[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 88 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5126-H5130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL AMENDMENTS ACT OF
2014
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (S. 1254) to amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Act of 1998, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1254
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ''Harmful Algal Bloom and
Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA
RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT OF 1998.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 1451 note).
SEC. 3. INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE ON HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND
HYPOXIA.
Section 603(a) is amended--
(1) by striking ''the following representatives from'' and
inserting ''a representative from'';
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking ''and'';
(3) by redesignating paragraph (12) as paragraph (13);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
''(12) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
and''; and
(5) in paragraph (13), as redesignated, by striking
''such''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA PROGRAM.
The Act is amended by inserting after section 603 the
following:
''SEC. 603A. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA
PROGRAM.
''(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research
and Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Under Secretary,
acting through the Task Force, shall maintain and enhance a
national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program, including--
''(1) a statement of objectives, including understanding,
detecting, predicting, controlling, mitigating, and
responding to marine and freshwater harmful algal bloom and
hypoxia events; and
''(2) the comprehensive research plan and action strategy
under section 603B.
''(b) Periodic Revision.--The Task Force shall periodically
review and revise the Program, as necessary.
''(c) Task Force Functions.--The Task Force shall--
''(1) coordinate interagency review of the objectives and
activities of the Program;
''(2) expedite the interagency review process by ensuring
timely review and dispersal of required reports and
assessments under this title;
''(3) support the implementation of the Action Strategy,
including the coordination and integration of the research of
all Federal programs, including ocean and Great Lakes science
and management programs and centers, that address the
chemical, biological, and physical components of marine and
freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(4) support the development of institutional mechanisms
and financial instruments to further the objectives and
activities of the Program;
''(5) review the Program's distribution of Federal funding
to address the objectives and activities of the Program;
''(6) promote the development of new technologies for
predicting, monitoring, and mitigating harmful algal bloom
and hypoxia conditions; and
''(7) establish such interagency working groups as it
considers necessary.
''(d) Lead Federal Agency.--Except as provided in
subsection (h), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall have primary responsibility for
administering the Program.
''(e) Program Duties.--In administering the Program, the
Under Secretary shall--
''(1) promote the Program;
''(2) prepare work and spending plans for implementing the
research and activities identified under the Action Strategy;
''(3) administer peer-reviewed, merit-based, competitive
grant funding--
''(A) to maintain and enhance baseline monitoring programs
established by the Program;
''(B) to support the projects maintained and established by
the Program; and
''(C) to address the research and management needs and
priorities identified in the Action Strategy;
''(4) coordinate with and work cooperatively with regional,
State, tribal, and local government agencies and programs
that address marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia;
[[Page H5127]]
''(5) coordinate with the Secretary of State to support
international efforts on marine and freshwater harmful algal
bloom and hypoxia information sharing, research, prediction,
mitigation, control, and response activities;
''(6) identify additional research, development, and
demonstration needs and priorities relating to monitoring,
prevention, control, mitigation, and response to marine and
freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including
methods and technologies to protect the ecosystems affected
by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(7) integrate, coordinate, and augment existing education
programs to improve public understanding and awareness of the
causes, impacts, and mitigation efforts for marine and
freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(8) facilitate and provide resources to train State and
local coastal and water resource managers in the methods and
technologies for monitoring, preventing, controlling, and
mitigating marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia;
''(9) support regional efforts to control and mitigate
outbreaks through--
''(A) communication of the contents of the Action Strategy
and maintenance of online data portals for other information
about harmful algal blooms and hypoxia to State, tribal, and
local stakeholders; and
''(B) overseeing the development, review, and periodic
updating of the Action Strategy;
''(10) convene at least 1 meeting of the Task Force each
year; and
''(11) perform such other tasks as may be delegated by the
Task Force.
''(f) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Activities.--The Under Secretary shall--
''(1) maintain and enhance the existing competitive
programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration relating to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(2) carry out marine and Great Lakes harmful algal bloom
and hypoxia events response activities;
''(3) develop and enhance, including with respect to
infrastructure as necessary, critical observations,
monitoring, modeling, data management, information
dissemination, and operational forecasts relevant to harmful
algal blooms and hypoxia events;
''(4) enhance communication and coordination among Federal
agencies carrying out marine and freshwater harmful algal
bloom and hypoxia activities and research;
''(5) to the greatest extent practicable, leverage existing
resources and expertise available from local research
universities and institutions; and
''(6) increase the availability to appropriate public and
private entities of--
''(A) analytical facilities and technologies;
''(B) operational forecasts; and
''(C) reference and research materials.
