<home> -- <press releases> -- <March 5, 2007> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—March 5, 2007– Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today addressed the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies as part a panel discussion at their meeting in “We want to better understand and protect our ocean resources as we undertake economic growth and diversification on our islands. We want to grow and diversify our economies in ways that responsibly showcase – not exploit or unintentionally jeopardize – our ocean resources. Put simply, increased national and scientific interest and research in the oceans and marine resources in the territories is both needed and encouraged,” Congresswoman Bordallo said before the distinguished group of scholars. “I come here today to urge you to invest your academic capital, your professional and collective interests, knowledge, skills, and capabilities, in the territories. Your investment would yield important findings for the benefit of not only the people of the territories, but for all of us in the Congresswoman Bordallo, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans of the House Committee on Natural Resources, was joined on the panel by Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, a member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and a Professor of Marine Science of the “Today, I hope that I have left you with three reasons to pursue these opportunities: one, because the livelihood of the people of the territories rests upon the oceans; two, because the territories are home to some of most biologically rich and diverse marine ecosystems in the world; and three, because ocean research is desperately needed if federal responsibilities to protect the fragile ecosystems in the islands are to be effectively planned and fulfilled,” Congresswoman Bordallo concluded. The Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies was established by the National Research Council to advise the federal government on ocean science, engineering and policy issues. More information on the Ocean Studies Board is available at: http://dels.nas.edu/osb/ . Photo 1 : Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo discusses research opportunities with Dr. Donald F. Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) during a panel discussion at the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies 62nd meeting in Photo 2 : Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo fields a question from a scientist at the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies 62nd meeting in . ### Contact: Joseph E. Duenas in joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or cathy.gault@mail.house.gov . |
