[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 419 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 419

  Designating October 23, 2023, as ``National Marine Sanctuary Day''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 19, 2023

Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Warnock, 
  Mr. Welch, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Heinrich, and Mr. Schatz) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating October 23, 2023, as ``National Marine Sanctuary Day''.

Whereas, on October 23, 1972, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries 
        Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) became law and ushered in a new era 
        of ocean conservation;
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary System is a nationwide network that 
        conserves spectacular oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes;
Whereas communities across the United States can nominate their most treasured 
        marine and Great Lakes waters for consideration as national marine 
        sanctuaries;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity, safeguard 
        extraordinary seascapes, historic shipwrecks, and sacred cultural 
        places, and provide abundant recreational opportunities;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries seek opportunities to partner with 
        indigenous governments and communities to achieve shared conservation 
        goals and to support the care-taking of ecological resources and 
        cultural sites of indigenous peoples;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect vital habitats for countless species 
        of fish and wildlife, including many species that are listed as 
        threatened or endangered;
Whereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for healthy oceans, 
        coasts, and Great Lakes, for addressing climate change, and for 
        sustaining productive coastal economies;
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and its partners work to 
        protect and nurture the growth of the National Marine Sanctuary System;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries increase access to nature for all, support 
        coastal communities, and generate billions of dollars annually in local 
        communities by providing jobs in the United States, supporting 
        commercial, Tribal, and recreational fisheries, bolstering tourism and 
        recreation, engaging businesses in stewardship, and driving the growth 
        of the blue economy;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries connect people and communities through 
        science, education, United States history, recreation, and stewardship 
        and inspire community-based solutions that help individuals understand 
        and protect the spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, 
        archaeological resources, and cultural seascapes of the United States;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories that enable 
        cooperative science and research that improves resource management and 
        advances innovative public-private partnerships;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries can help make oceans, coasts, and Great 
        Lakes more resilient by protecting ecosystems that sequester carbon, by 
        safeguarding coastal communities from flooding and storms, and by 
        protecting biodiversity;
Whereas the United States is a historic maritime Nation, and oceans, coasts, and 
        Great Lakes are central to the way of life of the people of the United 
        States;
Whereas engaging communities as stewards of these protected waters makes 
        national marine sanctuaries unique and provides a comprehensive, 
        ecosystem-based, highly participatory approach to managing and 
        conserving marine and Great Lakes environments for current and future 
        generations; and
Whereas October 23, 2023, is recognized as ``National Marine Sanctuary Day'' to 
        increase awareness about the importance of the National Marine Sanctuary 
        System and healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and to celebrate the 
        many recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this 
        network of protected waters: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates October 23, 2023, as ``National Marine 
        Sanctuary Day'';
            (2) encourages the people of the United States and the 
        world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and 
        support the treasured national marine sanctuaries of the United 
        States;
            (3) acknowledges the importance of national marine 
        sanctuaries in supporting community resilience, protecting 
        biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;
            (4) recognizes the importance of national marine 
        sanctuaries for their recreational opportunities and 
        contributions to local and national economies across the United 
        States;
            (5) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary 
        System to protect nationally significant places in oceans, 
        coasts, and Great Lakes;
            (6) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to partner with communities and to complete 
        designations of new national marine sanctuaries; and
            (7) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and 
        work together to support the priorities of the Marine 
        Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 
        1401 et seq.).
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