1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Please help STOP the destruction of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) by this lawless administration, and all this while Hurricane Season starts this week and a strong El Nino threatens. The OOI has already been approved by Congress and still has up to 25 years left to do its vital work!!! Please help keep this administration from doing ANYTHING it seems to destroy evidence of climate change, and the associated flooding, and the crippling of fisheries, food security, and weather forecasting stewardship. As an oceanographer, many of us remember when the OOI was launched in 2016 after a DECADE of planning that we contributed to: a $368 million investment, that literally helps to save lives (in California and really on both the east and west coasts) because of its contribution to weather and storm forecasts, sea level rise, and tsunami awareness, fisheries management and more. Thank you for what you can voice to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee (e.g., to Senator Chris Van Hollen) to advocate for the continued funding of OOI, and to keep ships from going out to pull out these critical sensors when they are needed now more than ever.