Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan, bicameral measure to treat the commissioned officers of one of our Nation's seven uniformed services, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, with the same basic
statutory recruitment, advancement, retention, and benefit structure, and with the same respect, as is accorded to commissioned officers of our other six armed services, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
The bill before us today is led by a Republican, Alaskan Senator Sullivan. It passed through the Senate committee and the Senate itself by unanimous consent. It is a virtual companion with improvements to H.R. 2406, which was introduced by me and both Democratic and
Republican colleagues, and reported out of our Natural Resources Committee.
If passed today, it will go straight to the President, whose Department of Commerce testified to our Natural Resources Committee: ``The Department believes this bill would improve NOAA's ability to administer the NOAA Corps. The Department is very supportive of the
ability to retain veterans of the NOAA Corps and the unique skill sets they possess. The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection to the transmittal of these views, from the standpoint of the administration's programs.''
The bill is also supported wholeheartedly by two of our Nation's foremost servicemember organizations, the 350,000-strong Military Officers Association of America, representing all military officers of all services, and the 5.5-million-strong Military Coalition, whose
motto is, ``Proudly serving all seven uniformed services.'' In fact, but for the isolated objections of a few Members, which we may hear from shortly, which appear to arise from some combination of a fundamental misunderstanding or lack of appreciation for the mission of
NOAA and its Uniformed Officer Corps, one could scarcely imagine a more broadly supported measure.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, celebrates its half-century anniversary this year as ``America's environmental intelligence agency.'' Never, during that half-century, has its mission been so important, and never has it been growing so
fast.
NOAA now operates oceanic observation and research throughout our world's oceans, measuring the health of our oceans, the health of our fisheries, and weather prediction. It operates atmospheric research and observation, weather prediction, and, again, national hazard warnings.
It operates fisheries enforcement increasingly throughout our world, including in partnership with our friends and allies. It increases partnerships with foreign countries, projecting part of our soft power throughout this world. It does its vital work with a critical team,
including the structured, uniformed Commissioned Officer Corps.
The women and men of the NOAA Corps operate NOAA's highly specialized international fleet of research and survey ships and aircraft. They conduct international world-class oceanic and atmospheric research, including the famous Hurricane Hunter aviators who fly into, above, and around hurricanes to give NOAA's National Weather Service forecasters accurate data for their storm forecasts and warnings used by emergency managers as they make life and death decisions.
Like the other uniformed services, Active Duty NOAA Corps officers spend most of their careers away from home, at sea, in the air, and in remote locations such as Antarctica, conducting this important work. Their work is frequently in increasingly hazardous conditions.
However, the corps is often overlooked in the legislative process, resulting in a patchwork of statutory authorities, benefits, and service obligations.
This bill will help the NOAA Corps improve recruitment, retention, and diversity to attract the best and the brightest commissioned officers and better align the NOAA Corps with the other uniformed services as they continue their service to NOAA and our Nation.
The NOAA Corps Amendments Act is an important step to make sure that the NOAA Corps has the authority it needs to continue as an effective service for our country.
The bill gives the NOAA Corps officers employment rights in line with other uniform services, authorizes education loan repayment programs for NOAA Corps officers, tuition support for prospective officers, and gives NOAA updated authority to manage the size and composition of the
corps.
In their letter supporting the NOAA Corps Amendments Act, the Military Officers Association of America, the Nation's leading voice for commissioned officers of all seven uniformed services, highlighted the importance of the NOAA Corps for national defense. They stated that, ``The unique scientific and operational expertise, flexibility, and deployment capability of the NOAA Corps continues to be a force multiplier for U.S. and ally air, land, and sea operation.''
This first reauthorization of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps since 2002, under the House counterpart bill's co-introducer of the dean of the House, Mr. Young, further improves the diversity of the corps by authorizing financial aid for a student precommissioning
education in exchange for service, which will prioritize underserved populations to undertake careers in NOAA and addresses sexual harassment issues by strengthening the corps' policies, including required reporting of potential offenses.
Mr. Speaker, we may shortly hear objections that, as noted, represent a distinct minority in Congress and the uniformed services community. They recite three decades'-old arguments that we have long moved past. They recite various arguments that could just as easily be made for any
other uniformed service.
If we are going to go down that road, should we not make those arguments globally, not selectively and discriminatorily as to one of our seven services?
They recite arguments that are simply inaccurate and, again, that seem to reflect a deep misunderstanding of NOAA's mission.
Here is the bottom line for this bill: NOAA does exist. It has existed for 50 years. It has done its work with a committed officer corps for 50 years. It is not being abolished. That mission, that corps will continue. That mission is critical and its personnel must be
recognized and improved. And NOAA officers are commissioned officers in our services and should be fully recognized as such, similar to all others.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan, bicameral, needed, and fair bill.
