Dear New York Sea Grant (NYSG) Partner:
Thank you for your continued support of NYSG!
Because of your tremendous efforts last year, Sea Grant was fully funded in FY2025 and we are excited to share that in FY2026 Congress has appropriated Sea Grant at level funding. This means NYSG will be able to continue providing the coastal programming you rely on through the coming year.
Now, as the FY2027 federal budget season kicks off over the coming weeks to months, we hope you will again lend your support to ensure NYSG’s funding remains robust through the next funding cycle.
There are two ways that you can do this.
- Reach out and ask your Senators and local Congressmember to please support the National Sea Grant College Program by submitting a Programmatic Request for FY2027 funding. If you do not know who your Congressmember is, you can look that information up here: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Senator Gillibrand can be reached at www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/email-me and Senator Schumer at www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/message-chuck
Below we have provided both:
a. standard letter template (.docx)
[if you have an email address for your representative]
b. an abbreviated letter (.docx)
[for character-limited contact forms on representative websites]
- Please take a few moments to complete the following Google form to share that you value Sea Grant. If possible we request you please do so by February 24th.
Note: The information collected will be used to highlight the value of Sea Grant to federal, state, and local lawmakers. Your name and affiliation will only be associated with the statement “I value Sea Grant.” If you choose to share a story, that will be used without attribution unless you check the box indicating your name may be used with the story.
While we hope you will have the time to do both, if you can only do one we request that you please reach out directly to your Congressmember and ask them to submit the Programmatic Request, including the funding levels indicated in the letter templates.
Additional helpful information for your reference:
- What is NYSG? (pdf)
- NYSG 2025 Highlights: Story Map
[coming soon]
- National Sea Grant By the Numbers (pdf)
- FY 2027 Programmatic Request for Sea Grant Program (pdf)
NYSG deeply values your support, and your partnership. We could not do what we do without you. Thank you!
Let us know if you have any questions or need assistance:
• Becky Shuford, NYSG Director: rebecca.shuford@stonybrook.edu
• Kathy Bunting-Howarth, NYSG Associate Director: keb264@cornell.edu