Science, Space, and Technology
Co-sponsors: 48 – 41 Democrats, 7 Republicans
The bill will strengthen federal investments in research and monitoring of changing ocean conditions. The COAST Research Act reauthorizes the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) through 2023. The legislation would: strengthen investment in research and monitoring of acidification on oceans and estuaries; increase our understanding of the economic effects of ocean acidification and coastal acidification in estuaries; engage stakeholders, including the commercial fishing industry, researchers, and community leaders through an Advisory Board; provide for the long-term stewardship and standardization of data on ocean acidification from different sources, including the National Centers for Environmental Information and the Integrated Ocean Observing System; and recognize the effects of ocean acidification on estuaries as well as oceans.
(Summarized from Bonamici press release)
This bill addresses Green New Deal goal 4(L)p.13 to ensure that oceans are protected.