Speeches & Testimony

Mr. Speaker, the air, land and oceans of our Earth are in mortal danger and must be saved. 

But it is our oceans that are the most vast and unknown of these with the most complex and extensive risk, from climate change, to pollution, extraction and marine debris.

Debris is especially acute in my own Pacific and its epicenter, the 1,500 mile Hawaiian Islands chain, which acts as a giant comb for all manner of marine trash. 

Fifty-two metric tons of debris clutter our Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument annually, with tons more on the shores of the main Hawaiian Islands.
 
The results are human health and safety problems, habitat destruction, wildlife entanglements, vessel damage and navigational hazards, invasive species transport, and beach and coastline destruction.
 
The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act ups our national ante on this critical issue by bolstering and funding actions that can make a real difference.
 
I urge passage.