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.106th Congress (1999-2000)
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[actionDate] => 2000-07-10
[displayText] => Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 106-716.
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[description] => Introduced
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Agreed to in House
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[actionDate] => 2000-07-11
[displayText] => Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 387 - 28, 2 Present (Roll no. 381).(text: CR 7/10/2000 H5676)
[externalActionCode] => 8000
[description] => Agreed to in House
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Shown Here: Engrossed in House (07/11/2000)
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Res. 415 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 11, 2000.
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 two-thirds of the world's people live within 50 miles of a coast and one
out of six 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 10 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
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that a
National Ocean Day should be established 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.
Attest:
Clerk.