Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I rise as the designee of Mr. Beyer to offer an amendment at the desk.

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Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, this amendment preserves the National Ocean Policy. The National Ocean Policy is a commonsense way to facilitate multistakeholder collaboration on complex ocean issues, and it promotes economic opportunity, national security, and environmental protection.

I think we can all agree that we want thriving ocean and coastal ecosystems that promote the economic vitality of our communities. The National Ocean Policy is doing exactly that with the Northeastern region having completed its plan and the West Coast and other regions well on their way.

Prohibiting the allocation of funds to this important program will stifle collaboration among stakeholders on complex issues relating to environmental protection, national security, economic opportunity, and ocean policy.

I represent a coastal district in southern California, and I know firsthand that we can have a thriving ocean economy and at the same time protect and conserve our precious ocean resources.

Off the coast of my district, there are marine-protected areas, State waters, Federal waters, and Department of Defense installations. We are a marine life hotspot. Some of the best blue whale watching happens just a few miles from our shore. We have a booming recreational fishing section. We have a large shellfish aquaculture ranch that is now operating. We have beautiful beaches. We also have oil and gas activity with some rigs right near our shore. My district is also home to the Port of Long Beach, which is the second busiest port in North America.

With so much activity happening, it simply makes sense to have the Navy at the table when NOAA is working on siting of new aquaculture installations. It makes sense to have the Fishery Management Council weigh in when oil rigs are being decommissioned, and it is a no-brainer that NOAA, the Coast Guard, and the ports all work together to get these massive ships in and out of our port safely.

So as we move forward, the need for an overarching policy only grows. Issues like sea level rise and ocean acidification are too big and too serious for any one community or agency to tackle alone. Increased aquaculture development and new technologies for clean, local energy are creating economic opportunities, but they must be thoughtfully implemented.

The National Ocean Policy is the tool we have right now to promote smart shared use of our ocean resources. All of our districts benefit from our oceans, whether we represent coastal districts or not. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment.

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Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

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Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

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Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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