[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 131 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 131

         Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 1997

 Mr. Saxton (for himself and Mr. Abercrombie) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
         Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.

Whereas the ocean comprises nearly three quarters of the surface of the Earth;
Whereas the ocean contains diverse species of fish and other living organisms 
        which form the largest ecosystem on Earth;
Whereas these living marine resources provide important food resources to the 
        United States and the world, and unsustainable use of these resources 
        has unacceptable economic, environmental, and cultural consequences;
Whereas the ocean and sea floor contain vast energy and mineral resources which 
        are critical to the economy of the United States and the world;
Whereas the ocean largely controls global weather and climate, and is the 
        ultimate source of all water resources;
Whereas the vast majority of the deep ocean is unexplored and unknown, and the 
        ocean is truly the last frontier on Earth for science and civilization;
Whereas the ocean is the common means of transportation between coastal nations 
        and carries the majority of the United States foreign trade;
Whereas any nation's use or misuse of ocean resources has effects far beyond 
        that nation's borders; and
Whereas the United Nations has declared 1998 to be the International Year of the 
        Ocean, and in order to observe such celebration, the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration and other Federal agencies, in 
        cooperation with organizations concerned with ocean science and marine 
        resources, have resolved to promote exploration, utilization, 
        conservation, and public awareness of the ocean: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the ocean is of paramount importance to the economic 
        future, environmental quality, and national security of the 
        United States;
            (2) the United States has a responsibility to exercise and 
        promote comprehensive stewardship of the ocean and the living 
        marine resources it contains; and
            (3) the agencies of the United States Government, and all 
        other public and private organizations, are encouraged to 
        strive toward a better understanding of the ocean, communicate 
        this understanding to the people of the United States, and 
        thereby promote the exploration of the ocean, the sustainable 
        use of ocean resources, and the conservation of these resources 
        for future generations.
                                 <all>