[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 49 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 49

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas 95 percent 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 comprises nearly three quarters of the Earth's surface and 
        sustains 80 percent of all life on Earth, including a large part of the 
        Earth's biodiversity;
Whereas the oceans play a critical role in the global water cycle, carbon cycle 
        and in regulating climate; and over 90 percent of the oxygen in the 
        Earth's atmosphere, essential to life on Earth, comes from the world's 
        oceans and rivers;
Whereas the oceans are an important source of food, provide a wealth of other 
        natural products, and the oceans and sea floor contain vast energy and 
        mineral resources that are critical to the economy of the United States 
        and the world;
Whereas the United States has more than 95,000 miles of coastline and more than 
        50 percent of the population of the United States lives within 50 miles 
        of the ocean or the Great Lakes;
Whereas coastal areas are regions of remarkably high biological productivity, 
        are of considerable importance for a variety of recreational and 
        commercial activities, and provide a vital means of transportation;
Whereas ocean resources are limited and susceptible to change as a direct and 
        indirect result of human activities, and such changes can impact the 
        ability of the ocean to provide the benefits upon which the Nation 
        depends;
Whereas the rich biodiversity of marine organisms provides society with an 
        essential biomedical resource, a promising source of novel compounds 
        with therapeutic potential, and a potentially important contribution to 
        the national economy;
Whereas there exists significant promise for the development of new ocean 
        technologies for stewardship of ocean resources that will contribute to 
        the economy through business and manufacturing innovations and the 
        creation of new jobs;
Whereas the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration recommended to the White 
        House and to the Congress in its Year 2000 final report, ``Discovering 
        Earth's Final Frontier: A U.S. Strategy for Ocean Exploration,'' a 10-
        year program to launch the first national plan for ocean exploration;
Whereas the Oceans Act of 2000 passed by the United States Congress authorized 
        the establishment of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and directed it 
        to conduct a comprehensive review of present and future ocean programs 
        and activities and provide comprehensive ocean policy recommendations to 
        the Congress and the President by 2003; and
Whereas our oceans are vital to our national security and our national economy, 
        and with America's greatest era of ocean exploration and discovery still 
        ahead: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 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 and understanding of the 
        ocean and the living marine resources it contains; and
            (3) the week of June 9, 2003, be designated as National 
        Oceans Week and urges the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe this 
        week with appropriate recognition, programs, ceremonies, and 
        activities to further ocean literacy, education, and 
        exploration.

            Passed the Senate June 9, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                            S. CON. RES. 49

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

   Designating the week of June 9, 2003, as National Oceans Week and 
urging the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of 
 the United States to observe this week with appropriate recognition, 
    programs, ceremonies, and activities to further ocean literacy, 
                      education, and exploration.