Environment Subcommittee Hearing - To the Depths, and Beyond: Examining Blue Economy Technologies

2025-03-26

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Summary

This meeting of the Subcommittee on Environment focused on the technological advancements driving the blue economy, emphasizing its economic, environmental, and national security implications. Discussions highlighted the critical role of innovation, public-private partnerships, and robust federal support in maintaining U.S. leadership in ocean science and exploration. While acknowledging significant progress, concerns were raised regarding the potential negative impact of funding cuts and bureaucratic hurdles on workforce development and collaborative initiatives.[ 00:17:38 ]

The Importance of the Blue Economy and Ocean Mapping

The blue economy significantly impacts hundreds of millions of Americans daily, playing a crucial role in the health of the economy, waterways, ports, energy production, international trade, recreation, and tourism.[ 00:18:53-00:19:14 ] For example, Rhode Island's blue economy alone supports over 36,000 workers and contributes more than $5 billion to its gross domestic product annually. Nationally, the blue economy employs approximately 2 million workers and contributes about $373 billion to the U.S. GDP. Oceans are vital for global influence, serving as trade routes and sources of essential materials, and contain critical existing infrastructure and untapped resources.[ 00:25:31-00:25:44 ]

Despite its importance, 46% of U.S. waters remain unmapped, underscoring the need for continued mapping efforts.

Technological Advancements and Innovation

Technological innovations are revolutionizing ocean-based industries and driving growth in the blue economy. Companies like Oceaneering utilize advanced subsea robotics, remote operations, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to enhance safety, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental impacts, including significant CO2 reductions through electrification. XOcean, for instance, operates one of the world's largest commercial fleets of uncrewed survey vessels, planning over 2,500 days at sea this year for clients in offshore energy, government, and scientific institutions. Academic institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography are advancing deep ocean research through technologies such as Argo floats, spray gliders, and buoys, including new biogeochemical and deep Argo floats that contribute to next-generation seafloor mapping. SoFar Ocean focuses on ocean digitization with the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network, using IoT to power maritime weather intelligence and ship routing. The open-source Bristle Mouth platform, developed with partners, simplifies hardware interconnectivity for ocean IoT, enabling widespread deployment of sensors, including low-power, AI-enabled hydrophone systems and water level sensors for tsunami detection. The focus is on scaling information and improving data unit economics to enhance modeling and predictability.

Public-Private Partnerships and Collaboration

Public-private partnerships are deemed essential for accelerating innovation and achieving national goals in the blue economy. Combining NOAA's ocean science expertise with private innovation ensures efficiency and greater impact.[ 00:19:28 ] Oceaneering's dual-use technologies, initially developed for commercial applications, are now being adopted by the U.S. Navy and hold promise for agencies like NOAA. NOAA facilitates commercial engagement through programs like hydrographic surveys contracts, uncrewed maritime systems IDIQs, and ocean exploration cooperative institutes. Academia, through institutions like Scripps, partners extensively with federal agencies, hosting NOAA-affiliated programs and extending NOAA's reach by leveraging existing investments and infrastructure. The success of open-source platforms like Bristle Mouth highlights the importance of partnerships with organizations like the Office of Naval Research, NOAA, and philanthropic groups. To enhance these collaborations, recommendations include reauthorizing the Weather Act, prioritizing foundational technologies, and streamlining procurement processes with flexible, milestone-based contracts to reduce complexity and speed up engagement for private companies. NOAA is recognized as a vital "glue" between the academic and private sectors for persistent observation and data utilization.

National Security and Global Leadership

The blue economy is inextricably linked to national security, with the need to protect critical infrastructure against adversaries such as China and Russia.[ 00:19:18 ] Investment in the blue economy is crucial for protecting global innovation leadership and defending national security. Ocean exploration directly supports national security by improving data for sonar, deep-sea mining, and monitoring undersea cables.[ 00:25:46-00:26:03 ]

The U.S. must stay at the forefront of these technologies to maintain and strengthen its security.[ 00:26:03 ] Academic institutions like Scripps contribute directly to national security by supporting Navy undersea technology and training active-duty personnel and veterans. Concerns were raised about China's aggressive expansion in ocean mapping and drilling, which could provide a military advantage, highlighting the imperative for U.S. superiority in ocean technology.[ 01:03:43-01:03:46 ]

Workforce Development and Funding Challenges

A significant challenge to the blue economy is the impact of funding instability and policy decisions on workforce development. Actions such as the firing of staff, cancellation of contracts, and freezing of grants have been criticized for undermining scientific progress, threatening economic stability, and hindering national security. These federal support cuts have led universities to reduce staff and graduate student admissions, dissuading students from pursuing STEM careers. For instance, eight oceanographic institutions collectively decreased graduate student admissions by half in one year, representing a loss of 200 potential innovators.[ 00:59:32-00:59:43 ]

This erosion of the talent pool negatively impacts the success of companies that rely on a robust supply of skilled professionals. Furthermore, such funding cuts threaten America's global leadership in ocean research and innovation, potentially opening doors for competitors like China. Sustained federal investment in research infrastructure, including ships, observing systems, and platforms, is deemed essential for long-term growth and avoiding setbacks.

