Amata Highlights NOAA Ocean Observation Funds, and Her Record of Legislative Support

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming the announcement of NOAA funding for regional and national ocean observing. The 11 new five-year cooperative agreements announced Thursday will enable U.S. IOOS regional associations to operate regional coastal observing systems (RCOSs) throughout U.S. waters, with $45.7 million in overall funding for the first year, supporting operation and modernization of observing capabilities for coasts, ocean, and the Great Lakes. The Pacific Islands region, including American Samoa, is supported at over $4 million ($4,033,322) for fiscal year 2027.

Wave buoys like these are essential instruments in ocean observing and there are over 600 assets, including buoys, reporting wave data throughout IOOS. Wave information is important for weather forecasting, safe navigation, port operations, coastal planning, coastal hazard prediction and mitigation, and many more applications. Photo credit: PacIOOS

Congresswoman Amata has supported and cosponsored bipartisan legislation to authorize, boost funding, and enhance these capabilities for Pacific waters, as well as volcano warning systems. In this Congress, as an original cosponsor, Amata co-led the House-passed bill, H.R 2294, to reauthorize this program. She also supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 that has funded these same 11 NOAA project areas, including the buoys. Also this Congress, she supported in committee the bipartisan bill, H.R. 3176, which has passed the House, to reauthorize national volcano early warning systems for five years. She has supported Pacific volcano study legislation, and numerous related bills for tsunami response, since her first year in Congress.

"In American Samoa, just days ago, we observed our anniversary of the dreadful 2009 tsunami that cost many lives and caused much devastation. Our Manu'a Islands have experienced rumblings and scientists keep watch on the Vailulu'u Seamount, and in 2022, Tongo experienced a massive, deadly volcanic blast and tsunami," said Aumua Amata. "We depend on the important science of ocean observations for quality data, like wave measurements, for services, decision-making and storm readiness. We have a buoy named in memory of longtime Port Director Chris King for his years of service to American Samoa."

Under the agreements, announced Thursday by NOAA, the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) will operate and maintain the regional coastal observing system (RCOS) for Pacific Islands, including the State of Hawai'i; the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the Freely Associated States the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Johnston, Kingman, Midway, Palmyra, and Wake).

The data collected from ocean observations:

• Supports fishermen, aquaculturists, shipping and logistics managers, and coastal communities in making sound economic and safety decisions;
• Supports management and mitigation of coastal hazards, such as flooding and harmful algal blooms; and
• Provides essential information for weather forecasting and national defense.

The regional associations are a fundamental part of the national observing system, and help ensure that the system is both effective and efficient. They are federally certified to collect and manage high-quality observing data, forming robust partnerships with local stakeholders and coastal communities. As the regional component of the nationwide U.S. IOOS network, regional associations meet local needs by using stakeholder feedback to guide the development of RCOSs while also integrating national priorities and requirements.

These cooperative agreements are awarded every five years through a competitive process and support the continued operation and modernization of our nation's coastal, ocean and Great Lakes observing capabilities. Total awards include additional funding from other NOAA offices in the National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Satellites and NOAA Research.

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