IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1282 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

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.