[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY

  (Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the President's 
executive order establishing a comprehensive national ocean policy. 
Now, more than ever, we need a coordinated approach for the management 
of our ocean and coastal resources.
  The tragedy in the gulf is a wake-up call. We would have been much 
better prepared to deal with this disaster had a national ocean policy 
been in place before the spill.
  But Mr. Speaker, oil spills are just one threat. Overfishing and 
ocean acidification are also evidence of the urgent need to ensure wise 
stewardship of our coasts, our oceans, and the Great Lakes.
  In the gulf and around the country, our communities are intimately 
linked to healthy coastal oceanic ecosystems. A national ocean policy 
will make our oceans healthier and our coastal economy stronger. It 
will strengthen ocean governance and coordination. It will bring a 
science-based approach to ocean conservation.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the President for taking this historic step. 
This vision of healthy, resilient oceans will ensure that future 
generations can share in the wonders of our cherished seas.

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