Lynn C. Woolsey: “this week we celebrate the wonder and beauty of the Earth. As we celebrate, I feel especially grateful for the area I…”

“this week we celebrate the wonder and beauty of the Earth. As we celebrate, I feel especially grateful for the area I represent. I am privileged to represent Marin and Sonoma Counties in California, the two counties just north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge. The diversity of nature is prominent in this area where the rolling hills, redwood forests, and rugged coastline meet. I am privileged to represent 140 miles of the northern California coastline. Each year, numerous visitors come to Marin and Sonoma Counties to see one of our Nation's most picturesque scenes: Our coasts. It is hard for visitors to the area to even imagine that there are troubled waters off our beautiful coasts, but there are. Due to extensive recreational and commercial use, a serious toll has been taken on our coasts, a toll that threatens the health of our marine resources and of our coastal economies. If California's coast is to be utilized by future generations, Mr. Speaker, as it is today, it must have strong protection now. Passing this legislation to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act will help meet this need and the needs of all America's coasts. Coastal zone management programs offer tremendous opportunities for conserving and maintaining this country's most outstanding marine resources. Mr. Speaker, coastal programs are not only successful, they are also cost effective. H.R. 1965 will assist in the effort to be good stewards of our coasts.”