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NOAA has a 22-ship fleet that is approaching 30 years of service. 

 It is my understanding that only six of them have been partially 

 rehabilitated. None of them have had a full mid-life rehab. From 

 my own experience of only 4 years in the Navy, I can remember 

 how often we were in the yard and how critical it was for the ca- 

 pacity of those ships to perform their functions. 



It is also my understanding that the data processing equipment 

 and electronics on these ships are just antiquated, and that work 

 requirements now asked of these ships is twice what they are capa- 

 ble of performing. 



I mean, if the fleet performance is at 50 percent mission or less, 

 we are in trouble. Is that fair? Am I overly dramatizing the seri- 

 ousness of the situation? 



Dr. Baker. I think that is an accurate statement of the situation. 



Senator Kerry. It seems to me that if you are going to talk about 

 ocean research, proper coastal protection, and fisheries science that 

 is intelligent enough to help our fishermen feel like they are not 

 being bludgeoned into decisions that they do not understand, the 

 fleet performance is critical. 



In my judgment, it is certainly more critical to manage and pro- 

 tect marine resources than have a supercollider or a space station. 

 I realize that such choices are not necessarily your call. But if we 

 are starting to make these tough choices, that call is not a very 

 tough one for me. 



Dr. Baker. Well, we are fully committed to fleet modernization. 

 We will be coming in in fiscal year 1995 with a strong statement 

 and request in that direction. Our plan increases the number of 

 ship days from the current 3,600 to 5,000. And as I say, we are 

 looking very closely at the opportunities that are offered by the 

 ships that are available from the Navy. 



Senator Kerry. Well, I hope you can do that, and I would love 

 to see — maybe we could have some kind of input shortly, because 

 I plan to circulate a letter and send it to the President, to the Vice 

 President who I know is concerned about NOAA's mission, and also 

 to Leon Panetta with respect to the urgency of the NOAA budget 

 situation. We are seeing this deteriorate on an annual basis, and 

 I think you need some help from us, and I think it is my respon- 

 sibility to try to draw their attention to it. 



I do not know what good it can do in this year, but I think we 

 ought to lay our marker as we come into the next cycle. 



Dr. Baker. That would be very helpful. 



Senator Kerry. I will do that, but I would like to have from you 

 a better understanding of any gap that could be filled by some of 

 these Navy vessels so that we really have a better sense of what 

 we need to rehab, and what we can replace, and what we can shore 

 up at least temporarily. 



Dr. Baker. We will do that. 



Senator Kerry. That will be very helpful. I have had a pretty de- 

 cent first round, and I am joined by my colleague, Senator Lott. So, 

 why do I not yield to him and then come back. 



Senator Lott. Thank you, Senator Kerry. I do have a few ques- 

 tions I would like to ask. Over the past 20 years as a Member of 

 the House and a member of the Merchant Marine Fisheries Com- 

 mittee there, and now in the Senate, I have always had a particu- 



