IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 929 
Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, conserve, 
maintain, and rebuild the ocean and its resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 8, 2018 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, 
Mr. PAYNE, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. PA-
NETTA, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. LANCE, Mr. 
CURBELO of Florida, Mr. SANFORD, Mr. ISSA, Mr. MOULTON, Ms. 
HANABUSA, and Mr. TED LIEU of California) 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 com-
mittee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, 
conserve, maintain, and rebuild the ocean 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; 
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•HRES 929 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 our oceans absorb chemical inputs, including carbon 
dioxide from the atmosphere, and the breakdown of or-
ganic matter, and become more acidic; 
Whereas ocean acidification harms oysters, mussels, lobsters, 
clams, corals, and other species building shells, skeletons, 
and reproducing; 
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 re-
sult in colonies of harmful algal blooms that grow exces-
sively and produce toxins leaving ocean areas and water-
ways in a hypoxic state that threatens marine life; 
Whereas Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and histor-
ical 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 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 impli-
cations of environmental stressors, such as harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia, marine debris, warming and more 
acidic ocean waters, overfishing, and rising sea levels; 
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•HRES 929 IH 
Whereas these problems are indicators of a changing climate 
and threaten our economy and the livelihood of vulner-
able coastal communities; 
Whereas across the United States the ocean economy sup-
ports more than 3 million jobs and contributes at least 
$352 billion in economic activity annually; 
Whereas, in 2008, the United Nations General Assembly des-
ignated June 8 as ‘‘World Oceans Day’’; and 
Whereas World Oceans Day provides an opportunity to re-
commit to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild our 
oceans and its resources: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, that the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes World Oceans Day and affirms 
the individual and collective duty, both nationally 
and internationally, to protect, conserve, maintain, 
and rebuild the ocean and its resources; 
(2) affirms the stewardship of ocean resources 
is vital to both present and future generations; and 
(3) commits to increasing the investment of 
Federal funds in scientific research and monitoring 
to better understand our changing oceans. 
Æ 
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