Title: Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary System.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
This resolution (1) recognizes and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972; and (2) acknowledges the importance of national marine sanctuaries to supporting community resilience, protecting biodiversity, and increasing access to nature.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1442 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1442

   Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary 
                                System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 21, 2022

 Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. 
    Case, Mr. Panetta, Ms. Malliotakis, and Ms. Mace) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the National Marine Sanctuary 
                                System.

Whereas, on October 23, 1972, the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries 
        Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) became law and ushered in a new era 
        of ocean conservation;
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuary System today is a nationwide network that 
        conserves spectacular ocean and Great Lakes waters;
Whereas communities across the Nation can nominate their most treasured places 
        in marine and Great Lakes waters for consideration as national marine 
        sanctuaries;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity, safeguard 
        extraordinary seascapes, historic shipwrecks, and sacred cultural 
        seascapes, and provide abundant recreational opportunities;
Whereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for healthy oceans and 
        Great Lakes, addressing climate change, and sustaining productive 
        coastal economies;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries support coastal communities and generate 
        billions of dollars annually in local economies by providing American 
        jobs, bolstering tourism and recreation, engaging businesses in 
        stewardship, and driving 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, archaeological 
        resources, and cultural seascapes;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries are living laboratories to conduct 
        cooperative science and research to improve resource management and 
        advance innovative public-private partnerships;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries can help make the ocean and Great Lakes more 
        resilient by protecting ecosystems that sequester carbon, safeguarding 
        coastal communities from flooding and storms, and protecting 
        biodiversity;
Whereas the United States of America is a maritime nation, and the ocean and 
        Great Lakes are central to the American way of life; and
Whereas engaging communities as stewards of these protected waters makes 
        sanctuaries unique and provides a comprehensive, highly participatory 
        approach to managing and conserving marine ecosystems and the Great 
        Lakes for current and future generations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 
        Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 
        U.S.C. 1401 et seq.);
            (2) acknowledges the importance of national marine 
        sanctuaries to supporting community resilience, protecting 
        biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;
            (3) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary 
        System to protect nationally significant places in the ocean 
        and Great Lakes;
            (4) calls on the Administration to partner with communities 
        and find consensus to complete designations of new national 
        marine sanctuaries; and
            (5) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and 
        work together to support the priorities of the Marine 
        Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 when 
        appropriate.
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