[House Report 105-262]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-262
_______________________________________________________________________


 
               SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE OCEAN

                                _______
                                

 September 23, 1997.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 131]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) expressing the sense 
of Congress regarding the ocean, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the 
concurrent resolution as amended be agreed to.
    The amendments are as follows:
    Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert in 
lieu thereof of the following:

    That it is the sense of the Congress that--
    (1) the ocean is of paramount importance to the economic future, 
environment quality, and national security of the United States;
    (2) the United States has a responsibility to exercise and promote 
comprehensive stewardship of the ocean and the living marine resources 
it contains; and
    (3) Federal agencies are encouraged to take advantage of the United 
States and international focus on the oceans in 1998, to--
    (A) review United States oceanography and marine resource 
management policies and program;
    (B) identify opportunities to streamline, better direct, and 
increase interagency cooperation in oceanographic research and marine 
resource management policies and programs; and
    (C) develop scientific, educational, and resource management 
programs which will advance the exploration of the ocean and the 
sustainable use of ocean resources.

    Amend the preamble to read as follows:

    Whereas the ocean comprises nearly three quarters of the surface of 
the Earth;
    Whereas the ocean contains diverse species of fish and other living 
organisms which form the largest ecosystem on Earth;
    Whereas these living marine resources provide important food 
resources to the United States and the world, and unsustainable use of 
resources has unacceptable economic, environmental, and cultural 
consequences;
    Whereas the ocean and sea floor contain vast energy and mineral 
resources which are critical to the economy of the United States and 
the world;
    Whereas the ocean largely controls global weather and climate, and 
is the ultimate source of all water resources;
    Whereas the vast majority of the deep ocean is unexplored and 
unknown, and the ocean is truly the last frontier on Earth for science 
and civilization;
    Whereas the ocean is the common means of transportation between 
coastal nations and carries the majority of the United States foreign 
trade;
    Whereas any nation's use or misuse of ocean resources has effects 
far beyond that nation's borders;
    Whereas it has been 30 years since the Commission on Marine 
Science, Engineering, and Resources (popularly known as the Stratton 
Commission) met to examine the state of United States ocean and coastal 
policy, and issued recommendations which led to the present Federal 
structure for oceanography and marine resource management; and
    Whereas 1998 had been declared the International Year of the Ocean, 
and in order to observe such celebration, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and other Federal agencies in cooperation 
with organizations concerned with ocean science and marine resources, 
have resolved to promote exploration, utilization, conservation, and 
public awareness of the ocean: Now, therefore, be it

                          purpose of the bill

    The purpose of H. Con. Res. 131 is to express the sense of 
Congress regarding the ocean.

