29–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 113–204 

TO DESIGNATE THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AS THE RONALD WILSON REAGAN EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF THE 

UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 553] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 553) to designate the exclusive economic zone of the 

United States as the Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic 

Zone of the United States, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill 

do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 553 is to designate the exclusive economic 

zone of the United States as the ‘‘Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive 

Economic Zone of the United States.’’ 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The concept of designating the territorial waters of a sovereign 

nation has its historical roots in the 1600s when European colonial 

powers tried to protect their shores by adopting the ‘‘cannon shot’’ 

rule. This term reflected the principle that dominion over certain 

lands stopped where the range of coastal artillery weapons ended. 

It was generally agreed that three miles, which is measured from 

the territorial sea baseline, was the appropriate designation line 

and the United States made such a claim in 1789. 

In 1799, the 5th Congress of the United States adopted legislation to allow the boarding of foreign flag vessels within 12 nautical 

miles. On September 28, 1945, the U.S. became the first country 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
2 

to abandon the 3-mile limit when President Harry Truman signed 

a Proclamation declaring that this nation had the right to all of the 

ocean resources that existed on the Outer Continental Shelf. The 

Proclamation states that ‘‘Having concern for the urgency of conserving and prudently utilizing its natural resources, the Government of the United States regards the natural resources of the subsoil and seabed of the continental shelf beneath the high seas but 

contiguous to the coasts of the United States as appertaining to the 

United States, subject to its jurisdiction and control.’’ 

On June 23, 1947 and August 1, 1947, the Governments of Chile 

and Peru became the first two nations to establish a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The definition of this term is ‘‘a maritime zone adjacent to the territorial sea that may not exceed beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breath 

of the territorial sea is measured.’’ It allows a coastal nation the 

sole right to explore and extract all natural resources from the 

ocean up to 200 miles off its shores. The Chilean Declaration proclaimed natural ‘‘sovereignty over submarine areas, regardless of 

their size or depth, as well as over the adjacent seas extending as 

far as necessary to reserve, protect, maintain, and utilize natural 

resources and wealth.’’ 

On March 10, 1983, President Ronald Wilson Reagan signed 

Presidential Proclamation 5030. This historic document established 

the 200-mile U.S. EEZ which was defined as a zone contiguous to 

the territorial sea, including zones contiguous to the territorial sea 

of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States 

overseas territories and possessions. Within the EEZ, the United 

States has sovereign rights for the purpose of conserving, exploiting, exploring and managing natural resources of the seabed and 

subsoil for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone. 

In addition, the U.S. has jurisdiction over the establishment and 

use of artificial islands and installations, and for the protection and 

preservation of the marine environment. 

The Proclamation also made it clear that it does not change existing United States policies concerning the continental shelf, fisheries including highly migratory species, freedom of navigation and 

overflight and the management of marine mammals. 

While the United States was not the first nation to establish an 

EEZ, it has the largest such zone with 7,094,375 miles, which is 

nearly 25 percent larger than the country’s total land mass. It extends from the Arctic Ocean to the tropics, comprising at least 11 

different ecosystems. The next four nations in terms of EEZ size 

are France, Australia, Russia and the United Kingdom. In total, 

more than 150 nations have established an EEZ. Over the years, 

some of the more heated international EEZ boundary disputes involved the so-called ‘‘Cod Wars’’ between the United Kingdom and 

Iceland, a dispute over oil reserves in the Beaufort Sea involving 

Canada and the United States and arguments between Norway 

and Russia over who controls the Svalbard Archipelago. 

H.R. 553 will simply designate our EEZ as the ‘‘Ronald Wilson 

Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.’’ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
3 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 553 was introduced on February 6, 2013, by Congressman 

Darrell Issa (R–CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee 

on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs. On June 13, 

2013, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On July 31, 

2013, the Full Natural Resources Committee met to consider the 

bill. The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular 

Affairs was discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman Jared 

Huffman (D–CA) offered an amendment designated l028 to the 

bill; the amendment was not adopted by a bipartisan roll call vote 

of 14 to 24, as follows: 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
4 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTSInsert offset folio 4 here HR204.001

Date: July 31. 2013 

Committee on Natural Resources 

u.s. House of Representatives 

1131h Congress 

Recorded Vote #: 6 

Meeting on i Amendment on: H.R. 553 - HUFFMAN_028, Not agreed to by a vote of 14 yeas and 24 nays 

