Expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day, and for other purposes.

I would like to thank my colleague, Mrs. Christensen, very much for yielding the time and also thank my cosponsor, Mike Castle, the Congressman from Delaware, for also being a leader on behalf of National Estuaries Day and thanks to the other 36 cosponsors in the House.

Estuaries are deeply connected to our Nation's economy and vital to a healthy environment. They are an integral part of our coastal ecosystems and support not only wildlife but also human livelihoods. In these unique habitats, ecological resources and millions of jobs in tourism, fishing and other coastal industries intersect.

Estuaries have given rise to iconic port cities central to our culture, and they remain the refuge of unique species that define our environment. It is this balance that makes estuaries one of the most important ecosystems in the United States, one worth recognizing as we do here with House Resolution 1503.

Estuary regions contain 43 percent of the population, 49 percent of the economic output while occupying only 13 percent of the U.S. continental land area. As coastal regions continue to further experience development, it is important to maintain this balance between economic prosperity and ecological health.

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico calls attention to this delicate balance between maintaining our quality of life and sustaining our precious natural resources. Coastal health and restoration have taken on a new level of significance in light of the oil disaster, making our awareness of estuary ecosystems all the more important.

Estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human health and public safety, such as water filtration, flood control, erosion prevention. They also protect coastal communities during extreme weather events like hurricanes and floods.

The Tampa Bay area, my home district, is known internationally for its collaborative approach to watershed management, which has led to significant improvements in the quality of our estuary, the beautiful Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program has worked closely with the public and private sector to develop and implement a watershed management plan to bring about positive changes. The results have been obvious in Tampa Bay. Water is as clear now as it was in 1950.

We have about 10,000 more acres of sea grass now than we did in the 1980s, and we are seeing an increase of an additional 500 acres per year because of this clear, cleaner water. This is the location of an active port as well, so business and a clean and healthy environment can coexist.

Nationally, coasts and estuaries contribute more than $800 billion annually in trade and commerce to our economy. Nearly 75 percent of all commercial fish and shellfish catch contain species that depend on estuary habitats, making ecosystems vital to commerce.

Twenty-eight million U.S. jobs are supported through commercial and recreational fishing, boating, tourism and other coastal industries that rely on healthy estuaries. Human activities are degrading estuaries at a rapid pace and threaten the health of these ecosystems unless restoration efforts are supported.

National Estuaries Day has the very worthy goals of raising awareness and educating our constituents about estuaries and getting people excited about the natural beauty to be found there.

I ask my colleagues to vote today to support those goals and ideals by making September 25 National Estuaries Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1503, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day.

I want to thank my colleague, Kathy Castor, for introducing this resolution, which I have cosponsored.

We each represent coastal districts that are home to estuaries-- places where the rivers meet the sea--and these estuaries are of great importance to the health of our coastal communities and environment.

In my district, the Morro Bay National Estuary is an ecological treasure.

Lagoons and wetlands that were once common along the southern California coast are nearly all filled and developed. But we are fortunate that the Morro Bay Estuary has largely survived. And we must continue to protect this natural resource.

The Estuary provides vital habitat for birds and fish. It is an important stop-over for over 150 species of migratory birds during their annual migration. And it is a critical winter home to several other bird species. The estuary also acts as a nursery for commercial fish in the area.

Since the Morro Bay Estuary was incorporated into the National Program in 1995, the inspiring team of staff and volunteers has spearheaded numerous efforts to preserve and restore the estuary.

For example, partnering with local ranchers, the Estuary Program has installed fencing along nearly 75,000 feet of creek to limit cattle access. This has protected water quality and improved riparian habitat on seven creeks.

The Program has provided funding to the City of Morro Bay to remove derelict vessels before they pollute local waters and damage habitat.

They have also established the Estuary Nature Center and WaterFest, to educate the general public about the beauty of the estuary and its importance to water quality and conservation.

In addition, dedicated volunteers collect and provide important water quality data for the Estuary Program each year. These data are critical to evaluating the health of the estuary and watershed, as well as compiling a plan to address problems.

Estuaries are among the richest habitats known on earth--providing immeasurable economic and ecological benefits. But they are threatened by human activities.

We all live in a watershed. We must understand that our actions directly affect our nation's waterways. By working together we can work to lower our impact and protect our valuable water resources.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 1503--to recognize National Estuaries Day and the community organizations that fight to preserve these invaluable resources.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1503) expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day, and for other purposes.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1503 and would like to commend the sponsor of the resolution, Representative Kathy Castor of Florida, for her continued leadership in recognizing the importance of our Nation's estuaries.

National Estuaries Day was established in 1988 to celebrate the importance of these coastal ecosystems to the Nation's trade, commerce, industry, recreation and environmental quality and to recognize the work of national and community organizations to promote the need to preserve, protect, and restore these vital areas.

In light of the recent disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, it is clear that now, more than ever, we should pause to recognize the essential role estuaries play in economic and environmental health of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Kathy Castor of Florida.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day, which has been designated for September 25, 2010.

We have no objection to this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.