Although the nomination has passed committee review, it remains important to express your views to elected officials, especially U.S. Senators.
Two weeks ago, the Washington Post reported that a Senator had put a hold on the confirmation of Jane Lubchenco for the post of NOAA Administrator, and John Holdren as White House Science Advisor. Previously the Post had referred to these as "Easy Nominations". Later in the week Congressional Quarterly reported that multiple Senators had placed holds.
Following that, some in scientific circles and many in the environmental community organized to express outrage, urging their colleagues to contact Senators to demand that the holds be lifted. On Tuesday of last week, Richard Gaines of the Gloucester Daily Times reported that the "so-called ‘closed-area model’ — proposed by NMFS’ regional administrator Patricia Kurkul last September despite a 15-1 vote against it by the advisory New England Fisheries Management Council with Kurkul as lone dissenter — is an approach that Oregon State University marine biologist Jane Lubchenco… has favored in her academic writings." Earlier, Mr. Gaines reported that "many in the industry hold concerns about her high-profile association with the Pew Charitable Trusts, which use a formidable budget to advance an aggressive environmental agenda that often targets alleged ‘overfishing.’"
Late last week the nomination cleared the committee.
With this nomination in the spotlight, the time is right to express your views to elected officials, particularly members of the United States Senate. Links to newspaper articles regarding the concerns of eastern fisheries pertaining to the nomination, the Senate holds, and video of Dr. Lubchenco’s confirmation hearing are available at the SavingSeafood.org website. SavingSeaFood – NOAA Nominee Jane Lubchenco "On Hold" in Senate Please contact your elected officials to express your thoughts regarding Dr. Lubchenco’s nomination, confirmation hearing statements, and professional ties. Please forward this information to your colleagues, suppliers, and customers in other states, and ask them to contact their elected officials as well.