MEMBERS Yes No Pres MEMBERS Yes No 

Mr. Hastings, W A, Chairman X Mr. Duncan of SC X 

Mr. Defazio, OR, Ranking X Mr. Cardenas, CA X 

Mr. Young, AK Mr. Tipton, CO X 

Mr. Faleomavaega, AS Mr. Horsfiml, NV 

Mr. Gohmcrl, TX Mr. Gosar, AZ X 

i'i!lI'. Pallone. NJ X ,\lfr. Huffman, eA X 

Mr. Bishop, UT X Mr. Labrador, ID X 

Mn. Napolitano. CA X ,14r. Ruiz, CA X 

Mr. Lamborn, CO X Mr. Southerland, FL X 

!vfr. !foit, lv:f JVfs. Shea-Porter, NH X 

Mr. Wittman, VA X YIr. F'lores, TX X 

Mr. GrU'llva. AZ X Mr. l.()wenlhal. CA X 

Mr. Broun, GA X Mr. Runyan, NJ X 

Ms. Bordallo, GU X AIl", Garcia, FL X 

Mr. Fleming, LA X Mr. Amodei, NV 

~Costa, CA X lvEr. Cart;vright, r A X 

Mr. McClintock, CA X Mr. Mullin, OK X 

Mr. Sablan, eM';I! Mr. Stewart, L'T X 

Mr. Thompson, PA X Mr. Daines, MT X 

~Ws. Twmgas, AlA Mr. Cramer, NO X 

Ms, Lummis, "'Y X Mr. LaMalfa, CA X 

Mr. Pier/llisi, PR X Mr. Smith, MO X 

Mr. Bcnishck, MI X 

/'4.1. Hanablls", HI X 

TOTALS 14 24 

Pres 

I 
5 

No further amendments were offered, and the bill was then 

adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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 this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) 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 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII 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 this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, August 22, 2013. 

Hon. DOC HASTINGS, 

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, 

House of Representatives. Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed H.R. 553, a bill to designate the exclusive economic zone of 

the United States as the ‘‘Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States,’’ as ordered reported by the House 

Committee on Natural Resources on July 31, 2013. 

CBO estimates that enacting this legislation to name the exclusive economic zone, which includes coastal waters extending from 

three to nine miles off the coast to 200 miles offshore, would have 

no significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 

not apply. H.R. 553 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 

would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by 

clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 

this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or 

tax expenditures. CBO estimates that enacting this legislation 

would have no significant impact on the federal budget and would 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
6 

not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to designate the exclusive economic zone of the United 

States as the ‘‘Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of 

the United States’’. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5

Directed Rule Making. The Chairman does not believe that this 

bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific 

rule-making proceedings. 

Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not establish or 

reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was not included in 

any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 

pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or identified in the 

most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Public Law 95–220, 

as amended by Public Law 98–169) as relating to other programs. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
(7) 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

The framework that allows nations to peacefully claim a 200 

nautical mile (nm) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and establish 

sovereign rights to the natural resources within it is the 1982 

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). A 

total of 162 nations have endorsed UNCLOS, including all of the 

major Western powers except the United States. The major East 

Asian powers are also parties to UNCLOS. Both Japan and China 

ratified the treaty in 1996. The United States played a prominent 

and successful role in drafting and negotiating UNCLOS, yet it was 

neither signed by President Reagan nor ratified by the Senate during the Reagan Administration. 

However, President Reagan did claim the U.S. EEZ by Presidential Proclamation in 1983, pursuant to the authority created by 

UNCLOS. Cherry-picking this particular piece of UNCLOS without 

supporting the treaty itself showed poor leadership, and was a failure to take advantage of the momentum the treaty had gained at 

the time. The Senate has since failed to ratify UNCLOS despite the 

support of both Bush administrations, the Clinton and Obama administrations, secretaries of State and Defense under Republican 

and Democratic presidents, the oil and natural gas industry, and 

other industries with interests in our territorial waters. UNCLOS 

accession by the United States would be prudent considering the 

substantial benefits it offers for navigation, security, and environmental protection. 

H.R. 553 would designate the U.S. EEZ, as the ‘‘Ronald Wilson 

Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.’’ The bill 

would deem any reference to the EEZ in a law, map, regulation, 

document, paper, or other record of the United States to be a reference to the ‘‘Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone of 

the United States.’’ Aside from being a silly exercise and a colossal 

waste of time, this legislation would bestow an undeserved honor 

on someone who has already had plenty of public and private entities named after him. A massive federal building, a major airport, 

and a nuclear powered aircraft carrier top the list. President Reagan’s refusal to support UNCLOS has left the United States on the 

sidelines while other nations develop extended continental shelf resources, plan to divvy up the Arctic, and explore the possibility of 

mining the deep seabed. 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
8 

H.R. 553 passed the Committee by voice vote without Democratic 

support. Republicans rejected an amendment offered by Mr. 

Huffman that would have made the designation in the bill contingent upon the Senate ratifying UNCLOS. In the absence of 

UNCLOS, President Reagan would not have been able to claim the 

U.S. EEZ without the use of military force. His shortsightedness 

and the subsequent recalcitrance of Republicans in the Senate have 

left America without a seat at the table as important decisions 

about maritime security, marine resources, and ocean exploration 

are being made. For these reasons, we oppose H.R. 553 as reported. 

PETER DEFAZIO. 

GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO

SABLAN. 

Æ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REPORTS