A resolution expressing support for the designation of the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week".
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 418
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-29: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR 9/19/2025 S6795-6796)
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-08T15:24:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 418) expresses support for designating the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as "National Estuaries Week." Its main goal is to raise public awareness about the ecological, economic, and protective value of estuaries—coastal areas where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean—and to encourage their preservation and restoration.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes extensive background information (preamble clauses) highlighting the importance of estuaries, followed by specific Senate actions:
- Economic Contributions: Notes that estuaries support nearly 40% of the U.S. population, 39% of jobs, and 47% of economic output in a small land area; the ocean and estuary economy grew jobs by 4.5% in 2023 (above the national 2% average), created 111,000 new jobs from 2022-2023, and added $511 billion to GDP; fishing industries support over 2.3 million jobs and generated $321 billion in sales in 2022.
- Ecological Role: Estuaries serve as habitats for 68% of commercial fish (by value) and 80% of recreational fish (by weight), including threatened species like the Snowy Plover and Saltmarsh Sparrow; they provide services like water filtration, flood control, and storm protection (e.g., mangroves in Florida saved $1.5 billion during Hurricane Maria in 2017; coastal wetlands prevented $625 million in damage during Hurricane Sandy).
- Challenges: Highlights losses (over 50% of original colonial wetlands gone by the 1980s), dead zones from pollution, harmful algal blooms, and sea level rise impacts; references existing laws like the Clean Water Act (which funds estuary management plans) and the Coastal Zone Management Act (aiming to protect coastal resources).
- Collaborative Efforts: Recognizes 34 states and territories with National Estuary Programs or Research Reserves; praises partnerships among federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, organizations, and individuals; notes restoration creates 17 jobs per $1 million invested.
- Senate Actions (Resolved Clauses):
- Supports the designation of National Estuaries Week.
- Endorses its goals to promote awareness, protection, and restoration.
- Acknowledges estuaries' role in U.S. employment and prosperity.
- Recognizes ongoing threats to estuary health.
- Applauds organizations promoting estuary awareness and restoration.
- Supports scientific study and efforts to preserve, protect, and restore estuaries.
- States the Senate's intent to continue working on these issues.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws. It references but does not amend statutes like the Clean Water Act or Coastal Zone Management Act. Instead, it builds symbolic support for ongoing environmental policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Encourages federal agencies (e.g., EPA via National Estuary Program) to prioritize estuary education and restoration; may indirectly boost funding or coordination with state and Tribal governments during the designated week.
- On Citizens: Increases public understanding of estuaries' benefits (e.g., flood protection, fishing jobs), potentially leading to greater community involvement in conservation; coastal residents may benefit from heightened focus on storm resilience.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it underscores U.S. commitment to coastal ecosystem health, which could align with global efforts on climate change and biodiversity (e.g., via UN conventions).
- Overall, impacts are primarily educational and promotional, fostering awareness without enforceable mandates.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental and Community Organizations: Groups involved in estuary restoration and education, who are applauded for their work and may gain visibility.
- Coastal Communities and Residents: Populations in estuary regions (covering 13% of U.S. land but 40% of people), benefiting from economic and protective highlights.
- Fishing and Economic Sectors: Commercial and recreational fishing industries (2.3+ million jobs) and related businesses, whose contributions are emphasized.
- Government Entities: Federal (e.g., Senate, EPA), state, local, and Tribal governments operating estuary programs; 34 coastal states/territories with reserves.
- Scientists and Researchers: Supported for studying estuary benefits to human and ecological health.
- General Public: Targeted for awareness to promote stewardship of natural resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution agreed to by the Senate, it has no legal force or funding authority; it cannot override laws or create obligations but reinforces existing environmental frameworks like the Clean Water Act.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express policy preferences (Article I) and promote general welfare, without infringing on states' rights over local waters.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (sponsored by 28 senators from both parties), signaling congressional priority for environmental issues amid climate threats; it may influence future legislation on coastal resilience or pollution but serves mainly as a platform for unity on non-controversial conservation goals.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
Cosponsors (30)
Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-29: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR 9/19/2025 S6795-6796)
- 2025-09-29: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-09-29: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6844)
- 2025-09-29: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-09-19: Referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 2025-09-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 20 through September 27, 2025, as National Estuaries Week. — issued 2025-09-29 — PDF (6 pages)