The James J. Howard Marine Sciences NOAA Lab on Sandy Hook in New Jersey is a vital part of the local, national, and international marine science community, providing invaluable benefits to the the ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean. Under President Obama's proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, the funding for the lab has been cut forcing the closure of one of the region's premier facilities for research on the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on the East Coast.

The proposed budget also de-funds the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program in its entirety. The Prescott Grant Program provides funding for recovery and treatment of stranded marine mammals, data collection from living or dead stranded marine mammals, and operation costs and staffing needs for stranding centers. In New Jersey, the only facility that handles stranded or stressed marine mammals and sea turtles is the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, New Jersey.