Recognizing the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral reef ecosystems, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 300, recognizing the urgency for the U.S. to maintain its leadership role in protecting and promoting the resiliency of our coral reef ecosystems.

First, I want to commend the chief sponsors, Ms. Bordallo of Guam and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, for their initiative in introducing this important resolution. I also want to acknowledge the support and leadership of Chairman Nick Rahall and Ranking Member Don Young of Alaska of the Committee on Natural Resources.

As a member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans, I want to personally commend my good friend, Chairwoman Bordallo, for her tireless work on the many issues affecting our oceans. This resolution in particular is an example of the efforts by the Congress in promoting U.S. leadership and participation in preserving our natural resources. Given that 2008 has been designated the ``International Year of the Reef,'' it is only appropriate that we must reinforce U.S. commitments to the international efforts to protect critical coral reef habitats.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent U.N. report on oceans, 60 percent of the world's coral reefs will die-off by 2030. This is due to the changes in the climate because of global warming from the harm chemicals and human activity has placed on our environment. It is our responsibility to enhance international efforts to protect and restore our coastal marine resources. We have taken many steps to achieve these efforts by establishing the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force in 1998 that has done so much through enhancing research and monitoring, implementing action strategies, and formulating and enforcing national policy on protecting and preserving all of our coastal reefs.

Last year, I introduced H.R. 1205, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, that was unanimously passed by the House in October 2007. This legislation will codify the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and will advance existing programs that address this core issue. However, there has been no further action on the Senate side. I am hopeful that this important legislation will be passed by the end of the year.

Again, I urge my colleagues to pass H. Con. Res. 300. I thank my colleagues for supporting this important bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 300) recognizing the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving the health and promoting the resiliency of coral reef ecosystems, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

House Concurrent Resolution 300 recognizes the necessity for the United States to maintain its significant leadership role in improving the health and promoting resiliency of coral reef ecosystems.

Coral reef ecosystems are not only economically important to commercial fisheries and marine tourism of many places, including my own district of Guam, but they also act as natural protective coastal barriers during storm surges and high waves.

In 2008, the International Year of the Reef, the United States can help facilitate coordinated conservation efforts and maintain its leadership by working to strengthen awareness of the values of the coral reef ecosystems. This resolution, Mr. Speaker, encourages continued United States leadership in that regard, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of this resolution. House Concurrent Resolution 300 does make an important point to the American people and to the world that the United States has been a leader in the preservation and restoration of our coral reefs.

Like the gentlewoman from Guam, I have a long coastline and recognize that without the often-called ``rain forest of the ocean,'' the world would not eat, our coastlines would be eroded, and, without a doubt, life as we know it would not prevail.

So, Mr. Speaker, I do ask strong support in favor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the motions to suspend the rules relating to the following measures be considered as adopted in the form considered by the House on Monday, May 19, 2008:

House Concurrent Resolution 300, Senate Joint Resolution 17, House Concurrent Resolution 325, House Resolution 1074, H.R. 3323, House Concurrent Resolution 334, House Resolution 1152, House Resolution 1132, House Resolution 1153, House Resolution 1026, H.R. 752, and H.R. 5787.