[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAMPA BAY ESTUARY PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2011

  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 20th 
Anniversary of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, which has been a key 
factor in restoring and improving the ecological health of Tampa Bay. 
Designated by Congress as an `estuary of national significance' under 
the National Estuary Program in 1990, the Tampa Bay Estuary program is 
one of only 28 programs in the United States and four in Florida.
  Unique environments that are found where rivers meet the sea, 
estuaries are vital components to the world's ecosystem. Estuaries 
improve water quality by filtering pollutants, act as buffers to 
protect shorelines from erosion and flooding, serve as nursery grounds 
for the majority of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish 
consumed by Americans, and provide essential food and habitat for 
birds, fish and other wildlife.
  Created by Congress in 1987, the National Estuary Program works to 
identify and restore nationally significant estuaries that are 
threatened by pollution. Through an amendment to an appropriations 
bill, we worked quickly to ensure that Tampa Bay was included as one of 
the first estuary programs, recognizing its importance to the ecosystem 
of Florida and Pinellas County. Since then, the Tampa Bay Estuary 
Program has operated as a partnership of thousands of volunteers, 
elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational 
resource users who work together to restore and improve the ecological 
health of Tampa Bay.
  The program has made significant progress in improving Tampa Bay 
during the last two decades. Important achievements over the years 
include the recovery of more than 6,000 acres of life-sustaining sea 
grasses, the restoration of more than 5,000 acres of coastal habitats, 
and improved water quality and clarity to levels not seen since the 
1950s. The Tampa Bay National Estuary Program has done a tremendous job 
in cleaning, preserving and maintaining the health and vitality of 
Tampa Bay and today this estuary is not only a precious natural habitat 
for many species of fish, birds and flora, but also a beautiful 
playground for swimmers, boaters and general admirers.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been an honor to have been a partner in this 
incredible successful partnership that has made an invaluable 
contribution to restoring this unique Florida ecosystem. The hard work 
and dedication of the staff and their community partners ensures that 
the Tampa Bay Estuary Program will continue to build upon their success 
in the future. Please join me in congratulating all those who have been 
a part of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for a job well done over these 
past 20 years.

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