IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1496 
Supporting the designation of October 23, 2024, as ‘‘National Marine 
Sanctuary Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself and Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the designation of October 23, 2024, as 
‘‘National Marine Sanctuary Day’’. 
Whereas, on October 23, 1972, the Marine Protection, Re-
search, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et 
seq.) became law and ushered in a new era of ocean con-
servation; 
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary System is a nation-
wide network that conserves spectacular ocean, coasts, 
and Great Lakes waters; 
Whereas communities across the United States can nominate 
their most treasured places in marine and Great Lakes 
waters for consideration as national marine sanctuaries; 
Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity and 
vital habitats for countless species of fish and wildlife, 
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safeguard extraordinary seascapes, historic shipwrecks, 
and sacred cultural places, and provide abundant rec-
reational opportunities; 
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 
1431 et seq.) aims to coordinate plans for the protection 
and management of the National Marine Sanctuary Sys-
tem in coordination with Federal agencies, State and 
local governments, and Native American tribes and orga-
nizations concerned with continuing the health and resil-
ience of these marine areas; 
Whereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for a 
healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, addressing cli-
mate change, and sustaining productive coastal econo-
mies; 
Whereas national marine sanctuaries increase access to na-
ture and support coastal communities, and generate bil-
lions of dollars annually in local communities by pro-
viding jobs in the United States, supporting commercial, 
Tribal, and recreational fisheries, bolstering tourism and 
recreation, engaging businesses in stewardship, and driv-
ing the growth of the blue economy; 
Whereas national marine sanctuaries connect people and 
communities through science, education, recreation, and 
stewardship that inspire community-based solutions that 
help individuals understand and protect the Nation’s 
most spectacular underwater habitats, wildlife, archae-
ological resources, and cultural seascapes of the United 
States; 
Whereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories 
to conduct cooperative science and research to improve 
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resource management and advance innovative public-pri-
vate partnerships; 
Whereas national marine sanctuaries can help make the 
ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes more resilient by pro-
tecting ecosystems that sequester carbon, safeguarding 
coastal communities from flooding and storms, and pro-
tecting biodiversity; 
Whereas the United States of America is a maritime Nation, 
and the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes are central to the 
way of life of the people of the United States; 
Whereas engaging communities as stewards of these pro-
tected waters makes national marine sanctuaries unique 
and provides a comprehensive, highly participatory ap-
proach to managing and conserving marine and Great 
Lakes environments for current and future generations; 
and 
Whereas October 23, 2024, is recognized as ‘‘National Ma-
rine Sanctuary Day’’ to increase awareness about the im-
portance of the National Marine Sanctuary System and 
a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes and celebrate 
the many recreational opportunities available for the en-
joyment of this network of protected waters: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Ma-
rine Sanctuary Day’’; 
(2) encourages the people of the United States 
and the world to responsibly visit, experience, recre-
ate in, and support the treasured national marine 
sanctuaries of the United States; 
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(3) acknowledges the importance of national 
marine sanctuaries to supporting community resil-
ience, protecting biodiversity, and increasing access 
to nature; 
(4) recognizes the importance of national ma-
rine sanctuaries for their recreational opportunities 
and contributions to local and national economies 
across the United States; 
(5) celebrates the ability of the National Marine 
Sanctuary System to protect nationally significant 
places in the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes; 
(6) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration to partner with communities 
and find consensus to complete designations of new 
national marine sanctuaries; and 
(7) encourages Federal agencies to balance pri-
orities and work together to support the priorities of 
the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries 
Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.). 
Æ 
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