Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Cong. Rec., Dec. 15, 2020)
Summary
Page S7486 of the Congressional Record, Senate, for December 15, 2020, includes a tribute to Hoppy Shores, who served 42 years on the Kanawha County Commission, the longest of any commissioner in the State, and who helped bring potable water to 97 percent of the county. Under Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, a Senator thanks Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Menendez of New Jersey for work on a bipartisan bill that goes beyond ocean cleanup. Whitehouse then adds thanks for the effort to move the bill through the Senate committees. Other remarks recall the FIRST STEP Act, signed into law in 2018.
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“Save Our Seas 2.0 Act (Cong. Rec., Dec. 15, 2020).”
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S7486 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 15, 2020
initially refused, he eventually said, see the holiday lights was in bad dis- important one mostly about ocean
OK, he would run. He won and served repair, Hoppy jumped in to save the cleanup, but we thought we could do
an initial term, and then decided, well, day. He worked to find the money and more. We thought, working with dif-
maybe that is it. He stepped out for a a suitable replacement, lovingly dub- ferent groups—so many groups—and
term, but he was pulled back into the bing it ‘‘Hoppy’s Little Express.’’ the executive branch, the Trump ad-
political arena and served another 6- And can you guess who the train con- ministration, that we could do a lot
year term. After serving that second ductor was? That is right—Commis- more. So we got to work.
term, he then served and ran and won sioner Hoppy Shores. At the time he I want to thank my colleagues on the
two separate terms for the West Vir- said: floor today—Senator WHITEHOUSE of
ginia House of Delegates, representing When I look into a child’s eyes, and see a Rhode Island and Senator MENENDEZ of
Kanawha County, his home. smile, it warms my heart to know I was able New Jersey—for their work, their lead-
In 1990, he decided to return to the to help them with a new playground, park, ership, their cooperation.
Kanawha County Commission and was baseball field or a train ride at Christmas on Senator WHITEHOUSE in particular I
again elected to one of the three seats. Hoppy’s Little Express. It is all about the really want to single out as probably
children. the Member of the U.S. Senate who is
Voters have sent him back, with my
help, to the commission every year Hoppy Shores knows what public focused on our oceans. He and I started
since, making him the longest serving service is all about. It is about the chil- collaborating on these issues about 6
commissioner ever in the entire State. dren and providing a better future for years ago, right after I first came to
During his 42 years on the Kanawha all those you care about. Hoppy never the U.S. Senate, and I have learned a
County Commission, Hoppy accom- forgot that, and for that, he will never lot from Senator WHITEHOUSE on these
plished a host of successful initiatives be forgotten. issues.
on behalf of our citizens. Of particular I am sure that Hoppy has had dif- We have kind of been an odd couple.
interest and importance during his ten- ficult times in his life but, you know We don’t always agree on everything
ure, by the time Hoppy has left, or is what, you would just never know it by politically, but on these issues and a
leaving, 97 percent—and we have to get looking at him or knowing him. He is lot of other issues we not only agree
that to 100—but 97 percent of the coun- always wearing his signature smile and but our teams work together, we work
ty now has potable water. And I know always has a kind word to offer. I have together, and, importantly, we are get-
that sounds like a given, but extending never met someone who did not like ting a lot—a lot—done.
Hoppy Shores, even if they disagreed There have been a lot of folks who
water service to some of the areas
with his politics. have really helped us in this regard
through rural West Virginia is not an
So after 42 years of service to the and, again, in a bipartisan way. This
easy task, but it was one that Hoppy
Kanawha County Commission, it is my bill is an important bill. This bill had
always tackled. three committees of the U.S. Senate
Hoppy always pushed for the health honor to congratulate Commissioner
Shores on his retirement, which will and eight committees in the House.
and well-being of others, and, as such, So Members—whether it was Chair-
with his insistence, the commission in- take effect at the end of this month.
