Congressional Testimony

Second Session, 112th Congress - 2012

 

House Hearing on Space Weather

November 28 - Testimony of the Acting Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Weather Service, Laura Furgione, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (Chair, Representative Steven Palazzo, R MS-4) during a hearing titled, “National Priorities for Solar and Space Physics Research and Applications for Space Weather Prediction”.

 

Senate Hearing on Arctic Energy Exploration

October 11 - Testimony of the Acting Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Weather Service, Laura Furgione, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Chair, Senator Jay Rockefeller, D-WV) during a field hearing in Anchorage, Alaska, to examine lessons learned from the exploratory oil and gas drilling activity in the Arctic over the past year.

 

House Hearing on Weather Service Reprogramming

September 12 - Testimony of NOAA's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (Chair, Representative Paul Broun, R GA-10) during a hearing titled, “Mismanagement of Funds at the National Weather Service and the Impact on the Future of Weather Forecasting”.

 

House Field Hearing on Fishing and Jobs

August 25 - Testimony of the Chief Science Advisor and Director of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Scientific Programs, Dr. Richard Merrick, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) during a field hearing in Panama City, Florida, titled, “Fishing = Jobs: How Strengthening America’s Fisheries Strengthens Our Economy.”

 

House Hearing on Drought and NIDIS

July 25 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Integrated Drought Information System, Roger Pulwarty, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Chair, Representative Ralph Hall, R TX-4) during a hearing titled, “Drought Forecasting, Monitoring, and Decision-making: A Review of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).”

 

Senate Hearing on Environmental Impacts

July 19 - Testimony of the Acting Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Margaret Davidson, before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (Chair, Senator Daniel Akaka, D-HI) during a hearing titled, “Impacts of Environmental Change on Treaty Rights, Traditional Lifestyles, and Tribal Homelands.”


House Hearing on Atlantic Fisheries Legislation

July 19 - Testimony of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (performing the functions and duties of the Assistant Administrator), Sam Rauch, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a legislative hearing on several bills including:

 

House Hearing on Satellites

June 27 - Testimony of NOAA's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (Chair, Representative Paul Broun, R GA-10) and the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Andy Harris, R MD-1) during a hearing titled, “Continuing Oversight of the Nation’s Weather Satellite Programs – An Update on JPSS and GOES-R.”

 

House Hearing on NWS Reprogramming

June 21 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chair, Representative Frank Wolf, R VA-10) during a hearing on the reprogramming of funds by NOAA’s National Weather Service. Dr. Lubchenco was joined by NOAA's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan.

 

House Hearing on Fisheries

June 19 - Testimony of NOAA’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a hearing on several fishery’s related bills including:

 

Hearing on Japan Tsunami Debris

May 17 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Dave Kennedy, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing titled, “Stemming the Tide: The U.S. Response to Tsunami Generated Debris”.

 

House Hearing on Weather Forecasting

March 28 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Mary Kicza, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Andy Harris, R MD-1) during a hearing titled, "To Observe and Protect: How NOAA procures data for weather forecasting."

 

House Hearing on FY 2013 Budget – Appropriations Committee

March 20 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) (Chair, Representative Frank Wolf, R VA-10) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2013 Budget Request.

 

Senate Hearing on FY 2013 Budget – Commerce Committee

March 7 - 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 Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2013 Budget Request.

 

House Hearing on FY 2013 Budget – Science Committee

March 6 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Andy Harris, R MD-1) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2013 Budget Request.

 

House Hearing on FY 2013 Budget – Resources Committee

March 6 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2013 Budget Request.

 

House Field Hearing on Oil Drilling Off Cuba

January 30 - Testimony of the Chief of the Emergency Response Division of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Debbie Payton, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (Chair, Representative Frank LoBiondo, R NJ-2) during a field hearing in Miami, Florida, titled, “Offshore Oil Drilling in Cuba and the Bahamas: The U.S. Coast Guard’s Oil Spill and Readiness and Response Planning.”

 

First Session, 112th Congress - 2011

 

 

House Committee Hearing on Marine Debris Bill

December 15 - Testimony of the Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Dr. Holly Bamford, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) dunrg a hearing on HR 1171, the Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011, and S 363, a bill to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey NOAA property to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

HR 1171 reauthorizes NOAA's Marine Debris Program through FY 2016 and makes some technical adjustments to the existing law, including restating list of purposes to specify "address the adverse impacts of marine debris", includes further detail on the program components including: investigation and assessment; prevent, reduce, and remove; national and regional coordination; development of tools and products; and international cooperation. The bill also includes a definition of Marine Debris.

