This resolution recognizes World Oceans Day and affirms the individual and collective duty, both nationally and internationally, to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild our oceans and its resources. It also expresses commitment to increasing the investment of federal funds into scientific research and monitoring to better understand the changing oceans, empower the federal government to address and mitigate the effects of the changing climate, and accomplish the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 486 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 486
Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, conserve,
maintain, and rebuild our ocean and its resources.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2023
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mrs. Gonzalez-Colon, Mr. Huffman, Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. Case, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr.
Panetta, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Soto, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr.
Kilmer, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Salazar, and Mr. Lieu) 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
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, conserve,
maintain, and rebuild our ocean and its resources.
Whereas the ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet's surface;
Whereas the ocean generates the oxygen we breathe, regulates our climate and
weather patterns, supplies food, is a source of cultural value, supports
tourism and trade, and is an untapped energy resource;
Whereas Indigenous people have stewarded our oceans and are deeply connected to
the oceans as a key component of culture, food security, and
spirituality;
Whereas scientists estimate more than 80 percent of the ocean remains
unexplored, and the United States has committed to advance a National
Strategy on Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization;
Whereas the health of our ocean is a reflection of the health of our planet;
Whereas the United States has joined the High Level Panel for a Sustainable
Ocean Economy and committed to advancing a national sustainable economy
plan by 2026;
Whereas the White House Ocean Policy Committee has committed to advancing
coordinated Federal action on ocean and coastal management, science,
technology, and advancing an ocean climate action plan;
Whereas 2023 marks the third year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science
for Sustainable Development (in this resolution referred to as ``the
Decade'');
Whereas the Decade will help accelerate research to address gaps in ocean
science, strengthen international cooperation, and improve ocean
management;
Whereas a scientific priority of the Decade is to create a comprehensive digital
atlas of the ocean and strengthen ocean observations;
Whereas changes in ocean chemistry, temperature, and biodiversity pose a very
real threat to marine resources, industries, and jobs;
Whereas approximately one-fourth of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
dissolves into our ocean, causing water chemistry to change and become
more acidic;
Whereas ocean acidification harms oysters, mussels, lobsters, clams, corals, and
other species building shells and skeletons and reproducing;
Whereas some finfish experience neurological changes in acidic waters, altering
their behaviors and actions;
Whereas 45 percent of all marine mammals on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species have been affected
by lost and abandoned fishing gear;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, the ocean has taken up more than 90 percent of excess heat in
the climate system since 1970, and marine heat waves are very likely to
become longer lasting, more intense, and more extensive;
Whereas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 80
percent of pollution to the ocean comes from land;
Whereas increased temperatures and nutrient runoff can result in harmful algal
blooms that accumulate, die, decompose, and consume oxygen, leaving
waterways in a hypoxic or anoxic state that can result in massive fish
kills and the formation of ``dead zones'' where marine life cannot
survive;
Whereas the decrease in biodiversity, and decline and shifts in distribution of
fish, will affect the livelihoods and food security of coastal
communities;
Whereas Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and historical connection to the
fisheries threatened by changing ocean conditions;
Whereas, according to the United Nations, more than 11,000,000 tons of plastic
end up in the ocean each year from land-based sources alone;
Whereas recent studies suggest that lost, abandoned, or otherwise discarded
fishing gear could make up 46 to 70 percent of the floating macroplastic
in the ocean gyres by weight;
Whereas marine debris harms our coastal economies, endangers marine life,
destroys important marine habitats, propagates invasive species, and
creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry;
Whereas tiny pieces of plastics, fibers, fragments, and microbeads also make
their way into the marine food web, blocking digestive tracts, altering
growth, and in some cases killing animals and marine organisms;
Whereas marine debris is considered a growing global crisis that requires
collaborative work with partners from across the world;
Whereas the United Nations has recognized that vulnerable communities
disproportionately suffer the consequences of environmental degradation
caused by plastic pollution and recognizes that environmental justice
should be a consideration in marine conservation;
Whereas we need to improve our understanding of the implications of
environmental stressors, such as ocean acidification, harmful algal
blooms, hypoxia, marine debris, warming ocean temperatures, overfishing,
and rising sea levels;
Whereas many of these environmental stressors are indicators of a changing
climate and threaten our economy and the livelihood of vulnerable
coastal communities;
Whereas 5 to 30 percent of global harvestable fish stocks are affected by ghost
gear every year, threatening global food security, coastal communities,
and fisher livelihoods;
Whereas across the United States, coastal communities contribute
$9,500,000,000,000 to the United States economy annually as well as
support 58,300,000 jobs;
Whereas, in 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8 as
``World Oceans Day''; and
Whereas World Oceans Day provides an opportunity to recommit to protect,
conserve, maintain, and rebuild our ocean 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 our ocean and its
resources;
(2) affirms the stewardship of ocean resources, cultures,
and communities that are 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 ocean and empower the Federal Government to address
and mitigate the effects of the changing climate, solve
management challenges, and accomplish the goals of the United
Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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 committee concerned.
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 committee concerned.
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