While I will certainly miss him, as I am man BARRASSO and Ranking Member
stituted a program to provide free CARPER of the EPW Committee, as I
mammograms for county employees, sure many of us will—and those, par-
ticularly, in the Kanawha County mentioned; on Foreign Relations,
leading to early detection of cancer Chairman RISCH; and, of course, Sen-
and saving lives. courthouse—I know Hoppy and
Bronson are looking forward to spend- ator MENENDEZ as the ranking member
Hoppy has always been a tireless ad- on the Commerce Committee; Chair-
vocate for the Kanawha County air- ing more time with their four chil-
man WICKER and Ranking Member
port, now called the Yeager Airport, dren—Scott, Lynn, Sherry, and Henry,
CANTWELL; on the House side, I just got
which was named after another famous who I think is called ‘‘Little Hop,’’ and
off the phone with the dean of the
West Virginian, whom we just lost, our their four grandchildren and great-
House, Congressman DON YOUNG, a
aviator and American hero the late granddaughter.
great, great Congressman; Representa-
Chuck Yeager. I am also looking forward to my fre-
tive BONAMICI. She also has been a
I remember working closely with quent run-ins that Charlie and I have
great advocate.
Hoppy in 2005, when the West Virginia with Bronson and Hop at The Grill, We all were aware of the challenge.
National Guard’s 130th Airlift unit was while we eat hotdogs on a Saturday This is a huge challenge: ocean debris,
slated for closure in the Department of afternoon on the West Side. plastics. It is a gigantic challenge for
Defense 2008 BRAC. That is the Base So on behalf of the State of West Vir- my State.
Realignment and Cloture report. Of ginia, it is my honor to extend my best Now, I brag about Alaska a lot. Here
course, Hoppy won that battle, too, and wishes to my friend—all of our friend— is a little bit more bragging: We have
the 130th proudly remains at Yeager a friend of Kanawha County and really more coastline than the rest of the
Airport. a friend to West Virginia, Commis- country combined, in terms of their
Hoppy has accomplished so much sioner Henry C. ‘‘Hoppy’’ Shores, on his coastline. So we see the garbage. We
during his time in office that I cannot retirement. see the trash. We see it, unfortunately,
possibly cover everything. However, I Thank you, Hoppy, and congratula- washing up on the shores of Alaska,
would be remiss if I did not mention tions. and that impacts negatively not just
his passion for parks; his passion for I yield the floor. the environment but the economy, our
recreation; obviously, with his past, his The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- fishing industry, our fishing commu-
passion for athletics; and, most impor- ator from Alaska. nities, our coastal communities.
tantly, the children in Kanawha Coun- Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I You may have heard about this
ty. ask unanimous consent to engage in a World Economic Forum study that said
Hoppy has advocated for public recre- colloquy with my colleagues. if we don’t do anything about the pol-
ation. He has pushed for baseball, foot- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without lution challenge that relates to plas-
ball, soccer fields, golf courses, tennis objection, it is so ordered. tics, by 2050 there could be more weight
courts, county fairs, hiking trails, and SAVE OUR SEAS 2.0 ACT in terms of plastics in the ocean than
modern park facilities. In fact, Coon- Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I there are fish. Think about that. That
skin Park in Kanawha County, which is want to talk today with my colleagues is a challenge.
the largest public park in our county, Senator MENENDEZ and Senator WHITE- So we got to work, and here is the
is one of the nicest in the State be- HOUSE on a really important piece of thing that I think is so exciting: This
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cause of Hoppy’s work. legislation that is heading to the Presi- is a solvable issue. Estimates are that
One of my favorite stories about dent’s desk, and this is Save Our Seas up to 80 percent of all plastics in the
Hoppy involves both Coonskin Park 2.0. ocean around the globe come from 10
and Christmas. In the year 2006, when a It is the follow-on to the Save Our rivers in Asia and Africa. So, of course,
small train that carried children and Seas Act that we passed in the Con- it has a huge international component
their families around Coonskin Park to gress last Congress, and that was an to it.
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December 15, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7487
But I just want to thank both Sen- tion alongside the fight against cli- joining my friends Senator MENENDEZ
ators WHITEHOUSE and MENENDEZ. I am mate change. Save Our Seas 2.0 will and Senator SULLIVAN here on the Sen-
going to turn the floor over to Senator bolster U.S. leadership and global en- ate floor to celebrate the successful
MENENDEZ to say a few words on this, gagement to combat plastic waste and conclusion of a second chapter in a
particularly the international side, marine debris, improve plastic waste long effort to address the problem of
which is so important. management, and enhance marine de- ocean plastics pollution, which has
I will talk a little bit more about bris response and innovation. been described so well by my friend
what is in the legislation, but this is an As the ranking member of the Senate Senator SULLIVAN.
