[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 58 (Thursday, April 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H2806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EARTH DAY IS OCEAN DAY

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Earth Day and 
speak of the important role our oceans play in combating global 
warming.
  As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we must remember 
that Earth Day issues are closely linked to ocean health. Think about 
it. Seventy percent of the earth is covered by water. The ocean plays a 
key role in climate formation. It is not only the atmosphere that 
collects CO2, but also the oceans are trapping 
CO2. That is why we have melting ice caps, rising sea 
levels, hotter-than-average temperatures, and more severe storms and 
periods of drought.
  Ocean acidification has the greatest impact on corals, clams, 
oysters, and crabs. The seafood that we eat, like salmon, depend on 
those. Ocean health is directly related to land health. As we learn 
about our responsibility for the sustainable well-being of our planet, 
we must become concerned citizens of oceans as well.
  Earth Day is ocean day. Think about it. There is more ocean than 
earth.

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