| Long awaited oceans legislation on the move Ocean advocates have cause to celebrate this spring as a major piece of legislation, OCEANS-21 (H.R. 21), has completed a critical first step. On April 23, the House Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans subcommittee approved the measure by a vote of 11-3. OCEANS-21 is a massive bill that includes many of the recommendations of the Pew Ocean Commission and U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Its six titles include the establishment of a national oceans policy, an “organic act” authorizing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a new national ocean leadership and coordination framework, guidelines for regional coordination and ecosystem planning, and the establishment of an ocean and Great Lakes conservation trust fund. The bill has been under consideration for three years, yet this is the farthest it has progressed through the halls of Congress. Policy observers believe the breadth of issues addressed by the bill is slowing its progress. Chris Mann of the Pew Environment Group acknowledged the long wait: “Almost five years after the Pew Oceans Commission and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy warned that our oceans were in serious trouble, Congress is finally poised to act.” Mann also said that OCEANS 21 would ensure that decisions are made with regard for the health and productivity of the broader marine ecosystem. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), was pleased to see the legislation move forward. "I'm excited that this bill has taken the first big step toward passage," Rep. Farr said following the vote. "We have the laws and agencies to safeguard our oceans, but we have no framework for them to function. That means our laws often intersect and our agencies are left with overlapping guidelines. This bill will provide the regional partnerships and framework for our ocean laws to properly function." While hailed by environmentalists and ocean advocates, the bill is not without controversy. During the subcommittee mark, subcommittee Republicans filed 17 amendments (offering only 11) that would strike entire sections of the bill. Subcommittee ranking member Henry Brown (R-SC) expressed concern that the bill would create confusion and regulatory hurdles for industries such as aquaculture and offshore natural gas development. “We are all friends of the ocean, I just don’t want it to happen by putting unnecessary restrictions,” said Brown. Only two of the Republicans present for the mark-up, Reps. Wayne Gilchrest (MD) and Jim Saxton (NJ), voted for the bill. Both Gilchrest and Saxton are long-standing ocean advocates. Gilchrest expressed disappointment with colleagues on his side of the aisle: “For a long time before I came here, I had an idea that Congress was competent.” The full House Natural Resources Committee, as well as the House Science Committee, must now approve the bill. For further
information: Source: ASLO Aquatic Science Policy Report: March and April 2008 American Society of Limnology and Oceanography - www.aslo.org
|