[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2339-E2340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION AND ENHANCEMENT AMENDMENTS 
                                OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KLEIN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 860, the Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and 
Enhancement Amendments of 2009. I also want to thank the lead sponsor 
of the legislation and distinguished chair of the Insular Affairs, 
Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee, Ms. Bordallo, for all her tireless 
efforts to protect our natural resources and insular areas.
  Mr. Speaker, coral reefs are among the most diverse, biologically 
complex, and valuable ecosystems on earth. In my home State of Florida, 
we are fortunate to have the third largest barrier reef in the world. 
The importance of coral reefs to south Florida cannot be overstated. In 
addition to erecting a vital first-line of defense against hurricanes 
and storm surges for our coastal communities, coral

[[Page E2340]]

reefs have an immeasurable environmental value. They provide awe and 
inspiration to divers and snorkelers from all over the world, and are a 
driving force for our tourism and fishing industries. In Broward County 
alone, coral reefs contribute over $2 billion annually to our local 
economy.
  Coral reefs, however, are in nothing short of a crisis. Faced with 
dangers both man-made and natural, including global warming, 
overfishing, coastal pollution, and bleaching, coral reefs are dying in 
alarming numbers. In fact, scientists estimate that 60 percent of coral 
reefs may disappear before 2050.
  That's why I'm proud to support the legislation before us today. H.R. 
860 will reauthorize the landmark Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
which created the Coral Reef Conservation Program to directly issue 
grants to States, territories, and other partners for coral reef 
conservation projects. The act also requires the development of a Coral 
Reef Action Strategy and authorizes NOAA to undertake research, 
mapping, management, and education and outreach activities to protect 
coral reef ecosystems.
  In addition to reauthorizing these important provisions, H.R. 860 
will make important changes to the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 
One will be to take advantage of the vast resources and expertise at 
our prestigious universities and research institutes. For example, the 
three U.S. Coral Reef Institutes at Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii 
conduct outstanding scientific research, and support State and local 
coral reef resource managers and local action strategies.
  I personally can attest to their great work because the National 
Coral Reef Institute, NCRI, is located in my backyard, in Ft. 
Lauderdale, FL. NCRI and the other institutes serve as a ready source 
of knowledge, research, monitoring, and management support for corals 
and coral reefs via partnerships between academia, NOAA, and other 
Federal, State, and local managers.
  Another important aspect of this legislation will be to authorize 
NOAA to respond to vessel groundings. Since 1994, we've seen 12 large 
ships run aground on sensitive coral reefs near Ft. Lauderdale. The 
last one, occurring almost 2 years ago, involved a freighter that left 
a 20-foot swath of destruction about 100 feet long. Whatever coral that 
once lived there sadly is now gone.
  Part of the solution to vessel groundings is adopting better 
prevention strategies, such as closing anchorage sites in shallow 
waters that are close to coral reefs. But we also need to respond 
faster when a vessel runs aground because the sooner the corals can be 
restored, the better chances it has for survival. Expanding NOAA's 
authority to act will allow NOAA to utilize their experience and 
resources to both assess the damage and restore the reefs.
  Mr. Speaker, we, in this distinguished body, frequently debate 
contentious issues that divide America. But not with this bill and not 
with this issue. Protecting a national treasure such as coral reefs 
brings people together because everyone understands their vital 
importance--Democrats and Republicans alike. That's why I am confident 
that we'll have broad bipartisan support to pass H.R. 860. I thank my 
colleagues in advance.

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