[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4066-H4067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 300) recognizing the necessity 
for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in 
improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral reef 
ecosystems, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 300

       Whereas coral reef ecosystems are among the world's most 
     biologically diverse and productive marine habitats, and are 
     often described as the tropical rain forest of the oceans;
       Whereas healthy coral reef ecosystems provide the basis for 
     subsistence, commercial fisheries, and coastal and marine 
     tourism and are of vital economic importance to coastal 
     States and territories of the United States including 
     Florida, Hawaii, Georgia, Texas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
     Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the 
     Northern Mariana Islands;
       Whereas healthy coral reef ecosystems function as natural, 
     regenerating coastal barriers, protecting shorelines and 
     coastal areas from high waves, storm surges, and accompanying 
     losses of human life and property;
       Whereas the coral reef research community has long 
     established that coral reefs are subject to a wide range of 
     natural and anthropogenic threats, including climate change;
       Whereas the health of coral reef ecosystems is at serious 
     risk due to a variety of human activities, both local and 
     global;
       Whereas protecting and conserving coral reef ecosystems is 
     an urgent issue, but they may be preserved if we act now;
       Whereas changing climate is potentially one of the most 
     significant long-term influences on the structure and 
     function of coral reef ecosystems, including the devastating 
     effects of ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures;
       Whereas a wide variety of destructive fishing practices, 
     including the use of cyanide, other poisons, surfactants, and 
     explosives, are contributing to the global decline of coral 
     reef ecosystems;
       Whereas the United States has taken measures to protect 
     national coral reef resources through the designation and 
     management of several marine protected areas located in both 
     the Pacific and Caribbean, through building local management 
     capacity, and by supporting effective management and sound 
     research to preserve, sustain, and restore valuable coral 
     reef ecosystems;
       Whereas our Nation's coral reef ecosystems provide benefit 
     and opportunity to all, and conservation of these important 
     resources requires the coordinated efforts of the many 
     Federal agencies and State, territory, and commonwealth 
     partners that comprise the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and our 
     many nongovernmental, international, and academic partners;
       Whereas the United States, acting through its agencies, has 
     established itself as a global leader in coral reef ecosystem 
     stewardship by launching and remaining an active and engaged 
     participant in the International Coral Reef Initiative, and 
     by maintaining professional networks for the purposes of 
     sharing knowledge and information on coral reef ecosystems, 
     furnishing near real-time data collected at coral reef sites, 
     providing a repository for historical data relating to coral 
     reefs, and making substantial contributions to the general 
     body of coral reef knowledge; and
       Whereas 2008 has been declared the ``International Year of 
     the Reef'' by the coral reef research community and over 40 
     national and international coral reef research, conservation, 
     and academic organizations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress recognizes the necessity for 
     the United States to maintain its significant leadership role 
     in improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral 
     reef ecosystems, by--
       (1) strengthening awareness about ecological, economic, 
     social, and cultural values of coral reefs and associated 
     ecosystems;
       (2) improving understanding of the critical threats to 
     coral reefs and generating both practical and innovative 
     solutions to reduce those threats; and
       (3) initiating the prompt development and implementation of 
     effective management strategies for the conservation and 
     sustainable use of those ecosystems.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 300 recognizes the necessity for the 
United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving 
the health and promoting resiliency of coral reef ecosystems.
  Coral reef ecosystems are not only economically important to 
commercial fisheries and marine tourism of many places, including my 
own district of Guam, but they also act as natural protective coastal 
barriers during storm surges and high waves.

[[Page H4067]]

  In 2008, the International Year of the Reef, the United States can 
help facilitate coordinated conservation efforts and maintain its 
leadership by working to strengthen awareness of the values of the 
coral reef ecosystems. This resolution, Mr. Speaker, encourages 
continued United States leadership in that regard, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this resolution. House Concurrent Resolution 300 
does make an important point to the American people and to the world 
that the United States has been a leader in the preservation and 
restoration of our coral reefs.
  Like the gentlewoman from Guam, I have a long coastline and recognize 
that without the often-called ``rain forest of the ocean,'' the world 
would not eat, our coastlines would be eroded, and, without a doubt, 
life as we know it would not prevail.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I do ask strong support in favor of this resolution.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 300, recognizing the urgency for the U.S. to maintain its 
leadership role in protecting and promoting the resiliency of our coral 
reef ecosystems.
  First, I want to commend the chief sponsors, Ms. Bordallo of Guam and 
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, for their initiative in introducing this 
important resolution. I also want to acknowledge the support and 
leadership of Chairman Nick Rahall and Ranking Member Don Young of 
Alaska of the Committee on Natural Resources.
  As a member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans, I 
want to personally commend my good friend, Chairwoman Bordallo, for her 
tireless work on the many issues affecting our oceans. This resolution 
in particular is an example of the efforts by the Congress in promoting 
U.S. leadership and participation in preserving our natural resources. 
Given that 2008 has been designated the ``International Year of the 
Reef,'' it is only appropriate that we must reinforce U.S. commitments 
to the international efforts to protect critical coral reef habitats.
  Mr. Speaker, according to a recent U.N. report on oceans, 60 percent 
of the world's coral reefs will die-off by 2030. This is due to the 
changes in the climate because of global warming from the harm 
chemicals and human activity has placed on our environment. It is our 
responsibility to enhance international efforts to protect and restore 
our coastal marine resources. We have taken many steps to achieve these 
efforts by establishing the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force in 1998 that has 
done so much through enhancing research and monitoring, implementing 
action strategies, and formulating and enforcing national policy on 
protecting and preserving all of our coastal reefs.
  Last year, I introduced H.R. 1205, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000, that was unanimously passed by the House in October 2007. This 
legislation will codify the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and will advance 
existing programs that address this core issue. However, there has been 
no further action on the Senate side. I am hopeful that this important 
legislation will be passed by the end of the year.
  Again, I urge my colleagues to pass H. Con. Res. 300. I thank my 
colleagues for supporting this important bipartisan resolution.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 300.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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