IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1282 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the promotion 

of recreational fishing and boating should be a national priority, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2010 

Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Mr. BOREN, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr. MILLER

of Florida, and Mr. ROSS) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the promotion of recreational fishing and boating should 

be a national priority, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the United States is fortunate to possess a wealth 

of natural resources and has a long history of stewardship of those resources; 

Whereas just as a farmer carefully tends the land on which 

his survival depends, many of the Nation’s best resource 

stewards are those who use the resource and for whom 

the resource holds intrinsic value for sustenance, survival, 

or cultural tradition; 


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•HRES 1282 IH 

Whereas recreational fishermen (both men and women) are 

prime examples of responsible resource stewards, as they 

place an extremely high value on the quality and existence of the Nation’s coastal waters and freshwater resources; 

Whereas recreational fishermen respect the Nation’s marine 

and freshwater habitats because they know that in order 

for these ecosystems to sustain the aquatic life and natural wonder for which they are sought, these resources 

must be protected and carefully managed; 

Whereas fishing as a pastime in the United States boasts 

strong support, with 93 percent of Americans indicating 

they support legal recreational fishing, and it is an activity that is enjoyed by Americans across all age, gender, 

socioeconomic, and ethnic distinctions; 

Whereas recreational fishermen contribute significantly to the 

national and regional economies through expenditures related to equipment and gear, fuel, lodging, and food, with 

current total sportfishing-related expenditures exceeding 

$125 billion and supporting over 1 million jobs; 

Whereas President Obama created an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force in June 2009 and charged the Task 

Force with recommending a national policy to ensure the 

protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, 

coasts, and the Great Lakes; 

Whereas the Task Force has issued two reports since its creation: the Interim Report of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and the Interim Framework for Effective 

Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning; 

Whereas in each of these reports the Task Force failed to expressly recognize the promotion of responsibly regulated 


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•HRES 1282 IH 

recreational fishing as a national priority for the oceans, 

coasts, and the Great Lakes; and 

Whereas without recognition of the promotion of recreational 

fishing as a national priority, recreational fishing opportunities could become more limited, curtailed, or even potentially eliminated: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) continued access to public waters for rec4 reational fishing and boating should be a national 

5 priority; 

6 (2) the final report of the Interagency Ocean 

7 Policy Task Force should include the promotion of 

8 recreational fishing and boating as a national pri9 ority; and 

10 (3) in implementing the recommendations of 

11 the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, the Presi12 dent should take necessary actions to provide for the 

13 promotion of recreational fishing and boating. 

Æ 


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