We Need Your Support for 'Smart Buoy' Funding

Thanks to the leadership of Senator Barbara Mikulski- D-MD, (pictured on left) and the support of Senators Warner-R-VA, Cardin-D-MD and Webb-D-VA, the FY 2008 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Bill includes $500,000 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (CBIBS) and deploy more buoys along the trail that promote awareness of the Bay's condition and its history. The buoys mark significant points along the John Smith Trail and provides real-time meteorological, oceanographic, and water-quality information. (www.buoybay.org, 877-BUOYBAY).

Please write your Senators and thank them for the Senate's support for the $500,000 for the buoys included in the Senate bill. In particular, please thank Senator Mikulski for beating back an amendment that would have stripped these funds from the bill. Also, please write your U.S. Representative and communicate your support to include the $500,000 for the CBIBS program in the CJS appropriations conference report.