PRINTER'S NO. 1618
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
281
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY GILLESPIE, KORTZ, RYAN, PICKETT, MURT,
CALTAGIRONE, ZIMMERMAN, FREEMAN, LONGIETTI, VITALI, BARRAR,
READSHAW, MULLINS, KINSEY, MEHAFFIE, HILL-EVANS, MILLARD,
STAATS, MARKOSEK, NEILSON, DiGIROLAMO, MENTZER, STURLA,
SAYLOR AND GILLEN, APRIL 30, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 30, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of June 2 through 8, 2019, as "Chesapeake
Bay Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most
productive estuary in the United States, with its watershed
spanning six states and the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay is fed by 50 major tributaries,
the largest being the Susquehanna River, which provides 50% of
the fresh water to the bay; and
WHEREAS, Stretching 200 miles from Havre de Grace, Maryland,
to Norfolk, Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay has an average depth of
21 feet and ranges from 3.4 to 35 miles wide; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay supports 348 species of finfish,
173 species of shellfish and more than 3,600 species of plant
and animal life, including 2,700 types of plants and more than
16 species of underwater grasses; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay produces more than 500 million
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pounds of seafood harvest each year; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay's tributaries in this
Commonwealth are an important source of drinking water and
recreational fishing and boating for this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay watershed covers 64,000 square
miles, which encompasses half of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay watershed is an extraordinary and
vital natural resource, with some of the nation's most
productive farm and forest lands in this Commonwealth's portion
of the watershed; and
WHEREAS, This productivity supported the settlement and
growth of our nation and is a vital resource for future
generations; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay area is home to more than 18
million people, many of whom rely upon the bay for their
livelihood and recreational activities; and
WHEREAS, The rich history, pivotal economic importance and
astounding beauty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed never cease to
amaze residents and visitors alike; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of June 2 through 8, 2019, as "Chesapeake Bay Awareness
Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
residents of this Commonwealth to commemorate "Chesapeake Bay
Awareness Week" with events and educational programs designed to
increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to
this Commonwealth, the region and the United States.
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