Washington, DC – In recognition of his leadership and longstanding commitment to protecting the nation’s oceans and coastal resources, former U.S. Senator and Connecticut Governor Lowell Weicker is being honored with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) First Annual Lifetime Achievement Award during a June 7 ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. The Award comes on the eve of World Oceans Day, June 8.

“Having grown up along Long Island Sound, I realized at a young age just how special our oceans and our natural resources are,” said Weicker. “Those issues always ranked at the top of the list for me. I’m especially proud of the work I was able to do to protect the waters around both Connecticut and our nation as a whole. To be recognized by others for my efforts is particularly gratifying and humbling. I am honored to be the recipient of NMSF’s first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Weicker was presented the Award by ocean explorer and filmmaker Bob Ballard, who’s perhaps best known for his discovery of the Titanic. “Few people have done more to assure the health of our marine habitats and creatures, and the quality of our water, and that we approach the management of these resources based on sound scientific principles,” said Ballard. “Lowell Weicker has devoted much of his professional and private life to the oceans and the nation owes him a great debt of gratitude.”

For much of his political career, Lowell Weicker was a passionate advocate for the nation’s oceans. During his early tenure in the Senate, Weicker served on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee where he sponsored, co-sponsored or supported many groundbreaking pieces of legislation that profoundly changed the way we manage, study and protect our marine resources. As Governor of Connecticut, he continued that work, becoming a strong defender of both Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River.

“When he was in office, both in the United States Senate and as Governor of Connecticut, there were few others who brought as much passion and energy to the issues of preserving and promoting our nation’s oceans and marine resources as Lowell Weicker,” said NMSF Executive Director Lori Arguelles. “It is fitting that the first Lifetime Achievement Award goes to a public servant who worked so tirelessly to raise awareness about important ocean and coastal issues.”

The NMSF Leadership Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with the 2005 Capitol Hill Oceans week, a three-day symposium that features ocean policy experts from government, private industry, nonprofits and academia. Participants look to raise awareness of important ocean and coastal issues among our nation’s leaders and to build bridges among various ocean constituencies. The forum seeks to continue the momentum to reform national ocean policy through the Bush Administration’s U.S. Ocean Action plan, as well as ocean and coastal legislation pending in Congress.

Governor Weicker is being honored along with U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Michigan Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-03), and Maryland Congressman Wayne Gilchrest (R-01), who are all receiving the Foundation’s 2005 Leadership awards.