III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 269 

Designating the week of September 19 through September 26, 2015, as 

‘‘National Estuaries Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. REED, Mrs. BOXER, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. 

WYDEN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. NELSON, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. HIRONO, 

Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. KING, Mr. COONS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. 

MARKEY, Mr. MERKLEY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, 

Ms. MIKULSKI, and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of September 19 through September 

26, 2015, 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 42 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 1,900,000 jobs in the United States 

are supported by marine tourism and recreation; 


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•SRES 269 ATS 

Whereas the commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and 

seafood industries rely on healthy estuaries and directly 

support 1,681,000 jobs in the United States; 

Whereas in 2012— 

(1) commercial fish landings generated 

$5,100,000,000; and 

(2) recreational anglers— 

(A) took more than 70,000,000 fishing trips; 

and 

(B) spent $24,600,000,000; 

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 


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•SRES 269 ATS 

of the United States, including estuaries, for current and 

future generations; 

Whereas 24 coastal and 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 19 through September 26, 

2015, is recognized 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of September 19 

3 through September 26, 2015, as ‘‘National Estu4 aries Week’’; 

5 (2) supports the goals and ideals of National 

6 Estuaries Week; 


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•SRES 269 ATS 

1 (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to 

2 sustaining employment in the United States and the 

3 economic well-being and prosperity of the United 

4 States; 

5 (4) recognizes that persistent threats under6 mine the health of the estuaries of the United 

7 States; 

8 (5) applauds the work of national and commu9 nity organizations and public partners that promote 

10 public awareness, understanding, protection, and 

11 restoration of estuaries; 

12 (6) reaffirms the support of the Senate for es13 tuaries, including the scientific study, preservation, 

14 protection, and restoration of estuaries; and 

15 (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to con16 tinue working to understand, protect, and restore 

17 the estuaries of the United States. 

Æ 


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