A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week".
This is a Senate resolution expressing support for designating a specific week in 2025—September 20 through September 27—as “National Estuaries Week.” The resolution emphasizes the economic and ecological importance of estuaries, oceans, and the Great Lakes, highlighting their role in jobs, GDP, and ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood protection, and habitat for wildlife. It notes the need to protect and restore estuaries in the face of threats like habitat loss, algal blooms, and sea-level rise, and it references existing federal programs and laws that support estuarine conservation. While it recognizes and supports the designation and associated awareness efforts, the measure does not create new regulatory requirements or funding obligations; its primary effect is to publicly endorse and promote ongoing efforts to study, protect, and restore estuaries. The resolution also underscores collaboration among federal, state, local, Tribal governments, and nonprofit and community organizations, and it signals the Senate’s intent to continue working to understand and safeguard estuaries for economic and public health benefits.
Key Points
- 1The bill designates September 20–27, 2025, as National Estuaries Week and expresses support for that designation.
- 2It highlights estuaries as economically important, noting they cover a small land area but host a large share of the population, jobs, and economic output; estuarine/ocean sectors added hundreds of thousands of jobs and significant GDP in recent years.
- 3It cites substantial contributions from commercial and recreational fishing industries and related employment, sales, and income impacts.
- 4It emphasizes estuaries’ ecosystem services, including water filtration, flood and erosion control, coastal protection during extreme weather, and critical wildlife habitats and nurseries.
- 5It references federal laws and programs that support estuary protection (e.g., Clean Water Act Section 320, Coastal Zone Management Act; National Estuary Program and National Estuarine Research Reserves) and promotes continued scientific study, preservation, and restoration.
- 6It acknowledges threats to estuaries (habitat loss, harmful algal blooms, sea-level rise, pollution) and recognizes successful restoration efforts as cost-effective public infrastructure.