[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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