S 363, would allow Pascagoula to “swap” two small parcels of land already in use by NOAA as well as other contiguous space in exchange for the federal government transferring a section of its land where the City would like to develop.

 

House Committee Hearing on the RESTORE Act

December 7 - Testimony of the Deputy Chief of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration's Assessment and Restoration Division, Tony Penn, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Chair, Representative John Mica, R FL-7) during a hearing titled, “Restoring Jobs, Coastal Viability and Economic Resilience in the Gulf of Mexico: HR 3096, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2011 (RESTORE Act).”

 

House Committee Hearing on the ESA

December 6 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) is scheduled to hold a hearing titled, “The Endangered Species Act (ESA): How Litigation is Costing Jobs and Impeding True Recovery Efforts.”

 

House Committee Hearing on Magnuson Issues

December 1 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) during a hearing on eight bills that would amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NOAA's testimony discusses a number of Magnuson-related issues including annual catch limits, catch shares, rebuilding deadlines, and science.

 

Senate Hearing on Weather and Climate Services

November 16 - Testimony of NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary of Operations, Mary M. Glackin, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing titled, “Sustaining Innovation in Weather and Climate Services.” The hearing provided oversight of NOAA’s weather, climate, research and satellite programs and covered topics ranging from how satellites are critical for weather forecasting and the impending polar satellite data gap to how NOAA works with the private sector on innovative technologies and Research-to-Operations transition.

 

House Committee Hearing on the National Ocean Policy

October 26 - Testimony of NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) during a hearing on “The President’s New National Ocean Policy - A Plan for Further Restrictions on Ocean, Coastal and Inland Activities.” This was the second hearing on this topic in front of the Committee in the last month. The October 4 hearing included only stakeholder witnesses.

 

House Field Hearing on Steller Sea Lions

October 17 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) during an oversight field hearing titled, “NOAA’s Steller Sea Lion Science and Fishery Management Restrictions, Does the Science Support the Decisions?”. The Committee asked to hear NOAA’s views on how the fishery restrictions contained in the Biological Opinion for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish fisheries were developed, what scientific information justified those restrictions, how the economic analysis was developed, as well as how the recovery criteria was created.

 

Senate Field Hearing on New England Groundfish

October 3 - Testimony of NOAA’s Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation during a field hearing in Boston, Massachusetts. The hearing discussed the progress that has been made, the challenges that continue to affect industry, and the improvements necessary to ensure a sustainable, profitable, and well-managed New England groundfish fishery.

 

House Hearing on JPSS

September 23 - Testimony of NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittees on Investigations and Oversight (Chair, Representative Paul Broun, R GA-10) and Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Andy Harris, R MD-1) during a joint oversight hearing titled, “From NPOESS to JPSS: An Update on the Nation’s Restructured Polar Weather Satellite Program.” The hearing provided an opportunity for NOAA to update Congress on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) programs.

 

House Hearing on LightSquared Network

September 8 - Testimony of NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, Mary M. Glackin, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Chair, Representative Ralph Hall, R TX-4) during a hearing titled, “Impacts of the LightSquared Network on Federal Science Activities.” LightSquared would like to build a 4G network that would utilize spectrum next to the GPS bands that NOAA uses in daily operations. The Federal Communications Commission is currently considering a modified plan from LightSquared. This hearing was an opportunity for the federal agencies to comment on how the LightSquared proposal could affect their science activities.

 

Senate Hearing on Federal Disaster Assistance

July 28 -Testimony of NOAA’s Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (Chair, Senator Richard Durbin, D-IL) during a hearing titled, “Federal Disaster Assistance - "Are We Weather-Ready?" The hearing will examine the role of the Federal Government in mitigating the economic effects of severe weather events through long-term budgetary planning. Erratic and unusual weather catastrophes pose a significant risk to assets and may lead to an increased public demand for disaster assistance from multiple Federal agencies.

 

Senate Hearing on Arctic Economic Development

July 27 – Testimony for the record of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) for a hearing titled, “Defending U.S. Economic Interests in the Changing Arctic: Is There A Strategy?”

 

House Hearing on NOAA’s Fishery Science

July 26 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during an oversight hearing titled, “NOAA’s Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?” The hearing focused on how NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service collects data necessary for the management and allocation of fishery resources, how the amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Acthave affected domestic fishery management, and how the agency plans to provide fishery managers with better and more up to date information given increasingly tight budgets.

 

House Hearing on USCG and Marine Debris

July 26 - Testimony of the Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Holly Bamford, before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation (Chair, Representative Frank LoBiondo, R NJ-2) during a hearing titled, “How to Improve Operations and Implement Efficiencies for the United States Coast Guard.” The hearing examined various reauthorization needs of the USCG, including issues such as maritime search and rescue, safety and navigation, as well as issues related to the reauthorization of the MDRPRA.

