Arizona Congressman attempts to reduce NOAA funding

I guess living in Arizona affects your perspective on ocean research. On Wednesday, Rep. Jeff Flake [R-AZ] proposed no less than four amendments to H.R.2847 cutting funding for NOAA. They all failed by healthy margins:

H.AMDT.239 to H.R.2847 An amendment numbered 86 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to be used for the Innovative Science Learning Center of Science South, Florence, South Carolina, and decrease the appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cross agency support by $500,000.
Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Flake amendment (A029) Failed by recorded vote: 107 - 320 (Roll no. 379).

H.AMDT.240 to H.R.2847 An amendment numbered 85 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use for the Drew University Environmental Science Initiative of Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, and decrease the appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cross agency support by $1 million.
Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Flake amendment (A030) Failed by recorded vote: 100 - 318 (Roll no. 380).

H.AMDT.241 to H.R.2847 An amendment numbered 91 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use for the Science Education Through Exploration project of the JASON Project, Ashburn, Virginia, and decrease the appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations, research, and facilities by $4 million.
Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Flake amendment (A031) Failed by recorded vote: 119 - 306 (Roll no. 381).

H.AMDT.242 to H.R.2847 An amendment numbered 84 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds for the Institute for Seafood Studies project of the Nicholls State University Department of Biological Sciences, Thibodaux, Louisiana, and decrease the appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations, research, and facilities by $325,000.
Sponsor: Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] (introduced 6/17/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Flake amendment (A032) Failed by recorded vote: 124 - 303 (Roll no. 382).