III

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 131

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 28, 1998

Received and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Acknowledging 1998 as the International Year of the Ocean

and expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.

Whereas the ocean, which comprises nearly three-quarters of

the Earth’s surface, sustains a large part of the Earth’s

biodiversity, provides an important source of food, and

interacts with and affects global weather and climate;

Whereas the ocean is critical to national security, is the common means of transportation among coastal nations, and

carries 95 percent of the United States foreign trade;
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Whereas the ocean and sea floor contain vast energy and

mineral resources that are critical to the economy of the

United States and the world;

Whereas ocean resources are limited and susceptible to

change as a direct and indirect result of human activities,

and such changes can impact the ability of the ocean to

provide the benefits upon which the Nation depends;

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 there exists significant promise for the development

of new ocean technologies for stewardship of ocean resources that will contribute to the economy through business and manufacturing innovations and the creation of

new jobs;

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 policy and issued recommendations that led to the present Federal structure

for oceanography and marine resource management; and

Whereas 1998 has 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 resource,s have

resolved to promote exploration, utilization, conservation,

and public awareness of the ocean: Now, therefore, be it
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Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

(1) the ocean is of paramount importance 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 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 programs;

(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.

Passed the House of Representatives November 13,

1997.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.