[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6830-H6832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING NATIONAL ESTUARIES DAY
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 1503) expressing support for the goals and
ideals of National Estuaries Day, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1503
Whereas the estuary regions of the United States comprise a
significant share of the national economy, with 43 percent of
the population, 40 percent of employment, and 49 percent of
economic output located in such regions;
Whereas coasts and estuaries contribute more than
$800,000,000,000 annually in trade and commerce to the
Nation's economy;
Whereas more than 43 percent of all adults in the United
States visit a sea coast or estuary at least once a year to
participate in some form of recreation, generating
$8,000,000,000 to $12,000,000,000 in revenue annually;
Whereas more than 28,000,000 jobs in the United States are
supported through commercial and recreational fishing,
boating, tourism, and other coastal industries that rely on
healthy estuaries;
Whereas estuaries provide vital habitat for countless
species of fish and wildlife, including many that are listed
as threatened species or endangered species;
Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that
protect human health and public safety, including water
filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization and
erosion prevention, and protection of coastal communities
during extreme weather events;
Whereas 55,000,000 acres of estuarine habitat have been
destroyed over the last 100 years;
Whereas bays once filled with fish and oysters have become
dead zones filled with excess nutrients, chemical wastes,
harmful algae, and marine debris;
Whereas sea level rise is accelerating the degradation of
estuaries by submerging low-lying lands, eroding beaches,
converting wetlands to open water, exacerbating coastal
flooding, and increasing the salinity of estuaries and
freshwater aquifers;
Whereas in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), Congress found and declared that it is
national policy to preserve, protect, develop, and where
possible, to restore or enhance, the resources of the
Nation's coastal zone, including estuaries, for current and
future generations;
Whereas scientific study leads to better understanding of
the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological
communities;
Whereas Federal, State, local, and tribal governments,
national and community organizations, and private citizens
work together to effectively manage our Nation's estuaries;
Whereas estuary restoration efforts cost-effectively
restore natural infrastructure in local communities, helping
to create jobs and reestablish the natural functions of
estuaries that yield countless benefits; and
Whereas September 25, 2010, has been designated National
Estuaries Day to increase awareness among all citizens,
including local, State, and Federal officials, about the
importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and
restore them: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries
Day;
(2) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to the
Nation's economic well-being and productivity;
(3) recognizes the persistent threats that undermine the
health of the Nation's estuaries;
(4) applauds the work of national and community
organizations and public partners to
[[Page H6831]]
promote public awareness, protection, and restoration of
estuaries; and
(5) reaffirms its support for estuaries, including the
preservation, protection, and restoration thereof, and
expresses its intent to continue working to protect and
restore the estuaries of the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Washington
(Mr. Hastings) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.
General Leave
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on this resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution
1503 and would like to commend the sponsor of the resolution,
Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, for her continued leadership in
recognizing the importance of our Nation's estuaries.
National Estuaries Day was established in 1988 to celebrate the
importance of these coastal ecosystems to the Nation's trade, commerce,
industry, recreation and environmental quality and to recognize the
work of national and community organizations to promote the need to
preserve, protect, and restore these vital areas.
In light of the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, it is clear
that now, more than ever, we should pause to recognize the essential
role estuaries play in economic and environmental health of the United
States.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses support for the goals and
ideals of National Estuaries Day, which has been designated for
September 25, 2010.
We have no objection to this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume
to the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Kathy Castor of
Florida.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I would like to thank my colleague, Mrs.
Christensen, very much for yielding the time and also thank my
cosponsor, Mike Castle, the Congressman from Delaware, for also being a
leader on behalf of National Estuaries Day and thanks to the other 36
cosponsors in the House.
Estuaries are deeply connected to our Nation's economy and vital to a
healthy environment. They are an integral part of our coastal
ecosystems and support not only wildlife but also human livelihoods. In
these unique habitats, ecological resources and millions of jobs in
tourism, fishing and other coastal industries intersect.
