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Peter Fippinger, Staff Member with
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Left to Right: Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S.
Navy (Ret.), Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere,
and Peter Fippinger, Sea Grant Fellow
USC Sea Grant is pleased to have Peter Fippinger in
Washington, D.C. this year as a federal Knauss Fellow. Peter is
serving as a Democratic staff member with the Senate Committee
on Commerce, Science and Transportation. He works with the Senior
Council of the Subcommittee in supporting the Chairman of the
Commerce Committee, Senator Ernest F. Hollings (SC); the Chairman
of the Oceans, Atmosphere and Fisheries Subcommittee, Senator
John F. Kerry (MA); and subcommittee members Senators Breaux (LA)
and Inouye (HI); and other interested Committee members.
Due to the wide range of Committee interests, Peter has been
exposed to a number of marine and environmental issues. Working
with a relatively small staff, the daily responsibilities have
been both diverse and dynamic. Specific responsibilities have
included: preparing for Committee hearings and executive sessions
(mark-ups); attending briefings, hearings, meetings and conferences
on marine and environmental topics; developing, reviewing and
analyzing legislation within the Committee's jurisdiction; tracking
related legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives;
researching topics of interest to Committee members; preparing
memos and statements for Senator Hollings and other Committee
members on oceans and atmospheric issues; and responding to constituent
mail and requests.
So far this year Peter has:
- Drafted the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments
of 2002 (S. 2428), introduced by Senator Kerry (MA) on April 30.
2002
- Prepared background documentation and coordinated the Commerce
Committee Hearing on the FY 2003 Programs of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
- Prepared background documentation and coordinated the Oceans,
Atmosphere and Fisheries Subcommittee Oversight Hearing on Management
Issues at the National Marine Fisheries Service
- Received budget and programmatic briefings by numerous Administration
managers of the line and program offices of NOAA
- Attended Coast Guard Missions Day 2002 at the training facility
in Yorktown VA, where I experienced first-hand, the major missions
of the Coast Guard
Additionally, there are numerous ongoing activities which provide
him with education on marine and coastal issues, the US legislative
process, and on the administrative policies of existing US legislation.
He has the opportunity to regularly interact with Congressional
staff, NOAA's administrators, the Pew Oceans Commission, the Oceans
Policy Commission and numerous other professionals in the marine
policy field.
The Knauss Fellowship was established in 1979 to provide a
unique educational experience to students who have an interest
in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources and in the national
policy decision affecting those resources. The fellowship matches
graduate students with hosts in executive, legislative, or an
appropriate association/institution in Washington D.C. for a year
long paid fellowship.
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