''(g) Cooperative Efforts.--The Under Secretary shall work
cooperatively and avoid duplication of effort with other
offices, centers, and programs within the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, other agencies on the Task
Force, and States, tribes, and nongovernmental organizations
concerned with marine and freshwater issues to coordinate
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia (and related) activities and
research.
''(h) Freshwater.--With respect to the freshwater aspects
of the Program, the Administrator, through the Task Force,
shall carry out the duties otherwise assigned to the Under
Secretary under this section, except the activities described
in subsection (f).
''(1) Participation.--The Administrator's participation
under this section shall include--
''(A) research on the ecology and impacts of freshwater
harmful algal blooms; and
''(B) forecasting and monitoring of and event response to
freshwater harmful algal blooms in lakes, rivers, estuaries
(including their tributaries), and reservoirs.
''(2) Nonduplication.--The Administrator shall ensure that
activities carried out under this title focus on new
approaches to addressing freshwater harmful algal blooms and
are not duplicative of existing research and development
programs authorized by this title or any other law.
''(i) Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.--The
collection of monitoring and observation data under this
title shall comply with all data standards and protocols
developed pursuant to the Integrated Coastal and Ocean
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.). Such
data shall be made available through the system established
under that Act.''.
SEC. 5. COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN AND ACTION STRATEGY.
The Act, as amended by section 4 of this Act, is further
amended by inserting after section 603A the following:
''SEC. 603B. COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN AND ACTION STRATEGY.
''(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Under Secretary, through
the Task Force, shall develop and submit to Congress a
comprehensive research plan and action strategy to address
marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. The
Action Strategy shall identify--
''(1) the specific activities to be carried out by the
Program and the timeline for carrying out those activities;
''(2) the roles and responsibilities of each Federal agency
in the Task Force in carrying out the activities under
paragraph (1); and
''(3) the appropriate regions and subregions requiring
specific research and activities to address harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia.
''(b) Regional Focus.--The regional and subregional parts
of the Action Strategy shall identify--
''(1) regional priorities for ecological, economic, and
social research on issues related to the impacts of harmful
algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(2) research, development, and demonstration activities
needed to develop and advance technologies and techniques for
minimizing the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia
and improving capabilities to detect, predict, monitor,
control, mitigate, respond to, and remediate harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia;
''(3) ways to reduce the duration and intensity of harmful
algal blooms and hypoxia, including deployment of response
technologies in a timely manner;
''(4) research and methods to address human health
dimensions of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(5) mechanisms, including the potential costs and
benefits of those mechanisms, to protect ecosystems that may
be or have been affected by harmful algal bloom and hypoxia
events;
''(6) mechanisms by which data, information, and products
may be transferred between the Program and the State, tribal,
and local governments and research entities;
''(7) communication and information dissemination methods
that State, tribal, and local governments may undertake to
educate and inform the public concerning harmful algal blooms
and hypoxia; and
''(8) roles that Federal agencies may have to assist in the
implementation of the Action Strategy, including efforts to
support local and regional scientific assessments under
section 603(e).
''(c) Utilizing Available Studies and Information.--In
developing the Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall
utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program
activities, including--
''(1) those carried out under existing law; and
''(2) other relevant peer-reviewed and published sources.
''(d) Development of the Action Strategy.--In developing
the Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall, as
appropriate--
''(1) coordinate with--
''(A) State coastal management and planning officials;
''(B) tribal resource management officials; and
''(C) water management and watershed officials from both
coastal States and noncoastal States with water sources that
drain into water bodies affected by harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia; and
''(2) consult with--
''(A) public health officials;
''(B) emergency management officials;
''(C) science and technology development institutions;
''(D) economists;
''(E) industries and businesses affected by marine and
freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;
''(F) scientists with expertise concerning harmful algal
blooms or hypoxia from academic or research institutions; and
''(G) other stakeholders.
''(e) Federal Register.--The Under Secretary shall publish
the Action Strategy in the Federal Register.
''(f) Periodic Revision.--The Under Secretary, in
coordination and consultation with the individuals and
entities under subsection (d), shall periodically review and
revise the Action Strategy prepared under this section, as
necessary.''.
