Recognizing 200 years of research, service to the people of the United States, and stewardship of the marine environment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor agencies, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, for their 200 years of dedicated research and service to the United States.

NOAA and its predecessors conducted some of the earliest oceanographic research and have continued to serve the United States for commerce, defense, and environmental purposes. NOAA is a leader for scientific research and environmental monitoring and protection, providing an outstanding example to the international community.

NOAA continues that storied legacy in the 21st century with and oceanographic monitoring, the protection of our natural resources, its stewardship of the marine environment, and as our first line of warning for storms and hurricanes.

NOAA programs have provided invaluable service to commerce and defense, serving throughout the country's history in war and peacetime; more than 100 million maps and charts for U.S. and Allied Forces.

Their programs promote safe and efficient commerce/transportation and work toward the advancement of a global environmental observation system. Programs also include missions for the conservation of marine resources, coastal management, and protection from storms and other hazards--especially Gulf Coast hurricanes.

NOAA's National Weather Service/Weather Forecast Offices at the Corpus Christi International Airport and the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport provide weather and flood warnings, daily forecasts, and meteorological and hydrologic data for the South Texas Gulf Coast area.

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service/Seafood Inspection Program in Brownsville offers a voluntary inspection program for fishery products on a fee-for-service basis, as well as other services to local fishermen and fish processors.

NOAA's National Ocean Service operates seven tide stations in Texas to monitor sea level trends, provide real-time data for storm surge warning, including South Texas locations in Corpus Christi and Port Isabel.

This week I will greet NOAA researchers in my district who are seeking a new location for a weather research center. I look forward to welcoming these distinguished researchers and discussing their needs for the future weather research center.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 147) recognizing 200 years of research, service to the people of the United States, and stewardship of the marine environment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor agencies, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 147 recognizes the contributions that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the agencies which preceded it, together with their employees, have made in improving our understanding of the oceans and the marine environment. The resolution also recognizes the vision of Thomas Jefferson when he recognized that the survey of our Nation's coast is critical to our welfare and commercial success.

This month represents the culmination of ceremonies and commemorative events that have occurred across the country during 2007 recognizing 200 years of invaluable research, service, and stewardship of the marine environment provided by NOAA and its predecessor agencies.

As the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, I too recognize the work of NOAA's dedicated civil servants, the NOAA Corps, and NOAA's partners in fulfilling the NOAA mission. The agency benefits from the strong and able leadership of Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the current NOAA Administrator.

Lastly, I want to thank my colleague and good friend from South Carolina, the ranking member of the committee (Mr. Brown), for his work in sponsoring this resolution. I am honored to join him in recognizing NOAA on this occasion, and I have enjoyed working with him this past year and am looking forward to our work together on the subcommittee in the next session.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 147, which recognizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 200th anniversary. When President Thomas Jefferson originally established the first Federal science agency, Survey of the Coast, in 1807, its mandate was to create charts for safe navigation. Over the years, bureaus related to the regulation and protection of our fisheries, the study of weather and climate change, and many other important responsibilities were added. Today, this agency, now known as NOAA, has a global reach and a broad range of programs that touch all our lives.

From promoting waterborne commerce and fisheries to predicting weather and global climate change, NOAA's role is crucial to our Nation. I'm particularly proud of the National Marine Sanctuaries, which were created under NOAA's jurisdiction in 1972. In Northern California, we are privileged to have three such sanctuaries, the Monterey National Marine Sanctuary, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. With our oceans and marine life increasingly threatened, these sanctuaries play an invaluable role in enhancement and protection.

The importance of the sanctuaries was recently highlighted when an oil spill polluted the precious waters of the San Francisco Bay with 58,000 gallons of oil. NOAA and marine sanctuary staff stepped in and provided key assistance in the clean-up and oil containment efforts. We were lucky to have them there. It's events like this that really highlight some of the important work done by NOAA and the marine sanctuaries.

This resolution is the product of the Resource Committee's leadership and I appreciate their introducing this resolution to honor NOAA's important work over the last 200 years. I hope that over the next 200 years, we are able to provide NOAA and the marine sanctuaries with the necessary resources and assistance to continue and expand upon the key work that it does.

I appreciate the gentlewoman from Washington for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 147. I am pleased we are considering this measure today on the House floor. I would like to thank my friend and the chairwoman of the Fisheries, Ocean and Wildlife Subcommittee, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, for her hard work on cosponsorship of this resolution.

And what a real pleasure it is to work along with you as your ranking member.

And I would also like to thank Chairman Nick Rahall and Ranking Member Don Young of the Natural Resources Committee as well as my colleagues on the House Science Committee for their support of this resolution.

House Concurrent Resolution 147 recognizes NOAA and its predecessor agencies for 200 years of research and service to the people of the United

States and its stewardship of the marine environment.

It was the foresight of the third President, Thomas Jefferson, that started us down this path of surveying our coastal areas for the benefit of the Nation and laid the blueprint for what we now all know as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

My district is home to several outstanding NOAA facilities including the Hollings Marine Laboratory and the Coastal Services Center, both of which are located in Charleston. These facilities and their work are an important part of the coastal South Carolina community.

NOAA has shown its dedication to our Nation's ocean and coastal resources. NOAA's management and conservation actions have allowed all of us to continue to enjoy our Nation's oceans and coastal resources.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important resolution, and I congratulate NOAA for their 200 years.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 12 of House Rule XXII, I move that meetings of the conference between the House and Senate on H.R. 1585 may be closed to the public at such times as classified national security information may be broached, provided that any sitting Member of Congress shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the conference.