Sam Farr: “Mr. Speaker, I think that it is important to point out that there is some major overhaul of Federal law in this bill.…”

“Mr. Speaker, I think that it is important to point out that there is some major overhaul of Federal law in this bill. This commission, which the President shall appoint with recommendations from Congress, is going to do some things that I think are absolutely essential to us positioning ourselves for the 21st century. The bill says, and I quote, ``A review of all existing or planned ocean or coastal activities of Federal entities and recommendations for changes in such activities necessary to reduce duplication of Federal efforts.'' The bill also calls for, ``a review of the cumulative effect of Federal laws and regulations on the United States ocean policy and examination of those laws and regulations for inconsistencies and contradictions that might adversely affect the conduct of ocean and coastal activities, and recommendations for resolving the inconsistencies.'' This is a good way of setting some Federal policy that gets us away from just trying to administer item by item, as we have historically.”