Lloyd Bentsen: “I rise in support of H.R. 1775, the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000. As an original cosponsor, I believe this bill will…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1775, the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000. As an original cosponsor, I believe this bill will be tremendously instrumental for the restoration of our nation's major estuaries, including Galveston Bay which borders my district in Texas. Estuaries act as nurseries for much of our marine life. These complex and productive areas urgently need recognition if estuaries are to continue supporting over 70 million jobs and countless millions of hours of recreation. Due to lack of recognition of their value, millions of acres of estuaries have been lost over the decades, losses which persist today. In my district, Galveston Bay is part of the national estuary program and has suffered troubling habitat loss. It would benefit tremendously under this bill. Galveston Bay's watershed encompasses one of the most heavily industrialized and most heavily populated regions in the United States. Since the 1950's, 30,000 acres of wetlands have been lost in the estuary. Wastewater discharges from communities and industries into Galveston Bay account for half of Texas' total wastewater discharges every year. Like many of America's beloved bays and estuaries under these circumstances, the productivity of Galveston Bay has declined.”