Congressional Testimony
First Session, 111th Congress - 2009
Hearing on Hurricane Research
July 28 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Dr. Rick Spinrad, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senator Bill Nelson, D-FL, served as chair) during a hearing on hurricane research. The hearing addressed hurricane research, planning, and response – from basic research into understanding and forecasting to building technology to community preparedness.
Hearing on Global Climate Change
July 23 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service National Climatic Data Center, Tom Karl, before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment (Chair, Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, D-AS) during a hearing on Global Climate Change and Impacts on the Most Vulnerable Societies.
Hearing on Aviation Weather Services
July 16 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Weather Service, Dr. Jack Hayes, before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (Chair, Representative Brad Miller, D NC-13), during a hearing on aviation weather services. The GAO is currently completing an inquiry into NOAA’s National Weather Service’s (NWS) provision of aviation weather services to the FAA, and the FAA's requested proposal to consolidate the Center Weather Service Units. This hearing examined issues and concerns surrounding FAA's requirements and requests for, and NWS provision of, those services.
Hearing on Chesapeake Bay and Thunder Bay Legislation
July 8 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, Peyton Robertson, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam), during a hearing on HR 1771, the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, and HR 905, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act of 2009.
Hearing on Climate Change and the Chesapeake
June 23 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Robert Wood, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands (Chair, Representative Raul Grijalva, D AZ-7), during a field hearing on the Impacts of Climate Change on Chesapeake Bay.
Hearing on HR 21
June 18 - Testimony of NOAA’s Senior Advisor, Monica Medina, before the the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) during a hearing on HR 21, the Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act.
Hearing on NPOESS
June 17 - Testimony of the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (DUS), Mary M. Glackin, before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (Chair, Representative Brad Miller D NC-13) during a hearing on the Continuing Independent Assessment of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites System (NPOESS).
Hearing on Pacific Salmon Legislation
June 16 - Testimony of the Acting Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Jim Balsiger, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam), during a hearing on, HR 2055, the Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act, and HR 2565, the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act.
Hearing on FY2010 Budget
June 11 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Maria Cantwell, D-WA) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY2010 Budget Request.
Hearing on Endocrine Disrupters
June 9 - Testimony of the Chief of the Environmental Conservation Division, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Fishery Science Center, Tracy Collier, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) during a hearing titled, “Overdose: How Drugs and Chemicals in Water Supplies and the Environment are Harming our Fish and Wildlife”. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that when absorbed mimic or block hormones. Given the affects of EDCs on our fish and wildlife resources, the hearing focused on the widespread nature of EDCs; their affects on fish and wildlife resources; and possible solutions for reducing them in the environment.
Hearing on Oil Spill R&D
June 4 - Testimony of the Incident Operations Coordinator, NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Emergency Response Division of the Office of Response and Restoration , Doug Helton before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Brian Baird, D WA-3), during a hearing on oil spill research and development (R&D). Witnesses at the hearing discussed how new or improved technologies could reduce response time and or environmental affects.
Hearing on FY2010 Budget
June 3 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, John H. Dunnigan, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (Chair, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, D TX-30), during a hearing on NOAA’s FY2010 Budget Request.
Hearing on the International Whaling Commission (IWC)
May 20 - Written Statement of Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, for a hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) on the IWC. Testimony of Dr. William Hogarth, the current U.S. Delegate to, and Chairman of, the IWC (until June 2009) and former Assistant Administrator of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service. The purpose of the hearing was to allow the Committee to conduct oversight activities leading up to the annual meeting of the Commission to be held in Madeira, Portugal, at the end of June 2009.
Hearing on National Climate Service
May 5 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Brian Baird, D WA-3) during a hearing titled “Expanding Climate Services at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Developing the National Climate Service”.
Hearing on the 2009 Hurricane Season
May 1 - Testimony of the Deputy Director of NOAA’s National Weather Service National Hurricane Center, Dr. Edward Rappaport, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management (Chair, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC) during a field hearing in Miami, Florida, on the National Weather Service’s hurricane forecasting and collaboration with emergency managers.
Hearing on GOES-R GAO Report
April 23 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Mary Kicza, before the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Brian Baird, D WA-3) at a hearing on the GOES-R GAO report.
Hearing on Greenhouse Gas Monitoring
April 22 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Earth System Research Lab, Dr. Alexander MacDonald,before the House Committee on Science and Technology (Chair, Representative Bart Gordon, D TN-6) at a hearing on NOAA’s greenhouse gas and aerosol monitoring activities.
Hearing on California Drought
March 31 - Testimony of NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Mary M. Glackin, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Nick Rahall, D WV-3) at a hearing on the drought in California and actions taken by federal and state agencies to address the affects on natural resources and resource users.
Hearing on Climate Adaptation
March 25 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services National Climatic Data Center, Tom Karl, before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Ed Markey, D MA-7) on climate adaptation.
Hearing on IUU Fishing Legislation
March 19 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office of International Affairs, Dr. Rebecca Lent, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) on HR 1080, the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2009.
Hearing on Satellites and Climate Data
March 18 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services National Climatic Data Center, Tom Karl, before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chair, Representative Alan Mollohan, D WV-3) on satellites and climate data.
Hearing on Climate Science
March 17 - Testimony of the Senior Scientist for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Dr. Susan Solomon, before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chair, Representative Alan Mollohan, D WV-3) on climate science.
Hearing on HR 860, Coral Reef Conservation Legislation
February 25 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service Coral Reef Program, Kacky Andrews, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife (Chair, Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam), on HR 860, the Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2009.
Confirmation Hearing for Dr. Lubchenco
February 12 - Statement of Dr. Jane Lubchenco before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Chair, Senator John Rockefeller, D-WV) during a hearing on her nomination to be the new Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced Dr. Lubchenco who then provided a statement and responded to questions from the Committee.
Hearing on Flood Forecast for Devils' Lake, North Dakota
February 11 - Testimony of Scott Dümmer, Hydrologist-In-Charge of NOAA’s National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center, Chanhassen, Minnesota, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water (Chair, Senator Byron Dorgan, D-ND) on the Flood Forecast for Devil’s Lake, North Dakota.