In appreciation of her lifelong support of the National Marine Sanctuaries and America’s oceans, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) was honored June 8 with a 2010 “Leadership Award” from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) at its annual Leadership Awards Dinner held June 8 in Washington, DC.

The event is part of the ninth Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), DC’s premier oceans-focused annual conference held in conjunction with U.N. World Oceans Day. Both CHOW and the awards dinner are hosted and produced by NMSF, a private non-profit organization supporting the network of 14 federal marine protected areas within the United States. In Rep. Ros-Lehtinen’s 18th District of Florida, this includes the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen received the Award for her dedication to protecting the natural resources of Florida and its waters and the broader environmental health of the U.S. Among that work, she was involved in legislation providing funding for national marine sanctuaries, coastal restoration projects, and coral reef protection. Her concern for Florida’s coral reefs led her to champion the Coral Reef Conservation Act.

She was also recognized for joining with Congresswoman Lois Capps (who received the other Leadership Award) in 2006, to establish the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus. This bipartisan, bi-coastal caucus is comprised of 26 Members of Congress committed to increasing awareness of and strengthening commitment to America’s national marine sanctuaries. As a co-chair, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen has helped secure increases in appropriations and elevated awareness and stature for the National Marine Sanctuary System.

Watch Rep. Ros-Lehtinen's acceptance speech:

Along with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, the other honorees at the Dinner were Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard, and the NMSF Volunteer of the Year, Steve Kroll of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Michigan.

Participants at CHOW and the Dinner included Members of Congress and Congressional staff; federal, state, and local government officials; educators; researchers; authors; industry executives; and leaders within the conservation community.

As part of CHOW on June 8, for the second year in a row, New York City's iconic Empire State Building was lit in purple, blue, and white in recognition of World Oceans Day.

Lead sponsors for LAD 2010 include: Waitt Foundation, Center for Ocean Solutions, Constellation Energy, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Monterey Bay Aquarium, National Geographic Society, The Ocean Foundation, Pacific Life, Sea Research Foundation, and U.S. Regional Fishery Management Councils.

About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the National Marine Sanctuaries:
The National Marine Sanctuary System represents America's underwater national treasures: a coast-to-coast network of 13 federally designated sanctuaries and one marine national monument, encompassing over 150,000 square miles in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Great Lakes. The Foundation was created in 2000 to help preserve, protect, and promote these Sanctuaries. Through public and private sector partnerships, it fosters conservation-based research and education and outreach programs designed to connect the American public with these unique marine environments.

Photos by Jaime Windon | Blonde Photo

Contact:
Sarah van Schagen
Communications and Outreach Manager
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
email
301-608-3040 x5

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