[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 566--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 29, 2012, AS ``NATIONAL 
                            ESTUARIES DAY''

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Boxer, 
Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Feinstein, 
Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Lieberman, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murry, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. 
Shaheen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Menendez) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 566

       Whereas the estuary regions of the United States comprise a 
     significant share of the national economy, with 53 percent of 
     the population, 40 percent of the employment, and 49 percent 
     of the economic output of the United States located in the 
     estuary regions of the United States;
       Whereas projections indicate that 75 percent of the total 
     population of the United States will live and work in coastal 
     counties by 2025;
       Whereas coasts and estuaries contribute more than 
     $800,000,000,000 annually in trade and commerce to the United 
     States 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 by 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 or endangered;
       Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that 
     protect human health and public safety, including water 
     filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization and 
     erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities 
     during extreme weather events;
       Whereas the United States has lost more than 110,000,000 
     acres, or 50 percent, of the wetland of the United States 
     since the first European settlers arrived;
       Whereas bays once filled with fish and oysters have become 
     dead zones filled with excess nutrients, chemical wastes, 
     harmful algae, and marine debris;
       Whereas changes in sea level can impact estuarine water 
     quality and estuarine habitat;
       Whereas the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
     1451 et seq.) declares that it is the national policy to 
     preserve, protect, develop, and if possible, to restore or 
     enhance, the resources of the coastal zone of the United 
     States, including estuaries, for current and future 
     generations;
       Whereas 24 coastal and Great Lake States and territories of 
     the United States contain a National Estuary Program or a 
     National Estuarine Research Reserve System;
       Whereas scientific study leads to better understanding of 
     the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological 
     communities;
       Whereas the Federal Government, State, local, and tribal 
     governments, national and community organizations, and 
     individuals work together to effectively manage the estuaries 
     of the United States;
       Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural 
     infrastructure in local communities in a cost effective 
     manner, helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural 
     functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and
       Whereas September 29, 2012, has been designated as 
     ``National Estuaries Day'' to increase awareness among all 
     people of the United States, including Federal, State and 
     local government officials, about the importance of healthy 
     estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 29, 2012, as ``National Estuaries 
     Day'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries 
     Day;
       (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining 
     employment and the economic well-being and prosperity of the 
     United States;
       (4) recognizes that persistent threats undermine the health 
     of the estuaries of the United States;
       (5) applauds the work of national and community 
     organizations and public partners that promote public 
     awareness, understanding, protection, and restoration of 
     estuaries;
       (6) reaffirms the support of the Senate for estuaries, 
     including the scientific study, preservation, protection, and 
     restoration of estuaries; and
       (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to continue working 
     to understand, protect, and restore the estuaries of the 
     United States.

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