[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1875-E1876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING THE MARINE DEBRIS ACT REAUTHORIZATION AMENDMENTS OF 2010

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, marine debris is a global problem 
degrading the environmental health of the world's oceans. Near my home 
island of Guam is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a huge area hundreds 
of miles wide within the North Pacific gyre. The Garbage Patch contains 
virtually tons of plastics and other non-degradable litter, especially 
discarded fishing gear, that was tossed, intentionally or 
unintentionally, into the ocean and now drifts indefinitely, harming 
both ocean wildlife, such as sea turtles and marine mammals, and 
impacting sensitive marine habitats, such as coral reefs.
  Unfortunately, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch--while emblematic of 
the problem of marine debris--is no longer unique. As we learned 
earlier this year, a new garbage patch has emerged in the Atlantic 
Ocean in the region between the Island of Bermuda and the Azores 
Islands located in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean east of Portugal. Both areas 
pose a troubling, pernicious threat to not only ocean ecosystems, but 
also to navigational safety and coastal aesthetics.
  Today, in recognition that we must continue to take purposeful action 
to address this challenging environmental threat, I have introduced 
legislation to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Research, 
Prevention, and Reduction Act.
  My legislation is straightforward and was developed in consultation 
with NOAA and numerous stakeholder organizations. The bill would 
clarify the scope and purposes of the program, maintain existing 
program activities initiated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and also encourage 
greater and more effective cooperation, both domestically and abroad. 
Importantly, my legislation will help ensure that the program remains 
focused on delivering results without additional Federal spending.
  Under this program NOAA has implemented a variety of projects in 
collaboration with state and local governments, NGOs, and industry to 
prevent and reduce marine debris from entering the marine environment 
and providing incentives for its removal once it appears. For example, 
Covanta Energy, a global innovator in ``energy from waste'' 
technologies, has worked collaboratively with NOAA to pioneer the use 
of marine debris to generate electric power.
  In addition, the Northwest Straits Commission in the North Puget 
Sound region of Washington State, received funding made available under 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and coordinated through the 
Marine Debris Program to remove derelict fishing gear from Puget Sound, 
vastly cutting down on ``ghost fishing'' and navigational hazards that 
negatively impact habitat as well as the local economy
  Organizations that support my legislation, such as the Ocean 
Conservancy, the United Nations Environmental Program, and the Marine 
Conservation Biology Institute, remain hard at work to raise public 
awareness about this serious issue.
  The 25th annual International Coastal Cleanup, first initiated in 
1985 by the Center for Environmental Education, took place last 
Saturday. The Coastal Cleanup is the world's largest volunteer effort 
in support of ocean conservation; each year, the Coastal Cleanup 
mobilizes hundreds of thousands of people in over 100 countries to 
clean up our beaches, lakes, and rivers. In the past 25 years the 
Coastal Cleanup has engaged more than 8 million dedicated volunteers, 
who have removed more than 125 million pounds of trash around the 
world.
  Last year, in Guam alone 3,006 volunteers picked up 17,776 pounds of 
trash along 22.5 miles of coastline. This trash included everything 
from 21,900 soda cans to 194 tires, and so much more debris in the form 
of plastic bottles, bags and nets. This effort is a great opportunity 
for citizens to make a hands-on difference in improving the ocean and 
coastal areas. I applaud the Ocean Conservancy for their efforts to 
coordinate this annual event for 25 years, and I urge my colleagues to 
do their part by supporting my legislation to reauthorize the Marine 
Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to reauthorize this highly successful and effective legislation 
that addresses one of the most serious threats to our oceans today.

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