[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL 
                            MARINE SANCTUARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2017

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important 
milestone in my district on the central coast of California. This 
weekend will mark twenty-five years since the establishment of the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Referred to by many as the 
Serengeti of the Sea, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration designated the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 
1992. Twenty-five years later, thanks in large part to this 
designation, the central coast of California has become a vibrant 
international tourist destination. Millions of people from all over the 
world now travel to my district to enjoy the pristine natural beauty of 
this Sanctuary, creating not only cherished memories for visitors, but 
also thousands of jobs for local residents Among these destinations is 
the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a world-renowned aquarium where thousands of 
visitors every year learn about the rare and diverse ecosystems that 
thrive within the giant kelp forests of the Sanctuary.
   While several generations on the central coast of California have 
always known the Monterey Bay to be a place of protected natural 
beauty, a sanctuary designation was a long-delayed dream for many. 
While a Marine Sanctuaries Study Bill was first proposed in 1967, it 
was not until the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 
1972 that the Environmental Protection Agency was authorized by 
Congress to regulate commercial activities in offshore areas. Thus, 
Congress delegated power to the Executive Branch to create federally 
protected marine sanctuaries. Unfortunately, despite tireless local 
efforts to achieve this designation for the Monterey Bay, the Reagan 
administration dropped the area for consideration as a sanctuary in 
1983. The Congressman at the time recalled recently that when he 
approached then- Interior Secretary James Watt to lobby for the 
designation, he pointed out a picture on the wall of the room of a 
beautiful coastline, using it as an example of the kinds of areas 
worthy of conservation. Secretary Watt allegedly replied, ``Looks like 
a good place for an oil rig.''
   However, this did not stop the residents of the central coast from 
achieving their long-held dream. In 1988, Congress voted to re-
authorize the Sanctuaries Act, and the Monterey Bay was included in the 
bill as a proposed sanctuary. It was an important step, but much work 
remained to make certain that the Sanctuary would be large enough to 
ensure the protection of the coastline from offshore oil drilling, and 
other practices that would harm the delicate ecosystem within the 
Monterey Bay. Finally, on September 18, 1992, Congress authorized the 
designation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary through 
legislation proposed by Congressman Leon Panetta. My father has 
referred to this many times as one of his proudest moments, and it 
certainly stands as one of his greatest accomplishments.
   Of course, the thanks for the establishment of the Sanctuary should 
not go to just one man. Rather, it was the culmination of decades of 
tireless work by hundreds of citizens and public servants. Their 
determination preserved a living postcard to pass on to the future 
generations. The endless hours dedicated to this monumental achievement 
stand as an enduring testament to what is possible when citizens take 
an active role in our democracy. When Americans put their minds to 
something, anything is possible.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in taking a moment to 
recognize the value of conserving areas like the Monterey Bay. 
Preserving our nation's natural beauty has a long and storied tradition 
spanning over a century, with champions from both political parties. 
Let us now, then, commit ourselves to the continued preservation of our 
nation's public lands, now and forever.

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