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was generally serious and reflective of the critical importance of the blue economy. There was enthusiasm for the "exciting" topic and its potential, particularly regarding technological advancements and the collaborative spirit of public-private partnerships.[ 00:27:20 ]

However, a strong undercurrent of concern about U.S. competitiveness and the impact of federal funding decisions, especially recent policy actions, was evident. Speakers expressed a shared desire for bipartisan consensus to push back against decisions that might hinder progress and ensure the U.S. continues to lead in ocean science and technology.

Participants

Transcript

C. Scott Franklin

Good morning, the Subcommittee on Environment will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recesses of the subcommittee at any time. Welcome today to our hearing entitled, To the Depths and Beyond, Examining the Blue Economy's Technologies. I recognize myself for five minutes for an opening statement. Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for being with us today. Today's hearing is on a topic that impacts hundreds of millions of Americans daily, the technological advancements of the blue economy. For years, NOAA has set ambitious goals mapping and surveying the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, the EEZ. It's the largest in the world, spanning over 13,000 miles of coastline and containing 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean, larger than the combined land of all 50 states. NOAA cannot meet these mapping goals all on its own, and private-public partnerships are key to getting this done by the target goal of 2030. Furthermore, a robust private sector contributing all types of technologies and techniques is critical to our advancement in all things related to ocean science. In my home state of Florida, we know that the health of our economy is directly connected to the strength of our waterways and ports. The innovations we're discussing here today will result in a thriving blue economy which benefits all Americans. Floridians are no strangers to the direct impact of weather and climate patterns. There are other indirect impacts such as energy production, international trade routes that ship our exports, as well as recreation and tourism opportunities that are part of the daily life in Florida. Making sure our critical infrastructure is protected is key to this continued success, as bad actors like China and Russia will seek to undermine the United States. As we continue to innovate, it is important that the investments we make have the best path to commercialization. Combining NOAA's ocean science expertise with private innovation allows the federal government to operate efficiently and have the greatest possible impact. Through our conversations like this one, we can ensure all Americans are moving in the right direction together.

C. Scott Franklin

I look forward to working with members of the committee to establish a well-rounded approach to growing our blue economy. I again want to thank our witnesses for being here, and I look forward to each of your testimonies. I now recognize the ranking member of the subcommittee for an opening statement.

Gabe Amo

Well, thank you very much, Chair Franklin, for today's hearing. on the blue economy and thank you to our witnesses for agreeing to share your perspectives. Since the days of Roger Williams and the Gatsby affair, the ocean has been central to Rhode Island's identity. Water isn't just a key to our past, it's critical to our future. Thanks to investments in the blue economy, my home state, the ocean state, is home to thriving blue industries such as commercial fishing, tourism, defense production, and shipbuilding, as well as marine manufacturing, offshore wind, and oceanic research. Leveraging our state's natural strengths has ushered in a new age of prosperity for workers, small businesses, and research institutions. Estimates show that the blue economy employs more than 36,000 workers in Rhode Island and contributes over $5 billion to our gross domestic product every year. Around the country, there are approximately 2 million workers supporting the blue economy who contribute about $373 billion to our nation's GDP. To find out more, I embarked on a multi-day, multi-stop tour of Rhode Island's first congressional district's blue economy in October. I learned about leaders training union workers pursuing careers in offshore wind. I engaged with researchers and higher education leaders working to deepen our understanding of the ocean. I saw how cutting-edge manufacturing companies are growing their footprints and investing in our communities. Tools like artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing ocean-based industries and driving growth in the blue economy. Rhode Island has companies utilizing cutting-edge aquatic data collected through underwater drones that is increasing our nation's defense capabilities. We must continue to invest in the blue economy. It supports our innovation, our workforce, and our resiliency efforts. It's about protecting our global innovation leadership. We need public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders rowing in the same direction.

Gabe Amo

I hope there are shared values in our committee about leveraging our ocean to advance scientific research, spur economic development, and defend our national security. But I am at this moment not certain those priorities are shared by the leadership at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House. Time and time again, we have seen President Trump and his billionaire supporters stand in the way. They have systematically undermined and jeopardized our progress in an area where we should continue to have great leadership. Take, for example, the whiplash firing and rehiring of staff the canceling of contracts, and the freezing of grants across our government, including at NOAA and the Science Foundation and countless other key areas. Can anyone really claim that chaos and confusion supports economic development? I think the answer is clear. Hacking and slashing away at our federal agencies slows scientific progress that is urgently needed, threatens economic stability, undermines disaster preparedness, and can hinder national security. My state has welcomed NOAA with open arms.

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