Alan Lowenthal: “My district is a poster child for the need for ocean coordination and information sharing. In my district, we have the…”

“My district is a poster child for the need for ocean coordination and information sharing. In my district, we have the busiest port complex in North America, we have offshore drilling, we have San Clemente Island, which is a naval training ground where they have a ship-to-shore firing range. We have abundant wildlife in the district. On top of that, sea level rise and extreme weather threatens neighborhoods and businesses all along the coast of my district. With so much activity happening, it simply makes sense to have the various stakeholders at the table, to make sure ships come in and out of port safely, to ensure that our thriving economy stays thriving, and to give the military space to train. We want these collaborations to happen because we want to have a sustainable ocean economy. By developing regional plans and having a framework for multi- stakeholder involvement, we can promote a robust ocean economy that also conserves our precious ocean resources. The country and my district needs a comprehensive approach to our ocean resources, which the National Ocean Policy provides. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.”