Madeleine Bordallo: “House Concurrent Resolution 300 recognizes the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership…”

“House Concurrent Resolution 300 recognizes the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving the health and promoting resiliency of coral reef ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystems are not only economically important to commercial fisheries and marine tourism of many places, including my own district of Guam, but they also act as natural protective coastal barriers during storm surges and high waves. In 2008, the International Year of the Reef, the United States can help facilitate coordinated conservation efforts and maintain its leadership by working to strengthen awareness of the values of the coral reef ecosystems. This resolution, Mr. Speaker, encourages continued United States leadership in that regard, and I urge my colleagues to support it.”