U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) recently joined a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers to unveil a resolution that would recognize Sept. 18-25 as National Estuaries Week to raise awareness about the critical habitats for wildlife, as well as the economic and environmental benefit they bring to communities.
“The devastating problems facing the Indian River Lagoon, Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie, and Lake Worth Lagoon demonstrate over and over again that our economy, public health and environmental protection go hand-in-hand,” Rep. Mast said. “National Estuaries Week is a reminder of the importance of these critical habitats. We must continue to fight to protect and restore our waterways.”
Estuary regions cover just 13 percent of the land area in the continental United States but contain nearly 43 percent of the population, 40 percent of the jobs, and nearly 50 percent of the nation’s economic output, according to the text of House Resolution 655, which Rep. Mast introduced on Sept. 17 with sponsor U.S. Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL).
Among the lawmakers who joined Rep. Mast as original cosponsors of the resolution include U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR).
By designating the week of Sept. 18-25 as National Estuaries Week, the resolution aims to “increase awareness among all people of the United States, including federal government and state, local, and tribal government officials, about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries,” according to the text.
Specifically, the resolution states that the U.S. House of Representatives would express support for the designation of National Estuaries Week; support its goals and ideals; acknowledge the importance of estuaries to sustaining employment in and the economic well-being and prosperity of the U.S.; recognize that persistent threats undermine the health of estuaries; and support the scientific study, preservation, protection, and restoration of estuaries, among other provisions, the text says.
The resolution has been referred to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for consideration.