[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.
____________________