[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7518-S7519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAFEE (for himself, Mr. Sarbanes, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Breaux, 
        Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 2606. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
reauthorize the National Estuary Program; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am joined today by Senators Sarbanes,

[[Page S7519]]

Snowe, Breaux, Boxer and Lautenberg in introducing legislation to 
reauthorize a highly successful and collaborative program known as the 
National Estuary Program (NEP).
  In 1987, Congress created the NEP to restore designated estuaries of 
national significance. Since 1987, the EPA estimates that the NEP has 
preserved, restored or created approximately 719,000 habitat acres, and 
has leveraged $200 million in local, State and private sector funding, 
with an average leveraging ratio of 11 to 1. The NEP has accomplished 
this by fostering and maintaining strong partnerships among Federal, 
State and local governments, the private sector and local stakeholders, 
and by using a consensus, community-based approach with strong local 
control in developing and implementing their Comprehensive Conservation 
and Management Plans (CCMPs).
  Today, there are 28 estuaries in the NEP, covering more than 42 
percent of the continental U.S. shoreline. Nearly half of the U.S. 
population resides in coastal areas, with thousands of new residents 
arriving every year. In the United States, estuaries provide habitat 
for three-quarters of America's commercial fish catch, and 80-90 
percent of the recreational fish catch.
  Estuarine-dependent fisheries are among the most valuable, with an 
estimated worth of $1.9 billion nationwide. Coastal recreation and 
tourism generate an additional $8 to $12 billion annually. According to 
recent analyses by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), estuaries 
of the NEP employ 39 million people and support total economic output 
and employee wages estimated in the trillions. The tourism sector alone 
employs 1.2 million people and generates more than $87 billion in 
expenditures.
  Despite their economic and environmental importance, the Nation's 
estuaries are under increasing threat by the many competing demands 
placed upon them. Estuaries in the NEP face numerous challenges, 
including over-enrichment of nutrients, loss of habitat, declines in 
fish and wildlife, and introduction of invasive species, causing severe 
declines in water quality, living resources and overall ecosystem 
health. According to the recent EPA National Coastal Condition Report 
describing the ecological and environmental conditions of U.S. coastal 
waters and estuary resources, the overall condition of our Nation's 
coastal waters is fair to poor, and 44 percent of estuarine habitats 
are impaired for human or aquatic life use.
  The NEP offers an effective means to deal with these national 
problems. The flexible and collaborative nature of the NEP has allowed 
the local Estuary Programs to develop innovative approaches to address 
the problems facing estuarine systems, approaches uniquely tailored to 
local environmental conditions, and to the needs of local communities 
and constituencies. At the same time, the national structure provided 
by the NEP has facilitated the sharing of management approaches, 
technologies, and ideas that underscore this program's success. Indeed, 
the National Commission on Ocean Policy highlighted the NEP's focus 
``on bringing together stakeholders in particular areas that are in or 
approaching a crisis situation.'' Additionally, the Commission found 
``the assessment and planning process used by the NEP holds promise for 
the future of ecosystem-based management.''
  Reauthorizing the NEP is an important step in the process of 
addressing the threats to the health and stability of our Nation's 
estuaries, which remain one of our Nation's most important economic and 
environmental resources. The legislation introduced today would 
reauthorize funding for the NEP at $35 million annually to provide the 
funds necessary for this program to succeed into the future. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on reauthorization of the NEP in 
the months ahead.
  I ask by unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2606

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM.

       Section 320(i) of the Federal Water Pollution Control act 
     (33 U.S.C. 1330(i)) is amended by striking ``2005'' and 
     inserting ``2010''.

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