```

[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 8 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 8

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 24, 1997

                                Received

                              May 13, 1997

   Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the significance of maintaining the health and stability of 
                         coral reef ecosystems.

Whereas coral reefs are among the world's most biologically diverse and 
        productive marine habitats, and are often described as the tropical rain 
        forests of the oceans;
Whereas healthy coral reefs provide the basis for subsistence, commercial 
        fisheries, and coastal and marine tourism and are of vital economic 
        importance to coastal States and territories of the United States 
        including Florida, Ha- 
    waii, Georgia, Texas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
        and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas healthy coral reefs function as natural, regenerating coastal barriers, 
        protecting shorelines and coastal areas from high waves, storm surges, 
        and accompanying losses of human life and property;
Whereas the scientific community has long established that coral reefs are 
        subject to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic threats;
Whereas the United States has taken measures to protect national coral reef 
        resources through the designation and management of several marine 
        protected areas, containing reefs of the Flower Garden Banks in the Gulf 
        of Mexico, the Florida Keys in south Florida, and offshore Hawaii, 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa;
Whereas the United States, acting through its agencies, has established itself 
        as a global leader in coral reef stewardship by launching the 
        International Coral Reef Initiative and by maintaining professional 
        networks for the purposes of sharing knowledge and information on coral 
        reefs, furnishing near real-time data collected at coral reef sites, 
        providing a repository for historical data relating to coral reefs, and 
        making substantial contributions to the general fund of coral reef 
        knowledge; and
Whereas 1997 has been declared the ``International Year of the Reef'' by the 
        coral reef research community and over 40 national and international 
        scientific, conservation, and academic organizations: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress recognizes the significance of maintaining the health 
and stability of coral reef ecosystems, by--
            (1) promoting comprehensive stewardship for coral reef 
        ecosystems;
            (2) encouraging research, monitoring, and assessment of and 
        education on coral reef ecosystems; and
            (3) improving the coordination of coral reef efforts and 
        activities of Federal agencies, academic institutions, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and industry.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 23, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.
```