[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8638]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL OCEANS MONTH

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, the oceans on either side of the United States 
defined this great country, and these oceans are in trouble. They are 
so big and so vast with so many aspects not understood that it's hard 
for people to comprehend that they are in trouble.
  Without the ocean, we wouldn't have the air we breathe or much of the 
protein we eat. It is our world's largest public trust, and it is 
essential to human life as we know it.
  It captures one-third of our carbon emissions, hosts millions of 
species, and offers limitless recreational and educational 
opportunities worldwide. Yet over 14 billion pounds of trash end up in 
our ocean and our beaches each year.
  Therefore, I urge the Nation to celebrate National Oceans Month and 
honor World Oceans Day, which is tomorrow, by taking advantage of 
activities of the Capitol Hill Ocean Week.
  This summer get wet, go to the beach, clean it up. Clean up the 
polluted rivers that flow into our oceans, and get in there and 
volunteer and learn more about the ocean resources upon which we so 
undeniably rely and how you can work to protect them.
  I thank all those who have come to Washington for Capitol Hill Ocean 
Week. We need political friends. The ocean needs political friends.

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