SEC. 6. REPORTING.
Section 603 is amended by adding at the end the following:
''(j) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date the
Action Strategy is submitted under section 603B, the Under
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that describes--
''(1) the proceedings of the annual Task Force meetings;
''(2) the activities carried out under the Program,
including the regional and subregional parts of the Action
Strategy;
''(3) the budget related to the activities under paragraph
(2);
''(4) the progress made on implementing the Action
Strategy; and
''(5) any need to revise or terminate research and
activities under the Program.''.
SEC. 7. NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO HYPOXIA.
Section 604 is amended to read as follows:
''SEC. 604. NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO HYPOXIA.
''(a) Initial Progress Reports.--Beginning not later than
12 months after the date of enactment of the Harmful Algal
Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of
2014, and biennially thereafter, the Administrator, through
the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task
Force, shall submit a progress report to the appropriate
congressional committees and the President that describes the
progress made by activities directed by the Mississippi
River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force and
carried out or funded by the Environmental Protection Agency
and other State and Federal partners toward attainment of the
goals of the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008.
''(b) Contents.--Each report required under this section
shall--
''(1) assess the progress made toward nutrient load
reductions, the response of the hypoxic zone and water
quality throughout the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin,
and the economic and social effects;
''(2) evaluate lessons learned; and
''(3) recommend appropriate actions to continue to
implement or, if necessary, revise the strategy set forth in
the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008.''.
SEC. 8. GREAT LAKES HYPOXIA AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.
Section 605 is amended to read as follows:
[[Page H5128]]
''SEC. 605. GREAT LAKES HYPOXIA AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS.
''(a) Integrated Assessment.--Not later than 18 months
after the date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and
Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Task
Force, in accordance with the authority under section 603,
shall complete and submit to the Congress and the President
an integrated assessment that examines the causes,
consequences, and approaches to reduce hypoxia and harmful
algal blooms in the Great Lakes, including the status of and
gaps within current research, monitoring, management,
prevention, response, and control activities by--
''(1) Federal agencies;
''(2) State agencies;
''(3) regional research consortia;
''(4) academia;
''(5) private industry; and
''(6) nongovernmental organizations.
''(b) Plan.--
''(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Amendments Act of 2014, the Task Force shall develop
and submit to the Congress a plan, based on the integrated
assessment under subsection (a), for reducing, mitigating,
and controlling hypoxia and harmful algal blooms in the Great
Lakes.
''(2) Contents.--The plan shall--
''(A) address the monitoring needs identified in the
integrated assessment under subsection (a);
''(B) develop a timeline and budgetary requirements for
deployment of future assets;
''(C) identify requirements for the development and
verification of Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal bloom
models, including--
''(i) all assumptions built into the models; and
''(ii) data quality methods used to ensure the best
available data are utilized; and
''(D) describe efforts to improve the assessment of the
impacts of hypoxia and harmful algal blooms by--
''(i) characterizing current and past biological conditions
in ecosystems affected by hypoxia and harmful algal blooms;
and
''(ii) quantifying effects, including economic effects, at
the population and community levels.
''(3) Requirements.--In developing the plan, the Task Force
shall--
''(A) coordinate with State and local governments;
''(B) consult with representatives from academic,
agricultural, industry, and other stakeholder groups,
including relevant Canadian agencies;
''(C) ensure that the plan complements and does not
duplicate activities conducted by other Federal or State
agencies;
''(D) identify critical research for reducing, mitigating,
and controlling hypoxia events and their effects;
''(E) evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based partnership
approaches;
''(F) ensure that the plan is technically sound and cost
effective;
''(G) utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and
program activities;
''(H) publish a summary of the proposed plan in the Federal
Register at least 180 days prior to submitting the completed
plan to Congress; and
''(I) after submitting the completed plan to Congress,
provide biennial progress reports on the activities toward
achieving the objectives of the plan.''.
SEC. 9. APPLICATION WITH OTHER LAWS.
The Act is amended by adding after section 606 the
following:
''SEC. 607. EFFECT ON OTHER FEDERAL AUTHORITY.
''(a) Authority Preserved.--Nothing in this title
supersedes or limits the authority of any agency to carry out
its responsibilities and missions under other laws.
