WASHINGTON, DC - In an effort to help the University of Rhode Island (URI) continue its role as a leader in cooperative fisheries and ocean research, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that URI will receive $1,517,963 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Sea Grant College Program. "The University of Rhode Island has been a leader in ocean research and conservation and the Sea Grant program has been a vital resource in carrying out cooperative research, strengthening our coastal communities, and conserving our ocean resources," said Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which oversees federal spending on NOAA. "I am pleased that URI has received this federal funding to continue its efforts to protect our oceans and raise awareness about protecting our coastal resources." The National Sea Grant College program provides federal funding to over 30 state Sea Grant programs at universities across the country for research, education, and outreach on coastal resource use and conservation. URI's program, located in its School of Oceanography, focuses it efforts on coastal protection and sustainable fisheries. Federal funding for the Sea Grant program is matched by state and private funding. In March, Reed requested increased funding for the highly successful Sea Grant College Program. Federal funding for the program has been drastically reduced by cuts over the past three years. "Rhode Island's coastal habitat and fisheries are an essential part of our culture and heritage," stated Reed. "For decades, the Sea Grant program has worked to protect our state's natural resources, while at the same time raising awareness about the importance of conservation. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the Sea Grant program receives the funding that it needs to continue its important work in Rhode Island and throughout the nation."