IV 
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 re-
ferred 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 coun-
ties; 
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; 
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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 ma-
rine debris; 
Whereas changes in sea level can affect estuarine water qual-
ity 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 pos-
sible, 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 terri-
tories of the United States operate a National Estuary 
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•HRES 845 IH 
Program or contain a National Estuarine Research Re-
serve; 
Whereas scientific study leads to a better understanding of 
the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological commu-
nities; 
Whereas the Federal Government, State, local, and tribal 
governments, national and community organizations, and 
individuals work together to effectively manage the estu-
aries of the United States; 
Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural infra-
structure in local communities in a cost-effective manner, 
helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural func-
tions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and 
Whereas the week of September 17 through September 24, 
2016, would be appropriate to designate as National Es-
tuaries Week to increase awareness among all people of 
the United States, including Federal Government and 
State and local government officials, about the impor-
tance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and re-
store estuaries: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of National Estu-
aries 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; 
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(4) recognizes that persistent threats under-
mine the health of the estuaries of the United 
States; 
(5) applauds the work of national and commu-
nity organizations and public partners that promote 
public awareness, understanding, protection, and 
restoration of estuaries; 
(6) reaffirms the support of the House of Rep-
resentatives for estuaries, including the scientific 
study, preservation, protection, and restoration of 
estuaries; and 
(7) expresses the intent of the House of Rep-
resentatives to continue working to understand, pro-
tect, and restore the estuaries of the United States. 
Æ 
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