[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 95 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1002-E1003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      OFFSHORE ENERGY AND JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had tinder consideration the bill (H.R. 2231) to 
     amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to increase 
     energy exploration and production on the Outer Continental 
     Shelf, provide for equitable revenue sharing for all coastal 
     States, implement the reorganization of the functions of the 
     former Minerals Management Service into distinct and separate 
     agencies, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Flores Amendment.
  This amendment would seriously undermine the smart ocean planning 
activities called for

[[Page E1003]]

by the National Ocean Policy. I fail to see why my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle oppose smart management of our ocean and 
coastal resources.
  We depend heavily on our oceans. In 2010 alone, maritime economic 
activities supported 2.7 million jobs and contributed 258 billion 
dollars to our GDP. But there is increasing competition for the use of 
our oceans. Offshore energy facilities, commercial fishing, recreation, 
renewable energy, and shipping are all competing for ocean space and 
resources.
  Yet, despite this complex network of competing interests, our current 
haphazard system makes planning decisions about each industry 
individually, rather than looking at the big picture and planning 
accordingly. Our discussion this week about expanding offshore oil 
drilling is a perfect example of this piecemeal approach that results 
in an inefficient use of our ocean resources.
  Smart regional planning is one answer to this problem. Planning 
processes allow us to work together and find the best solutions that 
offer the most benefits for our oceans and our economies--two systems 
that we all know are deeply intertwined and highly interdependent. 
Smart decisions are based on mathematical analyses, ecological 
assessments, and stakeholder deliberations--not politics. And with the 
guidance of the National Ocean Policy, these processes will happen at 
the regional level, which puts ocean management decisions closer to the 
people on the ground--the industries and jobs that will be impacted by 
ocean management decisions.
  The National Ocean Policy is not a big government initiative, but a 
mechanism for efficient planning and giving regions and states more 
control. The amendment in question would disenfranchise states, 
businesses, and citizens who engage in developing ocean plans.
  Mr. Chair, smart ocean planning is the clear way forward to make the 
most of our ocean resources. The Flores amendment would undercut this 
process, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

                          ____________________