[House Report 106-716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-716
======================================================================
SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A
NATIONAL OCEAN DAY
_______
July 10, 2000.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 415]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the
resolution (H. Res. 415) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that there should be established a National
Ocean Day to recognize the significant role the ocean plays in
the lives of the Nation's people and the important role the
Nation's people must play in the continued life of the ocean,
having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an
amendment and recommend that the resolution as amended be
agreed to.
The amendment is as follows:
Amend the preamble to read as follows:
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 diversity of life, from
the smallest microorganism to the mammoth blue whale;
Whereas \2/3\ of the world's people live within 50 miles of a coast and 1
out of 6 American jobs are in fishing, 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 monitoring system that
will give us a better understanding of the critical relationship between
oceans and global climate change;
Whereas a deepened understanding of the seas will enable us to track marine
mammals, predict deadly storms such as those associated with El Nino,
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 deteriorated 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 ten percent of the reefs may already be degraded
beyond recovery;
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 stewardship of this resource is our
responsibility to our children, 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 similar 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 Hawaii'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
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H. Res. 415 is to express the sense of the
House of Representatives that there should be established a
National Ocean Day to recognize the significant role the ocean
plays in the lives of the Nation's people and the important
role the Nation's people must play in the continued life of the
ocean.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The oceans play an increasingly important role in the lives
of our Nation's people. Currently, more than fifty percent of
the Nation's population live in the coastal areas of the U.S.
and one out of six American jobs is in fishing, shipping or
tourism. As the population grows, there will be greater demands
on the oceans and coastal resources.
The oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface, yet
much still needs to be learned about the oceans and the living
marine resources contained within them. Anthropogenic and
natural changes are taking place with regard to the oceans'
physical properties (such as sea level rise and rises in
temperature), and resource depletion, coral reef habitat
degradation and harmful algal blooms are also issues which
require attention. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and ocean research institutions are working to
expand our knowledge of the oceans and their resources to
improve resource management and protect public health and
safety. More needs to be done, however, to increase our
understanding of the health of the ocean and the public's
awareness of the role of the ocean in their lives.
Internationally, there has been recognition of the
importance of the ocean. After the Earth Summit in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992, June 8th was declared Oceans Day and 1998 was
declared the International Year of the Ocean. In addition,
other nations have individually given formal recognition to
ocean-related events in similar ways. For example, Canada has
been active for many years in celebrating International Oceans
Day and the Philippines has proclaimed May as the Month of the
Ocean. In the United States, the State of Hawaii has designated
the first Wednesday of June as Ocean Day. Declarations such as
these are intended to draw the public's attention to the
importance of our relationship to the ocean and, more
significantly, to the need for responsible stewardship.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H. Res. 415 was introduced on February 2, 2000, by
Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink (D-HI). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. On
June 8, 2000, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On
June 20, 2000, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the
bill. The Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and
Oceans was discharged from further consideration of the bill by
unanimous consent. Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ) offered an
amendment to clarify and update the supporting facts of the
resolution contained in the preamble. It was adopted by voice
vote. The bill as amended was then approved and ordered
favorably reported to the House of Representatives.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on
Government Reform on this bill.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 28, 2000.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman. The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Res. 415, expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be
established a National Ocean Day to recognize the significant
role the ocean plays in the lives of the nation's people and
the important role the nation's people must play in the
continued life of the ocean.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Ali Aslam.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H. Res. 415--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
there should be established a National Ocean Day to recognize
the significant role the ocean plays in the lives of the
nation's people and the important role the nation's people must
play in the continued life of the ocean
H. Res. 415 would express the sense of the House of
Representatives that there should be established a National
Ocean Day to recognize the significant role the ocean plays in
American lives. CBO estimates that H. Res. 415 would have no
impact on the federal budget. The legislation would not affect
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures would not apply.
The staff contact is Ali Aslam. This estimate was approved
by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget
Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local, or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.