Washington, D.C. — In recognition of her tireless commitment and strong leadership to help protect and preserve our nation’s ocean and coastal resources, Representative Madeleine Z. Bordallo of Guam, was honored with the 2009 Leadership Award by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) at its Annual Leadership Awards Dinner, in Washington, D.C. on June 9^th.

“We are pleased to honor Congresswoman Bordallo, who has spent her six years in Congress as a passionate steward of marine conservation and environmental issues, helping to introduce important legislation to protect America’s underwater treasures, our national marine sanctuaries,” said Joy Williams, acting president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

A lifetime public servant, Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo became the first woman to represent Guam in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003.  Ms. Bordallo brings to Congress over forty years of public service experience in the executive and legislative branches of the Government of Guam and numerous non-governmental organizations.  The 111th Congress is Ms. Bordallo's fourth term.

While in Congress, Bordallo has played a major leadership role in support of ocean conservation by introducing or sponsoring more than 83 bills to protect coral reefs, prevent overfishing, support coastal zoning reauthorization, conserve sharks, encourage ocean research and exploration, and reauthorize the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, among others.  As Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans of the House Committee on Natural Resources, she convened oversight hearings on the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and the need to reauthorize it in the 110^th Congress. 

She joined the National Marine Sanctuary Caucus in the 110^th Congress and remains an active member today working across the aisle with her colleagues to help support our national marine sanctuary system.  As a testament to her tireless and exemplary work in Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Congresswoman Bordallo to continue her service on the important House Committee on Natural Resources and on the House Armed Services Committee.

“The stewardship of our ocean is a responsibility that each of us must bear,” Congresswoman Bordallo said.  “I thank the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for all of their work in advancing ocean conservation and in supporting our national treasures – our marine sanctuaries.  I will continue my work in Congress to protect our ocean and marine life.”

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s annual Leadership Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with the 2009 Capitol Hill Ocean Week, a three-day symposium that features ocean policy experts from government, private industry, nonprofits and academia. Participants seek to raise awareness of the important ocean and coastal issues among our nation’s leaders and to build bridges among various ocean constituencies. Sponsors include: Pacific Life; American Petroleum Institute; Center for Ocean Solutions; Regional Fishery Management Councils; Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Ocean Conservancy.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the private, non-profit partner to NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The Foundation supports efforts to educate and motivate people on ways they can help preserve, protect and promote our nationwide network of marine sanctuaries. The 14 sites within the National Marine Sanctuary System protect special places in the oceans and Great Lakes, from the Florida Keys to the Hawaiian Islands and from Lake Huron to the Gulf of Mexico. For more information, visit www.NMSFocean.org.