[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 147 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 147
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 6, 2007
Received and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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.
Whereas the Act of February 10, 1807 (chapter VIII; 2 Stat. 413), signed by
President Thomas Jefferson, authorized and requested the President ``to
cause a survey to be taken of the coast of the United States ...
together with such other matters as he may deem proper for completing an
accurate chart of every part of the coasts'';
Whereas the Coast Survey was established to carry out the duties established
under such Act, and was the first Federal science agency of the United
States;
Whereas over time additional duties were granted to such agency, including
geodetic surveying and tide and current monitoring and predictions, and
such agency was later renamed the Coast and Geodetic Survey;
Whereas in addition to providing charts and information vital to our young
Nation's economic and commercial success, such pioneering agency led
some of the Nation's earliest oceanographic research, undertaking
surveys of the Gulf Stream to determine temperatures, depths, direction,
and velocity, as well as the character of the seafloor and forms of
vegetation and marine life;
Whereas the early technicians and scientists of such agency invented and
supported the development of many innovative tools that led to advances
in hydrographic, shoreline, and geodetic surveying and cartographic
methods, the first real-time water level stations, and deep-sea
anchoring;
Whereas during the 20th century such agency, by then renamed the Coast and
Geodetic Survey, advanced the development and marine applications of
electronics and acoustics, including the development of Radar Acoustic
Ranging, radio sono-buoys, and the Roberts Radio Current Meter Buoy;
Whereas throughout their history these programs have provided services in
support of the Nation's commerce and defense, serving in all theaters of
the Civil War and in World Wars I and II as hydrographers,
cartographers, topographers, and scouts, including the production of
more than 100 million maps and charts for United States and Allied
forces;
Whereas as our Nation's interests and economy became increasingly interwoven
with the marine and atmospheric environment, a number of Federal science
agencies with complimentary functions, including the Weather Bureau and
the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, were combined with the Coast Survey
to create the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA);
Whereas today these mapping and charting, geodesy, and tide and current data
programs are located in the National Ocean Service of NOAA in the Coast
Survey, the National Geodetic Survey, and the Center for Operational
Oceanographic Products and Services;
Whereas these programs promote NOAA's commerce and transportation goals and
continue to support the research, development, and application of state-
of-the-art surveying, mapping, charting, ocean observing, modeling, and
Internet-based product delivery services to promote safe and efficient
commerce and transportation and contributing to the advancement of
integrated ocean and earth observing systems;
Whereas these programs continue to demonstrate relevance, value, importance, and
service promoting and employing innovative partnerships with other
agencies, State and local authorities, academia, and the private sector;
Whereas these programs work internationally as the United States representative
to the International Hydrographic Organization and through other
organizations to promote integrated and uniform standards, protocols,
formats, and services;
Whereas in addition to commerce and transportation these programs also advance
NOAA's weather and water, climate, and ecosystem missions including
marine resource conservation, coastal management, and the protection of
life and property from coastal storms and other hazards, as most
recently demonstrated in responding to and facilitating the recovery of
communities and commerce in the hurricane stricken Gulf Coast; and
Whereas the devotion, industry, efficiency, and enterprise of these people and
programs over their 200-year history have set an enviable record of
public service: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress--
(1) recognizes that for over 200 years, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its predecessor
agencies have been providing to the Nation research to improve
human understanding of the oceans and atmosphere, service, and
stewardship of the marine environment, through products and
services that protect lives and property, strengthen the
economy, and support and sustain our coastal and marine
resources;
(2) recognizes the vision of President Thomas Jefferson in
supporting the advancement of science, and the survey of the
coast in particular, to the welfare and commercial success of
the Nation;
(3) recognizes the contributions made over the last 200
years by the past and current employees and officers of the
Coast Survey, the National Geodetic Survey, and the Center for
Operational Oceanographic Products and Services of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(4) encourages the people of the United States to salute
and share in the planned celebrations of these historic
programs during 2007 with ceremonies designed to give
appropriate recognition to one of our oldest and most respected
Federal agencies on the occasion of its bicentennial
anniversary.
Passed the House of Representatives December 5, 2007.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.