The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Tuesday endorsed a trio of bipartisan bills supporting key NOAA programs tracking ocean conditions, mapping coastlines and encouraging the next generation of commercial fishermen.
The committee’s approval by voice vote signaled broad support for keeping NOAA ocean and fisheries programs on stable footing as coastal communities face stronger storms and economic pressures.
In passing a bill from Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the panel backed continued federal support for NOAA’s interagency network that collects and shares real-time data on weather and ocean conditions.
Cantwell underscored S. 2126’s significance in maritime safety and coastal forecasting, saying users depend on the data for their “safety and economic success.”
