H. Res. 415
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 11, 2000.
Whereas the oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface
and are key to the life support systems for all creatures
on this planet;
Whereas the oceans contain a wondrous abundance and diver-
sity of life, from the smallest microorganism to the mam-
moth blue whale;
Whereas two-thirds of the world’s people live within 50 miles
of a coast and one out of six American jobs are in fish-
ing, shipping, or tourism;
Whereas the oceans provide almost limitless opportunities for
exploration and discovery, and could supply a key source
of life-saving medicines and treatments;
Whereas oceanography has contributed to an understanding
of global climate change and the effects of the ocean on
climate and weather, which inevitably has an impact on
safety and quality of life;
Whereas efforts are underway to develop a new ocean moni-
toring system that will give us a better understanding of
the critical relationship between oceans and global cli-
mate change;
Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us
to track marine mammals, predict deadly storms such as
•HRES 415 EH
those associated with El Nin˜o, detect illegal fishing, and
gain new insights into the complexities of climate change;
Whereas the oceans and coastal areas supply vital sources of
food upon which people depend and that could be deterio-
rated by poor stewardship;
Whereas decades of pollution from industrial waste, sewage,
and toxic runoff have taken their toll on the health of the
oceans and on the marine life in them;
Whereas recent studies suggest that nearly 60 percent of the
world’s coral reefs, the ‘‘rainforests of the sea’’, are being
degraded or destroyed by human activities and 10 per-
cent of the reefs may already be degraded beyond recov-
ery;
Whereas fisheries and the food and products they produce are
essential to the world’s economy and steps should be
taken to ensure that they do not become overexploited;
Whereas in the 21st century, people will look increasingly to
the oceans to meet their everyday needs;
Whereas the oceans’ resources are limited, and nations must
work together to conserve them;
Whereas the oceans are the core of our own humanity, a
treasure shared by all nations of the world, and our stew-
ardship of this resource is our responsibility to our chil-
dren, grandchildren, and all of Earth’s inhabitants;
Whereas June 8th was declared Oceans Day at the Earth
Summit Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and simi-
lar declarations have been made by individual nations;
Whereas the State of Hawaii has designated the first
Wednesday of June as Ocean Day, in recognition of the
very significant role the ocean plays in the lives of Ha-
•HRES 415 EH
waii’s people, as well as Hawaii’s culture, history, and
traditions; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Ocean Day will
raise awareness of the vital role oceans play in human life
and that human beings must play in the life of the ocean:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Represent-
atives that a National Ocean Day should be established to
recognize the significant role the ocean plays in the lives of
the Nation’s people, and the important role the Nation’s peo-
ple must play in the continued life of the ocean.
Attest:
Clerk.