[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 129 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 263--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH 
           SEPTEMBER 29, 2013, AS ``NATIONAL ESTUARIES WEEK''

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Nelson, Mr. Warner, Ms. Collins, Mr. Reed of Rhode Island, Mr. Schumer, 
Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. King, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Begich, 
Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Markey, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Murray, Ms. 
Landrieu, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. 
Gillibrand, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 263

       Whereas, the estuary regions of the United States 
     constitute a significant share of the economy of the United 
     States, with as much as 41 percent of the gross domestic 
     product of the United States generated in coastal shoreline 
     counties;
       Whereas, the population of coastal shoreline counties in 
     the United States increased by 39 percent from 1970 to 2010 
     and is projected to continue to increase;
       Whereas, not less than 1,900,000 jobs in the United States 
     are supported by marine tourism and recreation and other 
     coastal industries that rely on healthy estuaries;
       Whereas, the commercial and recreational fishing industries 
     rely on healthy estuaries and directly support 1,700,000 jobs 
     in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2011, commercial fish landings generated 
     $5,300,000,000 and recreational anglers spent 
     $26,780,000,000;
       Whereas, estuaries provide vital habitats for countless 
     species of fish and wildlife, including many species that are 
     listed as threatened or endangered species;
       Whereas, estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that 
     protect human health and public safety, including water 
     filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization, erosion 
     prevention, and the protection of coastal communities during 
     extreme weather events;
       Whereas, the United States has lost more than 110,000,000 
     acres of wetland, or 50 percent of the wetland of the United 
     States, since the first European settlers arrived;
       Whereas, bays in the United States that were 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 affect estuarine water 
     quality and estuarine habitats;
       Whereas, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
     1451 et seq.) provides that it is the policy of the United 
     States to preserve, protect, develop, and, if possible, 
     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 Lakes States and territories 
     of the United States operate a National Estuary Program or 
     contain a National Estuarine Research Reserve;
       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, the week of September 23 through September 29, 
     2013, has been recognized as ``National Estuaries Week'' to 
     increase awareness among all people of the United States, 
     including Federal Government and 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 the week of September 23 through September 
     29, 2013, as ``National Estuaries Week'';
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries 
     Week;
       (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining 
     employment in the United States 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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