[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL AMENDMENTS ACT OF 
                                  2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, keeping our oceans productive and healthy 
is of vital interest to coastal and inland communities across the 
world. As a Member who represents one of the biologically richest 
coastal Congressional Districts in the county, I rise today in support 
of H.R. 3650, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
Amendments Act, which will take necessary steps toward maintaining the 
oceans' ecological health.
  Harmful algal bloom (HAB) produces toxins harmful to shellfish, fish, 
and biomass, which affect other organisms along the food chain and pose 
real dangers to the vitality of all coastal areas. HAB can also 
decrease the sunlight entering the water and use up available oxygen, 
creating hypoxia or oxygen depletion. In extremely low oxygen 
environments, sedentary species perish, mobile species migrate, and 
spawning areas are jeopardized. If these conditions continue, the 
hypoxia may become permanent as coastal areas become lined with dead 
zones in which little marine life can exist.
  Although algal blooms occur naturally, they are exacerbated by human 
activities, including the runoff from lawns and livestock feedlots, 
point-source discharge from sewage plants, and emissions from vehicles. 
All of these activities lead to elevated levels of nutrients and an 
increase of algal growth. HAB and hypoxia are growing more severe and 
more prevalent in our oceans.
  The Marin and Sonoma coastline in my District is one of the most 
biologically productive regions in the world. This coastline includes 
one of only four coastal upwelling zones on the planet, which make up 
only 1 percent of the ocean but produce 20 percent of its fish. 
Unfortunately, even this biological hot spot has been impacted by algal 
blooms. As recently as last October, northward currents carried a large 
HAB from Point Reyes up the coast to Bodega Bay, harming marine life 
and irritating swimmers and divers. Increasing our understanding of 
these events and undertaking new efforts to monitor, control, prevent, 
and mitigate them must be a priority.
  H.R. 3650 would establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Program to develop and coordinate a comprehensive strategy to address 
HABs and hypoxia.
  Additionally this legislation will implement regional action plans to 
reduce HABs and hypoxia.
  Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 3650, I commend my colleagues 
on the Science and Technology Committee for their hard work on this 
issue, and I look forward to this legislation becoming law. The 
increasing type, frequency, location, duration, and severity of these 
dangerous events demonstrate how urgently we need to implement 
solutions to these problems.

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