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SRES 552
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A resolution recognizing that oceans are warming due to human-caused climate change.

Recognizing that oceans are warming due to human-caused climate change.

Introduced Dec 17, 2025

Latest action (Dec 17, 2025) Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Referred to
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Issues
Climate & Energy

Summary

This resolution expresses the Senate's recognition that climate change is causing oceans to warm and imposing serious harms on marine environments and coastal communities. The resolution cites scientific findings that oceans absorb roughly 14 zettajoules of excess heat annually and that ocean warming is projected to accelerate significantly by 2100. The resolution documents impacts of warming oceans including harm to coral reefs and marine biodiversity, threats to fish populations and fisheries, ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, increased bacterial pathogen concentrations, and intensification of hurricanes and extreme weather. The resolution also notes economic consequences, including effects on the fishing industry and coral reef-dependent tourism. As a resolution, it expresses the Senate's position but creates no new law or authorization for spending.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
8 cosponsors

Actions (2)
  1. Dec 17, 2025 Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
  2. Dec 17, 2025 Introduced in Senate

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • SRES 557 — A resolution recognizing that climate change portends a cascade of financial market collapses that would destabilize the national and global economies. · Introduced Dec 17, 2025 · Cong. 119 71%
  • SRES 555 — A resolution recognizing that climate change poses a threat to the mortgage market and to home values. · Introduced Dec 17, 2025 · Cong. 119 70%
  • SRES 551 — A resolution recognizing that sea levels are rising at accelerated rates due to human-caused climate change. · Introduced Dec 17, 2025 · Cong. 119 66%
  • HR 8496 — Marine Mammal Climate Change Protection Act of 2026 · Introduced Apr 27, 2026 · Cong. 119 64%
  • HR 6185 — Targeting Environmental and Climate Recklessness Act of 2025 · Introduced Nov 20, 2025 · Cong. 119 63%
  • SRES 318 — A resolution recognizing that climate change poses a growing threat to public health and necessitates coordinated action to mitigate its impacts and safeguard the health and well-being of all people in the United States. · Introduced Jul 10, 2025 · Cong. 119 63%

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 17, 2025

Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Markey, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Welch, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

RESOLUTION

Recognizing that oceans are warming due to human-caused climate change.

Whereas climate change is causing the oceans to absorb roughly 14 zettajoules of excess heat every year; Whereas the top 2,000 meters of the global ocean have been significantly warning, gaining approximately 372 zettajoules of excess heat since 1955; Whereas, by 2100, it is projected that the rate of ocean warming in the top 2,000 meters will be 2 to 6 times greater than the rate of warming at the time of the introduction of this resolution; Whereas ocean warming can have deleterious effects on biodiversity and sea life, including the health of coral reefs, which contribute $3,400,000,000 annually to the United States economy; Whereas ocean warming will cause United States fish populations to move across international boundaries or into the high seas, causing economic uncertainty for fishermen; Whereas climate change is acidifying the oceans, threatening the environmental health and biodiversity of the United States; Whereas ocean warming and acidification can cause numerous harms to ocean life, including to species with calcium carbonate shells, which are key components of the ocean’s food webs; Whereas warming sea surface temperatures will shrink populations of the world’s most abundant phytoplankton, significantly damaging the ocean food web; Whereas warmer oceans will increase the risk and severity of harmful algal blooms, especially in the spring and summer months, which at the time of the introduction of this resolution cost between $10,000,000 and $100,000,000 annually on average and harm ecosystems, fisheries, drinking water, public health, recreation, and tourism; Whereas increased ocean temperatures have expanded Vibrio concentrations in the United States, a bacterial pathogen that can cause severe illness, infection, and death in humans; Whereas warmer oceans increase evaporation rates, increasing atmospheric humidity, which fuels stronger hurricanes and extreme precipitation events; Whereas ocean warming caused North Atlantic hurricanes at the time of the introduction of this resolution to be, on average, a category more intense, with wind speeds averaging 18.6 miles per hour faster, wreaking more damage; and Whereas our oceans are warming rapidly each year: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that climate change is imposing serious harms on our oceans and on coastal communities. <all>

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