Individual Sample Support Email

Michigan Sea Grant supporters and partners who wish to send an email expressing support may follow the suggested format below.

1) Find your Members of Congress and Senators by going online to . U.S. House of Representatives and search by your ZIP code . U.S. Senate and search by your state.

2) If you already have contact information for a Congressional staff member, send them a message directly. Otherwise, use the contact information provided on the office’s webpage.

3) Copy and paste and personalize the sample email below, being sure to address the representatives by name.

*****Sample Email*****

Dear Representative/Senator/Staffer ______:

I am writing to urge you to reject the Administration's proposal in the FY 2017 Security Supplemental that would cut the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) by $30 million. Such a reduction with five months remaining in this fiscal year would effectively terminate the program immediately. We also ask you to reject the Administration's FY 2018 proposal to zero out and terminate the Sea Grant program.

The Michigan Sea Grant College Program (Michigan Sea Grant) is a joint federal-state program that supports the health and resilience of the Great Lakes, yielding quantifiable economic, social, and environmental benefits to Michigan, the region, and the nation. Michigan Sea Grant is one of 33 programs in the National Sea Grant College Program — a unique program within NOAA that sends 95% of its appropriated funds to coastal states through a competitive process to solve problems identified as critical by public and private sector constituents and our nation’s coastal communities.

In 2015, Michigan Sea Grant provided nearly $3.8 million in economic benefits to Michigan. More than 140,000 people participated in Michigan Sea Grant- supported education programs, such as vessel-based learning opportunities, seafood safety training programs, and fishery workshops that bring anglers, agency officials, and scientists together. More than 100 Michigan businesses say they are sustained as a direct result of training, tools, and information provided by Michigan Sea Grant.

I am writing to request that you reject the proposal in the FY 2017 Security Supplemental that would effectively terminate the Sea Grant program. I also ask that you support Michigan Sea Grant and the National Sea Grant College Program by sending a programmatic request to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies requesting support for:

Program: National Sea Grant College Program Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Account: Operations, Research, and Facilities Office: Oceanic and Atmospheric Research FY 2016 Funding Level: $73M FY 2017 Funding Level (CR): $73M FY 2018 Sea Grant Association Recommendation: $80M

Suggested language to include in the FY 2018 Report: $80.0 million is provided to the National Sea Grant College Program for research, education, extension, and outreach activities. This funding level supports the key focus areas in the program’s strategic plan: sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, healthy coastal ecosystems, and environmental literacy and workforce development. The Committee directs NOAA to continue funding all Sea Grant STEM education and fellowship programs.

Fact sheets on Sea Grant results, as well as information on why Sea Grant is a smart investment in our coastal economy, are available on the National Sea Grant Program Website.

Sincerely,

[Your name, institutional affiliation, and contact information with mailing address and email. If you represent a business, please indicate this as well]

If you work for a state or federal agency it is assumed you are contacting federal officials on your personal time and therefore you should sign with your home mailing address and email.

*****End*****