[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 8 Reported in House (RH)]





                                                  House Calendar No. 19

105th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                             H. CON. RES. 8

                          [Report No. 105-69]

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the significance of 
     maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             April 23, 1997

 Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered 
                             to be printed





                                                  House Calendar No. 19
105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 8

                          [Report No. 105-69]

 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the significance of 
     maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 1997

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

                             April 23, 1997

  Additional sponsors: Mr. Miller of California, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. 
Frelinghuysen, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Horn, Mr. Evans, Mr. Canady of Florida, 
 Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Mica, Mr. Foley, Mr. Klug, Mr. Rogan, Mr. Greenwood, 
 Mr. Portman, Ms. Christian-Green, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. Markey, Ms. 
  Lofgren, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Deutsch, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. 
 Bachus, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Franks of New Jersey, 
   Mr. Farr of California, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Dellums, Mr. 
 Manton, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Shays, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. 
        Goss, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Capps, and Mr. Shaw

                             April 23, 1997

 Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered 
                             to be printed
    [Strike out the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the significance of 
     maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems.

<DELETED>Whereas coral reefs are among the world's most biologically diverse and 
        productive marine habitats, often described as the tropical rain forests 
        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, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 
        and American Samoa;
Whereas healthy coral reefs function as natural, regenerating coastal barriers, 
        protecting shorelines and coastal areas from high waves and storm 
        surges;
Whereas the scientific community has long established that coral reefs are 
        subject to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic threats;
Whereas the United States has taken measures to protect national coral reef 
        resources through the designation and management of several underwater 
        national parks (known as National Marine Sanctuaries), containing reefs 
        of the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys in 
        south Florida, and offshore Hawaii and American Samoa;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established 
        itself as a global leader in coral reef stewardship 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
    </DELETED>Whereas coral reefs are among the world's most 
            biologically diverse and productive marine habitats, and 
            are often described as the tropical rain forests 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 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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
<DELETED>That it is the sense of Congress to recognize the significance 
of maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems, by--
        <DELETED>    (1) promoting comprehensive stewardship for coral 
        reef ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) encouraging research and education on coral 
        reef ecosystems; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) improving the coordination of coral reef 
        efforts and activities which take place within Federal 
        agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations 
        and industry.</DELETED>
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) encouraging research, monitoring, and assessment of and 
        education on coral reef ecosystems; and
            (3) improving the coordination of coral reef efforts and 
        activities of Federal agencies, academic institutions, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and industry.
            Amend the title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
        recognizing the significance of maintaining the health and 
        stability of coral reef ecosystems.''.