[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 427 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 427

 Recognizing World Oceans Day and the necessity to protect, conserve, 
          maintain, and rebuild our oceans and its resources.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 2019

  Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Fitzpatrick, 
  Mrs. Dingell, Miss Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico, Mr. Sablan, Mrs. 
 Demings, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Pappas, Mr. 
Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Casten of Illinois, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Panetta, 
Mr. Cohen, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Larsen of Washington, 
 and Mr. Rooney of Florida) 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 oceans and its resources.

Whereas the oceans cover more than 70 percent of our planet;
Whereas the oceans generate the oxygen we breathe, regulate our climate and 
        weather patterns, and provide healthy meals for people every day;
Whereas scientists estimate more than 95 percent of the oceans remain 
        unexplored;
Whereas the health of our oceans is a reflection of the health of our planet;
Whereas changes in ocean chemistry pose a very real threat to marine resources, 
        industries, and jobs;
Whereas about one-third of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves into 
        our oceans, causing water chemistry to change and become more acidic;
Whereas our oceans absorb chemical inputs, including carbon dioxide from the 
        atmosphere, and the breakdown of organic matter, and become more acidic;
Whereas ocean acidification harms oysters, mussels, lobsters, clams, corals, and 
        other species building shells, skeletons, and reproducing;
Whereas some finfish lose their sense of smell for identifying prey, 
        reproducing, and navigating their habitats in acidic waters;
Whereas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 80 
        percent of pollution to the oceans comes from land;
Whereas increased temperatures and nutrient runoff can result in colonies of 
        harmful algal blooms that grow excessively and produce toxins leaving 
        ocean areas and waterways in a hypoxic state that threatens marine life;
Whereas Tribes have a right and a deep cultural and historical connection to the 
        fish populations threatened by changing ocean chemistry;
Whereas, according to the United Nations, more than eight million tons of 
        plastic end up in the oceans each year;
Whereas marine debris harms our coastal economies, endangers marine life, 
        destroys important marine habitat, propagates invasive species, and 
        creates hazardous conditions for the maritime industry;
Whereas tiny pieces of plastic, fiber, fragments, and microbeads also make their 
        way into marine life, 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 we need to improve our understanding of the implications of 
        environmental stressors, such as harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, 
        marine debris, warming and more acidic ocean waters, overfishing, and 
        rising sea levels;
Whereas these environmental stressors are indicators of a changing climate and 
        threaten our economy and the livelihood of vulnerable coastal 
        communities;
Whereas, across the United States, the ocean economy supports more than 3 
        million jobs and contributes at least $352 billion in economic activity 
        annually;
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 oceans 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 oceans and its 
        resources;
            (2) affirms the stewardship of ocean resources is 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 oceans.
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