10 



Ms. JosEPHSON. I do not think the Plan will be revised to take 

 into account the organizational location. In a sense, the Plan does 

 not reflect any organization within NOAA. It talks about what 

 NOAA is going to do rather than the operational mechanisms for 

 doing it. But I will certainly get back to you with a response. 



Ms. EsHOO. How do you plan to implement it if the only thing 

 you have is a mission and a charter? Ultimately, it needs to hit the 

 ground; right? 



Ms. JosEPHSON. Right. Well, we are going to have a final review 

 on Friday of the implementation plans for 1994 for each element in 

 the Strategic Plan. So there is an implementation plan for healthy 

 coastal ecosystems; we have asked the managers to come in with 

 their concrete, down-to-the-ground proposals for what we can do in 

 1994 within our existing base to increase emphasis in the coastal 

 areas. 



We have also, of course, reflected this in our 1995 budget request, 

 which is based on the strategic plan, and hopefully, there will be 

 some significant results as a result of this. I cannot guarantee that, 

 obviously, since we are in discussions with OMB at the moment. 

 And as you know, the budget deficit is a very real and practical 

 problem which all of us in the Federal Government are facing. 



Ms. EsHOO. Well, let me just thank you for trying to answer my 

 question. I don't know if I can take that answer back to my con- 

 stituents and have them understand it, with all due respect to you. 



I think that what I am suggesting is that as I have regard for the 

 more sophisticated, high-end scientific undertakings of NOAA, but 

 we have a day-to-day responsibility in terms of the stewardship of 

 the management of our coast — of our coasts, I should say. And I 

 think that the plan and its execution and the staffing, however 

 that is done, needs to speak to that as well. 



Most frankly, I am having difficulty translating that out of what 

 you are saying, but I look forward to your bringing that back to us 

 and letting us know, informing us of how that is actually built in 

 so that it does happen. 



We are all aware of the deficit and the debt. That is not going to 

 go away for a while. But that cannot become an excuse for why we 

 do not do the things that we are charged with doing. So you can 

 tell that I feel strongly about it, and I believe that the appropria- 

 tion bill has requested of NOAA to submit a spending plan on how 

 the funds will be allocated, and so perhaps when that comes for- 

 ward we will know better how much of a priority this actually is. 



Ms. JosEPHSON. Yes. 



Ms. EsHOO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Ms. JosEPHSON. Let me make one other comment. We are follow- 

 ing up this hearing with a series of briefings for staff and also for 

 Members on the Strategic Plan. What I would like to do is set up a 

 more detailed discussion with you and get to some of the greater 

 details that you are interested in. 



Ms. EsHOO. Well, I think I have made them known. It is not all 

 that complicated. What I hope would be attentive to that is what 

 the plan for the dollars are as well. 



Ms. JosEPHSON. OK, very good. 



Ms. EsHOO. Again, that is where the rubber meets the road. You 

 can put all kinds of things in a plan and it sounds terrific, but if in 