example—and it happens a lot; we don’t Foreign Relations Committee, I take When we began, there was actually
always read about it—of this body com- special pride in the international title no program whatsoever on ocean plas-
ing together on big issues and making of this bipartisan legislation, which tics in the Senate. There had never
a big impact. formalizes U.S. foreign policy to ad- been legislation in this area. With Sen-
So Save Our Seas 2.0 is heading to dress this issue, supports USAID’s ator SULLIVAN’s support, we decided to
the President’s desk. I do want to com- work to curb ocean plastic, and encour- see what the traffic would bear, see
pliment the President and his team. ages the United States to explore the what the Senate and the House might
They had a lot to do with this. They development of an international agree- tolerate in terms of legislating in a
have been very motivated on these ment to foster cooperation on address- new area. For that, we undertook the
issues as well. ing plastic waste globally. I think this Save Our Seas bill. And at the end of
This is everybody coming together to legislation can be the catalyst for that. the day, after a certain amount of stat-
address a problem that we know is a The Earth’s oceans are a global re- ic, actually on both sides of the aisle,
problem but that we can solve, and we source that sustains life everywhere, we were able to get Save Our Seas
are putting American leadership out whether it is your country, State, or passed by unanimous consent. Every
front, which will be good for Alaska, district that has a coastline or is land- single Member of the Senate had to
good for Rhode Island, good for New locked. Eighty percent of New agree to it. To me, that was a really
Jersey, good for America, and good for Jerseyans live in a coastal area, and exciting test to the proposition that
the world. our economy is heavily dependent on Senators actually care about this. One
Senator MENENDEZ.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- these vibrant communities. Families of my favorite moments in that whole
ator from New Jersey. who depend on our fishing, their real episode was when a Senator, with
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, estate, hospitality, tourism, and out- whom I am often at war—Senator
let me thank Senator SULLIVAN for his door recreation industries rely upon INHOFE of landlocked Oklahoma—be-
introduction of our efforts here today clean and safe oceans. came an ally and a friend and a sup-
and to really commend him for work- These families know that beyond porter of Save Our Seas, the original
ing in such a bipartisan spirit to drive their daily livlihoods, plastic pollution bill. And he did so because he had
an important piece of legislation, to also threatens human health on a glob- childhood experiences on the gulf coast
really address the future of future gen- al scale. Once in the environment, plas- with sea turtles that made him care
erations of Alaskans, of Rhode Island- tics accumulate in and contaminate about the plastic that was piling up in
ers, and New Jerseyans—and Ameri- both human and animal food chains the oceans and strangling and drown-
cans, as well as other people across the leading to an array of health risks. ing sea creatures.
world. Save Our Seas 2.0 calls on various It has, this topic, a gift, I guess, for
I agree with Senator SULLIVAN that agencies to research and assess the ef- bringing people together. And based on
Senator WHITEHOUSE’s name is synony- fects of microplastics and food supplies that success and that unanimous con-
mous with the oceans and his focus on and sources of drinking water so that sent—and it cleared the House the
this is singular and his perspective is of we can better understand the way plas- same way on what they call suspension
the utmost importance. tic is dangerous to use. over there—we undertook 2.0; 2.0 is
I want to rise to join my colleagues Even at a time—this is where I will going to be bigger, better than 1.0. And
from Alaska and Rhode Island to cele- close—when Washington seems more it sure is bigger, better. And the role of
brate the enactment of Save Our Seas politically divided than ever before, Senator MENENDEZ in putting some
2.0 and to thank our colleagues, both in SOS 2.0 represents a significant bipar- real structure to the international
the House and the Senate, for their tisan environmental victory that I sin- component of this was essential.
votes in support of the most com- cerely hope will serve as a stepping Senator MENENDEZ is our ranking
prehensive piece of legislation to ad- stone toward more progress to tackle member on the Foreign Relations Com-
dress the growing global environmental this growing global problem. mittee. In that role, he was essential in
threat of plastic waste in our oceans. I There is no single solution to the ma- seeing to it that this bill, with such a
want to thank Representatives SU- rine debris crisis. Ocean stewardship is big Foreign Relations Committee foot-
ZANNE BONAMICI of Oregon and DON critical to preventing the collapse of print, cleared that committee with mo-
YOUNG of Alaska for their commitment marine ecosystems that support global mentum and good to go.
