This morning I'm off to Cap City for an Ocean Leadership Public Policy Forum on the Hill. Senator Landrieu is set to deliver the keynote address and speakers include Vice Admiral Lautenbacher (Administrator of NOAA), and Rita Colwell (former Director of the National Science Foundation).
While it's a little early in season for the cherry blossoms, I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends across agencies and around town. There's also a certain rumor about oceans and the current administration that I hope to validate so stay tuned...
Regardless of what I learn, I'm glad members are engaging in today's ocean policy panels and I encourage readers to suggest questions and topics for discussion.
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..back in the District for Capitol Hill Oceans Week (CHOW) 2008.
It hardly seems that a year has passed since last the marine policy crowd converged upon the nation's capitol. CHOW an annual event where we share stories of success, lessons learned, discuss impending trouble, and figure out what…
At yesterday's Ocean Leadership Policy Forum in DC, I had the opportunity to ask Senator Landrieu, (D-La)"What can the ocean community do to prioritize funding for programs like Sea Grant and support for basic research?"
Her response was interesting and articulate, and although she never actually…
Congress is now wading into Episode II of Hurricane Wars. Tomorrow morning the House Committee on Science and Technology will hold a hearing entitled "Tracking the Storm at the National Hurricane Center." I was just emailed the witness list, which I've posted after the jump.
The most obvious thing…
As of this morning, it appears that the nominations of both John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco (the President's picks for Science Advisor and NOAA Administrator, respectively) are still stalled in the Senate. If we don't raise more hell over this issue - and keep raising hell - it's likely that these…
Update from the Forum: I asked Senator Landrieu directly about funding priorities citing programs like Sea Grant and support for basic research such as understanding the implications of ocean acidification. I also questioned the disparity between the budgets of NOAA with NASA and DOD and asked what the ocean community can do.
Details to come.
More specifically, find out how Congress plans to protect us from another Katrina? That's within NOAA right?
Southeast Joe,
Yes. Vice Admiral Lautenbacher is speaking about hurricanes now... Check back soon for what's discussed.
Do you get to go back there in April? If so, lucky! I haven't missed the cherry blossom festival for three years, but now here I am in the mountain time zone.
I'll have to see what I can do to bribe... er, build amicable relations with Japan.
Miss Sheril,
So sad to have missed you in your travels - but glad you can still travel! My most recent work jaunt was to . . . West Virginia! On the Hurricane front, please don't forget that, while NOAA does both hurricane forecasting and coastal habitat restoration (woefully underfunded), the Army Corps of Engineers has a hand in the issue, as does FEMA/Homeland Security. Sad to say, but NOAA alone can't protect you. Actually, no one can "protect" you from a hurricane - they have been coming into south Loiusuana for millenia and probably won't stop now.