IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 427 

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

maintain, and rebuild our oceans and its resources. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 5, 2019 

Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 

Mrs. DINGELL, Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Mr. SABLAN, 

Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 

PAPPAS, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. CASTEN of Illinois, Ms. 

GABBARD, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. COHEN, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. KILMER, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, and Mr. ROONEY of Florida) 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 oceans and its resources. 

Whereas the oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet; 

Whereas the oceans generate the oxygen we breathe, regulate 

our climate and weather patterns, and provide healthy 

meals for people every day; 

Whereas scientists estimate more than 95 percent of the 

oceans remain unexplored; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 427 IH 

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

of our planet; 

Whereas changes in ocean chemistry pose a very real threat 

to marine resources, industries, and jobs; 

Whereas about one-third of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves into our oceans, causing water chemistry 

to change and become more acidic; 

Whereas our oceans absorb chemical inputs, including carbon 

dioxide from the atmosphere, and the breakdown of organic matter, and become more acidic; 

Whereas ocean acidification harms oysters, mussels, lobsters, 

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

and reproducing; 

Whereas some finfish lose their sense of smell for identifying 

prey, reproducing, and navigating their habitats in acidic 

waters; 

Whereas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 80 percent of pollution to the oceans 

comes from land; 

Whereas increased temperatures and nutrient runoff can result in colonies of harmful algal blooms that grow excessively and produce toxins leaving ocean areas and waterways in a hypoxic state that threatens marine life; 

Whereas Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and historical connection to the fish populations threatened by 

changing ocean chemistry; 

Whereas, according to the United Nations, more than eight 

million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year; 

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


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 427 IH 

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

Whereas tiny pieces of plastic, fiber, fragments, and 

microbeads also make their way into marine life, 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 we need to improve our understanding of the implications of environmental stressors, such as harmful algal 

blooms and hypoxia, marine debris, warming and more 

acidic ocean waters, overfishing, and rising sea levels; 

Whereas these environmental stressors are indicators of a 

changing climate and threaten our economy and the livelihood of vulnerable coastal communities; 

Whereas, across the United States, the ocean economy supports more than 3 million jobs and contributes at least 

$352 billion in economic activity annually; 

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 

oceans 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 oceans and its resources; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 427 IH 

1 (2) affirms the stewardship of ocean resources 

2 is vital to both present and future generations; and 

3 (3) commits to increasing the investment of 

4 Federal funds in scientific research and monitoring 

5 to better understand our changing oceans. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS