Congressional News
CONGRESSIONAL CALENDAR
Both the House and Senate will be in recess for the next two weeks. Congress will reconvene the week of April 16
ALASKA’S OPPOSITION TO NATIONAL OCEAN POLICY
On Tuesday, April 3, the House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight field hearing in Anchorage, Alaska on, “Alaska’s Sovereignty In Peril: The National Ocean Policy’s Goal to Federalize Alaska.” The hearing focused on how President Obama’s plan to mandate ocean zoning through implementation of the National Ocean Policy threatens Alaska’s sovereignty and economic livelihood. Representative Don Young (R-AK) stated “nowhere in the United States will the effects of the National Ocean Policy be felt to the extent that it will in Alaska. The reach of this ‘ocean’ policy will stretch throughout the entire state and affect almost any activity that requires a federal permit. Any new federal initiative that affects our ability to use these natural resources will cost jobs.” Furthermore, Doug Vincent-Lang, Acting Director of Alaska’s Division of Wildlife Conservation of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, testified that the National Ocean Policy would create conflict with existing statutes and regulations regarding marine natural resources. Several witnesses at the hearing discussed the potential economic ramifications of adding more bureaucratic hurdles to resource-dependent industries and the potential for increased lawsuits and litigation driven by third parties due to the implementation of this Policy.
2012 PUBLIC POLICY FORUM VIDEOS ONLINE
Video of Ocean Leadership’s Annual Public Policy Forum on the Science of Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Restoration is now available on our website.
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