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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 845 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 845

    Supporting the designation of the week of September 17 through 
            September 24, 2016, as National Estuaries Week.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2016

Mr. LoBiondo (for himself, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Posey, and Ms. 
   Castor of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Supporting the designation of the week of September 17 through 
            September 24, 2016, as National Estuaries Week.

Whereas the estuary regions of the United States constitute a significant share 
        of the economy of the United States, with as much as 43 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 fewer than 2,100,000 jobs in the United States are supported by 
        marine tourism and recreation;
Whereas the commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and seafood industries 
        rely on healthy estuaries and directly support 1,839,000 jobs in the 
        United States;
Whereas, in 2014, commercial fish landings generated $5,500,000,000 and 
        recreational anglers took more than 68,000,000 fishing trips and spent 
        $32,000,000,000;
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 hurricanes and storms;
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 some 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 the policy of the United States is 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 25 coastal States, 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 a 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 17 through September 24, 2016, would be 
        appropriate to designate 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 House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of 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 House of Representatives 
        for estuaries, including the scientific study, preservation, 
        protection, and restoration of estuaries; and
            (7) expresses the intent of the House of Representatives to 
        continue working to understand, protect, and restore the 
        estuaries of the United States.
                                 <all>
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