III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 281 

Designating September 24, 2011, as ‘‘National Estuaries Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts, Mr. AKAKA, 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. KERRY, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. MERKLEY, 

Ms. MIKULSKI, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. REED, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. WARNER, Mr. 

WEBB, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating September 24, 2011, 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 281 ATS 

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; 


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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 24, 2011, 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 24, 2011, 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 sustaining employment and the economic well-being 

8 and prosperity of the United States; 

9 (4) recognizes that persistent threats under10 mine the health of the estuaries of the United 

11 States; 


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1 (5) applauds the work of national and commu2 nity organizations and public partners that promote 

3 public awareness, understanding, protection, and 

4 restoration of estuaries; 

5 (6) reaffirms the support of the Senate for es6 tuaries, including the scientific study, preservation, 

7 protection, and restoration of estuaries; and 

8 (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to con9 tinue working to understand, protect, and restore 

10 the estuaries of the United States. 

Æ 


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