On the recordJuly 26, 2017
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, the establishment of a National Ocean Policy was a landmark step for our country. I particularly want to commend Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island for his leadership on this issue. Ocean planning just makes sense, as we have seen in Rhode Island during implementation of our Special Area Management Plan. Instead of haphazard policymaking or turning the ocean into a political football, we brought all stakeholders to the table, commercial and recreational fishermen, energy development companies, conservationists, and other local interests. The National Ocean Policy builds on this type of collaboration. It is a bottom-up approach, and it empowers local communities who use our oceans. I want to echo the words also of my colleague, the Congressman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), in support of this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to allow this forward-thinking approach to continue. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
