Rep. Culberson has strong concerns that an interim report published by the Obama Administration’s Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force is a veiled effort to prohibit recreation on the nation’s oceans. The task force did not take into consideration comments and input provided by recreational fishermen and fishing organizations, and its policy recommendations failed to mention the economic impact of the industry as well as the contributions industry members make to protecting and conserving marine habitat.
These important contributions must be taken into consideration by the Obama Administration as they develop ocean policy. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Fisheries Service, recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, and North Carolina receiving the largest share. At the national level, saltwater anglers are estimated to have spent $5.8 billion on trip-based expenses, such as ice, bait, and fuel, and another $25.6 billion on fishing equipment and durable goods like fishing rods, fishing tackle, and boats.
In addition to being an economic driver for Texas and the nation, recreational fishermen are some of most dedicated marine conservationists. Local and national fishing organizations are often the leaders and experts on coastal and marine conservation. Recreational fishermen have a long history of contributing both time and money to protecting the health of the oceans.
Please find additional information on this issue provided by the organizations below.
Congressional Sportsmen Foundation
Center for Coastal Conservation
Mr. Culberson,
My wife and I thank you for what you are doing to see that the Obamacare Bill does not pass, and we strongly encourage you to continue your efforts to see that it does not.
We are very concerned about the direction our government is taking and, as senior citizens, who love our country deeply, we ask that you do everything you can to redirect it to the fundamentals that have made it the greatest nation on earth and that we believe are so very important to our freedom and way of life.
Rest assured that you and your colleagues have our support and that you are in our prayers – daily!
Cecil C. and Martha R.Rix
Congressman Culberson,
I urge you to take acton with your colleagues to preven KSM from being brought to NYC. Below is a quote from Ann Coulter’s colume of Nov 18. It describes the Constitutional grounds for action aganst this (please halp us stop this!):
“Members of Congress have it in their power to put an end to this lunacy right now. If they don’t, they are as complicit in Mohammed’s civilian trial as the president. Article I, Section 8, and Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution give Congress the power to establish the jurisdiction of the lower federal courts and to create exceptions to that jurisdiction.
Congress could pass a statute limiting federal court jurisdiction to individuals not subject to trial before a military tribunal. Any legislator who votes “nay” on such a bill will be voting to give foreign terrorists the same legal rights as U.S. citizens — and more legal rights than members of the U.S. military are entitled to.
In the case of legal proceedings, diversity actually is a strength.
COPYRIGHT 2009 ANN COULTER
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