Barbara Boxer: “as we commemorate World Oceans Week, we celebrate the wonder and beauty of the world's oceans. We celebrate the role our…”

“as we commemorate World Oceans Week, we celebrate the wonder and beauty of the world's oceans. We celebrate the role our oceans play in commerce, fishing and shipping. We celebrate the beauty of our coral reefs and the potential lifesaving cures they might contain. And we celebrate our commitment to improving the health of our oceans, so that our children and grandchildren will have a chance to enjoy and cherish them. That is why I am pleased to introduce the National Oceans Protection Act of 2005--comprehensive legislation to improve the health and governance of our oceans. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Lautenberg. This legislation ``was written after two major oceans commission reports in the past two years determined that our oceans are in a state of crisis. The congressionally-established U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the independent Pew Oceans Commission provided detailed descriptions of the challenges our oceans are facing as well as specific solutions to improve ocean health. From pollution to over-fishing to invasive species, there are many factors that have contributed to the current crisis in which we find ourselves. Pollution threatens all aspects of ocean health. Every 8 months, nearly 11 million gallons of oil flow from American roads into our waters--the equivalent of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Our oceans are also showing signs of being over-fished, which affects the communities that depend on fish stocks for their livelihood.…”