Secretary of State John Kerry will make remarks at the National Geographic Society during the Ross Sea Conservation Reception on Monday, March 18.

At the reception, hosted by The Pew Charitable Trusts, Secretary Kerry will speak about the U.S.-New Zealand initiative to establish the world’s largest marine protected area in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. The Ross Sea, one of the last great ocean wilderness areas on earth, is of tremendous conservation and scientific value and is a focal point for U.S. marine conservation efforts in Antarctica.

The Secretary will speak at the reception, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at the National Geographic Headquarters, 1145 17^th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036.

The event will be open to the press.

Pre-set time for video cameras: 4:00 p.m. at 1145 17^th Street, NW, National Geographic Headquarters.
Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 5:30 p.m. at 1145 17^th Street, NW.

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

For further information, please contact the U.S. Department of State Office of Press Relations at (202) 647-2492 or Elyssa Rosen of The Pew Charitable Trusts at erosen@pewtrusts.org, (775) 224-7497.