The ocean covers about 70 percent of the Earth's surface. It's home to millions of plants and animals, and it helps to balance our ecosystem. It also supports economies around the world, including fishing and tourism. Unfortunately, every minute the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic - more than eight million metric tons a year - is dumped into the ocean.

In Congress, I co-chair the bipartisan House Oceans Caucus. We work to educate our colleagues about why the health of our oceans must be considered a national and global priority. One of our top priorities is marine pollution, and I've introduced bipartisan legislation to:

* reduce the creation of plastic waste;
* find new uses for existing plastics to keep them from getting into the ocean;
* use the expertise and authority of multiple agencies including the EPA, the Secretary of State, and NOAA;
* encourage new technologies and ocean-friendly products; and
* engage international partners.

The ocean is an important natural resource. At home in Oregon, tourism, fishing and crabbing industries, and our health depend on a coastline that is clean and free from toxic waste. The 2018 Oregon Travel Impact Study found that tourism spending is on the rise. On the North Coast, for example, in one year there was a $7 million spending increase on accommodations alone. We have to protect our seas and shores to keep coastal economies thriving

I'm doing all I can to protect ocean health. Thank you for standing with me.

Suzanne


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