Texas Sea Grant Support Letter to Congress

Support Texas Sea Grant: Add Your Voice

As Congress works to finalize the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2026, we face the possibility of reduced funding, which would deeply impact the communities, ecosystems, and economies we serve. Your support can help ensure Congress understands the impact of our work—and why it must continue.

Why Your Voice Matters

Texas Sea Grant delivers science-based, solutions-oriented research, education, and outreach that directly supports the sustainability and resilience of our coastal communities and natural resources. From fisheries and water quality to workforce development and hazard preparedness, our work benefits individuals, businesses, and communities across Texas.

Your voice can help ensure Congress understands the value of Sea Grant.

How You Can Help

If you have benefited from working with Texas Sea Grant—or simply believe in the importance of coastal science and community service—please consider signing our Support Letter to Congress. The letter demonstrates broad support for the continued funding of the Sea Grant program.

Sign the Letter Here

You’ll also have the option to share a brief comment about how Texas Sea Grant has impacted you, your business, or your community. Personal stories and examples make a powerful difference. All additional comments will be shared anonymously.

Help Us Spread the Word

We welcome you to share this page and the sign-on letter with others who value the mission and impact of Texas Sea Grant. Every name—and every voice—strengthens the message to our lawmakers.

Thank you for standing with us in support of a strong, sustainable future for Texas coasts.

Support Letter to Congress

Dear Texas congressional delegation:

We, the undersigned constituents from Texas, are writing to urge your support for federal funding for the Sea Grant Program in fiscal year (FY) 2026. Sea Grant is funded in the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill and is in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) Account within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).

As one of the 34 Sea Grant programs, each year Texas Sea Grant receives a portion of the annual appropriation to Sea Grant. The Texas Sea Grant Program partners with local, state, regional, and national organizations to meet the legally required match of $1 dollar for every $2 federal dollars, which increases the impact of every federal dollar. We benefit from this, as this money is invested in Sea Grant staff and their work in communities right here in the state.

During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the Texas Sea Grant College Program’s work:

helped generate an estimated $3.5 million in economic benefits to Texas coastal communities
created or supported more than 671 jobs
created or sustained more than 219 businesses
helped 1,003 seafood industry personnel to adopt safe and sustainable seafood practices
restored or protected 37,686 acres of coastal habitat
educated over 30,000 K-12 students in coastal and marine topics
educated over 42,000 Texans through informal education programs, and more

Materials developed and distributed by the program helped residents and communities throughout the Texas coast navigate disaster aid programs.

As constituents and beneficiaries of Texas’s Sea Grant Program, we cannot overstate the value Sea Grant brings to our state. In addition, coastal communities around the country are protected and supported thanks to the Sea Grant national network’s important activities around resilient communities and economies, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, healthy coastal ecosystems, environmental literacy, and workforce development. I respectfully request you support funding the Sea Grant Program in FY 2026 appropriations.

Thank you for your consideration, and please reach out if we can be of further assistance.

Respectfully,

Texas Sea Grant and its supporters