Washington, DC – The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today adopted by voice vote S. 1401, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Reauthorization Act of 2003 and S. 1400, the Ocean and Coastal Observation Systems Act.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Reauthorization Act would, as introduced, authorize NOAA for fiscal years 2004 through 2008. The bill also would require NOAA to further development of external research programs to improve the transfer of research results to the operational activities of the agency. Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Snowe (R-ME) introduced this bill on July 14, 2003.
The Committee passed the following amendments to S. 1401:
· An amendment sponsored by Senators Hollings (D-SC) and Stevens (R-AK) to increase funding authorizations for NOAA programs by $1.2 billion and to reduce the authorization period to fiscal years 2004 and 2005.
· An amendment sponsored by Senator Hollings to authorize the operation of the Hollings marine laboratory in South Carolina as a public-private partnership.
· An amendment sponsored by Senator Inouye (D-HI) to require the Secretaries of Commerce and Defense to make a joint Hurricane Reconnaissance Report to Congress to explain how their departments will work together to monitor and forecast tropical cyclonic activity.
· An amendment sponsored by Senator Wyden (D-OR) to authorize a study on the placement of NEXRAD radar facilities.
The Ocean and Coastal Observation Systems Act of 2003 would establish a national ocean and coastal observing program that would provide continuous and comprehensive data on ocean and coastal conditions. Senators Snowe (R-ME), Kerry (D-MA), McCain (R-AZ), Hollings (D-SC), Inouye (D-HI), and Breaux (D-LA) introduced this bill on July 14, 2003.
The Committee passed the following amendment to S. 1400:
· An amendment sponsored by Senator Snowe (R-ME) to make minor substantive and technical changes in the bill as introduced.
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