“I am very grateful to Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon for bringing my resolution to the floor for approval,” said Sablan.
“The timing is perfect. Because in a few weeks we will be honoring Capt. Don Walsh, the surviving member of the Trieste crew, with a National Geographic Society dinner, a reception at the Smithsonian Institution, and a day of press events focusing on the remarkable dive 50 years ago. This is also a wonderful opportunity to draw attention to the state of the oceans and ocean exploration today and to the newly created Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.
“I will be very happy to present this resolution to Captain Walsh and to the children of Jacques Piccard, the other Trieste hero, during those events.”
The Trieste made its historic — and never again repeated — dive into the 36,000 foot deep Mariana Trench on Jan. 23, 1960. Sablan introduced his resolution in January to coincide with the actual anniversary.
Sablan spoke on the floor during the debate on his resolution, calling attention to the contrast between the resources given to outer space exploration in the last 50 years, while so little is known of Earth’s oceans, our inner space.
“Throughout this period of outer space exploration, the 80 percent of our work covered by the oceans — our inner space — remains virtually unknown and unseen by human beings.
“Our Nation has stopped in its track to witness the brave exploits of its outer space explorers and lauded them as heroes. Yet Capt. Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard and the team of U.S. Naval personnel who made the dive possible are virtually forgotten.
“H.Res. 1027 aims to correct that. This resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Trieste dive is meant to shine a light on what these brave men and their support team accomplished. This resolution is meant to inspire us with the example of Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard and reinvigorate the commitment of our Nation and this Congress to unlocking the secrets of the oceans of this Earth, of which we know so little.”
Sablan also used the occasion to draw attention to the newly created Mariana Trench Marine National Monument with surrounds parts of the Commonwealth.
“This monument not only contains the Mariana Trench where the Trieste descended, but also three islands of my district — Uracas, Asuncion, and Farallon de Pajaros — as well as a multitude of undersea volcanoes, upwellings of liquid carbon dioxide, and other features believed unique in all the world.
“The people of the Northern Mariana Islands are proud of this environmental treasure and are committed to its protection so that it may be a source of wonder to those who visit and of knowledge to those who come there to explore and discover as Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard did 50 years ago.”
During his remarks Sablan recognized the co-sponsors of his resolution, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, D-Guam, and Sam Farr, D-Ca., for their support and continued leadership in oceans policy.
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