[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DELAYING EPA FISHING BOAT DISCHARGE RULES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2010

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in 
support of H.R. 5301. H.R. 5301, proposed by my colleague, the 
gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. LoBiondo, consists of two titles.
  Title I of H.R. 5301 is an extension of an already existing 
moratorium. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently 
passed this bill out of Committee with no amendments and no objections. 
This extension is necessary because the Environmental Protection 
Agency, EPA, recently completed a study that indicates that discharges 
from vessels under 79 feet in length are not benign. However, the EPA 
needs additional time to set appropriate Clean Water Act requirements 
to protect the nation's waters from these types of discharges.
  This legislation would extend the current moratorium until December 
18, 2013, giving EPA the opportunity to include these vessels in the 
next round of permitting under the EPA Vessel General Permit.
  I would like to point out to my colleagues that this Chamber has 
already passed this same language earlier this Congress, in H.R. 3619, 
the ``Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.''
  The second title of this legislation is the ``Clean Estuaries Act of 
2010,'' which reauthorizes the National Estuary Program. This Chamber 
successfully passed this legislation 278-128 in April of this year, 
with support from both sides of the aisle.
  Estuaries are unique environments that are extremely productive in 
terms of their ecosystem values. The ecological productivity of 
estuaries translates directly into important economic output in terms 
of commercial fishing and recreational fishing.
  The Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 will give these regions the resources 
and means to effectively manage watersheds and protect estuaries. At 
the same time, the legislation does an excellent job of including all 
levels of government and all types of stakeholders.
  This legislation increases the authorization for appropriations; 
allows for increased and improved federal coordination; increases 
accountability; and, includes some necessary programmatic changes.
  The National Estuary Program needs an increase in authorized 
appropriation levels in order to provide more resources to on-the-
ground stakeholders and to enable more communities and estuaries to 
join the Program.
  I ask all members of this Chamber to once again join me in supporting 
communities and estuaries through the passage of this bill.

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