[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2838) to 
     authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 
     2012 through 2015, and for other purposes:

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, today the House of Representatives debated 
a bill that combines a Coast Guard reauthorization with unrelated 
provisions that will hurt our environment, our economy, and maritime 
workers. This bill will eliminate the ability of states to protect 
their waters from invasive species and significantly limit the rights 
of injured maritime workers, the families of workers who die at sea, 
and workers who are wrongfully denied their earned wages. This bill 
puts the profits of maritime corporations above the safety of our 
environment, our economy, and maritime workers.
  Invasive species are a major threat to our environment and our 
economy, costing the U.S. economy over $120 billion annually. In 
communities that rely on our lakes, rivers, and oceans, invasive 
species can decimate local economies, as they take over fisheries and 
damage water infrastructure. If zebra or quagga mussels were to spread 
from the Great Lakes to Oregon's rivers, for example, they could wreak 
havoc on not only our sensitive ecosystems but also cause major 
problems for hydropower production. These species could clog pipes and 
dam intakes in the Columbia River, potentially costing the Pacific 
Northwest $25.5 million a year to clean up. Ballast water is the 
primary source of invasive species into our water, as ships from around 
the world release water from their last port of call into our waters.
  This bill will prevent states from introducing common sense controls 
on ballast water releases in state waters. The bill sets a low national 
standard, and does not allow states to choose higher protections for 
sensitive local waters. It also removes one of the protections we 
already have--a federal permit requirement under the Clean Water Act. 
The bill will also further undermine the Clean Water Act by restricting 
public participation, and opens the door to future threats to our water 
quality.
  This bill also harms the rights of maritime workers. The bill caps 
the amounts workers can recover when their employer wrongfully 
withholds their wages, and lessens the incentive to enforce wage laws 
because there is less to recover. Many maritime workers, especially 
fisherman, are not protected by many workers' compensation laws. Their 
only recourse is the right to go to a court to force boat owners to pay 
compensation or face the loss of their fishing permit. This bill would 
eliminate this right, and make it easier for boat owners to avoid 
compensating the families of killed or injured workers. The bill also 
incentivizes hiring non-U.S. citizens, as it removes the requirement 
for cruise ships to provide the same treatment for U.S. and non-U.S. 
citizens in U.S. waters. This makes it cheaper to hire non-U.S. 
citizens, eliminating American jobs.
  This bill is a bad deal for the environment, for the economy, and for 
U.S. workers. While I support the Coast Guard, I oppose this 
legislation. I urge the House to vote on a Coast Guard authorization 
bill without provisions that threaten our environment and our economy.

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