IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 486 

Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, conserve, 

maintain, and rebuild our ocean and its resources. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 9, 2023 

Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mrs. GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mrs. 

CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Mr. CASE, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. 

FITZPATRICK, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. SOTO, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. 

KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. KILMER, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. SALAZAR, and Mr. 

LIEU) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 

Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, 

conserve, maintain, and rebuild our ocean and its resources. 

Whereas the ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet’s surface; 

Whereas the ocean generates the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate and weather patterns, supplies food, is 

a source of cultural value, supports tourism and trade, 

and is an untapped energy resource; 


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•HRES 486 IH 

Whereas Indigenous people have stewarded our oceans and 

are deeply connected to the oceans as a key component 

of culture, food security, and spirituality; 

Whereas scientists estimate more than 80 percent of the 

ocean remains unexplored, and the United States has 

committed to advance a National Strategy on Ocean 

Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization; 

Whereas the health of our ocean is a reflection of the health 

of our planet; 

Whereas the United States has joined the High Level Panel 

for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and committed to advancing a national sustainable economy plan by 2026; 

Whereas the White House Ocean Policy Committee has committed to advancing coordinated Federal action on ocean 

and coastal management, science, technology, and advancing an ocean climate action plan; 

Whereas 2023 marks the third year of the United Nations 

Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 

(in this resolution referred to as ‘‘the Decade’’); 

Whereas the Decade will help accelerate research to address 

gaps in ocean science, strengthen international cooperation, and improve ocean management; 

Whereas a scientific priority of the Decade is to create a comprehensive digital atlas of the ocean and strengthen 

ocean observations; 

Whereas changes in ocean chemistry, temperature, and biodiversity pose a very real threat to marine resources, industries, and jobs; 


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•HRES 486 IH 

Whereas approximately one-fourth of the carbon dioxide in 

the atmosphere dissolves into our ocean, causing water 

chemistry to change and become more acidic; 

Whereas ocean acidification harms oysters, mussels, lobsters, 

clams, corals, and other species building shells and skeletons and reproducing; 

Whereas some finfish experience neurological changes in acidic waters, altering their behaviors and actions; 

Whereas 45 percent of all marine mammals on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of 

Threatened Species have been affected by lost and abandoned fishing gear; 

Whereas, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change, the ocean has taken up more 

than 90 percent of excess heat in the climate system 

since 1970, and marine heat waves are very likely to become longer lasting, more intense, and more extensive; 

Whereas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 80 percent of pollution to the ocean 

comes from land; 

Whereas increased temperatures and nutrient runoff can result in harmful algal blooms that accumulate, die, decompose, and consume oxygen, leaving waterways in a 

hypoxic or anoxic state that can result in massive fish 

kills and the formation of ‘‘dead zones’’ where marine life 

cannot survive; 

Whereas the decrease in biodiversity, and decline and shifts 

in distribution of fish, will affect the livelihoods and food 

security of coastal communities; 


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•HRES 486 IH 

Whereas Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fisheries threatened by changing 

ocean conditions; 

Whereas, according to the United Nations, more than 

11,000,000 tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year 

from land-based sources alone; 

Whereas recent studies suggest that lost, abandoned, or otherwise discarded fishing gear could make up 46 to 70 

percent of the floating macroplastic in the ocean gyres by 

weight; 

Whereas marine debris harms our coastal economies, endangers marine life, destroys important marine habitats, 

propagates invasive species, and creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry; 

Whereas tiny pieces of plastics, fibers, fragments, and 

microbeads also make their way into the marine food 

web, blocking digestive tracts, altering growth, and in 

some cases killing animals and marine organisms; 

Whereas marine debris is considered a growing global crisis 

that requires collaborative work with partners from 

across the world; 

Whereas the United Nations has recognized that vulnerable 

communities disproportionately suffer the consequences 

of environmental degradation caused by plastic pollution 

and recognizes that environmental justice should be a 

consideration in marine conservation; 

Whereas we need to improve our understanding of the implications of environmental stressors, such as ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, marine debris, 

warming ocean temperatures, overfishing, and rising sea 

levels; 


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•HRES 486 IH 

Whereas many of these environmental stressors are indicators 

of a changing climate and threaten our economy and the 

livelihood of vulnerable coastal communities; 

Whereas 5 to 30 percent of global harvestable fish stocks are 

affected by ghost gear every year, threatening global food 

security, coastal communities, and fisher livelihoods; 

Whereas across the United States, coastal communities contribute $9,500,000,000,000 to the United States economy annually as well as support 58,300,000 jobs; 

Whereas, in 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8 as ‘‘World Oceans Day’’; and 

Whereas World Oceans Day provides an opportunity to recommit to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild our 

ocean and its resources: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes World Oceans Day and affirms 

3 the individual and collective duty, both nationally 

4 and internationally, to protect, conserve, maintain, 

5 and rebuild our ocean and its resources; 

6 (2) affirms the stewardship of ocean resources, 

7 cultures, and communities that are vital to both 

8 present and future generations; and 

9 (3) commits to increasing the investment of 

10 Federal funds in scientific research and monitoring 

11 to better understand our changing ocean and em12 power the Federal Government to address and miti13 gate the effects of the changing climate, solve man14 agement challenges, and accomplish the goals of the 


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•HRES 486 IH 

1 United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sus2 tainable Development. 

Æ 


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