('Inngreaa cf the limiter) Staten ?16 20515 April 3, 2017 Chairman John Culberson Ranking Member os? Serrano Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Science, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations US. House of Representatives US. House of Representatives Washington, DC. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Serrano: As you develop the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we urge your support for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration?s (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program?a program critically important to shoreline states throughout the country. Across the nation, thirty?three universities participate in the National Sea Grant Program?a federal-state partnership which provides critical services to a wide range of constituents in every coastal and Great Lakes state, and US. territories. Sea Grant contributes to making coastal communities more resilient while also aiding our aquaculture industries in navigating federal and state regulations. In this sense, Sea Grant serves as the coastal, marine?based equivalent of Agriculture Extension programs. With imported seafood making up 90% of American seafood consumption, our nation should be focusing on programs to expand and improve our domestic aquaculture industry. Sea Grant is a program that does just that?helping ?shermen and shellfish farmers navigate a complex patchwork of state and federal coastal zone management regulations through technical assistance. Sea Grant works with local producers to grow and sustain their business models while connecting them to local resources to share best practices. The economic impact of the Sea Grant Program highlights the bene?t of this federal investment. According to the 2016 performance metrics of the program, Sea Grant contributed to creating and sustaining 20,770 jobs and 2,903 businesses. On top of business and job creation, Sea Grant logged a staggering 265,602 volunteer hours in 2016. Further, the program contributed to $5 75 million in economic impactunearly half of our nation?s $1.2 billion aquaculture economy. The National Sea Grant Program is a known job creator that is highly leveraged to maximize the effectiveness of federal investment. This program serves as the primary resource for our coastal PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER small businesses and ?shing communities. We urge you to continue your support for this important program. Sincerely, JOE COURTNEY I LEE M. ZELDIN Member of Congress Member of Congress ?/gjzz: R0 RT J. WITTMAN SETH MOULTON Member of Congress Member of Congress K. MULIA BROWNLEY Member of Congress Member of Congr STE sr RS . Member of Congress Member of Congress A 0 I EARL BLUMENAUER BRUCE POLIQUTV Member of Congress goo/41w! ?llth SCOTT H. PETERS LISA ELUNT ROCHESTER Member of Congress Member of Congress Na?a?m B. JONES Member of gress Member of Congress C. SCOTT Member of Congress mm/ BRENDA LAWRENCE Member of Congress ARED HUF Member of Congress DARREN SOTO er of Congress RON KIND Member of Congress MWR JBNNIFFE Member of Congress DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCH LTZ Member of Congress SUSAN A. DAVIS Member of Congress 5% SANDER MEVIN Member Iran? CARLOS Member of Congress RK Member of Congress B. LAR Member of Congress NTHO . BRO Member of Congress THLEEN M. CE Member of Congress CAROL SHEA-PORTER Member of Congress $5 JOHN KATKO Member of Congress JOHN K. DELANEY Member of Congress . BUTTERFIELD ber of Congress PETE A. DEF 21 Member of Congress BILL POSEY I Member of Congress a! m? I E. CUMMINGS er of Congress LOUIE GOHMERT Member of Congress 9 VARGAS Member of Congress ADRIANO ESPAILLAT Member of Congress KATHY CASTOR Member of Congress M. EILIRAKIS Member of Congress ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON Member of Congress WK CHELLIE PINGREE Member of Congress TOM MAR Member of Congress DAVID N. CIC LINE Member of Congress MOORE Member of Congress PETER WELCH Member of Congress A 10 SIRES ember of Congress ?36 WILLIAM R. KEA Member of Congress ALCEE L. HA GS ember of Congress BILL PASCRELL, JR. Member of Congress 4WA . A. LOBIONDO Member of Congress . ELBENE Member of Congress SMITH Member of Congress gum PATRICK MEEHAN I Member of Congress Wif?fc MARCIA L. FUDGE Member of Congress LEONARD LANCE Member of Congress RI ARD .NOLAN Member of Congress 25a. ROSA L. DELAURO Member of Congress DELEINE .BORDALLO JOHN P. SARBANES Member of Congress ETER T. ING Member of Congre A/w BRIAN HIGG Member of Congress 6mm.? PAUL D. TONKO Member of Congress MM OUISE SQAUGHTER mber of Congress MARK DESA: Member of Congress QQJM 56mm ALAN LOWENTHAL Member of Congress Member of Congress W493 THOMAS R. SUOZZI Member of Congress ALI 3w. TED DEUTCH Member of Congress ELIOT L. ENGEL 5 Member of Congress GENE GREEN Member of Congress (9660.2 024% DEBBIE DINGELL \l Member of Congress DONALD M. JR Member of Congress Mam 4W s. ADAMS Member of Congress MIKE THOMPSON Member of Congress TED W. LIEU Member of Congress MA G. ESHOO Member of Congress IJRAMILA Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of ongress Q,wa RASKIN Member of Congress JOSEPH P. EENNEDY Member of Congress 2% Km R0 KHANNA Member of Congress Member of Congress JWma) M??a?hfn A. Member of Congress HANABUSA Member 0 Congress 9 ?1 Law-r DAVID ROUZEHJ Member of Congress CHARLIE CRIST Member of Congress M1 by; EARL L. CARTER Member of Congress . YOHO, Member of Congress FEEDERICA S. WILSON Member of Congress 23%?ng STEPHANIE MURPHY Member of Congress