Washington, D.C. - In recognition of her long-term support of environmental and marine sciences and research, Maryland’s senior Senator, Barbara Mikulski, will be honored by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation at their Annual Leadership Awards Dinner on June 3 in Washington, D.C.

“Each year the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation recognizes members of Congress who have demonstrated long-term leadership in the policies and investments benefiting our nation’s coastal and ocean environments,” said Bob Talbot, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and celebrated marine photographer and film maker. “Senator Mikulski’s influence over the budgets of our nation’s key scientific institutions has been largely responsible for modernizing our nation’s scientific infrastructure and giving us the ability to monitor human impacts on our earth and ocean.”

Elected in 1986, Mikulski has been a consistent advocate for investing in the nation’s science and research capabilities as a necessary means for ensuring America’s competitive and innovative spirit. Well known for her dedicated support to the science and management of the Chesapeake Bay, as a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski has consistently fought to advance the nation’s environmental sciences, laying the groundwork for much of the global environmental observing platforms and establishing the Chesepeake Bay watershed as a living laboratory for restoration and ecosystem modeling.

“It is an honor to accept this award from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, which has been a partner with me in the fight for non-politicized science and research. Oceans contribute $120 billion to our economy and support over 2 million jobs. Investments to protect and understand our oceans provide enormous value to our taxpayers," said Senator Mikulski.

"As the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds 85% of the nation’s climate change research, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), I am proud to fight for the investments in the federal checkbook to make a down payment on critical research initiatives. I will continue the fight to support the research, restoration and preservation of our nation’s waterways. “

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Leadership Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with the 2008 Capitol Hill Ocean Week, a three-day symposium that features ocean policy experts from government, private industry, nonprofits and academia. Participants seek to raise awareness of the important ocean and coastal issues among our nation’s leaders and to build bridges among various ocean constituencies.

Note to editors: Photos available upon request.