''(b) Regulatory Authority.--Nothing in this title may be
construed as establishing new regulatory authority for any
agency.''.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS; CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
(a) In General.--The Act, as amended by section 9 of this
Act, is further amended by adding after section 607 the
following:
''SEC. 608. DEFINITIONS.
''In this title:
''(1) Action strategy.--The term `Action Strategy' means
the comprehensive research plan and action strategy
established under section 603B.
''(2) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
''(3) Harmful algal bloom.--The term `harmful algal bloom'
means marine and freshwater phytoplankton that proliferate to
high concentrations, resulting in nuisance conditions or
harmful impacts on marine and aquatic ecosystems, coastal
communities, and human health through the production of toxic
compounds or other biological, chemical, and physical impacts
of the algae outbreak.
''(4) Hypoxia.--The term `hypoxia' means a condition where
low dissolved oxygen in aquatic systems causes stress or
death to resident organisms.
''(5) Program.--The term `Program' means the national
harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program established under
section 603A.
''(6) State.--The term `State' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, any other territory or possession of the United
States, and any Indian tribe.
''(7) Task force.--The term `Task Force' means the Inter-
Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia under
section 603(a).
''(8) Under secretary.--The term `Under Secretary' means
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
''(9) United states coastal waters.--The term `United
States coastal waters' includes the Great Lakes.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 603(a) is amended by
striking ''(hereinafter referred to as the `Task Force')''.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
The Act is further amended by adding after section 608 the
following:
''SEC. 609. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
''(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to the Under Secretary to carry out sections 603A and 603B
$20,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
''(b) Extramural Research Activities.--The Under Secretary
shall ensure that a substantial portion of funds appropriated
pursuant to subsection (a) that are used for research
purposes are allocated to extramural research activities. For
each fiscal year, the Under Secretary shall publish a list of
all grant recipients and the amounts for all of the funds
allocated for research purposes, specifying those allocated
for extramural research activities.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous materials on S. 1254, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research
and Control Amendments Act of 2014, reauthorizes oceanic and freshwater
research activities. It also improves and streamlines existing
activities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
other Federal agencies.
I want to thank Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and Senator Rob
Portman of Ohio for their work on this legislation.
Harmful algal blooms are a significant problem that affects rivers,
lakes, and tidal areas around the country. Known most often as ``red
tide,'' harmful algae hurts local economies that are dependent on
fishing, recreation, and tourism.
Sometimes referred to as ``dead zones,'' hypoxia harms ecosystems in
fish populations by decreasing oxygen levels in the water. Our current
understanding and response to these problems is inadequate.
In my home State of Texas, red and brown tides often affect our bays
and coastlines. This damages tourism, harms our fishing industry, and
impacts public health.
This bill strengthens scientific research about these phenomena,
fosters collaboration between Federal agencies, States, and localities,
and advances technological solutions to better understand and respond
to outbreaks when they occur.
This bipartisan legislation passed the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology by a unanimous voice vote last month.
I would also like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey) and
our Environmental Subcommittee ranking member, Ms. Bonamici from
Oregon, for the bipartisan amendment they offered in committee to
improve this legislation.
I want to thank Chairman Hastings and Chairman Shuster for working
with me to bring this legislation to the floor. I will insert our
letters of exchange in the Congressional Record.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, May 22, 2014.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the opportunity to review
the relevant provisions of the text of S. 1254, the Harmful
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act
of 2013. As you are aware, the bill was primarily referred to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, while the
Committee on Natural Resources received an additional
referral.
I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this
legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and,
accordingly, I agree to discharge S. 1254 from further
consideration by the Committee on Natural Resources. I do so
with the understanding that
[[Page H5129]]
by discharging the bill, the Committee on Natural Resources
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim on this or
similar matters. Further, the Committee on Natural Resources
reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees, if
it should become necessary.
I ask that you insert a copy of our exchange of letters
into the bill report filed by the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology, as well as in the Congressional Record
during consideration of this measure on the House floor.
Thank you for your courtesy in this matter and I look
forward to continued cooperation between our respective
committees.
Sincerely,
Doc Hastings,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space and
Technology,
Washington, DC, May 22, 2014.
Hon. Doc Hastings,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hastings: Thank you for agreeing to be
discharged from further consideration of S. 1254, the Harmful
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act
of 2013.
I agree that forgoing further action on this bill does not
in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your
Committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on
this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would
support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving
this legislation.