 

Senate Hearing on Gulf Oil Spill

July 20 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, David Kennedy, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing titled, "Looking to the Future: Lessons in Prevention, Response, and Restoration From the Gulf Oil Spill.” The purpose of this hearing is to understand the current status of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the state of progress of long-term restoration activities and the Natural resource Damage Assessment, and the continuing challenges faces in the wake of the spill.

 

Senate Hearing on Deep Water Horizon NRDA

June 28 - Testimony of the Deputy Chief of the Assessment and Restoration Division in NOAA's National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Tony Penn, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife (Chair, Senator Ben Cardin, D-MD) during a hearing titled, "Status of the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA)." The purpose of this hearing is to understand the current status of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill NRDA, including an examination of research findings to date and to evaluate the successes and lessons learned thus far.

 

House Hearing on Climate Service

June 22 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Chair, Representative Ralph Hall, R TX-4) during a hearing to review NOAA's proposed reorganization to create a Climate Service Line Office and strategically renew the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

 

Senate Field Hearing on Enforcement and New England Groundfish

June 20 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security (Chair, Senator Thomas Carper, D-DE) during a field hearing in Boston, Massachusetts titled "How is NOAA Managing Funds to Protect the Domestic Fishing Industry?" The focus of the hearing was on NOAA's use of the Asset Forfeiture Funds and the agency's funding for the transition to sector management.

 

House Hearing on HR 946

June 14 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Jim Lecky, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a hearing on HR 946, the Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act. This bill would amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to reduce predation by pinnipeds (fin-footed mammals) on endangered Columbia River salmon.

 

House Hearing on San Joaquin Valley Bill

June 13 - Testimony of the Regional Administrator for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Will Stelle, before the the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water and Power (Chair, Representative Tom McClintock, R CA-4) during a hearing on HR 1837, the San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. This was the second hearing on this bill. The first was on June 2 and included witnesses from the agricultural industry and state of California. This hearing looked at the use of hatcheries to recover listed fish; the validity of the science underlying the NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Operations Criteria and Plan Biological Opinions (OCAP BiOps); the effect of the repeal of the San Joaquin Restoration Settlement Agreement; and reverting to the Bay Delta Accords of 1994 in place of the OCAP BiOps.

 

House Hearing on HABS Bill

June 1 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, Robert Magnien, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment (Chair, Representative Andy Harris, R MD-2) during a legislative hearing on the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998. The hearing addressed the nature of the harmful algal bloom (HAB) and hypoxia problem, NOAA’s role in addressing HABs and hypoxia in our coastal and Great Lakes waters, and the major accomplishments in NOAA’s HAB and hypoxia programs.

 

House Hearing on Hydrographic Services Bill

May 12 - Testimony of the Director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, Capt. John Lowell, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a hearing on HR 295, a bill to amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. The bill would authorize funds to acquire hydrographic data and provide hydrographic services specific to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineating the U.S. extended continental shelf, and the monitoring and description of coastal changes.

 

House Hearing on Pesticides

May 3 - Testimony of the Assist Administrator of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries, Eric Schwaab, before the House Committee on Natural Resources (Chair, Representative Doc Hastings, R WA-4) and the House Committee on Agriculture (Chair, Representative Frank Lucas, R OK-3) during a joint hearing on “At Risk: American Jobs, Agriculture, Health and Species - the Costs of Federal Regulatory Dysfunction.”

 

House Hearing on Federal Natural Hazards Warning, Preparedness, and Response

April 14 - Testimony of NOAA’s Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, Mary M. Glackin, before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense, and Foreign Operations (Chair, Representative Jason Chaffetz, R UT-3) during a hearing on federal natural hazards warning, preparedness, and response.

 

Senate Hearing on FY 2012 Budget

April 13 - 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 Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2012 Budget Request.

 

House Hearing on FY 2012 Budget

April 1 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chair, Representative Frank Wolf, R VA-10)during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2012 Budget Request.

 

House Hearing on FY 2012 Budget

March 31 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs (Chair, Representative John Fleming, R LA-4) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2012 Budget Request.

 

House Hearing on FY 2012 Budget

March 10 - Testimony of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (Chair, Representative Ralph Hall, R TX-4) during a hearing on NOAA’s FY 2012 Budget Request.

 

Senate Hearing on Magnuson

March 8 - Testimony of the Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Eric Schwaab, before .the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard (Chair, Senator Mark Begich, D-AK) during a hearing on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act).