[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 172 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5113-S5114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 419--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 23, 2023, AS ``NATIONAL 
                         MARINE SANCTUARY DAY''

  Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
Warnock, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Heinrich, and Mr. Schatz) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 419

       Whereas, on October 23, 1972, the Marine Protection, 
     Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et 
     seq.) became law and ushered in a new era of ocean 
     conservation;
       Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary System is a 
     nationwide network that conserves spectacular oceans, coasts, 
     and Great Lakes;
       Whereas communities across the United States can nominate 
     their most treasured marine and Great Lakes waters for 
     consideration as national marine sanctuaries;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity, 
     safeguard extraordinary seascapes, historic shipwrecks, and 
     sacred cultural places, and provide abundant recreational 
     opportunities;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries seek opportunities to 
     partner with indigenous governments and communities to 
     achieve shared conservation goals and to support the care-
     taking of ecological resources and cultural sites of 
     indigenous peoples;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect vital habitats 
     for countless species of fish and wildlife, including many 
     species that are listed as threatened or endangered;
       Whereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for 
     healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, for addressing 
     climate change, and for sustaining productive coastal 
     economies;
       Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and its 
     partners work to protect and nurture the growth of the 
     National Marine Sanctuary System;

[[Page S5114]]

       Whereas national marine sanctuaries increase access to 
     nature for all, support coastal communities, and generate 
     billions of dollars annually in local communities by 
     providing jobs in the United States, supporting commercial, 
     Tribal, and recreational fisheries, bolstering tourism and 
     recreation, engaging businesses in stewardship, and driving 
     the growth of the blue economy;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries connect people and 
     communities through science, education, United States 
     history, recreation, and stewardship and inspire community-
     based solutions that help individuals understand and protect 
     the spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, archaeological 
     resources, and cultural seascapes of the United States;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories 
     that enable cooperative science and research that improves 
     resource management and advances innovative public-private 
     partnerships;
       Whereas national marine sanctuaries can help make oceans, 
     coasts, and Great Lakes more resilient by protecting 
     ecosystems that sequester carbon, by safeguarding coastal 
     communities from flooding and storms, and by protecting 
     biodiversity;
       Whereas the United States is a historic maritime Nation, 
     and oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes are central to the way of 
     life of the people of the United States;
       Whereas engaging communities as stewards of these protected 
     waters makes national marine sanctuaries unique and provides 
     a comprehensive, ecosystem-based, highly participatory 
     approach to managing and conserving marine and Great Lakes 
     environments for current and future generations; and
       Whereas October 23, 2023, is recognized as ``National 
     Marine Sanctuary Day'' to increase awareness about the 
     importance of the National Marine Sanctuary System and 
     healthy oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and to celebrate the 
     many recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment 
     of this network of protected waters: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 23, 2023, as ``National Marine 
     Sanctuary Day'';
       (2) encourages the people of the United States and the 
     world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and 
     support the treasured national marine sanctuaries of the 
     United States;
       (3) acknowledges the importance of national marine 
     sanctuaries in supporting community resilience, protecting 
     biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;
       (4) recognizes the importance of national marine 
     sanctuaries for their recreational opportunities and 
     contributions to local and national economies across the 
     United States;
       (5) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary 
     System to protect nationally significant places in oceans, 
     coasts, and Great Lakes;
       (6) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to partner with communities and to complete 
     designations of new national marine sanctuaries; and
       (7) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and 
     work together to support the priorities of the Marine 
     Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 
     1401 et seq.).

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