I will include our letters into the report filed on S.
1254. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with the
Committee on Natural Resources as the bill moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure,
Washington, DC, June 4, 2014.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write concerning S. 1254, Harmful
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act
of 2013, as ordered reported by the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology on May 21, 2014. S. 1254 contains
provisions that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring S. 1254
before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I
will not seek a sequential referral of the bill. However,
this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing
consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee
with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future
jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in
the bill or similar legislation that fall within the
Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the
Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference
committee named to consider such provisions.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding, and would request that you insert our
exchange of letters on this matter into the committee report
on S. 1254.
Sincerely,
Bill Shuster,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space and
Technology,
Washington, DC, June 4, 2014.
Hon. Bill Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Shuster: Thank you for agreeing to be
discharged from further consideration of S. 1254, the Harmful
Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act
of 2013.
I agree that forgoing further action on this bill does not
in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of your
Committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives on
this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would
support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate
number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving
this legislation.
I will insert this exchange into the report filed on S.
1254. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Lamar Smith,
Chairman.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair wishes to clarify that the
gentleman's motion is for the bill, as amended.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, that is correct.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will re-report the title of the
bill.
The Clerk re-reported the title of the bill.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I rise in support of S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014.
S. 1254 is a bipartisan bill, and I want to thank my colleagues, Ms.
Bonamici and Mr. Posey, for their hard work to advance this important
legislation. It authorizes an interagency program led by NOAA to
improve our understanding and response to harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia events.
Unfortunately, over the past decade, the distribution and frequency
of harmful algal blooms--or HABs--has increased steadily. Today, nearly
every State is threatened by this toxic algae.
HABs can have serious economic and public health effects. Shellfish
beds along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coasts are often
closed during a major event to protect the public from significant
respiratory distress, shellfish poisoning, and other illnesses.
The economic impact these closures can have on the shellfish industry
and tourism is quite large. A single event can cost a coastal community
tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue.
While NOAA and the research community have made great strides since
the establishment of this program, the need for continued research and
tools to lessen the impact of these events is greater than ever before.
More accurate and efficient tools for detecting toxins, early warning
of blooms, better predictions of bloom movement, methods for
controlling outbreaks, and the development of local and regional
partnerships will all allow for a more effective response.
For instance, in 2009, NOAA-funded scientists from Texas A&M
University developed and deployed a sensor in Galveston Bay that can
detect algae responsible for shellfish poisoning.
The sensor now provides an early warning to Texas State health
officials, allowing them to temporarily close the bay to oyster
harvesting. This early warning capability is a perfect example of how
this program can minimize economic impacts and protect human health.
Addressing the many dimensions of HABs requires a coordinated multi-
agency approach, and passage of S. 1254 and the reauthorization of this
program will result in practical and innovative approaches to
addressing hypoxia and HABs events in U.S. waters.
The health of our coast and waterways is critical to our economy, and
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), a member of the Science, Space, and
Technology Committee.
Mr. POSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events occur throughout the United
States. They are damaging to water bodies, and are harmful to plant and
animal life. They also cost local communities millions of dollars and
many hours of recreational enjoyment. The adverse effects are both
near-term and long-term.
The continued need for advancing research on harmful algal blooms and
hypoxia events is very apparent. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation
will continue robust funding for this important research, leading us to
a better understanding of the causes, effects, and steps we can take to
prevent harmful algae and hypoxia events in the future.
Reported to the floor with bipartisan support from the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee, S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and
Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2014, includes
provisions that Representative Bonamici and I were privileged to
advance. As amended, this bill will better streamline and coordinate
existing harmful algae bloom and hypoxia research activities at NOAA
and other Federal agencies.
We place a high priority on using research to create implementable
action plans to minimize the economic, ecologic, and human health
impacts from harmful algae blooms.
By incorporating provisions to encourage collaborative research
between local, State, and Federal agencies, we
[[Page H5130]]
will be able to avoid costly duplicative research, which will stretch
every dollar further and significantly advance this important research.
In my congressional district, the Indian River Lagoon has experienced
algae blooms each year from 2011 to 2013, leading to the loss of nearly
half of all the sea grass beds--the primary means of measuring health
in the Indian River Lagoon. Prior to 2011, sea grass beds in the lagoon
had been on a steady increase for nearly 15 years. The devastating
economic and ecologic impacts of these blooms over the past 3 years can
be felt across the entire length of the 156-mile lagoon.
