Full Committee Hearing: Ocean Climate Action: Solutions to the Climate Crisis

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Time: 12:00 PM Presiding: The Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva, Chair

On Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 12:00 P.M. EDT, via Cisco WebEx, the Committee on Natural Resources will hold a legislative hearing entitled, “Ocean Climate Action: Solutions to the Climate Crisis.” The hearing will be on the following bills:

  • H.R. 8632 (Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ) To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to provide for ocean-based climate solutions to reduce carbon emissions and global warming; to make coastal communities more resilient; and to provide for the conservation and restoration of ocean and coastal habitats, biodiversity, and marine mammal and fish populations; and for other purposes. “Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act”
  • H.R. 3548 (Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR) To improve data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts, and for other purposes. “BLUE GLOBE Act” 
  • H.R. 3919 (Rep. Seth Moulton, D-MA) To require research in coastal sustainability and resilience, to ensure that the Federal Government continues to implement and advance coastal resiliency efforts, and for other purposes. “Creating Opportunity And Sustainability Through Science Act”
  • H.R. 4093 (Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA) To improve the National Oceans and Coastal Security Act, and for other purposes. “National Oceans and Coastal Security Improvements Act of 2019”
  • H.R. 5390 (Rep. Charlie Crist, D-FL) To designate Regional Ocean Partnerships of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes. “Regional Ocean Partnership Act”
  • H.R. 5589 (Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-OR) To establish an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon, and for other purposes. “Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act”
  • H.R. 7387 (Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-FL) To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a grant program to benefit coastal habitats, resiliency, and the economy, and for other purposes. “Shovel-Ready Restoration Grants for Coastlines and Fisheries Act of 2020”
  • HR 8253 (Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require 30 percent of revenues from offshore wind energy to be deposited in the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund, and for other purposes. “Strengthening Coastal Communities Act”
  • H.R. 8627 (Rep, Anthony Brown, D-MD) To express the sense of Congress that the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall be the primary representative of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the Chesapeake Bay, to require the Secretary of the Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to provide grants supporting research on the conservation, restoration, or management of oysters in estuarine ecosystems, and for other purposes. “Chesapeake Bay Oyster Research Act” 

The hearing will take place via Cisco WebEx online video conference platform and will be livestreamed on Facebook live and YouTube. 

Witness List

Dr. Jane Lubchenco (testimony)

University Distinguished Professor

Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology

Marine Studies Advisor to the President of

Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR

 Dr. Kelsey Leonard (testimony)

Steering Committee Member

Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean

Enrolled Citizen Shinnecock Indian Nation

 Dr. Ray Hilborn (testimony)

Professor, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

 Dr. Kelly Kryc (testimony)

Director of Ocean Policy

New England Aquarium

Boston, MA