[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL OCEAN CONFERENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, this week I will be participating in the 
National Ocean Conference in Monterey, California. This historic 
gathering is taking place just up the road from the district I am 
privileged to represent along the central coast of California. I am 
pleased to be joining the President, Vice President, several Members of 
the Cabinet, some of my House colleagues, and hundreds of scientists, 
scholars, and conservationists from around the world at this important 
event.
  This conference will highlight the important role the ocean plays in 
the daily lives of all Americans. Today over half of the population in 
the United States lives and works in coastal areas.
  Mr. Speaker, one of every six jobs in the United States is marine-
related. This is particularly true in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara 
Counties, where our tourism, recreation, fishing, education, and 
business communities are all dependent on a clean ocean environment.
  Mr. Speaker, last week I had the opportunity to meet one of the 
world's renowned ocean explorers, the 1998 National Geographic Society 
Explorer of the Year, Dr. Sylvia Earle. Dr. Earle, who will be speaking 
at the Ocean Conference, is part of an incredible undertaking: the 
Sustainable Seas Expeditions.
  This 5-year project will explore, document, and provide scientific 
data on America's 12 national marine sanctuaries, including the Channel 
Islands National Marine Sanctuary in my district. To do this, she will 
be using a deep-ocean submarine that is able to go thousands of feet 
underwater to explore uncharted territories.
  I am one of the Members of this body who often speaks in this Chamber 
about the marvels of space exploration. Well, there is another world 
out there to be explored and instead of going up, we must go down. Down 
to the depths of the vast oceans to discover the wonders of the sea 
where we might find new resources, cures for diseases, and answers to 
scientific questions. But all of these diverse uses of our ocean's 
abundant resources are dependent on a clean and healthy ocean.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be the sponsor of a bill, the Coastal 
States' Protection Act, which ensures the protection of our Nation's 
fragile coastline from new, unnecessary offshore oil and gas 
development. This is a bill that respects States' rights. The 
legislation stipulates that when a State establishes a moratorium on 
new oil drilling in State waters, this protection should be extended to 
adjacent Federal waters. Oil knows no boundaries and it does little 
good to protect coastal State waters without simultaneously protecting 
our adjacent Federal waters.

  After all, as we in Santa Barbara know too well, an oil spill in 
Federal waters will not stop there. It will contaminate State waters 
and ultimately our shores. It will spoil our majestic beaches, 
devastating the tourism, recreation, and fishing industries that all 
depend on a clean organization.
  I urge my colleagues here in the House to support this important 
legislation. I also hope the President takes the opportunity at the 
ocean conference to support this legislation and protect our Nation's 
coastlines.
  To this end, I intend to bring with me to the conference evidence of 
the strong local support for this proposed moratorium. I will be 
presenting to the President letters from a wide variety of constituents 
including the business, fishing, and tourism community as well as local 
elected officials all united in expressing their strong opposition to 
any new offshore oil development off the spectacular coastline of 
California.
  If Members think this opposition to offshore development is just a 
position taken by environmentalists, think again. A recent report 
issued jointly by the San Luis Obispo County Chamber of Commerce and 
the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County demonstrates the 
unified community position against offshore oil development.
  The study points out that in 1998, the tourism industry is expected 
to generate over $60 billion in the State of California. Mr. Speaker, I 
quote from this report: ``The travel industry is healthy and growing in 
San Luis Obispo County, with total visitor expenditures in 1997 in the 
county of $394 million. This would all change if offshore oil and gas 
development occurred in our community.''
  As policymakers, we must emphasize our commitment to the research, 
exploration, sustainable use, and protection of our oceans. Our economy 
and, indeed, our future depends on it.
  As a representative of the central coast of California, I must do all 
I can do to protect our beautiful and valuable coastline. I look 
forward to participating in the exciting landmark conference which will 
recognize this as the International Year of the Ocean.

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