U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, today released the following statement on the Department of Commerce's plan to avoid sequester furloughs at NOAA and keep weather forecasters and other essential NOAA employees on the job:
"I'm glad the Administration has worked to end furloughs for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and keep our weather forecasters, coast surveyors, fishery managers and essential NOAA employees on the job. But to end the furlough, other important priorities like improving satellite weather forecasting and constructing new vessels to replace NOAA's aging fleet had to be put on hold. These choices show that Congress needs to take action to end sequester now."