,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #gjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #af1 #bjbj,mr4 ,whitehouse 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,cassidy1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,reed1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,kaine7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating the week of ,september #ai through ,september #bf1 #bjbj1 as ,national ,estuaries ,week4 ,whereas estuary regions cover only #ac percent of the land area in the continental ,united ,states but contain nearly #dc percent of the population1 #dj percent of the jobs1 and nearly #ej percent of the economic output of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the oceans1 estuaries1 and ,great ,lakes of the ,united ,states continue to fuel economic growth across the ,united ,states1 which is evidenced by the fact that1 by #bjaf-- 7#a7 employment levels in economic sectors relating to oceans and estuaries had increased by #ad4e percent from employment levels in those sectors in #bjjg1 before the ,great ,recession2 and 7#b7 the average employment level of the entire economy of the ,united ,states had increased by #d4h percent from that employment level in #bjjg1 before the ,great ,recession2 ,whereas1 between #bjae and #bjaf1 economic sectors relating to estuaries1 oceans1 and ,great ,lakes in the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 created #he1jjj new jobs2 7#b7 employed #c1cjj1jjj individuals2 and 7#c7 contributed #abd1jjj1jjj1jjj to the gross domestic product2 ,whereas1 by #bjah1 the ocean economy supported #b1cjj1jjj jobs in the ,united ,states1 and the compensation paid to employees in such sector was #afa1ijj1jjj1jjj2 ,whereas the commercial and recreational fishing industries support more than #a1gdj1jjj jobs in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 in #bjag-- 7#a7 commercial and recreational saltwater fishing in the ,united ,states generated more than #bdd1jjj1jjj1jjj in sales and contributed #aaj1gjj1jjj1jjj to the gross domestic product of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 angler trip expenditures totaled nearly #aj1ejj1jjj1jjj2 and 7#c7 saltwater recreational fishing supported #dhg1jjj jobs1 generated #gc1hjj1jjj1jjj in sales across the ,united ,states1 and contributed #da1ejj1jjj1jjj to the gross domestic product of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas estuaries provide vital habitats for-- 7#a7 countless species of fish and wildlife1 including more than #fh percent of the commercial fish catch in the ,united ,states by value and #hj percent of the recreational fish catch in the ,united ,states by weight2 and 7#b7 many species that are listed as threatened or endangered species2 ,whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human health and public safety1 including water filtration1 flood control1 shoreline stabilization1 erosion prevention1 and the protection of coastal communities during hurricanes1 storms1 and other extreme weather events2 ,whereas1 by the #aihjs1 the ,united ,states had already lost more than #ej percent of the wetlands that existed in the original #ac colonies2 ,whereas some bays in the ,united ,states that were once filled with fish and oysters have become dead zones filled with excess nutrients1 chemical waste1 and marine debris2 ,whereas harmful algal blooms are hurting fish1 wildlife1 and human health and are causing serious ecological and economic harm to some estuaries2 ,whereas changes in sea levels can affect estuarine water quality and estuarine habitats2 ,whereas section #cbj of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #accj7 7commonly known as the 8,clean ,water ,act07 authorizes the development of comprehensive conservation and management plans to ensure that the designated uses of estuaries are protected and to restore and maintain-- 7#a7 the chemical1 physical1 and biological integrity of estuaries2 7#b7 water quality2 7#c7 a balanced indigenous population of shellfish1 fish1 and wildlife2 and 7#d7 recreational activities in estuaries2 ,whereas the ,coastal ,zone ,management ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adea et seq47 provides that the policy of the ,united ,states is to preserve1 protect1 develop1 and1 if possible1 restore or enhance the resources of the coastal zone of the ,united ,states1 including estuaries1 for current and future generations2 ,whereas #bi coastal and ,great ,lakes ,states and territories of the ,united ,states operate or contain a ,national ,estuary ,program or a ,national ,estuarine ,research ,reserve2 ,whereas scientific study leads to a better understanding of the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological communities2 ,whereas the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 national and community organizations1 and individuals work together to effectively manage the estuaries of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural infrastructure in local communities in a cost-effective manner1 helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits2 and ,whereas the week of ,september #ai through ,september #bf1 #bjbj1 is recognized as 8,national ,estuaries ,week0 to increase awareness among all people of the ,united ,states1 including ,federal ,government and ,state1 local1 and ,tribal government officials1 about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates the week of ,september #ai through ,september #bf1 #bjbj1 as ,national ,estuaries ,week2 7#b7 supports the goals and ideals of ,national ,estuaries ,week2 7#c7 acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining employment in the ,united ,states and the economic well-being and prosperity of the ,united ,states2 7#d7 recognizes that persistent threats undermine the health of estuaries2 7#e7 applauds the work of national and community organizations and public partners that promote public awareness1 understanding1 protection1 and restoration of estuaries2 7#f7 supports the scientific study1 preservation1 protection1 and restoration of estuaries2 and 7#g7 expresses the intent of the ,senate to continue working to understand1 protect1 and restore the estuaries of the ,united ,states4