[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E608-E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP AND PIONEERING OCEAN CONSERVATION EFFORTS OF 
                             JULIE PACKARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2026

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished 
career of Ms. Julie Packard on her retirement after forty-two years as 
the founding Executive Director of the globally renowned Monterey Bay 
Aquarium. She enters retirement as an international leader in the field 
of ocean conservation and as a leading voice for science-based policy 
reform in support of our oceans.
  Ms. Packard's commitment to the ocean began on California's Central 
Coast as an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Cruz. 
After earning degrees in biology, she emerged as a leading voice for 
science-based ocean policy, translating research and advocacy into 
meaningful conservation outcomes. Her leadership guided the creation of 
the internationally recognized Seafood Watch program, supported 
California's network of marine protected areas, advanced efforts to end 
shark finning, and strengthened global action against plastic 
pollution. The Aquarium's field research has illuminated the 
conservation challenges facing sea otters, white sharks, and bluefin 
tunas in the wild.
  Since the Aquarium's opening in 1984, Ms. Packard set a standard of 
excellence that has influenced aquariums across the Nation and around 
the world. Under her leadership, the Aquarium has hosted more than 73 
million visitors, and nearly 3 million students and teachers have 
benefited from its free educational programs. With its pioneering 
exhibits of living kelp forests, open-ocean displays, and extensive 
deep-sea galleries, the Aquarium has become a defining landmark in 
California's 19th Congressional District and a beloved gem for tourists 
and locals alike.
  Beyond the Aquarium, Ms. Packard has advanced deep-ocean science and 
philanthropy on an international scale through her role serving local 
impactful organizations. She is a tireless advocate for equity in 
science, supporting scholarships for underrepresented students and 
programs empowering young women and gender-fluid youth in STEM fields.
  Her contributions have earned her some of the most esteemed honors in 
conservation, including the Audubon Medal, the National Marine 
Sanctuary Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award, the California 
Coastal Commission's Coastal Hero Award, and the 2026 Peter Benchley 
Ocean Hero Award. In 2019, she became the second woman in the marine 
sciences and conservation to be the subject of a commissioned portrait 
for the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues in the U.S. House of 
Representatives to join me in honoring and celebrating Ms. Packard as 
she transitions from her executive role. May her legacy of leadership, 
integrity, and unwavering commitment to our ocean continue to guide 
conservation efforts for generations to come.

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