H. Res. 1503 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 22, 2010. 

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 employment, and 49 

percent of economic output located in such regions; 

Whereas coasts and estuaries contribute more than 

$800,000,000,000 annually in trade and commerce to the 

Nation’s economy; 

Whereas more than 43 percent of all adults in the United 

States visit a sea coast or estuary at least once a year 

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 through 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 species or endangered species; 

Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that 

protect human health and public safety, including water 

filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization and erosion 
2 

•HRES 1503 EH 

prevention, and protection of coastal communities during 

extreme weather events; 

Whereas 55,000,000 acres of estuarine habitat have been destroyed over the last 100 years; 

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 submerging low-lying lands, eroding beaches, 

converting wetlands to open water, exacerbating coastal 

flooding, and increasing the salinity of estuaries and 

freshwater aquifers; 

Whereas in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 

U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), Congress found and declared that 

it is national policy to preserve, protect, develop, and 

where possible, to restore or enhance, the resources of the 

Nation’s coastal zone, 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 private citizens 

work together to effectively manage our Nation’s estuaries; 

Whereas estuary restoration efforts cost-effectively restore 

natural infrastructure in local communities, helping to 

create jobs and reestablish the natural functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and 

Whereas September 25, 2010, has been designated National 

Estuaries Day to increase awareness among all citizens, 
3 

•HRES 1503 EH 

including local, State, and Federal officials, about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and 

restore them: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day; 

(2) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to the 

Nation’s economic well-being and productivity; 

(3) recognizes the persistent threats that undermine 

the health of the Nation’s estuaries; 

(4) applauds the work of national and community 

organizations and public partners to promote public 

awareness, protection, and restoration of estuaries; and 

(5) reaffirms its support for estuaries, including the 

preservation, protection, and restoration thereof, and expresses its intent to continue working to protect and restore the estuaries of the United States. 

Attest: 

Clerk.