52 



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TESTIMONY OF 



DR./D. JAMES BAKfiR 



UNDER SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE 



NATIONAL OCEANICJAND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 



U.S. DE^ARTMENTj:>P^OMMERCE 



BEFORE THE JOINT HEARING 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 

 COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY 

 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS 



COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES 



U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT 



COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE 



U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



DATE: JANUARY 25, 1996 



Thank you, Messrs. Chairmen and Metribers of the Subcommittees, for 

 this opportunity to testify about the role played by the National 

 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Nation's 

 ocean programs. NOAA was formed 25 years ago to serve as a focus 

 for the delivery of a variety of ocean products and services. 

 With such a broad mission, - services, resources, and research -, 

 NOAA has worked closely with many agencies - both national and 

 international -, with private industry, with the academic 

 community, and Mssrs. Chairmen, I might add with Congress, which 

 has shown great interest in ocean issues and provided much useful 

 guidance to all the relevant agencies, to accomplish its work. 

 Today's hearing is a chance to look broadly at the Nation' s total 

 oceanographic effort. 



The Stratton Commission envisioned that NOAA would provide vital 

 services to industry and the public pursuant to its core mission 

 to describe, monitor, and predict changes in the Earth's 

 environment, to promote the conservation and wise management of 

 the Nation's marine and coastal resources, and to ensure and 

 enhance sustainable economic opportunities. NOAA and its 

 partners have learned much in those efforts and many valuable 

 practical benefits have been achieved. However, the public has 

 yet to reap the full benefit of the Commission's vision. During 



