evaluating the National Sea Grant College Program;
- Allow for the formation of National Sea Grant Advisory Board subcommittees, which could include individuals who are not Board members; and repeal the requirement for a joint report by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Director of the National Science Foundation.
###
|
|
|
|
|
18th - |
Senator Hutchison Calls for Improved Bus Safety Standards
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today called for improved safety of over-the-road buses and enhanced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations governing bus safety during a Senate Surface Transportation Subco...
|
|
|
18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for DTV Transition Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the Full Committee hearing on Oversight of the DTV Transition: Countdown to February 2009, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. The full witness list is below.
With February 17, 2009 less than five months away, the Committee will assess the Federal Communication...
|
|
|
18th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade Imbalance Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces the witnesses for the upcoming Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on The Imbalance in U.S.-Korea Automobile Trade, scheduled for September 24, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. A full witness list is below.
The hearing will examine the reasons for the imbalance in U.S.-Korea bilateral ...
|
|
|
17th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Consumer Privacy Issues Related to Broadband Service Providers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Full Committee hearing on Broadband Providers and Consumer Privacy, scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.
The Committee will examine broadband provider practices with respect to consumer privacy.
Broadband Providers and Consumer PrivacyFull CommitteeDate: Thursday, Septemb...
|
|
|
16th - |
Senator Hutchison Commends Dept. of Commerce for Helping Nursing Homes with DTV Converter Box Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) today commended the U.S. Department of Commerce and Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez for allowing residents with post office boxes and those living in nursing homes to participate in the digital television (DTV) converter box coupon program. Previously, only residents with physical addresses could participate. This meant that those who ...
|
|
|
16th - |
Inouye Calls for Immediate Passage of S.1492, the Broadband Data Improvement Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) delivered the following statement at today’s hearing on why broadband matters.
“In our hearing today we explore why broadband matters. Broadband matters because broadband communications have become the great economic engine of our time. Broadband deployment drives opportunities for business, education, ...
|
|
|
16th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Bus Safety Hearing
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-...
|
|
|
12th - |
Commerce Committee to Hear Testimony from Corporation for Public Broadcasting Nominees
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-...
|
|
|
12th - |
Commerce Committee to Review Progress of DTV Transition with FCC, NTIA
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-p...
|
|
|
12th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-...
|
|
|
11th - |
Commerce Committee Releases MARAD Bill Financial Disclosure Certification
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today filed its report on S. 2997, the Maritime Administration Act for Fiscal Year 2009. In accordance with Senate Rule XLIV, the Committee provides the attached financial disclosure certification.
###
|
|
|
11th - |
Commerce Committee Cancels Hearing to Examine Marine Protected Areas
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-...
|
|
|
10th - |
Senator Hutchison Cosponsors Calling Card Legislation to Help Consumers
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today signed on as a cosponsor to legislation that would assist consumers with pre-paid calling cards and ensure that fees and terms are easier to understand. The bill, S. 2998, would require pre-paid calling card providers and distributors to disclose the numbe...
|
|
|
9th - |
Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Consumer Benefits of Broadband
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-...
|
|
|
8th - |
Commerce Committee to Examine Marine Protected Areas
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-pa...
|
|
|
8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Prepaid Calling Card Hearing
-
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE
MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:Table Normal;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-pa...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|