III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 596 

To designate September 25, 2010, as ‘‘National Estuaries Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 28, 2010 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. CASEY, Mr. 

REED, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. KERRY, Mr. WYDEN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

LIEBERMAN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. 

LANDRIEU, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. KAUFMAN, Ms. 

COLLINS, Mr. GREGG, Mr. WEBB, and Mrs. BOXER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

To designate September 25, 2010, as ‘‘National Estuaries 

Day’’. 

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 the employment, 

and 49 percent of the economic output of the United 

States located in the estuary regions of the United 

States; 

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 


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•SRES 596 IS 

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 55,000,000 acres of estuarine habitat have been destroyed during the 100 years preceding the date of agreement to this resolution; 

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— 

(1) submerging low-lying land; 

(2) eroding beaches; 

(3) converting wetland to open water; 

(4) exacerbating coastal flooding; and 

(5) increasing the salinity of estuaries and freshwater aquifers; 

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 


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enhance, the resources of the coastal zone of the United 

States, 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 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 25, 2010, 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates September 25, 2010, as ‘‘Na3 tional Estuaries Day’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

5 Estuaries Day; 

6 (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to 

7 the economic well-being and productivity of the 

8 United States; 


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1 (4) recognizes that persistent threats under2 mine the health of the estuaries of the United 

3 States; 

4 (5) applauds the work of national and commu5 nity organizations and public partners that promote 

6 public awareness, understanding, protection, and 

7 restoration of estuaries; 

8 (6) reaffirms the support of the Senate for es9 tuaries, including the scientific study, preservation, 

10 protection, and restoration of estuaries; and 

11 (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to con12 tinue working to understand, protect, and restore 

13 the estuaries of the United States. 

Æ 


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