From 2005 to 2010, the Joint Initiative Commissioners continually provided assistance to policymakers at all levels of government — local, state, and federal — as well as to leaders in the nongovernmental, academic, and private sectors.

To advance these priorities, members of the Joint Initiative were regularly called on as experts to advise Congress and other political leaders and appeared as key witnesses at numerous hearings on ocean policy.

Joint Initiative leaders authored or were cited in numerous articles and stories about its work have appeared in major national newspapers and media markets around the country.

On July 19, 2010, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13547 establishing a National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes.

In 2014, the Joint Initiative launched a regional outreach strategy to inform the development of its latest report, the Ocean Action Agenda.

This was done through a series of Regional Ocean Leadership Roundtables, convened on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts and in the U.S. Arctic.

At these roundtables, the Joint Initiative heard from nonprofit, industry, and military leaders, as well as representatives from federal, state, local, and tribal entities, about regional priorities, challenges, and needs.

The input gathered at these roundtables informed the development of the Ocean Action Agenda, which contains recommendations for the Trump Administration and 115th Congress.

The bipartisan Joint Initiative Leadership Council is co-chaired by Christine Todd Whitman and Norman Mineta.

The report contains recommendations for the Trump Administration and Congress to ensure the health and productivity of America's oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes and foster economic growth.

At these roundtables, the Joint Initiative brought together more than 250 local, state, tribal, and national leaders representing diverse industry, government, and nonprofit interests to identify creative solutions to critical ocean and coastal issues.

The report recommends actions for the Administration and Congress that prioritize areas where short-term progress can be readily achieved.

If implemented, these measures will strengthen ocean-dependent economies, protect coastal communities and provide new opportunities for growth in thriving oceans.

[6] The recommendations incorporated input from leaders at some of the most respected and influential ocean and coastal policy and science organizations in the country.

The Joint Initiative identified specific actions the Obama Administration and Congress should take within two to four years to improve ocean and coastal policy, management, science and funding, emphasizing their contributions toward addressing pressing national challenges of climate change, energy security and reviving the economy.

The plan outlines ten steps Congress should take to address the most pressing challenges, the highest funding priorities, and the most important changes to federal laws and the budget process to establish a more effective and integrated ocean policy.