[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1496 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1496

 Supporting the designation of October 23, 2024, as ``National Marine 
                            Sanctuary Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2024

  Mr. Huffman (for himself and Mr. Graves of Louisiana) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the designation of October 23, 2024, as ``National Marine 
                            Sanctuary Day''.

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 is a nationwide network that 
        conserves spectacular ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes waters;
Whereas communities across the United States can nominate their most treasured 
        places in marine and Great Lakes waters for consideration as national 
        marine sanctuaries;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries protect biodiversity and vital habitats for 
        countless species of fish and wildlife, safeguard extraordinary 
        seascapes, historic shipwrecks, and sacred cultural places, and provide 
        abundant recreational opportunities;
Whereas the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) aims to 
        coordinate plans for the protection and management of the National 
        Marine Sanctuary System in coordination with Federal agencies, State and 
        local governments, and Native American tribes and organizations 
        concerned with continuing the health and resilience of these marine 
        areas;
Whereas the conservation of marine ecosystems is vital for a healthy ocean, 
        coasts, and Great Lakes, addressing climate change, and sustaining 
        productive coastal economies;
Whereas national marine sanctuaries increase access to nature and support 
        coastal communities, and generate billions of dollars annually in local 
        communities by providing jobs in the United States, supporting 
        commercial, Tribal, and recreational fisheries, 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 of the United States;
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, coasts, 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, 
        coasts, and Great Lakes are central to the way of life of the people of 
        the United States;
Whereas engaging communities as stewards of these protected waters makes 
        national marine sanctuaries unique and provides a comprehensive, highly 
        participatory approach to managing and conserving marine and Great Lakes 
        environments for current and future generations; and
Whereas October 23, 2024, is recognized as ``National Marine Sanctuary Day'' to 
        increase awareness about the importance of the National Marine Sanctuary 
        System and a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes and celebrate the 
        many recreational opportunities available for the enjoyment of this 
        network of protected waters: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Marine Sanctuary 
        Day'';
            (2) encourages the people of the United States and the 
        world to responsibly visit, experience, recreate in, and 
        support the treasured national marine sanctuaries of the United 
        States;
            (3) acknowledges the importance of national marine 
        sanctuaries to supporting community resilience, protecting 
        biodiversity, and increasing access to nature;
            (4) recognizes the importance of national marine 
        sanctuaries for their recreational opportunities and 
        contributions to local and national economies across the United 
        States;
            (5) celebrates the ability of the National Marine Sanctuary 
        System to protect nationally significant places in the ocean, 
        coasts, and Great Lakes;
            (6) calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to partner with communities and find consensus 
        to complete designations of new national marine sanctuaries; 
        and
            (7) encourages Federal agencies to balance priorities and 
        work together to support the priorities of the Marine 
        Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 
        1401 et seq.).
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