The economic impact of the Indian River Lagoon is approximately $3.5
billion. A healthy lagoon is vital to the economic well-being of the
Treasure Coast and the Space Coast. I raised my family on the lagoon,
so I can speak from personal experience about the changes we have seen
and the benefits of our lagoon to our communities.
Our bill gives researchers another tool to help us better understand,
anticipate, control, and mitigate harmful algal blooms like those we
have seen in the Indian River Lagoon and in communities across the
country.
I would like to thank Chairman Smith and the majority and minority
staff who worked together to shepherd this bill through committee. I
would also like to thank the ranking member of the Environmental
Subcommittee, Ms. Bonamici. It was a pleasure to work with you and your
staff to make several bipartisan perfecting changes to the Senate bill
so that this bipartisan measure can make it here to the House floor.
I would encourage my colleagues to support the bill before us so that
we can reauthorize this important program and continue to advance this
research that is so important for communities, like the coastal
community I am privileged to live in and represent in Congress.
{time} 1700
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).
Ms. BONAMICI. I thank the ranking member of the Science Committee for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation, and I am glad
the House is considering it today. I would like to begin by thanking
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), for his willingness to work
with me on an amendment to S. 1254 that was adopted in committee and
made some modifications to the legislation we are considering today.
I would also like to thank the full committee chairman, Mr. Smith,
and our ranking member, Ms. Johnson, for supporting us as we developed
the amendment and moved the bill forward. This was truly a team effort,
and our constituents are well served by this collaboration. I want to
join Mr. Posey, also, in thanking our staff on both sides of the aisle
for their hard work on this bill.
Authorization for the programs under the Harmful Algal Blooms and
Hypoxia Research and Control Act expired in 2012, so this
reauthorization is long overdue. The rapid overproduction of algae can
have devastating effects on aquatic plants and animals, as well as on
human health.
For coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems and communities that depend on
fishing and tourism to sustain their economies, the effect of algae
blooms is a threat to their livelihood. The cost of these blooms has
been estimated to be close to $82 million each year, a significant hit
to the economy in areas that are still struggling to recover.
This issue was first brought to my attention by Oregon State
University scientists and the crab industry in Oregon, where business
was struggling when Dungeness crabs were dying because of low oxygen
levels in the water, a hypoxic event caused by algal blooms.
I do want to stress, however, that the effect of these blooms is not
only felt in coastal communities. Last year, in my home State of
Oregon, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs experiencing hypoxic events were
closed to protect public health for a combined total of more than 700
days.
Research has helped advance our understanding of and response to
harmful algal blooms, but we need to continue to invest in this
research. The frequency and duration of these events and subsequent
hypoxic conditions are on the rise, and our constituents need us to
act.
In order to equip ourselves with the tools we need to manage these
events and reduce the environmental and economic damage they cause, we
need to better understand how and why algal blooms occur and how they
respond to a changing environment.
The bill before us today directs NOAA, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, to develop and implement a national
strategy that takes a regional approach to helping communities
understand, predict, and mitigate harmful algal bloom and hypoxic
events.
It will not only improve coordination, but also assess the program's
activities to ensure that we are prepared for these events and are able
to respond in an effective and efficient manner.
This will become increasingly important as coastal populations
increase and changes in the environment, such as warmer water
temperatures, have the potential to alter the growth, toxicity, and
geographic distribution of algal blooms.
The stakeholder community has been calling for the reauthorization of
this critical program, and they are eager to see NOAA continue its work
on this important issue.
The amendment that Mr. Posey and I included responds to a number of
suggestions offered by our colleagues on the Natural Resources
Committee, which has joint jurisdiction over these programs; and the
amendment clarifies that the bill does not establish any new programs
or regulatory authority.
The amendment also ensures that State and local governments, along
with other stakeholder groups, are involved in efforts to reduce
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
Because freshwater ecosystems are also susceptible to HABs, the
amendment makes certain that the plan also addresses harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia events in the Great Lakes in a cost-effective and
technically feasible manner.
NOAA researchers and the academic community have established a strong
partnership to lead this effort, and I applaud their work. Now,
Congress needs to reauthorize these important programs, so that work
can continue; and this bill accomplishes that goal.
I urge our colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, S. 1254, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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