Polk Times

Congressman Scott Franklin, representing Florida's 18th district and Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Environment Subcommittee, addressed the committee in his first hearing as Environment Subcommittee Chairman. The session focused on advancements in Blue Economy technologies under the title "To the Depths, and Beyond: Examining Blue Economy Technologies."

In his opening remarks, Franklin emphasized the significance of technological progress in the Blue Economy for millions of Americans. He highlighted NOAA's ambitious goals to map and survey the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which spans over 13,000 miles of coastline and covers 3.4 million square nautical miles.

Franklin stated that achieving these mapping goals requires collaboration between public entities like NOAA and private sector partners by 2030. He noted that a robust private sector is essential for advancing ocean science technologies.

He pointed out that Florida's economy is closely linked to its waterways and ports' health. Innovations discussed at the hearing are expected to foster a thriving Blue Economy benefiting all Americans. Franklin acknowledged both direct impacts from weather patterns and indirect effects such as energy production, international trade routes, recreation, and tourism on daily life in Florida.

Franklin stressed protecting critical infrastructure against threats from nations like China and Russia as crucial for continued success. He also underscored the importance of ensuring investments have a clear path to commercialization by combining NOAA's expertise with private innovation.

The Congressman expressed his commitment to working with committee members to develop a comprehensive approach to expanding the Blue Economy.

Franklin concluded by thanking witnesses for their participation and looked forward to their testimonies during the hearing.