House Calendar No. 93

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 131

[Report No. 105–262]

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the

ocean.

SEPTEMBER 23, 1997

Reported with amendments, referred to the House

Calendar and ordered to be printed
IV

House Calendar No. 93

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 131

[Report No. 105–262]

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 29, 1997

Mr. SAXTON (for himself and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

SEPTEMBER 23, 1997

Additional sponsors: Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mrs.

MINK of Hawaii, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. HORN,

Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. GREEN, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. DAVIS

of Florida, Mr. BILBRAY, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, and Mr. PORTER

SEPTEMBER 23, 1997

Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar and ordered to

be printed

[Strike out the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]

[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic]

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean.

Whereas the ocean comprises nearly three quarters of the

surface of the Earth;
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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 these 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; and

Whereas the United Nations has declared 1998 to be 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

Whereas the ocean comprises nearly three quarters of the

surface of the Earth;
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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 these 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 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 orga-
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nizations concerned with ocean science and marine resources, have resolved to promote exploration, utilization, conservation, and public awareness of the ocean:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the ocean is of paramount importance to

4 the economic future, environmental quality, and na5 tional security of the United States;

6 (2) the United States has a responsibility to ex7 ercise and promote comprehensive stewardship of the

8 ocean and the living marine resources it contains;

9 and

10 (3) the agencies of the United States Govern11 ment, and all other public and private organizations,

12 are encouraged to strive toward a better understand13 ing of the ocean, communicate this understanding to

14 the people of the United States, and thereby pro15 mote the exploration of the ocean, the sustainable

16 use of ocean resources, and the conservation of these

17 resources for future generations.

18 That it is the sense of the Congress that—

19 (1) the ocean is of paramount importance to the

20 economic future, environmental quality, and national

21 security of the United States;
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1 (2) the United States has a responsibility to ex2 ercise and promote comprehensive stewardship of the

3 ocean and the living marine resources it contains;

4 and

5 (3) Federal agencies are encouraged to take ad6 vantage of the United States and international focus

7 on the oceans in 1998, to—

8 (A) review United States oceanography and

9 marine resource management policies and pro10 grams;

11 (B) identify opportunities to streamline,

12 better direct, and increase interagency coopera13 tion in oceanographic research and marine re14 source management policies and programs; and

15 (C) develop scientific, educational, and re16 source management programs which will ad17 vance the exploration of the ocean and the sus18 tainable use of ocean resources.