[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1912-S1913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HOLLINGS (for himself, Mr. Stevens, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, 
        Mr. Breaux, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. 
        Boxer, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
        Lieberman, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sarbanes, and Mr. 
        Schumer):
  S. 2327. A bill to establish a Commission on Ocean Policy, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


                           oceans act of 2000

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the 
Oceans Act of 2000, a bill calling for a plan of action for the twenty-
first century to explore, protect, and use our oceans and coasts 
through the coming millennium. I am pleased to be joined in this 
endeavor by my colleagues, Senators Stevens, Snowe, Kerry, Breaux, 
Inouye, Cleland, Wyden, Akaka, Boxer, Murray, Lautenberg, Feinstein, 
Lieberman, Moynihan, Reed, Sarbanes, and Schumer.
  This is not the first time I have come before you to advocate 
legislation to ensure our national ocean policy is coordinated, 
effective, and sustainable for future generations. In 1997, I 
introduced an Oceans Act to create both an independent ocean commission 
and a federal interagency ocean council. While the Senate passed this 
bill unanimously, it was not enacted before the end of the 105th 
Congress. We continued the work we started in 1997 by introducing the 
Senate-passed bill as S. 959, cosponsored by 23 Senators from both 
sides of the aisle, in May of last year. I now introduce the Oceans Act 
of 2000, a new bill that reflects the lessons learned among state and 
federal policymakers, ocean-related industries, and public interest 
groups who worked together during and after the 1998 Year of the Ocean.
  What we heard loud and clear from these groups was the need for a 
balanced, high-level national commission to determine whether the 
United States is managing its oceans and coasts wisely, and how we can 
improve or refocus our efforts. Thus, the Oceans Act of 2000 focuses 
exclusively on the appointment of an independent national Ocean 
Commission to recommend ways to ensure our nation's ocean policy is 
coordinated, effective, and sustainable for future generations. I 
believe this is both improved and streamlined legislation that will 
enjoy wide support from industry, conservation groups, and States. 
Already we have received letters of support from a cross-section of 
these interests, all of whom believe we cannot wait any longer to enact 
this important legislation.
  Mr. President, it is critical that we enact the Oceans Act of 2000 
this year. In 1966 Congress enacted legislation to establish a 
Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources (known as the 
Stratton Commission for its chairman, Julius Stratton) that was to 
recommend a comprehensive national program to explore the oceans, 
develop marine and coastal resources, and conserve the sea. The 
Stratton Commission's report and recommendations have shaped U.S. ocean 
policy for three decades. We have long needed to take a hard look at 
this legacy, and a national Ocean Commission could comprehensively 
evaluate concerns that cannot be viewed effectively through current 
federal processes or through privately-commissioned studies. For 
example, an Ocean Commission could evaluate charges that the most 
critical coastal management issues, such as fishery conservation and 
data needs, are not given appropriate priority and funding. It could 
consider whether ocean management regimes that have developed over the 
last 30 years under a variety of agencies are duplicative and 
uncoordinated, resulting in costly or time-consuming requirements that 
may provide little incremental environmental benefit. Finally, it could 
address the argument that we lack a plan to evalute and plan for future 
resource needs or to derive benefits from discoveries made possible by 
advances in ocean technology.

  It would be difficult to coherently address all these concerns 
without the high-level comprehensive review provided by this 
legislation. The Oceans Act of 2000 would establish a 16-member 
Commission, similar to the Stratton Commission, to examine ocean and 
coastal activities and report within 18 months on recommendations for a 
national policy. The Commission members would be selected from 
individuals nominated by majority and minority representatives in both 
houses of Congress. Eligible individuals include those representing 
state and local governments, ocean-related industries and public 
interest groups. I have included new provisions stating that the 
membership should be balanced geographically to the extent consistent 
with maintaining the highest level of expertise.
  The Oceans Act of 2000 specifies that the Commission should examine 
concerns that range from priority and planning issues to regulatory 
reform. The Commission is specifically charged with evaluating the 
cumulative regulatory effect of the myriad of ocean and coastal 
management regimes, and crafting recommendations for resolving 
inconsistencies. To ensure we can meet future technical and funding 
challenges and set our national priorities appropriately, the 
Commission is directed to review the known and anticipated supply of, 
and demand for, ocean and coastal resources, as well as review 
opportunities for development or investment in new products, 
technologies, or markets related to ocean and coastal activities. 
Because I believe the Commission should focus on large-scale ocean and 
coastal policy questions, the bill includes a provision clarifying that 
the Commission recommendations shall not be specific to the lands and 
waters within a single state.
  Finally, once the Commission issues its recommendations, the 
President must report to Congress on how he will respond to or 
implement Commission recommendations. We want to be sure that this body 
is fully informed of, and participates in, how the Nation proceeds once 
the Commission has completed its work. Finally, the effective date of 
the Act is at December 31, 2000 in order to enable the current 
Administration to complete its interagency ocean initiative before the 
end of the current term, and allow the incoming Administration time to 
evaluate the Commission nominees and make appointments.
  This version does not include a federal interagency Ocean Council--I 
believe that this function is now being filled by the sub-cabinet level 
Ocean Policy Task Force process announced by the Administration last 
year. Establishing a second interagency council now would be 
duplicative, and it is my firm belief that the independent Commission 
will adequately assess whether the existing interagency process is 
appropriate or sufficient to address its recommendations. However, it 
is my hope that interagency coordination on oceans policy will remain 
an important priority for the next Administration. And I look forward 
to the day that ocean policy issues are given the highest priority 
within the federal government by a Cabinet-level entity, without the 
infighting or discord that has impeded our progress on these issues.
  Mr. President, this legislation is both appropriate and long overdue. 
By the end of this decade about 60% of Americans will live along our 
coasts, which account for less than 10% of our land area. I am amazed 
that in this era, when we've invested billions of dollars in exploring 
other planets, we know so little about the ocean and coastal systems 
upon which we and other living

[[Page S1913]]

things depend. Large storms events like Hurricanes Floyd and Hugo, 
driven by ocean-circulation patterns, pose the ultimate risk to human 
health and safety. El Nino-related climate events have led to increased 
incidence of malaria in areas of Colombia and Venezuela. Harmful algal 
blooms have been linked to deaths of sea lions in California and 
manatees in Florida, and we are still searching to understand their 
effects on humans. Mr. President, the oceans are integral to our lives 
but we are not putting a priority on finding ways to learn more about 
them, and what they may hold for our future. The oceans are home to 80% 
of all life forms on Earth, but only 1% of our biotechnology R&D budget 
will focus on marine life forms. Of the 4 manned submersibles in the 
world capable of descending to half of the ocean's maximum depth, not a 
single one of them is operated by the United States!
  The Stratton Commission stated in 1969: ``How fully and wisely the 
United States uses the sea in the decades ahead will affect profoundly 
its security, its economy, its ability to meet increasing demands for 
food and raw materials, its positions and influence in the World 
community, and the quality of the environment in which its people 
live.'' those words are as true today as they were 30 years ago.
  Mr. President, it is time to look towards the next 30 years. This 
bill offers us the vision and understanding needed to establish sound 
ocean and coastal policies for the 21st century, and I think the 
cosponsors of the legislation for joining with me in recognizing its 
significance. We look forward to working together in the bipartisan 
spirit of the Stratton Commission to enact legislation this year that 
ensures the development of an integrated national ocean and coastal 
policy well into the next millennium.

                          ____________________