[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13571-13572]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 13571]]

     SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL OCEAN DAY

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 415) expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives that there should be established a National Ocean 
Day to recognize the significant role the ocean plays in the lives of 
the Nation's people and the important role the Nation's people must 
play in the continued life of the ocean, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 415

       Whereas the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface 
     and are key to the life support systems for all creatures on 
     this planet;
       Whereas the oceans contain a wondrous abundance and 
     diversity of life, from the smallest microorganism to the 
     mammoth blue whale;
       Whereas \2/3\ of the world's people live within 50 miles of 
     a coast and 1 out of 6 American jobs are in fishing, 
     shipping, or tourism;
       Whereas the oceans provide almost limitless opportunities 
     for exploration and discovery, and could supply a key source 
     of life-saving medicines and treatments;
       Whereas oceanography has contributed to an understanding of 
     global climate change and the effects of the ocean on climate 
     and weather, which inevitably has an impact on safety and 
     quality of life;
       Whereas efforts are underway to develop a new ocean 
     monitoring system that will give us a better understanding of 
     the critical relationship between oceans and global climate 
     change;
       Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us 
     to track marine mammals, predict deadly storms such as those 
     associated with El Nino, detect illegal fishing, and gain new 
     insights into the complexities of climate change;
       Whereas the oceans and coastal areas supply vital sources 
     of food upon which people depend and that could be 
     deteriorated by poor stewardship;
       Whereas decades of pollution from industrial waste, sewage, 
     and toxic runoff have taken their toll on the health of the 
     oceans and on the marine life in them;
       Whereas recent studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of 
     the world's coral reefs, the ``rainforests of the sea'', are 
     being degraded or destroyed by human activities and ten 
     percent of the reefs may already be degraded beyond recovery;
       Whereas fisheries and the food and products they produce 
     are essential to the world's economy and steps should be 
     taken to ensure that they do not become overexploited;
       Whereas in the 21st century, people will look increasingly 
     to the oceans to meet their everyday needs;
       Whereas the oceans' resources are limited, and nations must 
     work together to conserve them;
       Whereas the oceans are the core of our own humanity, a 
     treasure shared by all nations of the world, and our 
     stewardship of this resource is our responsibility to our 
     children, grandchildren, and all of Earth's inhabitants;
       Whereas June 8th was declared Oceans Day at the Earth 
     Summit Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and similar 
     declarations have been made by individual nations;
       Whereas the State of Hawaii has designated the first 
     Wednesday of June as Ocean Day, in recognition of the very 
     significant role the ocean plays in the lives of Hawaii's 
     people, as well as Hawaii's culture, history, and traditions; 
     and
       Whereas the establishment of a National Ocean Day will 
     raise awareness of the vital role oceans play in human life 
     and that human beings must play in the life of the ocean: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that a National Ocean Day should be 
     established to recognize the significant role the ocean plays 
     in the lives of the Nation's people, and the important role 
     the Nation's people must play in the continued life of the 
     ocean.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on House Resolution 415, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased today that the House is considering House 
Resolution 415. This is a resolution expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives that a National Oceans Day should be established to 
recognize the significant role the ocean plays in our lives, that the 
ocean's resources are limited, and therefore, nations must work 
together to conserve them.
  The oceans will continue to play an important role in the lives of 
our Nation's people, especially as the population grows. Currently, 
more than 50 percent of the Nation's population lives in the coastal 
areas of the United States, and one out of six American jobs is in 
fishing, shipping, or tourism. Yet, we do not have a full understanding 
of the oceans and their resources, upon which we rely so heavily.
  Declaring a National Oceans Day would draw the public's attention to 
the importance of their relationship to the ocean, and more 
importantly, to the need for responsible stewardship. Internationally 
there has been recognition of the importance of the oceans, and the 
State of Hawaii has led the way in this country by declaring a day in 
June as Ocean Day.
  Madam Speaker, I believe we should as a nation join in celebrating 
the significance of our oceans. I urge the House to support this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 415, a 
resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
there should be established a National Oceans Day to recognize the 
significant role the oceans play in our lives today and in the years to 
come.
  I certainly want to thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) for 
introducing this legislation. I also want to thank the committee 
chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and our ranking 
Democrat member, the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), for 
their support of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, as we toil away in our offices today in Washington, 
D.C., it is quite easy to forget just how dependent we are on the 
world's oceans. With two-thirds of the Earth's surface covered with 
water, mostly oceans, they have a significant impact on our daily lives 
and everyone on this planet. The oceans' ability to retain heat longer 
than land masses provides a steady influence on daily temperature 
changes, and the energy generated by hurricanes and cyclones is felt 
throughout the equatorial regions, as well as through the subtropical 
zones.
  Small increases in temperature could melt large amounts of ice at the 
poles. This will have an impact on coastal areas and an enormous impact 
on some small island countries in the Pacific, as well as in the 
Atlantic region, possibly totally submerging some of these atolls.