                  background and need for legislation

    The ocean covers nearly three-quarters of the earth's 
surface. It contains enormous energy, mineral, and fishery 
resources, carries the vast majority of international commerce, 
and supports tourism and recreation industries worldwide.
    The ocean has vast importance to the United States. The 
U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, that portion of the oceans 
controlled by the U.S., is equal in size to the entire land 
area of the United States. Fifty-four percent of Americans live 
in coastal areas. Ninety-eight percent of U.S. exports travel 
by ship. The average American consumes 15 pounds of seafood 
annually, and this supports a $40 billion industry. Offshore 
oil and gas production supplies 10 percent of U.S. oil 
consumption and 25 percent of U.S. natural gas consumption. 
Clearly the ocean is extremely important to the economy, 
national security, and environmental quality of the United 
States.
    Despite this importance, the ocean remains one of the least 
understood environments on earth. The surface of the planet 
Venus has been mapped more accurately than the majority of the 
ocean floor. For example, within the last several years, 
scientists exploring the deep ocean have discovered new and 
bizarre environments populated by strange organisms. 
Hydrothermal vent communities on the ocean floor contain 
bacteria and worms that inhabit the most extreme environments 
on earth, thriving in hot, caustic chemical brines in the 
complete absence of oxygen.
    Our lack of understanding of ocean environments impacts the 
ability of the U.S. to effectively manage its marine resources. 
A significant increase in fisheries research and management 
efforts within the last two decades have improved the health of 
many fisheries, but some fish stocks continue to decline. These 
problems can only be addressed through long-term research and a 
commitment to better management.
    However, many Federal ocean programs have suffered from 
inconsistent support. Funding for oceanographic research has 
remained nearly constant, while other scientific research 
funding has increased. Seagoing commerce has tripled in the 
last fifty years and continues to increase, but Federal funding 
for nautical mapping and charting has been cut in half over the 
last 15 years. The Committee feels that the current lack of 
emphasis on ocean programs within the Federal Government is 
inconsistent with the importance of the ocean to the U.S. 
economy and environment.
    1998 has been declared the International Year of the Ocean. 
International organizations including the United Nations, the 
International Maritime Organization, the International 
Geophysical Union, are planning a series of conferences, 
cooperative scientific efforts, and educational events. The 
objective of the Year of the Ocean is to ``focus the attention 
of the public, governments, and decision-makers worldwide on 
the importance of the ocean as a resource.''
    The Committee notes that there is a plethora of U.S. ocean 
programs, which are located in numerous departments and 
agencies. In 1969, the Stratton Commission was formed to 
investigate Federal ocean and coastal activities and recommend 
methods to streamline and improve these programs. This 
commission made recommendations which led to significant 
improvements, including the establishment of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the passage of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
    The international attention on the oceans in 1998 presents 
an excellent opportunity to reexamine Federal ocean programs, 
evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the Stratton 
Commission's recommendations, and strive to improve Federal 
ocean programs. The Committee strongly encourages Federal 
agencies to take advantage of this opportunity to improve 
interagency and international cooperation, take part in global 
scientific initiatives, and enhance marine resource management 
throughout the United States.
    H. Con. Res. 131 has two purposes. First, it expresses the 
sense of Congress that understanding of the oceans and marine 
resources is critical to the economy, environmental quality, 
and national security of the United States. Second, it 
encourages the Administration to take advantage of the 
international focus on the ocean in 1998 to examine U.S. ocean 
programs and take substantive actions to improve the 
understanding and use of marine resources.

                            committee action

    H. Con. Res. 131 was introduced on July 29, 1997, by 
Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Chairman, Subcommittee on 
Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans, and Congressman 
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee 
on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans. The bill was 
referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife, and Oceans. On September 11, 1997, the Subcommittee 
met to mark up H. Con. Res. 131. Mr. Saxton offered an 
amendment to encourage the Administration to take advantage of 
the Year of the Ocean to enhance U.S. ocean programs. The 
amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill was then ordered 
favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote. On 
September 17, 1997, the full Resources Committee met to 
consider H. Con. Res. 131. No new amendments were offered, and 
the bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to 
the House of Representatives by voice vote.

            committee oversight findings and recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) for rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Resources' oversight findings 
and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   constitutional authority statement

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H. Con. Res. 131.

                        cost of the legislation

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H. Con. Res. 131. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides 
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has 
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the 
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.

                     compliance with house rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H. Con. 
Res. 131 does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H. Con. Res. 131.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H. Con. 
Res. 131 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               congressional budget office cost estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                Washington, DC, September 18, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
reviewed H. Con. Res. 131, a concurrent resolution expressing 
the sense of the Congress regarding the ocean, as ordered 
reported by the Committee on Resources on September 17, 1997.
    CBO estimates that adopting this resolution would have no 
effect on the federal budget. H. Con. Res. 131 would express 
the sense of the Congress that (1) the ocean is of paramount 
important to the economic future, environmental quality, and 
national security of the United States; (2) the United States 
has a responsibility to exercise and promote comprehensive 
stewardship of the ocean and the living marine resources it 
contains; and (3) federal agencies are encouraged to examine 
and improve United States ocean programs and to advance the 
exploration of the ocean and the appropriate use of ocean 
resources.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Gary Brown. 
This estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
            Sincerely,
                                             James L. Blum,
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).

                    compliance with public law 104-4

    H. Con. Res. 131 contains no unfunded mandates.

                        changes in existing law

    If enacted, H. Con. Res. 131 would make no changes in 
existing law.
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