OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Establishing the Task Force on Ocean Policy

Date: Dec. 14, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Operations Environment


ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE ON OCEAN POLICY -- (House of Representatives - December 14, 2005)

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

(Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, strange things happen around this place when we are getting ready for recess. Legislation just seems to come out of the woodwork sometimes, like the resolution on the Suspension Calendar today.

The bill before us today would spend $400,000 of taxpayer money to establish a House Task Force on Ocean Policy. Quite simply, it is duplicative and wasteful. There is already a standing House committee to deal with ocean policy that professional staff already have in place.

The Rules Committee has not met to consider this resolution. In fact, no action, at least none that I am aware of, has been taken beyond the simple introduction of this measure. This resolution just appeared on the schedule at the last minute with no explanation, no details, and no reason for its urgency.

So I am a bit puzzled about why this task force is needed at all. Generally, task forces are created when there is an issue that crosses the jurisdictional lines of several different committees, all of whom claim primary jurisdiction. In that circumstance, there may well be a need to coordinate efforts in an efficient manner. However, in this case, the primary issues fall within the jurisdiction of the Resources Committee. In fact, there is a Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans chaired by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest). That is where this issue belongs.

Let me be clear: our Nation's ocean policy is a worthy project, but I believe that this issue should be taken up by the Resources Committee. That is where the expertise is.

I hope that the resolution's sponsors and other Members speaking here today will shed some light on the need to move so quickly on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the remainder of my time be controlled by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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