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THIS WEEK... AT INTERIOR...
SECRETARY JEWELL OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED NATIONAL FISHING AND BOATING WEEK WITH A SPECIAL EVENT,
AND MORE THAN 200 SPECIAL GUESTS... FOURTH TO SEVENTH GRADERS FROM D-C SCHOOLS. THE SECRETARY
AND THE STUDENTS JOINED FOLKS FROM THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, CONSERVATION GROUPS
AND PARTNERS LIKE BASS PRO SHOPS, ON THE BANKS OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANT ROLES THAT BOATING AND FISHING PLAY IN OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE, AND OUR NATIONAL
ECONOMY.
There's 800-thousand jobs that are created in this country from the fishing business
alone and 62-billion dollars -- that's billion with a B -- from people who like to fish.
So if you guys want to get a career in fishing or in the outdoors, you can take that first
step today by getting out on this river.
AND THE STUDENTS DID EXACTLY THAT, JOINING THE SECRETARY FOR, IN SOME CASES, THEIR VERY
FIRST EVER FISHING TRIP.. LEARNING HOW TO BAIT A HOOK AND THROW A LINE IN THE WATER.
THE SECRETARY NOTED THE EVENT IS PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS PROGRAM..
AND ITS LOCATION ON THE ANACOSTIA HIGHLIGHTS THE WORK OF THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP,
WHICH AIMS TO RESTORE AND PROTECT RIVERS FOR EVERYONE'S ENJOYMENT.
INTERIOR THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THE FIRST OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY LEASE SALE... IN JULY THE
BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT WILL OFFER COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON NEARLY 165-THOUSAND
ACRES OFF THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS FOR WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, MARKING ANOTHER
MAJOR MILESTONE IN THE PRESIDENT'S ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE ENERGY STRATEGY. TOGETHER THE TWO AREAS COULD
CREATE ENOUGH POWER FOR A MILLION HOMES...
ALSO THIS WEEK SECRETARY JEWELL GAVE THE THUMBS UP TO THREE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS OUT
WEST... THE 350-MEGAWATT MIDLAND SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT, AND THE 70-WATT NEW YORK CANYON GEOTHERMAL
PROJECT, ARE BOTH LOCATED IN NEVADA... WHILE THE 100-MEGAWATT QUARTSITE SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT
IS LOCATED IN ARIZONA. WHEN BUILT, THE PROJECTS WILL DELIVER ENOUGH JUICE TO LIGHT UP NEARLY
200-THOUSAND HOMES, AND SUPPORT NEARLY 900 JOBS.
AND A GATHERING ON THE NATIONAL MALL THIS WEEK TO LAUNCH A NEW EFFORT GIVING NATIONAL
PARKS VISITORS A HEALTHIER CHOICE, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THEY EAT. THE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE
FOOD PROGRAM OFFERS GUIDELINES FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF HEALTHY CHOICES ON THE MENU
AT MORE THAN 250 FOOD AND BEVERAGE OUTLETS.
As they can have these great experiences with family and friends at our national parks,
they can also have a memorable food experience that is good for them as well.
I think it's important to remember we're really in a crisis in this country when it comes
to our kids and our families' health. And that's the backdrop by which we're doing this
work here today. One in three kids is overweight or obese, and one in three of our youngest
are on track to have diabetes in their lifetime. And when you look at what that's going to
do to our economy, our healthcare system, or education system, and even our ability
to defend ourselves as a nation, the stakes are incredibly high, and that's why today
is such a big deal.
TWENTY THREE MILLION PEOPLE BUY MEALS AT NATIONAL PARKS EACH YEAR... PARK SERVICE OFFICIALS
NOTE THAT THE HEALTHIER OPTIONS WILL STILL BE FOUND ALONGSIDE YOUR FAVORITE BURGERS AND
DOGS AND FRENCH FRIES.
THAT'S THIS WEEK, AT INTERIOR.