and leadership in shepherding the bill fisheries that feed billions of people We are now in the happy position
through the House. around the world. Addressing plastic that 2.0 has passed as well. It creates a
To my colleagues, Senator SULLIVAN waste of the ocean supports economic new marine debris foundation. It cre-
and Senator WHITEHOUSE, it has been a growth and trade, public health, and ates a genius prize for innovation in
great pleasure working with you on safe recreation. trying to get rid of or reinvent or re-
these issues. The passion, the knowl- I look forward to building upon the imagine our plastic disposal system. It
edge, the persistence you have brought bipartisan support we have achieved creates new research to tackle this
to solving the problem of plastic waste with this bill and working with the issue. It focuses more, as I said, di-
in the world’s oceans is incredible, and next administration on ensuring the rectly on our international relations
it was essential to our shared success. dutiful execution of the programs we because so much of the marine plastic
Plastic pollution in our oceans is established in SOS 2.0 and securing ap- waste comes out of foreign shores and
truly a global problem that literally propriations in support of the bill’s down foreign rivers. It also focuses on
washes up on New Jersey shores, im- goals and objectives. our domestic waste management pro-
pacting businesses and communities Again, with my congratulations to gram.
across our State. This calamity is yet my colleagues and my thanks for the This is a good step. I have heard peo-
another reminder that Americans are work they have done together, I will ple say that 2.0 is not enough. Darn
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directly impacted by the policies and yield the floor to our colleague from right it is not enough, but this is how
practices of countries around the Rhode Island. you build momentum. You prove that
world. Plastic debris in our oceans does The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- you can do something and that the
not respect international borders. ator from Rhode Island. Senate is willing to act on it. Then,
The abundance of plastic waste in Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam Presi- you stand on that platform and you
our ocean requires comprehensive ac- dent, today is a happy day for me to be build a bigger, better bill, and you get
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S7488 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 15, 2020
that passed. And now Senator SUL- tioned, improving our domestic infra- the House and to get it passed on the
LIVAN and I are already discussing what structure to prevent marine debris—so Senate and House floor. I want to start
3.0 might look like. we are setting our own example, not on the House side, with the equivalent
I am not in a position to speak for just helping other countries—and then of the Whitehouse-Sullivan show is the
Senator SULLIVAN, but I am interested enhancing our own domestic response. Young-Bonamici show on the other
in looking under the hood of the recy- Senator WHITEHOUSE mentioned this side; Representative BONAMICI and Rep-
cling industry. When you put your Marine Debris Foundation. This is a resentative YOUNG, whom Senator SUL-
plastic waste into a blue bin to go off congressionally chartered private orga- LIVAN mentioned, were the key people
and get recycled, how much of it actu- nization. There are not many in the working this issue.
ally does get recycled? How can we country. This is a big deal. Thank the I want to thank my delegation, JIM
make sure that there is, in fact, a cir- Red Cross. Thank the American Le- LANGEVIN and DAVID CICILLINE, be-
cle in which plastic gets manufactured, gion. These are congressionally char- cause, during key points when it
put into use, brought back out of the tered organizations that will give this looked like things were jamming up
system, and not left in the ocean, not effort public-private partnership en- over there, they jumped up with their
left as waste on our lands? How can ergy to address the problem. That is leadership and with their colleagues to
you develop what is called the circular exactly what we are focused on here, help move things along, and I believe
economy for plastic? and that is why we thought it was so Representative YOUNG did as well.
Plastic is a weird thing. Nature important to have a Marine Debris I want to thank the majority leader,
hasn’t seen plastic before. It doesn’t Foundation as an enduring element of STENY HOYER, who at a really critical
biodegrade the way things that were the U.S. leadership that is now exem- moment, when this could have gone
made by the Lord biodegrade. Nothing plified by Save our Seas 2.0. one way or another, made sure it went
eats it. If something does eat it, it just I will mention one final thing. You the right way and got us teed up to get
piles up in its body or goes through it know, one of the things that I thought the thing done in the House and back
neutrally. It provides no nutrition or was very important—we are going to here where we could move it in the
value to anything. It is just this new keep this together—is we worked hard Senate.
