story because we saved, overall, from the estimates, close to $.5 billion in that procurement. An additional $65 million is required to meet NOAA's commitment to share development costs with the Department of Defense for our new National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, called NPOESS, an increase of about $30.6 million-a joint program with DOD. We saved over what we would have spent about $1 billion. Well, in conclusion, Mr. Chairman, let me just say that more than in most years, we have seen the dramatic impact of weather and climate on the economy and safety of our Nation and the world. Our technology, services, and dedicated people have performed well, and we believe that our 1999 request will help ensure the continued delivery of these essential services. Thank you. [The prepared statement and attachments of Mr. Baker follow:] TESTIMONY OF DR. D. JAMES BAKER UNDER SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 1998 INTRODUCTION Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the Subcommittee, for this opportunity to testify on the President's FY 1999 Budget Request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As America moves into the 21st century, our domestic security and global competitiveness will depend on the types of capabilities, services and products delivered by NOAA. In a period of strongly competing government priorities, the President's FY 1999 Budget Request for NOAA demonstrates the Agency's important contributions by providing the resources to maintain essential services, ensure continuing progress in critical investment areas, and address statutory obligations. proposed budget represents an appropriate balance among the environmental assessment, prediction and stewardship needs of the Nation. I am accompanied today by Terry Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; William O. Mehuron, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Andy Moxam, Acting Chief Financial This Officer/Chief Administrative Officer. In recognition of how important the ocean is to us all, the United Nations has declared 1998 as the Year of the Ocean. As the only government agency with "ocean" in its name, NOAA is pleased that the challenges of caring for our ocean and coastal waters and the benefits the Nation reaps from them are being highlighted throughout the year. Our ocean and coastal waters are vital to America's economic well being. One third of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is derived from coastal counties. The number of people who depend on our shores for sustenance is increasing with over half of our population living within 50 miles of the coast. Roughly 95% by weight of all U.S. foreign trade is transported by water and passes through our ports and 85% of all tourism dollars are received in the coastal states. Living marine resources are vital to many coastal areas. The commercial fishing industry, for example, harvested $3.5 billion worth of fish in 1996, and recreational fishermen took an estimated 64 million fishing trips. Although the economic significance of our ocean and coastal resources is indisputable, a growing body of evidence alarmingly indicates that our oceans and Great Lakes are threatened. Many of our commercial and recreational fisheries are over-fished. In addition, polluted runoff is being connected to deadly and dangerous algal blooms such as Pfiesteria, and red tides producing paralytic shellfish poisoning and other poisons, all of which threaten our coastal communities. The Year of the Ocean presents NOAA with a chance to educate more Americans than ever before on the tremendous importance and fragility of our Nation's ocean, coastal and Great Lake resources. THE NOAA ROLE The Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 requires that agencies develop strategic plans that contain goals, objectives, and performance measures for all major programs. The Department of Commerce (DOC) has embarked on an effort to capitalize on the synergy between DOC programs, and to implement a strategic plan which enunciates a central mission statement and links our programs together. The Commerce Strategic Plan, issued in September 1997, has three strategic themes. They are: Theme 1. Build for the future and promote U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace, by strengthening and safeguarding the Nation's economic infrastructure; Theme 2. Keep America competitive with cutting-edge science and technology and an unrivaled information base; and, Theme 3. Provide effective management and stewardship of the Nation's resources and assets to ensure sustainable economic opportunities. As part of the Department of Commerce, NOAA's mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and to conserve and manage the nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities. NOAA conducts research to develop new technologies, improve operations, and supply the scientific basis for managing natural resources and solving environmental problems. NOAA's comprehensive system for acquiring observations from satellites and radars to ships and submersibles provides the quality data and information needed for the safe conduct of daily life and the basic functioning of a modern society. Common end products and services include weather warnings and forecasts, climate observations and predictions, environmental technologies, marine fisheries statistics, nautical charts, assessments of environmental changes, and hazardous materials response information. These capabilities, products and services support the domestic security and global competitiveness of the United States, and affect the lives of nearly every citizen every day. With its public and private partners, NOAA is a leader in climate diagnostic research and forecasts, environmental monitoring and research, fisheries management, and sustainable use of the coast. Most recently, NOAA demonstrated its scientific preeminence by the successful |