On the recordSeptember 6, 2017
I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, once again we are on the House floor debating ocean planning. The reality is that comprehensive ocean planning works. We have done it in Rhode Island, and we have done it throughout the Northeast region. Ocean planning is a success because it brings everyone to the table. Everyone is part of the dialogue and the conversation. The process forces cooperation and compromise by, again, opening dialogue among fishermen, scientists, boaters, and others. There is an impression, by the way, from some of my colleagues that ocean planning is a Federal land grab of the oceans. Well, it is anything but. It is about local control done at the regional level-- something many of my colleagues across the aisle often like to support. Mr. Chairman, we can't turn back the clock on our oceans by allowing this rider to remain in the bill. We have come too far. I want to commend the work of the sponsors of this amendment. I also want to commend my colleague, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, across the aisle, who has done so much work to preserve the oceans, including creating the National Endowment for the Oceans Act. Mr. Chairman, in the past we have driven species to the point of extension, destroyed natural habitat, and driven our oceans to the brink. I implore my colleagues not to take us back to that era. Please support this amendment and support ocean planning.
