Vote number 13-SV116 protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems
on May 8, 2013 regarding bill S.Amdt. 803 National Endowment for the Oceans
Results: Passed 67-32 (3/5 required)

Whitehouse Amdt. No. 803 to S.Amdt. 799 to S. 601 (Water Resources Development Act of 2013): To create the National Endowment for the Oceans to promote the protection and conservation of United States ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.

Proponent's Argument for voting Yes: Mr. WHITEHOUSE: This measure was part of the RESTORE Act, [but] this piece of it fell out of the bargain. If you supported the RESTORE Act, you have already supported this bill. If you believe that deals should be deals in the Senate, then you should support this bill. It is very important that we as a body support this bill. It does not create a single extra bureaucracy or person. It works within the existing government, and it adds no funding.

MississippiRiverDelta.org Summary of RESTORE Act: The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) dedicates 80% of all Clean Water Act penalties paid by those responsible for the 2010 gulf oil disaster to Gulf Coast restoration.

Proponent's press release supporting Yes vote: The National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Act would provide steady funding that universities, non-profit organizations, and government agencies can count on every year to support research and restoration projects. It would be funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy. Revenue is generated through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments. Funds from the Endowment would be distributed through a competitive grant program to fund projects to restore habitat, manage fisheries, plan for sustainable coastal development, enhance ocean monitoring and research activities, acquire coastal properties for preservation, and relocate critical coastal infrastructure.

Categorized under Environment

Voting NO counts for 1 points on VoteMatch question 8:
Human needs over animal rights;
Voting YES counts for -1 points on VoteMatch question 8.

Voting YES counts as answer D on AmericansElect question 8;
Voting NO counts as answer A on AmericansElect question 8

• A: Natural resources exist for the benefit of humanity
• B: Natural resources exist for the benefit of humanity, but should be somewhat protected
• C: Natural resources should be mostly protected, but also exist for the benefit of humanity
• D: Natural resources exist on their own and should be completely protected
• E: Unsure