Washington, DC - A veritable “Who’s Who” of the ocean world will be on hand as the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation presents its annual Leadership Awards to U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) and to the four co-chairs of the House Oceans Caucus, U.S. Representative Tom Allen (D-ME), U.S. Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), U.S. Representative Jim Greenwood (R-PA), and U.S. Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA) on June 8th as part of Capitol Hill Oceans Week. The Leadership Award recognizes each individual’s long-term contributions to ocean protection and preservation.

Keynote remarks will be delivered by the Honorable Leon Panetta, who will also serve as Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Panetta, a National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Trustee, served as Chair of the Pew Oceans Commission, which last year released its report entitled “America’s Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change.” Special guests include Admiral James Watkins, USN (Ret.), Chair of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, which recently released its draft report for comment. The Leadership Awards will be presented by National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Trustees Jean-Michel Cousteau and Dr. Sylvia Earle.

“The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is delighted to have the opportunity to express its gratitude to these extraordinary individuals whose enthusiasm and diligence have contributed so much to our National Marine Sanctuary Program and to ocean preservation in general,” said Panetta.

Senator Snowe serves on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and since 1997, has been a leader of its Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. She has helped guide a number of substantial ocean bills into law, including the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000, the Oceans Act of 2000, and the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. Senator Snowe has authored legislation reauthorizing the nation's most important federal planning and conservation program for coastal areas, the Coastal Zone Management Act. Her reauthorization bill would boost funding for coastal zone grants and state programs, and authorize the Coastal Non-point Program to help prevent polluted runoff. Senator Snowe recently sponsored the Fishery Conservation and Management Amendments Act of 2004, which would increase the role of ecosystem science in national fisheries management. A champion for implementing a nationwide ocean observation system, Snowe sponsored the Ocean and Coastal Observation Systems Act of 2003, modeled after the highly successful Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System.

The four co-chairs of the House Oceans Caucus are also being honored with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Leadership Award, including Representatives Tom Allen (D-ME), Sam Farr (D-CA), Jim Greenwood (R-PA) and Curt Weldon (R-PA).

Tom Allen represents Maine's coastal First Congressional District and serves as a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, and its subcommittees on Energy and Air Quality, Environment and Hazardous Materials, and Oversight and Investigations. He is also a Democratic Whip at Large.

Sam Farr represents the 17th Congressional District along California's beautiful Central Coast, which includes the length of the Big Sur coastline and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He serves on the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittees on Agriculture and Military Construction. During his tenure, he has established himself as a leader in the house by chairing California's Democratic Congressional Delegation.

Jim Greenwood represents Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District and serves as a member of the
Energy and Commerce Committee and as chairman of its Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, he leads inquiries into such matters as the security of our ports. He is a member of the Congressional Coastal Caucus and currently serves as the President of Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment International.

Curt Weldon represents the Seventh Congressional District of Pennsylvania and now in his 9th term, is the most senior Republican in the Pennsylvania Delegation. He serves as Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces. He has taken leadership roles on a wide variety of issues, ranging from national security to the environment.

The Foundation will also present its Volunteer of the Year Award to Stephanie Harlan of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Harlan started her volunteer work for the National Marine Sanctuary Program through her tireless efforts to help designate the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in the early 1990s. She promoted the sanctuary as both a citizen and member of the Capitola City Council, where she now serves as mayor. Harlan has gone on to serve as the Sanctuary Advisory Council Chair for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary since April of 2000.

The NMSF Leadership Awards Dinner kicks off Capitol Hill Oceans Week, a two-day symposium on Capitol Hill, June 9-10. Now in its fourth year, this symposium, coordinated by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, has established itself as one of the most important events of the year for exchanging knowledge and ideas about ocean issues and policies. This year, representatives from government, private industry, nonprofits, and academia will focus on ‘Managing Our Marine Areas’ (Wednesday, June 9) and the ‘Wonders of the Ocean World: Exploring, Monitoring and Educating’ (Thursday, June 10). Each panel discussion will begin with an overview from a Member of Congress. Exhibitors will join the symposium on both days for the Ocean Fair, which will feature some of the most successful marine management and exploration programs in the country. Congressional co-hosts of CHOW 2003 include the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation; the House Committee on Science; and the House Oceans Caucus.

Capitol Hill Oceans Week is sponsored by the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Perot Systems Government Services Inc., Booz Allen Hamilton, Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration’s Immersion Project, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Geographic Society, Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., Center for SeaChange, Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership/Coastal America, International Seakeepers Society, Mote Marine Laboratory, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Ocean Industries Association, and the Ocean Foundation.

Federal partners include the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program and NOAA Office of Exploration, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water.