[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 415 Reported in House (RH)]






                                                 House Calendar No. 252
106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 415

                          [Report No. 106-716]

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
 be established a National Ocean Day to recognize the significant role 
 the ocean plays in the lives of the Nation's people and the important 
 role the Nation's people must play in the continued life of the ocean.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2000

   Mrs. Mink of Hawaii submitted the following resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

                             July 10, 2000

  Additional sponsors: Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. 
    Allen, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Farr of 
  California, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. Lantos, Mrs. 
  Morella, Mr. Gilchrest, Ms. Eshoo, Mrs. Christensen, and Mrs. Capps

                             July 10, 2000

Reported with an amendment; referred to the House Calendar and ordered 
                             to be printed
    [Strike out the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
 be established a National Ocean Day to recognize the significant role 
 the ocean plays in the lives of the Nation's people and the important 
 role the Nation's people must play in the continued life of the ocean.

<DELETED>Whereas the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and are key 
        to the life support systems for all creatures on this planet;
Whereas the oceans contain a wondrous abundance and diversity of life, from the 
        smallest micro-organism to the mammoth blue whale;
Whereas two-thirds of the world's people live within 50 miles of a coast and one 
        out of six American jobs is in fishing, shipping, or tourism;
Whereas oceanic research has contributed to an understanding of global warming 
        and the effects of the ocean on climate and weather, which inevitably 
        impacts on safety and quality of life;
Whereas the ocean is an endless universe of exploration and discovery and a key 
        source of life-saving medicines and treatments;
Whereas international trade will nearly triple over the next 2 decades and more 
        than 90 percent of this trade will be transported by ocean;
Whereas the ocean's resources are limited, and nations must work together to 
        preserve them;
Whereas poor stewardship of the oceans pollutes beaches, contaminates the food 
        supply, and robs people of a precious resource they depend on;
Whereas the oceans are the warmest they have been in 104 years, and the 5 
        hottest years since 1400 have all occurred in the 1990's;
Whereas 10 percent of the ocean's coral reefs, the ``rain forests of the sea'', 
        have been destroyed and another 30 percent will disappear within 20 
        years;
Whereas more than two-thirds of the world's fisheries are overexploited and more 
        than a third of the world's fisheries are in a state of decline;
Whereas the ocean's shores must be saved from off-shore oil drilling, which 
        spoils coasts, kills marine life, and destroys fragile ecosystems;
Whereas decades of pollution from industrial waste, sewage, and toxic runoff 
        have taken their toll on the health of the oceans and on the marine life 
        in them, with many species of fish threatened with extinction;
Whereas the Clinton Administration has announced a new $4 million effort to 
        conduct a comprehensive exploration of the oceans surrounding the United 
        States, using the most advanced underwater technology to locate 
        historical artifacts such as sunken ships, to map the ocean floor, and 
        to discover new forms of marine life and promising sources of life-
        saving drugs and minerals;
Whereas the Clinton Administration has proposed a $224 million initiative to 
        enhance the health of the oceans;
Whereas by the year 2002, a new ocean monitoring system will be developed to 
        give us a better understanding of the critical relationship between 
        oceans and global warming;
Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us to track marine 
        mammals, predict deadly storms such as those associated with El Nino, 
        detect illegal fishing, and gain new insights into the complexities of 
        climate change;
Whereas in the 21st century, people will look increasingly to the oceans to meet 
        their everyday needs;
Whereas the oceans are the core of our own humanity, a treasure shared by all 
        nations of the world, and our stewardship of this resource is our 
        obligation to our children, grandchildren, and all of Earth's 
        inhabitants;
Whereas the State of Hawaii has designated the first Wednesday of June as Ocean 
        Day, in recognition of the very significant role the ocean plays in the 
        lives of Hawaii's people, as well as Hawaii's culture, history, and 
        traditions; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Ocean Day will raise awareness of the 
        vital role oceans play in human life and that human beings must play in 
        the life of the ocean: Now, therefore, be it
</DELETED>Whereas the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface 
        and are key to the life support systems for all creatures on 
        this planet;
Whereas the oceans contain a wondrous abundance and diversity of life, 
        from the smallest microorganism to the mammoth blue whale;
Whereas \2/3\ of the world's people live within 50 miles of a coast and 
        1 out of 6 American jobs are in fishing, shipping, or tourism;
Whereas the oceans provide almost limitless opportunities for 
        exploration and discovery, and could supply a key source of 
        life-saving medicines and treatments;
Whereas oceanography has contributed to an understanding of global 
        climate change and the effects of the ocean on climate and 
        weather, which inevitably has an impact on safety and quality 
        of life;
Whereas efforts are underway to develop a new ocean monitoring system 
        that will give us a better understanding of the critical 
        relationship between oceans and global climate change;
Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us to track 
        marine mammals, predict deadly storms such as those associated 
        with El Nino, detect illegal fishing, and gain new insights 
        into the complexities of climate change;
Whereas the oceans and coastal areas supply vital sources of food upon 
        which people depend and that could be deteriorated by poor 
        stewardship;
Whereas decades of pollution from industrial waste, sewage, and toxic 
        runoff have taken their toll on the health of the oceans and on 
        the marine life in them;
Whereas recent studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of the world's 
        coral reefs, the ``rainforests of the sea'', are being degraded 
        or destroyed by human activities and ten percent of the reefs 
        may already be degraded beyond recovery;
Whereas fisheries and the food and products they produce are essential 
        to the world's economy and steps should be taken to ensure that 
        they do not become overexploited;
Whereas in the 21st century, people will look increasingly to the 
        oceans to meet their everyday needs;
Whereas the oceans' resources are limited, and nations must work 
        together to conserve them;
Whereas the oceans are the core of our own humanity, a treasure shared 
        by all nations of the world, and our stewardship of this 
        resource is our responsibility to our children, grandchildren, 
        and all of Earth's inhabitants;
Whereas June 8th was declared Oceans Day at the Earth Summit Conference 
        in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and similar declarations have been 
        made by individual nations;
Whereas the State of Hawaii has designated the first Wednesday of June 
        as Ocean Day, in recognition of the very significant role the 
        ocean plays in the lives of Hawaii's people, as well as 
        Hawaii's culture, history, and traditions; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Ocean Day will raise awareness 
        of the vital role oceans play in human life and that human 
        beings must play in the life of the ocean: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
a National Ocean Day should be established to recognize the significant 
role the ocean plays in the lives of the Nation's people, and the 
important role the Nation's people must play in the continued life of 
the ocean.
                                                 House Calendar No. 252

106th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                              H. RES. 415

                          [Report No. 106-716]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 
 be established a National Ocean Day to recognize the significant role 
 the ocean plays in the lives of the Nation's people and the important 
 role the Nation's people must play in the continued life of the ocean.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             July 10, 2000

Reported with an amendment; referred to the House Calendar and ordered 
                             to be printed