"I was honored to receive the award," said Saxton, Co-chairman of the House Oceans Caucus and Vice Chairman of the House Fisheries and Oceans Subcommittee. "The Bay is a precious resource. We enjoy its bounty and its beauty, but in turn we have to take care of it. To do that, local, state and federal officials must work together as partners with the same goal: improving and protecting Barnegat Bay."

Saxton was presented the "Guardians of the Bay Award, Government leading by Example,"at a ceremony which was held on Saturday at Ocean County College in Toms River, the site of the 9^th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival.

Barnegat Bay is one of 28 NEP sites across the United States, including three in New Jersey: Delaware Bay, Barnegat Bay and New Jersey-New York Harbor. Saxton has fought for higher levels of funding for the NEP, which has in part helped lead to a comprehensive management plan for the Barnegat Bay NEP. The NEP partners local, state and community organizations all gears toward

"During the past 10 years, your continued support of our Program's efforts has made possible the work which we do to protect and improve the health of the Barnegat Bay Watershed," said Dr. Robert Scro, director of the Barnegat Bay NEP, a 75-square mile ecosystem with environmentally sensitive estuaries surrounding its borders.

On June 16, Saxton joined Democrat Rep. Sam Farr (Calif.-17th), Republican Rep. Kurt Weldon (Pa.-7th), Tom Allen (D-ME) and other Members of Congress in introducing a bipartisan ocean management bill. Saxton, Allen, Weldon and Farr and are co-chairs of the House Oceans Caucus. The "Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act," also known as OCEANS-21, would establish Regional Ocean Partnerships that facilitate communication among federal, state, and local management entities, and restructure the trust fund so that it draws from general revenues rather than monies from outer continental shelf activities. OCEANS-21 will establish a national policy and standards for management of U.S coasts and oceans; strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association; promote regional, ecosystem-based oceans governance; boost programs for ocean science, exploration, and research; and establish an oceans trust fund.