Hon. Lowell Weicker

Lowell Weicker has represented Connecticut in the U.S. Senate and as Governor, and today as a private citizen. During his tenure in the U.S. Congress, Lowell Weicker served on the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.

He sponsored, co-sponsored and supported many profound pieces of legislation, and is credited as being a strong force behind assuring funding for NOAA to make certain it was able to accomplish its goals and responsibilities as the lead federal oceans agency. Lowell is responsible for the creation of the National Undersea Research Program, and the building and years of operation of the Aquarius Laboratory.

As Senator, he spent three days 50-feet under the sea, living inside the Aquarius, observing research scientists as they studied animal life, energy and pollution in the ocean. Elected Governor of Connecticut in 1990, he continued to pursue ocean interests, supporting the hydrodynamic modeling of Long Island Sound and programs to study the Connecticut River estuary system, and building a state-of-the-art marine science and education facility at the Avery Point campus of the University of Connecticut.

He graduated from Lawrenceville Academy and Yale University, before graduating University of Virginia Law School in 1958.