May 13, 2014 — Facing a Congress that rarely is able to act on contentious topics, U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer thinks he has found a way get more research done on ocean acidification without forking out new taxpayer dollars.
Kilmer’s solution, which the Gig Harbor Democrat intends to introduce next week in the House, is to let federal agencies use existing dollars devoted to research on the topic — which he estimates at nearly $30 million a year — for research competitions. He thinks this can encourage competitors to put other private dollars to work on the ocean acidity problem, which is tied to carbon dioxide emissions that scientists also link to climate change.
By Kilmer’s estimate, the proposal could generate “four to 10 times more value than the amount of the prize’’ — or up to $50 million for a $5 million prize, based on testimony he’s heard during hearings in the House science committee on other research competitions.
“There are clear questions here — will ocean acidification affect the salmon that we are working very hard to recover?” Kilmer said Monday during a press conference at Northern Fish, a food company based in South Tacoma. “Will it affect other species of fish and crabs that our economy is dependent on? … We’ve got a lot to learn about ocean acidification.”
Northern Fish President John Swanes and vice president Ross Swanes both said they had seen a drop-off in shellfish supplies along the coast in recent years.
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