The House of Representatives passed H.R. 146, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 on March 25th. It's a long name, and it deserves it. This bipartisan lands bill is a package of more than 160 bills, many of which have previously passed Congress.

But one provision in the big bill is particularly significant for Maine - the creation of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (ICOOS). It's another long name, but its creation accomplishes something simple and substantial: it permanently establishes the operations of the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS).

Nationally, ICOOS will support national defense, marine commerce, navigation safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, public safety, and coastal and marine resource management. Numerous attempts have been made over the last eight years to authorize this national system, and passage of this bill represents a significant step forward.

Locally, GoMOOS provides important weather and ocean data to scientists and fisherman in Maine. I have been a strong supporter of permanently authorizing and formalizing the operations of GoMOOS because it is critical to securing long-term funding for the program. GoMOOS has experienced funding shortfalls over the last several years and currently can only maintain 6 of the 11 buoys monitoring the Gulf of Maine.

Fully operational in 2001, GoMOOS was the pilot project for ocean observing systems. Since then, other regional ocean observation systems have been established and have been competing for the same pot of funding.

The bill that passed on March 25th is now on its way to President Obama's desk. Currently, the administration is proposing to increase ICOOS funding from the current level of $20 million to $30 million, and to have it fully funded at $50 million by 2014. I will be pushing hard to make sure that the Congress lives up to these goals.

But for Fiscal Year 2009, GoMOOS still faces challenges. My office is currently working with the delegation to explore having other federal agencies that use GoMOOS help sustain its operations during Fiscal Year 2009.

I have heard from Mainers who have called my office concerned about this issue. Attendees of the fisherman's forum in Rockport told me just how important they viewed GoMOOS's operations. While the new law that we passed does not actually appropriate additional funding, formalizing the program does pave the way for more stable funding in the future.

For more information on GoMOOS visit their website at www.gomoos.org/.