Support NOAA's Reef Work

[Osha Gray Davidson]

Dear Coral-Listers,
As a follow-up on Jerry Norris's request for letters of support for Senator
Inouye's effort to locate funding for programs that are already within
NOAA's mandate but which did not receive funding, we would like to draw your
attention to the following:

1. The House appropriators have not yet introduced the Commerce, Justice,
and State appropriations bill, which includes all NOAA activities, of which
the following are particularly relevant: 

National Marine Sanctuaries:
$29 million to strengthen protections at 12 marine sanctuaries off
California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North
Carolina, Texas, Washington, and American Samoa, plan for future marine
sanctuaries, and expand outreach activities with coastal communities.

Coral reef restoration:
$10.3 million to protect coral reefs from pollution and other human impacts
and, in conjunction with the Department of the Interior, attempt to restore
injured reefs in Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii and U.S. territories, and 
develop a coral nursery to grow donor material for restoration projects.

Bill Young of Florida is the Chair of this committee. To encourage the
House to support the proposal, write Rep. Young, send a copy to your state
representative (and others listed by Norris).
     Representative C.W. Bill Young
     Chair, Committee on Appropriations
     H218 The Capitol
     Washington, DC  20515
     202-225-5961 (V)
     202-225-9764 (F) 

2. Complementary but different funding is potentially available in Senate
Bill S. 725, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 1999, which is focused on
community based conservation and includes $4 million in authorizations. A
matching mechanism could double the amount! To voice your support, don't
delay, because the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries's hearing is
scheduled next week, on June 30. Write a letter to Senator Snowe, who is the
Subcommittee's Chair, asking to have your written testimony included in the
hearing record, and send a copy to your own state senator.
     Senator Olympia J. Snowe
     Chair, Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries 
     250 Russell Senate Office Building
     Washington, DC 20510
     Olympia at snowe.senate.gov
     202-224-5344.

Thanks for your attention!
Judy Lang and Osha Gray Davidson