National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I rise in support of S. 910, a bill to reauthorize and increase funding for the National Sea Grant College Program.

The health of our ocean reflects the health of our planet. The Sea Grant program's research, extension, and education efforts are essential to improve our understanding, conservation, and use of our nation's coastal resources. Affiliated with Oregon State University (OSU) as one of the 33 university-based programs, Oregon Sea Grant focuses on the ecological, social, and economic effects of many coastal issues, including evaluating development, adapting to coastal hazards, protecting marine fisheries, and understanding the cultural significance of marine resources.

Oregon Sea Grant also fosters and increases public understanding of ocean and coastal issues through its management of the Visitor Center at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. The Center is an ocean and coastal learning laboratory for all ages. Oregon Sea Grant extension staff are based in coastal communities and along the Columbia River to engage stakeholders on topics related to ocean health and coastal communities. As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I have had the opportunity to work with the Sea Grant program and witness the value of their collaborative model to crafting meaningful solutions to the most significant challenges facing our ocean today, like ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, marine debris, and tsunami preparedness.

I am grateful to Oregon Sea Grant for their many efforts to protect and sustain coastal communities, and especially their work to strengthen the resiliency of our ocean and coastal ecosystems in Northwest Oregon. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

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