With our oceans and coastal resources, and the economies and jobs they support, facing constant and increasingly direct pressure from a variety of sources, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators met to form a new Senate Oceans Caucus. 

The Caucus will work to increase awareness and find common ground in responding to issues facing the oceans and coasts, which support millions of jobs in America and contribute more to the country’s GDP than the entire farm sector, grossing more than $230 billion in 2004.

Full list of co-founding members of the Senate Oceans Caucus:

Sheldon Whitehouse, Co-Chair (D-RI)
Lisa Murkowski, Co-Chair (R-AK)
Mark Begich (D-AK), Honorary Co-Chair
Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Honorary Co-Chair
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Scott Brown (R-MA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Please share your thoughts on why oceans matter to our economy and our future.