Jim Saxton: “Mr. Speaker, let me just emphasize just how important I think this subject is. Obviously, when we pass a resolution…”

“Mr. Speaker, let me just emphasize just how important I think this subject is. Obviously, when we pass a resolution suggesting that Congress pay special note to something, or that the American people pay special note of something, obviously there is a good reason for us to do it. I think what the gentleman from California [Mr. Farr] and I bring to the House together in terms of this subject is that we have both had experiences over the last decade or so that have shown us that while there are problems related to the oceans, and while we continue to need to make progress along that line, we have also made significant progress in the last 10 years. One decade ago, in the summer of 1987 on the Atlantic coast, we had a horrific summer. We had dolphins washing up on our shores, we had algae blooms all up and down the East coast, and in my home State of New Jersey and on Long Island there was medical waste that washed up on our beaches. It was enough to lead anyone who would vacation in the Northeast at the shore or to eat products derived from the sea to take their vacations elsewhere, or to buy their food from some other source.”