[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1282 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1282

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the promotion 
of recreational fishing and boating should be a national priority, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 2010

Mr. Blunt (for himself, Mr. Boren, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. Miller of 
 Florida, and Mr. Ross) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the promotion 
of recreational fishing and boating should be a national priority, and 
                          for other purposes.

Whereas the United States is fortunate to possess a wealth of natural resources 
        and has a long history of stewardship of those resources;
Whereas just as a farmer carefully tends the land on which his survival depends, 
        many of the Nation's best resource stewards are those who use the 
        resource and for whom the resource holds intrinsic value for sustenance, 
        survival, or cultural tradition;
Whereas recreational fishermen (both men and women) are prime examples of 
        responsible resource stewards, as they place an extremely high value on 
        the quality and existence of the Nation's coastal waters and freshwater 
        resources;
Whereas recreational fishermen respect the Nation's marine and freshwater 
        habitats because they know that in order for these ecosystems to sustain 
        the aquatic life and natural wonder for which they are sought, these 
        resources must be protected and carefully managed;
Whereas fishing as a pastime in the United States boasts strong support, with 93 
        percent of Americans indicating they support legal recreational fishing, 
        and it is an activity that is enjoyed by Americans across all age, 
        gender, socioeconomic, and ethnic distinctions;
Whereas recreational fishermen contribute significantly to the national and 
        regional economies through expenditures related to equipment and gear, 
        fuel, lodging, and food, with current total sportfishing-related 
        expenditures exceeding $125 billion and supporting over 1 million jobs;
Whereas President Obama created an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force in June 
        2009 and charged the Task Force with recommending a national policy to 
        ensure the protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, coasts, 
        and the Great Lakes;
Whereas the Task Force has issued two reports since its creation: the Interim 
        Report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and the Interim 
        Framework for Effective Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning;
Whereas in each of these reports the Task Force failed to expressly recognize 
        the promotion of responsibly regulated recreational fishing as a 
        national priority for the oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes; and
Whereas without recognition of the promotion of recreational fishing as a 
        national priority, recreational fishing opportunities could become more 
        limited, curtailed, or even potentially eliminated: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) continued access to public waters for recreational 
        fishing and boating should be a national priority;
            (2) the final report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task 
        Force should include the promotion of recreational fishing and 
        boating as a national priority; and
            (3) in implementing the recommendations of the Interagency 
        Ocean Policy Task Force, the President should take necessary 
        actions to provide for the promotion of recreational fishing 
        and boating.
                                 <all>