Advocacy

The IOOS Association works on behalf of our regional and federal partners to ensure that users continue to have access to quality and timely information about our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes.

Reauthorization of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System (ICOOS) Act of 2009

On December 31, 2020, the President signed the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020 (S. 914) into law and reauthorized the IOOS program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The bill passed both Chambers of Congress unanimously, and each chamber passed it twice due to technical amendments - a strong signal for Congressional support of the program. Among other key provisions, the act:

  • Reauthorizes the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System through FY 2025, starting at $48 million and increasing by $2 million annually.
  • Expands the responsibilities of the IOOS Program Office to work with the RAs and users to develop products for decision makers with respect to weather, search and rescue, water quality monitoring, and harmful algal blooms.
  • Enumerates the role of the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee, including the promotion of intramural and extramural R&D for new, innovative, and emerging technologies, and to ensure collaboration among Federal agencies.
  • Establishes staggered terms for advisory committee members.
  • Allows employees of Federal agencies to be members of the regional coastal observing systems, which is important for the design and implementation of integrated system at the regional level.
  • Clarifies language regarding the disbursement of funds under cooperative agreements by allowing NOAA to execute agreements on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis.
  • Requires reporting to Congress on existing gaps in observation infrastructure, an economic vulnerability report, a monitoring prioritization plan, and a strategic research plan. 
  • Renames Regional Information Coordinating Entities from the original bill to Regional Coastal Observing Systems.

The ICOOS Act provides the foundation coordinating the observing efforts of the Federal agencies and the regional systems.  It establishes the standards and protocols for integrating Federal and non-federal data to provide users with seamless access to the most important information.  

 

Important Links:

The IOOS national and regional networks coordinate robust coastal ocean observing networks, but gaps remain. To fill these critical gaps, the IOOS Association leads the Closing the Gaps campaign.

Over the five year campaign, the IOOS Association hopes to double IOOS funding to $53m by 2022. These funds will help IOOS install and operate additional High-Frequency (HF) radars and underwater gliders. HF Radar and gliders collect data critical to safeguarding productive ecosystems, assisting with safe and efficient maritime transportation, and saving lives on the US oceans and coasts.