[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MARINE DEBRIS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed H.R. 1171, known as 
the Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012.
  This act reauthorizes the NOAA Marine Debris Program at currently 
appropriated levels through fiscal year 2015. It has strong bipartisan 
support, particularly from my colleague Don Young, who was an original 
co-sponsor.
  Look, nobody wants to go out on the water or to sit on the beach and 
see trash. But it's not just an eyesore--marine debris is a very 
critical problem for marine ecosystems, fisheries, and shipping. Marine 
debris can have devastating impacts on the U.S. economy too. For 
instance, it is estimated that $250 million of marketable lobster is 
lost annually to derelict fishing gear, which can also cause up to $792 
million per year in damages to boat propellers.
  Right now, an estimated 5-20 million tons of debris from the Japan's 
tsunami are floating across the Pacific Ocean toward the United States. 
As this first wave of tsunami debris--including a 66-ft dock teaming 
with over 90 non-native species--washes ashore, I am astounded by the 
magnitude of this disaster's global impact. Cleanup costs can be huge. 
Alaska has already spent $200,000 just for aerial monitoring of the 
local debris field from the Japanese tsunami. While the Japanese 
tsunami debris resulted from a natural disaster, ocean trash is 
preventable.
  Added to the debris that's already out there--is an average of 7 
million tons of new trash dumped into the ocean each year. Solving this 
problem is going to require:
  Local action, national and international coordination;
  Unique partnerships between private and public sectors;
  Innovative technology;
  Education, Research and Prevention.
  The NOAA Marine Debris Program has been achieving real successes at 
sea and on shore, for a modest amount of funding. But this program 
expired in 2010 and must be reauthorized. Over the past 5 years, 
funding has ranged from 3.2 million to 4.9 million dollars.
  It is clear from the recent tsunami debris events--the boat off the 
coast of Washington and the dock washed ashore in Oregon--that the 
problem is growing. There is no doubt in my mind that the Marine Debris 
Program could effectively spend $10 million dollars a year--that is the 
magnitude of the problem. And that is what was authorized in 2006. As 
this bill moves through the legislative process, I hope we can bring up 
the funding levels. Most of these funds go to local communities in the 
form of grants for marine debris cleanup, education, research, and 
prevention efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, NOAA's Marine Debris Program is leading the effort to 
address this growing problem proactively and I thank my colleagues for 
passing for H.R. 1171.

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