[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 8 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

                  In the Senate of the United States,

                                                       October 9, 1997.
      Resolved, That the resolution from the House of Representatives 
(H. Con. Res. 8) entitled ``Concurrent resolution recognizing the 
significance of maintaining the health and stability of coral reef 
ecosystems.'', do pass with the following

                              AMENDMENTS:

        Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
That the Congress recognizes the significance of maintaining the health 
and stability of coral reef ecosystems, by--
            (1) promoting comprehensive stewardship for coral reef 
        ecosystems;
            (2) discouraging unsustainable fisheries or other practices 
        that are harmful to coral reefs and human health;
            (3) encouraging research, monitoring, and assessment of and 
        education on coral reef ecosystems;
            (4) improving the coordination of coral reef efforts and 
        activities of Federal agencies, academic institutions, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and industry; and
            (5) promoting preservation and sustainable use of coral 
        reef resources worldwide.

    Strike out the preamble and insert:

    Whereas coral reefs are among the world's most biologically diverse 
            and productive marine habitats, and are often described as 
            the tropical rain forest of the oceans;
    Whereas healthy coral reefs provide the basis for subsistence, 
            commercial fisheries, and coastal and marine tourism and 
            are of vital economic importance to coastal States and 
            territories of the United States including Florida, Hawaii, 
            Georgia, Texas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
            American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
            Mariana Islands;
    Whereas healthy coral reefs function as natural, regenerating 
            coastal barriers, protecting shorelines and coastal areas 
            from high waves, storm surges, and accompanying losses of 
            human life and property;
    Whereas the scientific community has long established that coral 
            reefs are subject to a wide range of natural and 
            anthropogenic threats;
    Whereas a wide variety of destructive fishing practices, including 
            the use of cyanide, other poisons, surfactants, and 
            explosives, are contributing to the global decline of coral 
            reef ecosystems;
    Whereas the United States has taken measures to protect national 
            coral reef resources through the designation and management 
            of several marine protected areas, containing reefs of the 
            Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys 
            in south Florida, and offshore Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the 
            Virgin Islands, and American Samoa;
    Whereas the United States, acting through its agencies, has 
            established itself as a global leader in coral reef 
            stewardship by launching the International Coral Reef 
            Initiative and by maintaining professional networks for the 
            purposes of sharing knowledge and information on coral 
            reefs, furnishing near real-time data collected at coral 
            reef sites, providing a repository for historical data 
            relating to coral reefs, and making substantial 
            contributions to the general fund of coral reef knowledge; 
            and
    Whereas 1997 has been declared the ``International Year of the 
            Reef'' by the coral reef research community and over 40 
            national and international scientific, conservation, and 
            academic organizations: Now, therefore, be it

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
105th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                             H. CON. RES. 8

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                               AMENDMENTS