[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2243-E2244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONCURRENCE BY THE HOUSE, WITH AN AMENDMENT, IN SENATE 
     AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2204, COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 602 and 
H.R. 2204, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998. In general, the 
purpose of H.R. 2204 is to authorize approximately $4.1 billion in 
expenditures for the United States Coast Guard for fiscal year 1999. 
The U.S. Coast Guard is on the front lines every day, saving lives and 
preventing drugs from entering the country. They are the lead agency in 
the cleanup of oil spills and they help protect our nation's fisheries 
within our 200 mile exclusive economic zone. The funding authorized in 
this bill will enable them to continue to accomplish their important 
mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to devote the remainder of my time 
discussing the merits of Title VI of this bill. I rise strongly in 
support of Title VI because it is essentially H.R. 4235, the 
legislation that I introduced in July of this year. H.R. 4235 is 
entitled the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act 
of 1998. My bill, and Title VI of H.R. 2204, authorizes appropriations 
through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct 
research, monitoring, education, and management activities for the 
prevention, reduction and control of Harmful Algal Blooms, hypoxia, 
pfiesteria and other aquatic toxins.
  Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, the problems associated with 
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have been well documented. Recent 
occurrences of HABs include red tides in the Gulf of Mexico and the 
Southeast; brown tides in New York, New Jersey and Texas; ciguatera 
fish poisoning in Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 
Islands; and shell fish poisonings in the Gulf of Maine, the Pacific 
Northwest, and the Gulf of Alaska. In addition, the recent outbreak of 
pfiesteria piscicida in the Chesapeake Bay estuary is an example of how 
a naturally occurring species can explosively reproduce in our nation's 
coastal waters. Furthermore, according to NOAA, 53 percent of U.S. 
estuaries experience hypoxia--including a 7,000 square mile area in the 
Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana and Texas which creates a massive ``dead 
zone'' where little or no marine life exists.
  Representing the western half of Louisiana's coastline, I am 
particularly sensitive to these problems as they affect not only the 
public health, but also my state's valuable fisheries resources. As I 
just relayed, however, these are not problems isolated to Louisiana or 
the Gulf of Mexico. Rather, it is a national problem that deserves a 
national approach.
  Up to this point, research on the HAB problem has focused primarily 
on basic science, detection, and monitoring. One vital research need is 
a reliable technique for the rapid detection and identification of 
algal species and stages. Monitoring of water quality in order to 
forecast the onset or subsidence of algal blooms is another key 
research issue. Such monitoring also is important for understanding 
interactions between algal species and the environment and the 
relationship of algal species with other marine organisms.
  The range of economic impacts from HAB outbreaks and the extent of 
those costs have spiraled. Economic losses have been documented from 
limited or restricted shellfish harvests, losses from reduced tourism 
and marine recreation due to aesthetically unpleasant areas, and 
panicked consumers who avoid purchasing seafood products. In addition, 
there are indirect costs associated with HABs, such as the medical 
costs of treating exposed people and diminished development of or 
investment in coastal resources.
  The technical, legal, and managerial tools to address HABs may 
collectively exist within a variety of federal and state agencies. 
Currently, however, a structured and effective means to bring this 
expertise together to address HABs does not exist. The missions and 
goals of many agencies overlap in the coastal zone where HAB phenomena 
are pronounced. Although no single agency has the lead role for the 
federal government, NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
are coordinating the efforts of several agencies and departments. At 
present, the goal of these efforts is to more effectively direct 
resources toward minimizing future HAB outbreaks and supporting 
research and monitoring efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 4235 to address this problem. H.R. 
4235 was structured to ensure that much needed federal resources are 
effectively used to address our nation's

[[Page E2244]]

coastal communities environmental and public health concerns. Though 
the authorized funding level in Title VI is less than I proposed in 
H.R. 4235, I am pleased to see that the integrity of the structure of 
my bill was not breached.
  Finally, I would like to briefly thank my staff, David Kay, for all 
his hard work and all the Members who were supportive of my proposal. I 
am confident that the broad-based support that we garnered in the form 
of cosponsors to H.R. 4235 was instrumental in the bill's eventual 
inclusion as Title VI of H.R. 2204.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge that the House support H.R. 2204. I urge the 
Senate to quickly act to pass it as well and I urge our President to 
sign this bill into law.

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