The following statement was issued by Reggie Paros, Director of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy, on the Committee passage of the House proposed appropriation levels for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for FY2022:

“Our ocean, Great Lakes and coastal communities are one step closer to a major victory, thanks to the work of the House Committee on Appropriations. Yesterday, the Committee passed their proposed budget for NOAA, including much needed increases that would see the agency receive a record $6.4 billion for FY2022. The proposed budget makes key targeted investments for our ocean and Great Lakes communities to address climate change, ensure sustainable fisheries, advance responsible offshore wind development, and begin to address the environmental justice and equity issues that are facing our coastal communities.

“We thank Chair DeLauro and Chair Cartwright for their leadership and hard work preparing NOAA’s budget; and we urge the Senate to follow suit and aim even higher than the historic figure proposed in the House by funding NOAA at $7 billion, equivalent to President Biden’s budget proposal.”

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Reggie Paros is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with our partners, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.