Oceans and Fisheries

Floor Speech

(Mrs. CAPPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of smart and sustainable use of our precious ocean resources. We depend on a healthy ocean for so much--for food, livelihoods, recreation, and more. That is why scientists, managers, and entrepreneurs from across the country are currently in Washington, D.C., to discuss critical marine policy issues as part of Capitol Hill Ocean Week.

A key issue on the agenda is the responsible management of our Nation's fisheries. America's fisheries are rich, both economically and culturally, because we have smart laws that prioritize sustainable resource use.

Under these laws, our fishing industry alone contributed $199 billion in sales and 1.7 million jobs in 2012 alone. These laws, however, are being threatened by partisan legislation recently passed by the Natural Resources Committee.

This bill--which I call the ``Empty Oceans Act''--would override key environmental laws, erode fisheries, and hurt our coastal economies. It is no way to manage our ocean resources.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the ``Empty Oceans Act'' and find a better path forward.

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