•HCON 131 RS
Whereas the ocean and sea floor contain vast energy and
mineral resources that are critical to the economy of the
United States and the world;
Whereas ocean resources are limited and susceptible to
change as a direct and indirect result of human activities,
and such changes can impact the ability of the ocean to
provide the benefits upon which the Nation depends;
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 there exists significant promise for the development
of new ocean technologies for stewardship of ocean re-
sources that will contribute to the economy through busi-
ness and manufacturing innovations and the creation of
new jobs;
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 the United States ocean policy and issued rec-
ommendations that led to the present Federal structure
for oceanography and marine resource 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 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, which comprises nearly three quarters
of the Earth’s surface, sustains a large part of the
Earth’s biodiversity, provides an important source of
•HCON 131 RS
food, and interacts with and affects global weather and
climate;
Whereas the ocean is critical to national security, is the
common means of transportation among coastal na-
tions, and carries 95 percent of the United States for-
eign trade;
Whereas the ocean and sea floor contain vast energy and
mineral resources that are critical to the economy of
the United States and the world;
Whereas ocean resources are limited and susceptible to
change as a direct and indirect result of human ac-
tivities, and such changes can impact the ability of the
ocean to provide the benefits upon which the Nation
depends;
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 there exists significant promise for the develop-
ment of new ocean technologies for stewardship of
ocean resources that will contribute to the economy
through business and manufacturing innovations and
the creation of new jobs;
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 policy and issued rec-
ommendations that led to the present Federal structure
for oceanography and marine resources management;
•HCON 131 RS
Whereas recent public opinion polls indicate that a large
majority of Americans consider the condition of the
oceans to be important, and that a large majority rate
the overall health of the oceans negatively; and
Whereas the United Nations has declared 1998 to be the
International Year of the Ocean, and in order to ob-
serve this occasion, the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration and other Federal agencies, in
cooperation 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
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) 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
programs;
•HCON 131 RS
(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.
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;
(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 International Year of the Ocean 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-
•HCON 131 RS
tion in oceanographic research and marine re-
source management policies and programs;
(C) identify opportunities to further co-
operation between the United States and other
nations to enhance oceanographic research and
exploration, and to strengthen international ma-
rine resource conservation policies and pro-
grams;
(D) in cooperation with academic institu-
tions, non-governmental organizations, and in-
dustry develop scientific, educational, and re-
source management programs which will ad-
vance the exploration of the ocean, the conserva-
tion of marine habitats and species, and the sus-
tainable use of ocean resources; and
(E) encourage participation in State, local,
and private initiatives and programs that use
education and the arts to increase public aware-
ness of the ocean and the many benefits that it
provides, and to foster understanding of the need
to conserve and sustainably manage ocean re-
sources.
Calendar No. 405
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 131
[Report No. 105–209]
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Acknowledging 1998 as the International Year of
the Ocean and expressing the sense of Congress
regarding the ocean
JUNE 10, 1998
Reported with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble