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House Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs Bonamici, Young Recognize World Oceans Day

June 7, 2019

WASHINGTON, DC [6/7/19] – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Don Young (R-AK), Co-Chairs of the House Oceans Caucus, celebrated World Oceans Day by introducing a resolution committing to increasing investments in scientific research and monitoring to better understand our changing oceans.

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 8th as World Oceans Day. The bipartisan resolution recognizing World Oceans Day acknowledges that the oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth, and that changes in ocean chemistry and marine debris threaten communities, industries, jobs, and the marine ecosystem.

"The health of our oceans reflects the health of our planet, and we must recommit to protecting our oceans and the life they sustain for generations to come," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "This World Oceans Day, we recognize that our oceans are threatened more than ever before from climate change, ocean acidification, marine debris, and pollution. But our oceans are resilient and there is hope. I'm grateful to work with my fellow Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, Congressman Young, to draw attention to the critical issues that face the health of our oceans and take meaningful steps to address the challenges facing our oceans."

"I am proud to once again co-chair the House Oceans Caucus with my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Bonamici. As Alaskans know, ocean acidification is already causing impacts to our precious ocean resources and coastal communities," said Congressman Don Young. "I was an original cosponsor of three ocean acidification bills that were passed out of the House this week, and hope to see the Senate come together to swiftly pass them. I am also happy to once again cosponsor Rep. Bonamici's World Oceans Day resolution, and I recently introduced a resolution recognizing the International Year of the Salmon. Last Congress we successfully passed the Save Our Seas Act as a first step toward combating the growing problem of marine debris. As co-chairs of the House Oceans Caucus we still have more work to do to prevent and clean up marine debris. I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure our oceans stay healthy for generations to come."

You can read a copy of the resolution here. The resolution was cosponsored by: Representatives Blumenauer, Carbajal, Casten, Cohen, Demings, Dingell, Fitzpatrick, Gabbard, Gonzalez-Colon, Huffman, Johnson (TX), Kilmer, Larsen, McGovern, Panetta, Pappas, Rooney, Sablan, Smith (NJ).

Bonamici and Young co-chair the House Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members committed to taking action to protect the health and future of our oceans. This Congress, the Caucus is focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Earlier this week, the House unanimously passed Bonamici's COAST Research Act to expand scientific research and monitoring of ocean and coastal acidification. Young co-led the bill with Bonamici and it is a priority for the House Oceans Caucus.

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