Democrats took a small stand for climate change yesterday, pleading for additional funding for ocean programs during markup of the House Commerce, Science and Justice fiscal 2013 spending bill.

The House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the $51.1 billion measure, including $5 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and full funding for its weather satellite programs, which appropriators said were essential for ensuring accurate forecasts.

While supportive of satellites, two coastal state Democrats echoed what many legislators have said over the past few months -- funding the expensive space-based instruments has resulted in unacceptable cuts to NOAA's ocean-based, or "wet," programs.

They also emphasized the importance of the ocean funding to better understand and respond to climate change.

"Without getting into the debate over the cause of climate change -- although I am convinced that human activity plays a significant part -- the increasing acidity of the oceans is a clear sign that the burning of carbon-based fuels and the resulting carbon dioxide is affecting the environment," said Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

"So this installment of NOAA funding for research into ocean acidification is vitally important," he said. Veering from his prepared remarks, he added: "An issue of this importance, I'm kind of amazed we could only come up with $6.4 million. That's not the committee's fault, but the fault of the president's budget."

Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) called for more funding for the National Marine Fisheries Service habitat restoration programs, which House appropriators propose cutting to $29.4 million -- $6.6 million below the administration's request and $14.3 million below the Senate's suggested allocation.

He also cited the need for more funding for coastal management programs and scientific research, especially the potential impacts of climate change on coastal communities.

"If we don't start spending a little more attention to global warming and the effect it's having on ocean acidification, it's going to hit us as elected officials," Farr said.

Dicks pointed out that the Senate version of the CJS spending bill, which was unanimously approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee last week, would provide $731 million more than the House bill. As the bodies work to reconcile the two bills into one, he said, "I hope we can reach an agreement that allows for a higher level of funding."

House and Senate appropriators will have to hash out the relatively small differences between their proposals, as well as the one major one -- the Senate wants to move all of NOAA's satellite procurement funding to NASA to try to get costs for those expensive programs under control (E&E Daily, April 20). No mention of the Senate's suggestion was made at the House markup yesterday.

The CJS spending bill will be considered by the full House on May 8. That is likely to include debate over several amendments that Republicans added to the bill to cut funding to programs dealing with, among other things, disabled access to hotel pools and reporting multiple gun purchases. Most of the amendments were passed largely along party lines.