III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 628 

Supporting the 200th anniversary of the nation’s nautical charting and related 

scientific programs, which formed the basis for what is today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; recognizing 200 years 

of research, service to the people of the United States, and stewardship 

of the marine environment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration and its predecessor agencies, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 7, 2006 

Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, Ms. SNOWE, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. 

GREGG, Mr. LOTT, Mr. REED, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. VITTER, Mr. 

SALAZAR, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. SMITH, Ms. MURKOWSKI, and 

Mr. COCHRAN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 

and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the 200th anniversary of the nation’s nautical 

charting and related scientific programs, which formed 

the basis for what is today the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration; recognizing 200 years of 

research, service to the people of the United States, 

and stewardship of the marine environment by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its 

predecessor agencies, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the Act of February 10, 1807 (chapter VIII; 2 

Stat. 4113), signed by President Thomas Jefferson, 

authorized and requested the President ‘‘to cause a 


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•SRES 628 ATS 

survey be taken of the coast of the United States 

. . . together with such other matters as he may 

deem proper for completing an accurate chart of 

every part of the coasts’’; 

Whereas the Coast Survey was established to carry out 

the duties established under such Act, and was the 

first Federal science agency of the United States; 

Whereas over time additional duties, including geodetic 

surveying and tide and current monitoring and predictions, were bestowed upon the agency, which was 

first known as the U.S. Coast Survey and later the 

U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; 

Whereas, in addition to providing charts and information 

vital to the young nation’s economic and commercial 

success, such pioneering agency led some of the nation’s earliest oceanographic research, undertaking 

surveys of the Gulf Stream to determine temperatures, depths, direction, and velocity as well as the 

character of the seafloor and forms of vegetation and 

marine life; 

Whereas the early technicians and scientists of such 

agency invented and supported the development of 

many innovative tools that led to advances in hydrographic, shoreline, and geodetic surveying and cartographic methods, the first real-time water level stations, and deep-sea anchoring; 

Whereas during the 20th century such agency, by then 

re-named the Coast and Geodetic Survey, advanced 

the development and marine applications of electronics and acoustics, including the development of 


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•SRES 628 ATS 

Radar Acoustic Ranging, radio sono-buoys and the 

Roberts Radio Current Meter Buoy; 

Whereas throughout their history these programs have 

provided services in support of the Nation’s commerce and defense serving in all theaters of the Civil 

War and in World Wars I and II as hydrographers, 

cartographers, topographers, and scouts, including 

the production of more than 100 million maps and 

charts for U.S. and Allied forces; 

Whereas our Nation’s interests and economy became increasingly interwoven with the marine and atmospheric environment, a number of Federal science 

agencies with complimentary functions, including the 

Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial 

Fisheries, were combined with such agency to create 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); 

Whereas today these mapping and charting, geodesy, and 

tide and current data programs are located in the 

National Ocean Service of NOAA, in the Coast Survey, the National Geodetic Survey, and the Center 

for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services; 

Whereas these programs promote NOAA’s commerce and 

transportation goals and continue to support the research, development and application of state-of-theart surveying, mapping, charting, ocean observing, 

modeling, and Internet-based product delivery services to promote safe and efficient commerce and 

transportation and contributing to the advancement 

of integrated ocean and earth observing systems; 


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Whereas, these programs continue to demonstrate relevance, value, importance, and service promoting and 

employing innovative partnerships with other agencies, State and local authorities, academia, and the 

private sector; 

Whereas, these programs work internationally as the 

United States representative to the International Hydrographic Organization and through other organizations to promote integrated and uniform standards, 

protocols, formats, and services; 

Whereas in addition to commerce and transportation 

these programs also advance NOAA’s weather and 

water, climate, and ecosystem missions including marine resource conservation, coastal management, and 

the protection of life and property from coastal 

storms and other hazards, as most recently demonstrated in responding to and facilitating the recovery of communities and commerce in the hurricane 

stricken Gulf Coast; and 

Whereas the devotion, industry, efficiency, and enterprise 

of these people and programs over their 200-year history have set an enviable record of public service: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that for over 200 years, the Na3 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and 

4 its predecessor agencies have been providing the Na5 tion research, service, and stewardship of the marine 

6 environment, through products and services that 

7 protect lives and property, strengthen the economy, 


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1 and support and sustain our coastal and marine re2 sources; 

3 (2) recognizes the vision of President Thomas 

4 Jefferson in supporting the advancement of science, 

5 and the survey of the coast in particular, to the wel6 fare and commercial success of the Nation; 

7 (3) recognizes the contributions made over the 

8 past 200 years by the past and current employees 

9 and officers of the Office of Coast Survey, the Na10 tional Geodetic Survey, and the Center for Oper11 ational Oceanographic Products and Services of the 

12 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; 

13 and 

14 (4) encourages the people of the United States 

15 to salute and share in the planned celebrations of 

16 these historic programs during 2007 with cere17 monies designed to give appropriate recognition to 

18 one of our oldest and most respected Federal agen19 cies on the occasion of its bicentennial anniversary. 

Æ 


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