Congressional National Marine Sanctuary Caucus

National marine sanctuaries have champions in Congress.

Established in the US House of Representatives in 2006, and re-launched in 2021, the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus is a bipartisan coalition of Members dedicated to increasing awareness of and strengthening commitment to America’s national marine sanctuaries. The caucus serves as a strong voice to raise awareness of sanctuaries and prioritize sanctuary issues on behalf of communities and our nation.  These Members recognize the value of sanctuaries as models for marine conservation worldwide—promoting ocean health, honoring heritage, bolstering local economies and jobs, supporting public access to recreation, and advancing education and community-building.

With support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Caucus 

    • supports public policy that protects and conserves our nation’s most iconic natural and cultural marine resources for all Americans, including NMSA Reauthorization and Member Dear Colleague appropriations letters; 

    • raises congressional awareness and understanding of national marine sanctuaries and their roles in sustaining a healthy ocean and Great Lakes;

    • draws national attention to sanctuary issues and share their successes as models for marine conservation worldwide; and 

    • builds a coalition of champions for our national marine sanctuaries and our communities. 

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation encourages more members of the House to join the Caucus.

Is your Representative in the Caucus?

If your Representative isn’t a Caucus member, you can send a direct letter to your elected official to Urge Your Representative: Join the Sanctuary Caucus.

Take Action

Members of the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus

The Honorable Jared Huffman (D-CA)

Co-Chair

The Honorable Garret Graves (R-LA)

Co-Chair

The Honorable Nanette Barragan (D-CA)
The Honorable Jack Bergman (R-MI)
The Honorable Don Beyer (D-VA)
The Honorable Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
The Honorable Julia Brownley (D-CA)
The Honorable Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
The Honorable Jerry Carl (R-AL)
The Honorable Buddy Carter (R-GA)
The Honorable Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
The Honorable Ed Case (D-HI)
The Honorable Danny K. Davis (D-IL)
The Honorable Suzan DelBene (D-WA)
The Honorable Debbie Dingell (D-MI)
The Honorable Jimmy Gomez (D-CA)
The Honorable James A. Himes (D-CT)
The Honorable Sara Jacobs (D-CA)
The Honorable Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
The Honorable Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
The Honorable John B. Larson (D-CT)
The Honorable Nancy Mace (R-SC)
The Honorable Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY)
The Honorable Doris O. Matsui (D-CA)
The Honorable Joseph Morelle (D-NY)
The Honorable Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
The Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
The Honorable Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
The Honorable Chris Pappas (D-NH)
The Honorable Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
The Honorable John Rutherford (R-FL)
The Honorable Gregorio Sablan (D-NMI)
The Honorable Maria Salazar (R-FL)
The Honorable Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
The Honorable Adam Smith (D-WA)
The Honorable Darren Soto (D-FL)
The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
The Honorable Jill Tokuda (D-HI)
The Honorable Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)