Washington, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Kathy Tsantiris, Associate Director of Government Relations, on the release of the Biden Budget Blueprint, which includes substantial increases to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):

“With $6.9 billion proposed for the agency, President Biden’s budget blueprint includes significant levels of funding for NOAA. It is now up to Congress to turn this blueprint into a reality, and we urge them to act quickly. We look forward to working with our bipartisan partners in the House and Senate to enact this increase to NOAA’s topline budget and ensure our communities continue to receive the essential benefits provided by NOAA. As climate change continues to wreak havoc on our ocean and coastal communities, and as we work to create new jobs to make a more resilient nation, these investments in NOAA’s science, conservation, climate, and weather mission are more important now than ever.”