[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1106-E1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WORLD OCEAN DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2010

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1330, 
recognizing June 8 as World Ocean Day. This is only the second year 
that World Ocean Day has been officially recognized. Unfortunately, now 
is a tragically appropriate time for all of us to recognize and honor 
our nation's oceans.
  The ongoing British Petroleum oil spill makes all of us realize how 
much our lives and the fate of our planet are intertwined with

[[Page E1107]]

the well-being of our oceans. It should not have taken millions of 
gallons of oil destroying the Gulf to have served as a wakeup call that 
our ocean waters are treasures that must be preserved and protected. 
The workers who risk their lives every day on oil rigs to provide for 
America's energy needs knew how vital these oceans were. So did those 
of us who enjoy the bounty of shrimp and oysters harvested from the 
sea. The dolphins, sea turtles and pelicans and thousands of species 
dependent on the health of our waters were already aware about the 
precarious state of our oceans.
  Oil-soaked beaches in the Gulf now threaten the livelihoods of 
thousands of small business owners and fishermen as well as wildlife on 
and below the water's surface. British Petroleum was drilling in waters 
owned by the American people. The ocean belongs to all of us 
collectively, and none of us as individuals--or corporations. Even 
before this disaster, they were in a crisis, thanks to coastal 
development and sprawl, pollution, overfishing and an absence of 
government leadership.
  I am pleased to support this resolution to highlight the many 
benefits the ocean provides. The oceans are an economic, ecological and 
cultural resource that we in Congress and the international community 
must exercise the proper stewardship over for our future generations. I 
urge my colleagues to take up this responsibility that has been 
entrusted to us and honor our oceans by supporting H. Res. 1330.

                          ____________________