Estuaries have given rise to iconic port cities central to our
culture, and they remain the refuge of unique species that define our
environment. It is this balance that makes estuaries one of the most
important ecosystems in the United States, one worth recognizing as we
do here with House Resolution 1503.
Estuary regions contain 43 percent of the population, 49 percent of
the economic output while occupying only 13 percent of the U.S.
continental land area. As coastal regions continue to further
experience development, it is important to maintain this balance
between economic prosperity and ecological health.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico calls
attention to this delicate balance between maintaining our quality of
life and sustaining our precious natural resources. Coastal health and
restoration have taken on a new level of significance in light of the
oil disaster, making our awareness of estuary ecosystems all the more
important.
Estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human
health and public safety, such as water filtration, flood control,
erosion prevention. They also protect coastal communities during
extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.
The Tampa Bay area, my home district, is known internationally for
its collaborative approach to watershed management, which has led to
significant improvements in the quality of our estuary, the beautiful
Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Estuary Program has worked closely with the public and
private sector to develop and implement a watershed management plan to
bring about positive changes. The results have been obvious in Tampa
Bay. Water is as clear now as it was in 1950.
We have about 10,000 more acres of sea grass now than we did in the
1980s, and we are seeing an increase of an additional 500 acres per
year because of this clear, cleaner water. This is the location of an
active port as well, so business and a clean and healthy environment
can coexist.
Nationally, coasts and estuaries contribute more than $800 billion
annually in trade and commerce to our economy. Nearly 75 percent of all
commercial fish and shellfish catch contain species that depend on
estuary habitats, making ecosystems vital to commerce.
Twenty-eight million U.S. jobs are supported through commercial and
recreational fishing, boating, tourism and other coastal industries
that rely on healthy estuaries. Human activities are degrading
estuaries at a rapid pace and threaten the health of these ecosystems
unless restoration efforts are supported.
National Estuaries Day has the very worthy goals of raising awareness
and educating our constituents about estuaries and getting people
excited about the natural beauty to be found there.
I ask my colleagues to vote today to support those goals and ideals
by making September 25 National Estuaries Day.
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.
Res. 1503, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National
Estuaries Day.
I want to thank my colleague, Kathy Castor, for introducing this
resolution, which I have cosponsored.
We each represent coastal districts that are home to estuaries--
places where the rivers meet the sea--and these estuaries are of great
importance to the health of our coastal communities and environment.
In my district, the Morro Bay National Estuary is an ecological
treasure.
Lagoons and wetlands that were once common along the southern
California coast are nearly all filled and developed. But we are
fortunate that the Morro Bay Estuary has largely survived. And we must
continue to protect this natural resource.
The Estuary provides vital habitat for birds and fish. It is an
important stop-over for over 150 species of migratory birds during
their annual migration. And it is a critical winter home to several
other bird species. The estuary also acts as a nursery for commercial
fish in the area.
Since the Morro Bay Estuary was incorporated into the National
Program in 1995, the inspiring team of staff and volunteers has
spearheaded numerous efforts to preserve and restore the estuary.
For example, partnering with local ranchers, the Estuary Program has
installed fencing along nearly 75,000 feet of creek to limit cattle
access. This has protected water quality and improved riparian habitat
on seven creeks.
The Program has provided funding to the City of Morro Bay to remove
derelict vessels before they pollute local waters and damage habitat.
They have also established the Estuary Nature Center and WaterFest,
to educate the general public about the beauty of the estuary and its
importance to water quality and conservation.
In addition, dedicated volunteers collect and provide important water
quality data for the Estuary Program each year. These data are critical
to evaluating the health of the estuary and watershed, as well as
compiling a plan to address problems.
Estuaries are among the richest habitats known on earth--providing
immeasurable economic and ecological benefits. But they are threatened
by human activities.
We all live in a watershed. We must understand that our actions
directly affect our nation's waterways. By working together we can work
to lower our impact and protect our valuable water resources.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 1503--to
recognize National Estuaries Day and the community organizations that
fight to preserve these invaluable resources.
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. I have no requests for time, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H6832]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1503.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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