(Washington, DC) - Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D- Queens/ L.I.) today urged congressional appropriators to increase funding for the federal agency tasked with protecting America's oceans, coasts and lakes. Ackerman, joined by many of his colleagues, sent a letter to the chairman and ranking minority member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies requesting that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has the primary responsibility for many federal conservation and management programs, be fully funded in Fiscal Year 2008.
 
"Our oceans, coasts and lakes are national treasures," said Ackerman. "Apart from preserving some of the most ecologically diverse habitats on the planet, and an important part of our economy, the future of our planet and our place on it depends on our finding more sustainable way of living. The work done by NOAA is vital to our efforts to understand what is happening to the earth, and how we can change our behavior to ensure its beauty and goodness will be available to future generations."
 
NOAA programs address critical concerns about our oceans and coasts include the increasing frequency of beach closures, the struggle to rebuild depleted fish stock, the intensity of red tides, and the lack of marine habitat protection. In 2006, at the request of Congress, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative published a list of high priority actions needed to restore our lakes, oceans and coasts. Among these priorities are conservation and management, ocean and science research, and oceanic education and outreach. The letter sent to Chairman Alan Mollohan (D-WV)and Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) by Congressman Ackerman and his colleagues insists that the NOAA be provided with full funding to implement these actions immediately.

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