President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued Proclamation 10880 on January 2, 2025, to amend two previous proclamations about marine national monuments. Proclamation 8336, which originally established the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in 2009, and Proclamation 9173, which expanded the area in 2014, are being updated. The name of both the Monument and its Expansion is being changed to the "Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument." This change is made to better acknowledge the cultural heritage of Indigenous Peoples and communities of the Pacific Islands.
Simple Explanation
President Biden decided to change the names of some special ocean areas to the "Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument" to especially recognize the culture of the people who have lived in the Pacific Islands for a long time.