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 Is-
land, 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;
•HCON 131 RH
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 cli-
mate, 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 coopera-
tion 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;
•HCON 131 RH
Whereas the ocean contains diverse species of fish and
other living organisms which form the largest eco-
system 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 cli-
mate, 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 Ma-
rine 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 re-
source 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-
•HCON 131 RH
nizations concerned with ocean science and marine re-
sources, have resolved to promote exploration, utiliza-
tion, conservation, and public awareness of the ocean:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the ocean is of paramount importance to
the economic future, environmental quality, and na-
tional security of the United States;
(2) the United States has a responsibility to ex-
ercise and promote comprehensive stewardship of the
ocean and the living marine resources it contains;
and
(3) the agencies of the United States Govern-
ment, and all other public and private organizations,
are encouraged to strive toward a better understand-
ing of the ocean, communicate this understanding to
the people of the United States, and thereby pro-
mote the exploration of the ocean, the sustainable
use of ocean resources, and the conservation of these
resources for future generations.
That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the ocean is of paramount importance to the
economic future, environmental quality, and national
security of the United States;
•HCON 131 RH
(2) the United States has a responsibility to ex-
ercise and promote comprehensive stewardship of the
ocean and the living marine resources it contains;
and
(3) Federal agencies are encouraged to take ad-
vantage of the United States and international focus
on the oceans in 1998, to—
(A) review United States oceanography and
marine resource management policies and pro-
grams;
(B) identify opportunities to streamline,
better direct, and increase interagency coopera-
tion in oceanographic research and marine re-
source management policies and programs; and
(C) develop scientific, educational, and re-
source management programs which will ad-
vance the exploration of the ocean and the sus-
tainable use of ocean resources.