thing out there. We need to figure out not to single out one industry or one In the Senate, I have spoken about
how to deal with it, and we need to get area: Hey, you are not doing a good Senator MENENDEZ’s critical role, but,
it the heck out of our oceans. job; you need to get your act together. of course, as chairman, Senator RISCH
More to come on this. But let me What we said when we put this bill to- also had to support and permit this to
take this moment to thank Senator gether is we are going to bring in all go forward. It had to clear Commerce,
MENENDEZ for his leadership, particu- the stakeholders—Democrats, Repub- where Senator WICKER and Senator
larly, on the foreign side of this, and licans, the executive branch, Federal CANTWELL were supportive and helped
Senator SULLIVAN for his leadership agencies, industry, key environmental move this along. Senator WICKER, in-
and for being such a terrific ally in this groups, ocean conservancy, World deed, has been a member of our Oceans
cause. Wildlife Foundation—and get every- Caucus from an early stage and has
With that, I yield back. body together—the Alliance to End been very helpful on oceans issues.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Plastic Waste, which is an initiative in Then on our—Senator SULLIVAN’s and
ator from Alaska. the private sector, and say: What can my—Environment and Public Works
Mr. SULLIVAN. Let me wrap up here we do together to solve this problem? Committee, Chairman BARRASSO and
by mentioning that, as we already That is what we did. All the stake- our ranking member, Senator CARPER,
talked about, the Congressional Re- holders came together. Everybody were all very supportive.
search Service has called this the most worked closely together, good ideas, Things like this don’t get done with-
comprehensive ocean cleanup legisla- pulling on the same oar. And that is out a lot of people pulling together,
tion ever to come out of the Congress. how we got this done. and I just wanted to make sure that I
As Senator WHITEHOUSE said, 6 years You know, one of our finest Senators, thanked all of them as I close out here
ago, we were starting at nothing. And LAMAR ALEXANDER, gave his farewell on this subject.
then we got Save Our Seas 1.0, pri- speech just last week, and he talked So thank you.
marily about cleaning up our own about this idea of a split screen in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
coastlines. Senate. Yes, there is contention. Yes, ator from Iowa.
There are a lot of funny stories there, there are battles. The media loves to FIRST STEP ACT
but we did have a really interesting— play those up. But there is also another Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President,
and I thought entertaining—signing element about what we do here where as we approach the holiday season,
ceremony at the White House with the there is strong bipartisan support on many of us will be celebrating dif-
President and Senator WHITEHOUSE. really big issues: the CARES Act, the ferently. COVID–19 may be limiting
The two hadn’t met before. They got NDAA, the Great American Outdoors travel, family members we see in per-
along really well, particularly talking Act—probably the biggest conservation son, or other holiday traditions. Yet
about this issue. And it did motivate bill in 50 years—21st Century Cures; there is much to be grateful for.
the Trump administration to start fo- these are all things that we are getting For me, I am thankful for my health,
cusing more. You may have seen in the done here that matter to the American my family, my country, and my staff. I
new NAFTA, the USMCA, the first people in a bipartisan way. You don’t am also grateful to serve Iowans and
trade agreement has a whole section on always read about them in the press, work in the Senate to tackle legisla-
ocean cleanup and a whole section on but they are still happening. And now tion, conduct oversight, and work for
fisheries and sustainable fisheries. This we can add to that list the biggest the best interests of the people of Iowa.
is a really important precedent for the ocean cleanup legislation in the his- I am also thankful to reflect upon
U.S. government, regardless of party. tory of the country going to the Presi- previous accomplishments. This time
As Senator MENENDEZ mentioned, a dent’s desk for signing here in the next of year coincides with a milestone
lot of focus internationally. I want to couple of days. It is something our fel- achievement, that being the anniver-
thank him again, in terms of the For- low Americans should know about. And sary of the passage of the FIRST STEP
eign Relations Committee. Our ability as Senator WHITEHOUSE said, we are Act, and to remember that the crimi-
to help other countries—we are cer- going to build on that too. nal justice reform bill that we call the
tainly not perfect, but the big chal- I yield the floor. FIRST STEP Act is the most com-
lenge on a lot of the oceans, in terms of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- prehensive overhaul of criminal justice
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
cleanup and what comes onto the ator from Rhode Island. legislation in a generation.
shores of the United States, what Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam Presi- On December 18, 2018, the Senate
comes onto the shores of Alaska in dent, I should add a few other thank- passed the most significant criminal
terms of plastics and pollution, comes yous because this, obviously, took a lot justice reform legislation in a genera-
from overseas. We need to help there. of effort to get through all these dif- tion, and 3 days later, President Trump
As Senator WHITEHOUSE also men- ferent committees in the Senate and signed the bill into law. The FIRST
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