Hello, everyone – Secretary Deb Haaland here to kick off
today’s program for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s
2021 Capitol Hill Ocean Week. This was one of my favorite events to enjoy during my time serving
on the House Natural Resources Committee. I hope you all are finding it as fulfilling as I did.
Today, I’m coming to you from the ancestral homelands of the Anacostan and Piscataway people.
And of course next year, I hope to see all of you in person.
The ocean connects us. It drives critical life-sustaining systems across the globe,
provides food, impacts climate and rainfall patterns, and helps fuel our national economy.
As a child, I spent many hours near the ocean on both coasts. Sometimes my dad and I enjoyed
the ocean through walks on the beach, and other times we relished in the ocean’s bounty. Those
experiences remain constant in my belief that we will always benefit from a healthy ocean.
Not everyone thinks of the Department of the Interior when they think of the ocean.
But Interior’s “Blue Portfolio” is managed by several bureaus and offices that are committed
to conserving and restoring coastal and ocean resources. We are focused on powering our
economy through investments in advancements like the development of offshore wind,
which can provide a sustainable source of clean energy and good paying union jobs.
The career experts at Interior actively work on coastal ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation,
remediation, and reclamation to maintain the health and vitality of our coastal resources
and the communities that rely on them.
I don’t have to tell anyone at this event that the resources in our blue
portfolio also serve as nature-based solutions to our climate crisis.
The ocean absorbs heat from human-caused warming; wetlands create natural barriers to more frequent
and intense storms; and healthy coasts help all who rely on their resources to thrive.
To boost our nature-based solutions work, Interior has joined in the launch of the
Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. It’s a historic call to
conserve 30 percent of our lands and waters for the benefit of all people by 2030.
The vision is inclusive and collaborative.
It’s about supporting locally led and voluntary efforts to conserve,
steward, and restore lands and waters on local, state, Tribal, and private lands,
while increasing access to our beautiful outdoor spaces for all communities,
especially those who have been historically left behind in the conservation story.
Tribal sovereignty will be a north star for this effort,
starting with engaging Tribes on the care and management of public lands and waters.
Because traditional knowledge is invaluable as we address climate change and protect our ocean.
Each of us, has a responsibility to future generations to care for our Earth and leave
behind a livable planet for our children, grandchildren, and future generations.
As we manage our ocean and its boundless resources, I am committed to working closely
with Congress to ensure the President’s budget priorities for conservation,
clean energy, and environmental justice are at the forefront of our work.
I want to extend my gratitude to the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for hosting
this event each year, and to my friends on the House Natural Resources Committee
and the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife for the work you do to
protect our beautiful ocean, waterways, and coasts for future generations.
Thank you, and enjoy the rest of Capitol Hill Ocean Week!