Sample Programmatic Request Form

*Every office has a different form, so it is very likely you will be asked questions not on this example.

Type of Request: Budgetary Request or Funding Request

Subcommittee: Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Program: National Sea Grant Program

Proposal Description and Justification:

The funding request for FY 2026 is $134.985 million for the Sea Grant Program. This includes $116.985 million for the National Sea Grant College Program, which is a 5 percent increase over the FY 2025 authorization in the National Sea Grant College Program Amendment Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-221), which was signed into law by President Trump. This adjusts for inflation and would allow increases to each program to continue investing directly in their coastal communities and economies. The request also includes $18 million for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research to continue the development of sustainable marine and Great Lakes aquaculture businesses.

National Sea Grant Overview/Description

With a mission to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resources to create a sustainable economy, a healthy environment, and resilient communities, Sea Grant has benefitted from bipartisan congressional support since its creation in 1966. Sea Grant is a community-based federal partnership that sustains thriving coastal economies and resilient communities. By living and working in the communities they serve, Sea Grant staff respond to local needs—from challenges threatening small businesses to contaminants affecting community health—with science-based solutions. A joint federal, state, and local investment, Sea Grant works in 34 states and territories—yielding quantifiable economic, social, and environmental benefits. For the Sea Grant College Program, this funding increase adjusts for inflation and grows capacity through each program in the Sea Grant network, enabling more work to address constituent priorities. As an on-the-ground partner, Sea Grant works directly with your constituents to ensure a sustainable economy and environment on our coasts.

Project Website: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/

Pennsylvania Sea Grant Overview/Description

As one of 34 Sea Grant programs nationwide, Pennsylvania Sea Grant receives a portion of this appropriation, which is multiplied through collaborations with state agencies, universities and private sector partners. Working with 221 unique partners including 122 local partners and 55 government partners, Pennsylvania Sea Grant leverages over $2 for every federal dollar received—with all benefits invested directly in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania communities. The federal appropriation is instrumental to the partnerships, providing the foundation that enables additional investment.

By fostering partnerships with local communities, businesses, universities and tribal nations, Pennsylvania Sea Grant ensures its research and initiatives deliver impactful, science-based solutions.

Program Website: https://seagrant.psu.edu

Pennsylvania Sea Grant Talking Points

Between 2018 and 2023, Pennsylvania Sea Grant invested nearly $7.8 million federal dollars in research, outreach, and education efforts across the Commonwealth, leveraging approximately $17.2 million in partnerships, for a total investment of nearly $25 million. These resources helped support aquatic ecosystems and communities, understand pollution and threats to coastal water quality, maintain vital habitats, inform restoration efforts within ecosystems and watersheds, and foster an environmentally-literate population. Specific impacts during this time period included:

Healthy Coasts and Watersheds: 3,682 acres of habitat were protected, enhanced, or restored
Workforce Development: 272 resource managers used ecosystem-based approaches, 65 students became employed in a career related to their degree, 13,440 people participated in outreach events and trainings, 87 Sea Grant organized meetings or workshops
Environmental Literacy: 174,159 K-12 students reached, 1,074 educators trained, 107,390 people were engaged in informal education programs

Recognizing the importance of workforce development to foster the blue economy, Pennsylvania Sea Grant creates opportunities for graduate students to gain hands-on experience. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania Sea Grant supported 130 students through undergraduate and graduate research opportunities and policy fellowships, and who go on to build careers in natural resource policy and management, education, and industry.

Partnerships

Pennsylvania Sea Grant works with partners throughout the Commonwealth and across borders.

Local partnerships – 122
State partnerships – 55
Federal or National – 19
Regional – 18
International – 2

Other Congressional Offices Receiving this Request: List other offices where you are filling out programmatic request forms.

Requested Amount for FY 2026: $134.985 million for the Sea Grant Program, which includes $116.985 million for the National Sea Grant College Program and $18 million for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research.