                              {time}  1445

  Madam Speaker, the ocean also provides substance to much of the 
world's population through seafood and shellfish. In 1999, and for the 
10th consecutive year, and for the information of my colleagues, the 
value of the volume of fish and shellfish imported into the United 
States now is at a record of over $9 billion, approximately 3.9 billion 
pounds.
  The recreation and employment provided by the world's oceans are also 
significant. Coming from a small island community, Madam Speaker, I am 
intimately familiar with the ocean and am constantly reminded of the 
influence it has upon all of us. Passage of this resolution can serve 
as an annual reminder to all of us as to the important role the oceans 
play in our lives.
  Madam Speaker, as the world's population develops in further 
appreciation of this important role, we can hope that the human race 
will treat the oceans with more respect, thereby maintaining this most 
important, valuable resource in our planet today.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the blance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I have no one else to speak on 
this, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to

[[Page 13572]]

yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. 
Mink), who is the chief sponsor of this resolution.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 415 which expresses the sense of Congress that a National 
Ocean Day should be established in recognition of the vital role that 
the ocean plays in the lives of our Nation's people and the significant 
impact our people have on the health of this essential resource.
  I want to take this time to thank the chairman of this committee, the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young); the ranking member, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. George Miller) of the Committee on Resources; the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton); the ranking member, the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) of the Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans for their efforts in 
bringing this bill to the floor today.
  The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and are key to the 
life support systems for all creatures on our planet. The oceans 
contain a wondrous abundance and diversity of life, and two-thirds of 
the world's people live within 50 miles of a coast and one out of six 
American jobs are marine related.
  On June 8, the Earth's Summit Conference convened in Rio de Janeiro 
on 1992 and declared Oceans Day as part of the recognition of the 
importance of this resource and similar declarations have been made by 
other countries.
  My own State followed suit shortly afterwards and declared the first 
Wednesday of June as Oceans Day in recognition of the significant role 
that oceans play in the lives of the people of my State.
  So the adoption of this resolution will encourage the declaration of 
Oceans Day for the United States, and I hope that this resolution will 
pass.
  The support of human existence by the oceans goes well beyond 
fisheries and other coastal resources. Oceanic research has contributed 
greatly to our understanding of global warming and of the effects of 
the ocean on climate and weather. Sea surface temperatures have a major 
effect on atmospheric circulation, warming and cooling trends brought 
on by the ocean currents like El Nino and La Nina have significant 
effects on the amount of rainfall, severity of storms and global 
temperatures. The warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions also 
affects the temperatures of the ocean.
  We take the riches of the ocean for granted at our peril. This 
incredibly rich resource is neither inexhaustible nor immune to the 
actions of humankind. Poor stewardship of the oceans pollutes beaches, 
contaminates the food supply and robs people of a precious resource 
that they depend upon.
  More than two-thirds of the world's fisheries are over exploited and 
more than a third of the world's fisheries are in a state of decline. 
Nearly 60 percent of the oceans' coral reefs, the rain forests of the 
sea, are degraded and destroyed by human activities.
  In the 21st century, people will look increasingly to the resources 
of the oceans to meet its need. It is vital that the United States take 
the lead in ensuring that the oceans are recognized for its importance 
and protected so that its riches can be enjoyed and available for 
future declarations.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this resolution.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I support H. Res. 415 
and urge all Members to do the same. The oceans are vital to the 
welfare of this Nation and its people. The idea of taking one day 
annually to remind people why they need to appreciate our oceans and 
coasts should attract broad bipartisan support.
  Much of today's public awareness in the environment is attributed to 
the establishment 30 years ago of the first Earth Day. But as much as I 
applaud the success of Earth Day, it is my impression that we can and 
should do more to inform the public about the many threats confronting 
our oceans and coasts.
  I have been encouraged by recent efforts of the Clinton 
administration that have focused public attention on ocean issues such 
as the International Year of the Reef in 1997, and the International 
Year of the Ocean in 1998. But it appears to me that an annual event to 
rally public support and interest in the oceans is needed if we are to 
sustain long-term public awareness.
  H. Res. 415 would be a very helpful step in that direction, and I 
commend our colleague from Hawaii, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, for 
proposing this resolution. I also commend the Chairman of the Fisheries 
Subcommittee, Mr. Saxton, and the ranking Democrat, Mr. Faleomavaega, 
for their support and cooperation in fine-tuning the resolution while 
it was under consideration by the Resources Committee. I urge all 
Members to support this bipartisan resolution.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 415, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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